How to mount a Phal? - Orchid Board

Paul Mc · #1 11-12-2011, 10:37 AM

I have a new Phal that I want to mount, and I know in nature they tend to grow with their leaves down somewhat to avoid water getting in the leaves. Should I mount it upside down? Or should I mount it right side up, avoid getting water in the leaves, and let it grow the way it wants to over time? I'm unsure - so if anyone has any suggestions it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Daethen · #2 11-12-2011, 10:42 AM

Your choice, but I mounted one recently and decided why fight gravity? I didn't want it to get big and then break so I went upside down. Plus I figured the spikes would present well that way. I certainly don't have to worry about crown rot this way.

glengary54 · #3 11-12-2011, 08:52 PM

Not all Phals can be hung in a downward manner. Most of the commercially available plants can't either, they will wind up making a complete u-turn towards the sun.

Daethen · #4 11-12-2011, 09:03 PM

Glen, how will I be able to tell if I have made a boo boo?

glengary54 · #5 11-12-2011, 09:20 PM

Jonada - The plant's new growth will start to grow up instead of down. If you planted it upside down, all you have to do is flip the mount around

Daethen · #6 11-12-2011, 09:27 PM

I had figured that would be the solution. But, here's my sign. And to top it off, I mounted it to a round clay saucer.

Arenalbotanicalgarden · #7 11-12-2011, 09:57 PM

Get kinky ! Mount it sideways and let it choose ! Yeah. I'm dead serious.

Daethen · #8 11-12-2011, 10:40 PM

Actually, that did cros my mind.

Paul Mc · #9 11-19-2011, 09:55 AM

LOL... Well, I went ahead and did this one upside down since I am spraying it every day with a water hose. I have it hanging in my basement along with my 70 some odd tropical plants to overwinter. BTW, it's the cornu-cervi if that helps.

orchidsamore · #10 11-22-2011, 04:51 PM

Let me define upside down and right side up first. I was not sure what anyone was saying.

In nature they grow with their roots clinging to branches and the plant growing down from there.

When we grow them in pots that is upside-down.

Everything that is wrong with growing Phalaenopsis in pots does not happen in nature.

Plants grow over the side of the pots as they get old because genetically they grow down.

Aerial roots come out of the pots because genetically the roots grow up. When mounted they will adhere to the mount and in as little as two years you can cover the mount in roots.

You never need to stake a Phal flower as they can hold it very well themselves. I had a Phal mounted down with a 5 1/2 foot flower that did not need support.

Phalaenopsis can take very high sunlight when mounted. I grow several in my Vanda house to prove this point. At shows outdoors, I will often place them in direct sun for an afternoon. There is no chlorophyll in the top of the leaf facing the sun naturally, therefor, there is nothing to burn. For a million years the other side of the leaf has only gotten bounced light from the forest floor so it has evolved to be extremely sensitive. Upside down in a pot they burn rapidly. Mounted naturally downward they accept high sun.

Never any problems of over water as mounted orchids do not hold excess water.

No crown root issues as there is no crown to catch water.

They have a ridge on the leaf to hold them apart when growing downward. You never get them soft flopping on each other when mounted.

I have mounted hundreds and they continue to grow down unless they are in extremely low light. The flowers after the first year will often grow up for an outstanding look.