i have been using Orchiata, which is New Zealand pine bark. I am sure that it is sold quite internationally... for a price, of course. A top Cattleya (among other things) grower Fred Clarke (Sunset Valley Orchids) uses Kiwi Bark (also from New Zealand), different processing, and likes it even better. Both very long-lasting. But plain old fir bark, if the fine junk is removed, can be quite satisfactory. In an open basket, which dries out quickly, any even reasonably good bark will last longer than in a pot where it tends to stay perpetually wet.

That as well, of course.

I shoved all my catts up onto mounts.

I can't do that... With 15% HR in summer I couldn"t even go on vacation.

You can use automatic irrigation controllers, valves and sprayers to water for you. You can have your computer control the valves, or a separate clock controller that is wired to the valves. Better clocks can control many valves, be set to provide multiple watering times per day and variable watering times for each valve, between 1 minute and 4 hours.

Rainbird is a US company. They have a lot of technical and system design information available on their site, as well. I am sure there are equivalent companies in the EU:
Rain Bird Residential and Commercial Landscape Irrigation Solutions for Professionals

I would suggest looking at the Drip Irrigation/Xerigation section. I have used this one:
Rain Bird Xeri-Sprays & Misters Emission Devices

One of the few advantages of being a retired old git with time on my hands and no real desire to go anywhere. :rofl:

I am just a poor windowsill grower, without a garden or a greenhouse. I can't afford irrigation systems because I'm saving for....vacations.:biggrin:

Now seriously...Estación seca, thank you for the sugestions. I'll take a look but I think such a system might be too much for the plant qty I have. Plus they're all spread by different rooms in the house. That condition alone would increase the "project size".
I have someone who can attend my orchids twice a week. If I had mounts it wouldn't be enough but with baskets I think it's ok. Or not?

The more free time we have, the less we do. I understand you...;)

Well, as I have heard so many retired people say, I am damned if I know how I ever found time to work...

Don't forget, problems are just awaiting an engineering solution. If all I had was a window, I would turn it into a type of open greenhouse. I have seen some lovely examples. To spray a mount in the house is pretty easy. You make up a small lightweight spray booth that cups the mount and catches the spay and drippage, that you an hold with one hand. With the other you operate the spray, then wait a minute as it stops dripping, and you are done.
Mounts need watering every day, but they need so little time. I have about 100 mounts and they take me about 40 - 45 minutes the lot.

Here's my spray booth. Not exactly how you've designed it but.... it works and keeps both hands free.:biggrin:

http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/...pswg16x08a.jpg

Some updates... there's something growing in the plant. It is continuously growing new roots but this doesn't seem to be one. It looks more like a new pbulb. Or am I wrong?
It's not growing on one end of the rhizome, but on the base of the pbulb from 2 years ago.
I'm trying to determine the best time to repot it.

What do you think? Pbulb or root?:)


http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/...psiqkqmft3.jpg
http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/...psanloap7x.jpg
http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/...pssmzwphpp.jpg

Here's the newest root.

http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7avkatkt.jpg

Looks like a p-bulb to me! Any p-bulb can pop an "eye" at the base, not only the newest ones although that is where you would expect it. Maybe you'll get new growths on more than one p-bulb. That would be lovely!

That's what I was thinking. It would be awsome.:)
Maybe it's still too soon to put it in a basket, don't you think? Maybe should wait for more root growth.