Phal. viridis

[abigaillevans]

I have my phals mounted, and putting a pad of sphagnum under the roots helps me keep them moist. They get pretty thoroughly soaked every morning, and the sphag stays moist most of the day. Maybe that'll work for you?

Your flower looks gorgeous!!

[Thriodien]

Thx for the ideas! That's what i was saying, at first i put sphagnum all over the cork and i guess that's exactly why the roots went uselessly rotted, because of too much moisture. Then i got rid of the moss hoping driness will indicate root growth but nothing happened yet. Soooo... okay i'll try some hormones and a little bit of moss and more light, guess that's all i can do besides hoping. I'll post the fully open flower and the results as soon as it gets better. Thx again!

[nenella]

The only way I have managed to keep mounted phals & others from getting too dry & growing & flowering in my house is by placing the mounts in huge plastic water bottles; where the top half of the bottle is cut off and used as a lid. basically a very economical 'Orchidarium'..without anything fancy added..
If that was my plant I would see if the flower opens fully? (Curiosity & my pleasure @ seeing it) - I would then cut the spike off and water with rooting hormone to try and get it to grow new roots.. I would then place as said above in an enclosed space to preserve humidity... and patiently await new root growth & new leaves!
It's a beautiful flower you have there I hope you can get it to spark back to life! Keep us posted!

[nenella]

I just re read what you wrote:
" put sphagnum all over the cork and i guess that's exactly why the roots went uselessly rotted, because of too much moisture. Then i got rid of the moss hoping dryness will indicate root growth but nothing happened yet "

I have had that happen to me in the past but have always 'managed' the wetness of the sphag.. through experience. If I soak a mount with lots of spagh over roots I will leave the top of my bottle open for 24 hrs so It dries quicker, then check every day & re soak when dry or very nearly dry.
Another thing to do If you find it stays too wet too long is to "fluff out" the sphag so when wet does not create a solid wall of moisture but has air spaces. This is a chore as probably means that when you soak the mount all the spagh on top of the roots will come off..A good way to counteract the rot problem is to squeeze the water out and gently reput the spagh over the roots and water when the sphag is dry or fallen off the mount! hope this makes sense.

[stefpix]

A picture of your bottle set up would be great!

How do you avoid problems with mold and fungus with the stagnant air? do you poke aeration holes in the bottle?

[Thriodien]

nenella, thx for the sphag squeezing tip, guess i'll try that one along with the hormones. I'd also like to see that bottle jungle of yours! Btw i may have said it wrong or i don't know sorry for not being clear on that, i know i need high humidity for phals that's why i'm not keeping my mounts in the room, i'm keeping them in a florarium, all of them, so this way i can get a constant 70%. I'll try to increase temperature a bit maybe it'll raise to 80% as well. That must be enough for everybody in there they shouldn't complain


So the big moment is here. It will definatelly strech a lot more as it's not the final shape but at least it's open. And my mouth is also open looking at it, for me it's just absolutely stunnig. Enjoy!

[nenella]

WOW!!! your flower is gorgeous!
Your set up (florarium) is MUCH MUCH better than my plastic bottles!!!!
Seeing you already keep in in an enclosed space & the roots rotted, because of too much water retention in the spagh. I would as said above soak with rooting hormone, but probably would not put it back in there straight away. I have a 'bad' habit of watering in the evening when I get home (won't get up earlier in the morning...not even for orchids! ) So I leave my mounts with 'alot' of spagh out in the room and put them back in the bottle the next day.. If I remember in the morning before going to work... otherwise the next evening although that then means the next soak time will come sooner as it dries up faster.

[nenella]

well here you are guys... nowhere near the level of your set up... but the bottles 'do the job' & I have been dreaming of having a set up like yours!
1st pic - 2 bottles with tops off; second pic -tops on
3rd, close up of the top, 4th my double decker bottle!

[FairyInTheFlowers]

You are SUCH a teaser!

[silken]

I think its wonderful how both Thriodien and nenella have come up with innovative solutions to their plants' need for more humidity. They are both great setups!