To Mount or not to Mount, that is the question.......
 

So, I received my phal gigantea. I planned to mount it on cork and put it outside on the porch.

I'm conflicted for several reasons.

1) it's getting a little bit nippy around here. It goes as low as the 30's or 40's some days in Jan or February--I don't want the plant to freeze or anything like that.

2) i'm going to travel for the holidays during december for about 1 week.....and there isn't going to be anyone here that can take care of my plants.

So, I don't know what to do? leave it in the pot (I really don't want to do this either cause I suck at orchids in moss) or mount?

suggestions, please? :):bowing :bowing :bowing :bowing :bowing :bowing

Is it possible to try and leave it in the pot while traveling and then mount it when you get back? Can you bring it inside on the chilly days?

Well, I'll be traveling for 1 week in December (from the 26th to the 2nd of January)I have a covered terrace where most of my plants are located right now. But, the problem is that a lot of my family is coming and my nieces and nephews are heathens, so I don't trust them around the plants. I had planned on just putting everything on a table that I have there and hope for the best. I usually rush to put all my plants in there when it gets too cold.

If I leave it in the pot it will be until Feb-March that I can repot it. Plants+moss= dead for me. It's not a good combo for sure.

If your local humidity were not too dry, I think it would be all right to leave just for a week.
How large is your phal gigantea? Do not mount it too young. At least bigger than 3 inches pot.
A good timing is very important to success, when the new leaf grows to the 1/3 of normal size, it is the best time to do it.

Good luck with your phal!:waving

Edward,

Hi. First, your phals are gorgeous!! My phal came in a 4.5 inch pot. :)

Plants + moss = only a problem if you water it too much.
Don't water the sphag until it is crunchy on the top.

Have you looked at the roots? Are they in good shape? Is the sphag packed tight or is it loose and fluffy?

You can always repot into whatever mix you desire while you decide on the next step. With winter approaching, ease of bringing inside would be uppermost in my mind.

The gigantea does not want to go below 60 and would prefer not to go below 65.

When are you posting pics for everyone to enjoy?

Brooke

Hi Brooke. Thanks for all your input. ;) I am recruiting my sister to take pics of it tomorrow. It's small right now. I will make sure to measure it and give everyone the specs. LOL :)

I decided to mount it and put it under my mango tree for now. It's mounted on a piece of 10 x 20 cork. :whew

I will just move it inside when I travel or when it's too cold. :) Thank you for your suggestions though.

I can't wait to see the pictures of it mounted! Watering sphagnum moss can me hard, at first you water a little and it doesn't seem to soak up much right away all the way through the container (I use clear pots so I can see this). So I add a little more, and then a little more, and then the next thing I know I have used to much water with the moss! So I have been learning, just add a little water and even though I don't think I have used enough to get the moss moist all the way through I have if I just wait a few minutes...lol. Also it really makes a big difference with how tightly packed the moss is. I find it works better for me to have the moss not tightly packed. The more tightly packed it is the longer it will take to dry out. So if I add to much water and it isn't tightly packed, I know it will only take 4 days or so to dry out! I still have a few that are tightly packed and I am thinking of redoing the potting medium so I won't rot the roots! Hope that helps some with your future 'chids that my be in moss!

Hi there everyone! Here are some pictures of the phal. gigantea that I purchased. Thank you for all your comments and suggestions.

The phal is called Phal. gigantea ('Titan' x 'Hercules') and each top leaf is 5 1/2 inches wide. I mounted it on a slab of cork that is 10 x 20 inches. It's on my mango tree and the plant faces the south.

I hope the link works (let me know if it doesn't)

peeweelovesbooks - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

A beautiful specimen of P. gigantea! I'm sure you will enjoy it for years to come!
AL