Returning Phals to The Trees
 

okey So I planted, replanted, transplanted, however we wish to describe this. But I put 3 phals that had bloomed and I cut the stems back hoping to encourage some energy be put back into the roots and foliage system and ..They just went to pooh.. I have one I named "Donkey" bec it reminded me of the ears on Donkey in Shrek, its leaves had gotton so droopy..Droopy leaves look sad and if they are soft and droopy and loose the waxyness...just a matter of time till the R.I.P. sign goes up. so last resort I return them to the trees

So anyone ever RETURNED a phal that was grown in pot back into an tree orchid? or is this just goofy? Im not afraid..:blushing:

well - I have mounted two small phals after I rotted the roots in pots - both responded pretty well :)

Definatly not goofy ...sound like a plan if your in a warm area ....

Sounds like a great plan to me if they can survive outside there in pots no reason that they cvan not be mounted on a actual tree and I would try it If it was any way possible here but alas it is not

I would consider your winter temps - especially night temps., before mounting on a tree.

I need to know the same thing but instead of a tree i just want to repot my phalaenopsises, but without potting mix of any kind, into a wooden hanging basket
Can anyone instruct me on how to do this?

i just took a phal that was growing in spagh and put it on a mount, but it was nice and healthy to begin with. you might want to put spagh between the tree and the orchid just until it get used to its new surroundings. and are you planning on letting mother nature take care of your plant as soon as you put it on the tree? because you will need to give it some extra care...at least at first

Good question--I'm also in South Florida where some folks grow dendro & cattelyas on trees. usually I see them on one of the those wonderful live oaks w/broad horizontal-ish branches and craggy bark. Unfortunately, I don't have that kind of tree--upright style oaks or smoother barked trees.
What kind of tree branch were you thinking of? in a crook? let us know if it works. I've rooted oncidium in stumps and on a cool piece of drift wood, but they need a little less water maybe?

Did the empty wooden basket work for Phal? Some folks have said they like to be potbound, but I'd love to get them out of pots where there's less air and more bugs.

Houston winters get too cold for Phalaenopsis. I would recommend a mount that you can bring indoors when it gets below 50. You can hang the mount in a tree for that natural look, but being portable means you can enjoy it for years to come.

Phals in trees
 

When we first moved to FL, I tried naturalizing quite a few "experimental" orchids (including several phals, in live oaks and in the "basket" of sabal palms.

They did quite well with no care for a couple of years. As the oaks grew, the shade improved and the phals seemed quite happy, but without blooms. Root system several feet up and down the trunk.

Eventual damage from squirrels (not chewing, just crawling over them) and tree trimmers caused the disappearance of most.

The last of the phals were taken out this winter with near freezing temps.

Sorry to be a downer. Zone 10A is almost there, but not quite, although there are probably microclimates here where it will work.