Coconut mount or ????

[james mickelso]

When you take this out of the plastic pot, think about carefully cutting off most of this coconut husk. Start from the bottom. You could use a drill with a half inch bit. Drill out most of the material before repotting it in a bark mix or LECA. This mount will deteriorate this coming spring and cause fungus and bacterial problems through the summer. You should be able to carve out most of the mount without harming the root mass.

[Troythediver]

Why would sellers grow an orchid on something so irritating to remove? Is there a benefit to mounting this type of orchid as opposed to just potting it in bark?

I've read that dendrobiums grow better when they are restricted. Is this true?

[james mickelso]

It's cheap. Or they thought it was novel.

[Troythediver]

I cut it out of the inner plastic pot. The good news: the roots look to be really healthy. The bad news: they are growing right through the coconut which is still in fairly stable condition. I set the whole thing in a clay pot...that has about half of a centimeter of space worth of clearance all around. Should I keep it in this setup until the husk deteriorates a little more so that I can break it apart while not damaging the roots?

[MattWoelfsen]

Originally Posted by Troythediver

Why would sellers grow an orchid on something so irritating to remove? Is there a benefit to mounting this type of orchid as opposed to just potting it in bark?

I've read that dendrobiums grow better when they are restricted. Is this true?

Second question, first. Yes, Dendrobium usually like to be anchored securely in their grow space, that way they can grow the long canes and even longer spikes. In one growing season, the plant not only grows up but also the roots go out. That is why you have to feed and water these plants a lot in the late spring to early fall. I find this to be true for Oncidium and Cattleya.

First question's answer: growing in coconut husk is very inexpensive and a way to re-purpose a readily available by product of coconuts. Your plant was likely imported from a wholesale grower in the Caribean or SE Asia. These growers are farmers and villagers whose livelihood depends on growing strong plants with very little overhead.

[Troythediver]

. Yes, Dendrobium usually like to be anchored securely in their grow space, that way they can grow the long canes and even longer spikes. In one growing season, the plant not only grows up but also the roots go out. That is why you have to feed ....

That is very interesting. So when the coconut decomposes and I have to move the plant into looser media, should I make a special effort to add a very sturdy stake or support? I'm picturing a piece of styrofoam that can be wedged into the bottom of the pot (as long as it doesn't block drainage).

Most of my experience is with repotting phals and paphs which have large enough root structures that they tend to be sturdy as soon as I push the roots into the pot. The bark just acts as filler.

[MattWoelfsen]

You would have to stake the canes when you repot the plant. Then if you care to, you can remove the stake when the plant has grown into its new pot. I usually repot my Dendrobium in the early spring so they can grow into their new pot. This would also stimulate the plant into growing flower spikes that would bloom a year from now.

A strong healthy plant can withstand decaying potting media. The coconut husk you have appears to be well on its way to decaying so I would propose you keep everything as is, do the best you can to keep the fungus at bay--use good clean water--reverse osmosis or rain water. I would not fertilize the plant. Over time, the husk should slowly fall apart and once it becomes basically mulch, you'll have a free and clear plant.

Styrofoam is okay. What I suggest is getting a very good bark mix made for Dendrobium. Pack this media around the roots, and then insert a stake as long as the tallest cane and stake one of the canes to the stake. After a month or two, the plant will have grown enough roots that it will anchor itself.

[Leafmite]

Dendrobiums do very well for me in red lava rock. The weight prevents the den from toppling over. Just an idea.

---------- Post added at 06:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:40 PM ----------

I had to remove an orchid from a rotted wooden vanda basket...terrible. I really never want to do that again. Good luck with the coconut shell. Sounds like fun. :|