Phal bellina 'Star'

[SADE2020]

[Thriodien]

Also wanted to say that I'm absolutely in love with your mounting technique! This plant's never gonna get a crown a rot! Really got me thinking how I could implement something like this in my florarium so thank you for that!!
Could you tell me if it's just a regular basket with holes all over? And is it only moss in it? How is the moss not falling out and if it's compacted in order to prevent falling out how is it not suffocating the roots? (Been wondering about a similar potting method with a mixture of leca and moss for weeks now..)

[Leafmite]

Originally Posted by Mr.Fakename

Nice! That's a lot of green, does it change as the flowers mature?

It does not. I took a second picture and the flower is still the same.

---------- Post added at 11:31 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:05 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Thriodien

Also wanted to say that I'm absolutely in love with your mounting technique! This plant's never gonna get a crown a rot! Really got me thinking how I could implement something like this in my florarium so thank you for that!!
Could you tell me if it's just a regular basket with holes all over? And is it only moss in it? How is the moss not falling out and if it's compacted in order to prevent falling out how is it not suffocating the roots? (Been wondering about a similar potting method with a mixture of leca and moss for weeks now..)

The basket pot I used is specifically made for orchids but any basket would be fine. I only have good quality AAA long-fibered New Zealand moss in the basket. The long fibers don't compact and, combined with the basket, allow for plenty of air exchange. The cord I use to hang it is strung through the top on either side of the orchid to hold in the moss and orchid.
The trick with moss is to make certain it is good quality, long-fibered AAA or AAAA and then to replace it when it starts to decompose and compact. I prefer to use red lava rock for my orchids because I never need to replace it but the Phals and a few others prefer the moss so they get the moss.

[Thriodien]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

The trick with moss is to make certain it is good quality, long-fibered AAA or AAAA and then to replace it when it starts to decompose and compact.

That is indeed very helpful! Thx a lot for the info! I didn't know there were certain categories for the quality of the moss, guess only the sh***y one's available in my country.. However Synthic is - and it has pretty long strains! Not that many people are sold on it but i'm heavily considering giving it a go!
Also my big idea is - don't laugh!! - using this kind of pasta sieve:
https://starplus.hu/files/termek/60029.jpg
It's plastic, lets air in all through its surface and the wandering roots will probably not go through the tiny holes of it (which makes me crazy, i'm always afraid i'm gonna break them while repotting). Seems like it would make a pretty good orchid basket in my opinion.. What do you think?

[WaterWitchin]

I'm liking that pasta sieve idea!

[Leafmite]

Actually, that should work very well. I looked at mine and the cord goes twice on each side to hold the moss.

Synthic looks like a great medium to try. I might look for some when it comes time to repot my Phal next time. Like any material that you use for a while, just be certain to flush well (run it for a while under the water to get rid of any unused fertilizer) now and then. I have to do that with my lava rock. Good luck!

[Thriodien]

Thx for the feedback! I actually thought i could use Synthic as the cord that keeps the medium in the pot while hanging (in my case even LECA). I could drill holes in the rim of the pasta sieve and lace up Synthic as a top layer. This way the upper part could stay more hydrated for the new roots yet they could still penetrate through the strings into the medium. And as i'm planning to use it in the terrarium with a sprinkling system, it's probably never going to fully dry (this way eliminating its property of becoming water repellent when fully dry, the phenomena that so many have mentioned as a downside of this material), and it still wouldn't be as water retentive as moss (as many have mentioned as an advantage) so the plants wouldn't be fully drenched all the time
It seems like a viable option to me
(Sorry for steering your topic in another direction but YOU gave me this idea so i wanted to let you know how much i appreciate it! )

[Leafmite]

It is great to ask questions. I love plants so I am always glad to meet others who do, too.

If it will stay damp all the time, just make certain that plenty of air can circulate around the roots, including in the middle. Fresh air tends to keep the microbes that would rot roots under control. You could always put styrofoam, a rubber ball or anything else you might find in the middle.

[Thriodien]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

If it will stay damp all the time, just make certain that plenty of air can circulate around the roots, including in the middle. Fresh air tends to keep the microbes that would rot roots under control. You could always put styrofoam, a rubber ball or anything else you might find in the middle.

That is also a superb idea! I've been wondering if the center of the pot is the most wet and the exact area that could cause rotting problems, why haven't anybody invented a pot yet where the middle part of the bottom with the air holes comes all the way up to the centre of the pot? Hope this description is understandable. Not this much up but something like this:
https://cdn.alza.hu/ImgW.ashx?fd=f16&cd=TESLM592
I think it would help soooooo much....