Hygrolon Cylinder In Tall Vase - New Project!

[nikkik]

Wow, great job!!

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Just latest update - all three orchids mounted on the cylinder are doing great, so far, haraella blooming and pushing more spikes. I did get rid of the hydroton pebbles because there were some mold forming, and finally today my fan arrived, and it is exactly what I wished for, perfect strength, perfect size! I did return that grow light because it was really huge, and I think I will actually stay only with these point LED lights I have. So, will see now, moss should start to grow in some 2 or 3 weeks hopefully, it was applied last week. Happy with results so far!

[Kevin_PR]

Inspiring!!!

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Just wanted to ask, if there is anyone else using Hygrolon, about your experience. I am watching it daily for some 2 weeks now, and it seems like it keeps the cylinder constantly moist, much more at the bottom, but even the wick from the top keeps top part moist as well. So far it seems like orchids love it, but I do think you can mount only orchids that love to be constantly moist, not soaking wet, but moist. I believe any mini's requiring some drying out between waterings would not like this material so much, even it says it is very breathable. I would love to hear someone else growing on Hygrolon and his mini orchid choices for this material and way of growing.

[RosieC]

I've not used it, but what I've heard is that it's wicking is very high so it would stay moist all the time.

Many orchids are happy with that. We say that Phals should dry between watering but actually they can stay moist all the time provided there is also air at the roots, its the lack of air that causes a problem in most cases not the constantly moist (potted in bark or moss the water blocks the gaps between the medium and suffocates the roots, that's why we let them dry between watering as it lets in the air).

[stonedragonfarms]

I have 2 barbosellas mounted on hygrolon "branches", they are in my 55g viv; it's too early for me to say if I like the material for mounting. It does seem to wick moisture well, but I suspect that I won't continue using it, I prefer tree fern & cork for mounts, I am trialing it because the branch shapes intrigued me...in the future I'll just fabricate cork branches I believe...
Just my 2c,
Adam

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Many thanks. So far the three orchids inside seem to love it, but I am trying to add few more since it seems to be working as I wanted it:-)

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Just a short update, not worthy the pics yet, but all is looking still good, dry moss applied some month ago finally starts to spur some green growths, it is taking time, but I assume within next month it will be pretty green! All orchids mounted are doing great and even that poor little nearly dead Lepanthes telipogoniflora is still holding that last tiny green leave and it seems like roots are growing slowly into the hygrolon. Will post more pics once it turns nice and green and more mini's will be mounted.

[Kevin_PR]

Originally Posted by TOMMYMIAMI

Just a short update, not worthy the pics yet, but all is looking still good, dry moss applied some month ago finally starts to spur some green growths, it is taking time, but I assume within next month it will be pretty green! All orchids mounted are doing great and even that poor little nearly dead Lepanthes telipogoniflora is still holding that last tiny green leave and it seems like roots are growing slowly into the hygrolon. Will post more pics once it turns nice and green and more mini's will be mounted.

So I have a question about something I was always skeptical about. Sheet moss that is brown an totally dry can come back to life when watered? is this the stuff they sell at HD that they sell as decoration or is it a special kind? I know resurrection fern comes back to life but I see some green in them still.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Originally Posted by Kevin_PR

So I have a question about something I was always skeptical about. Sheet moss that is brown an totally dry can come back to life when watered? is this the stuff they sell at HD that they sell as decoration or is it a special kind? I know resurrection fern comes back to life but I see some green in them still.

Hi Kevin, I am not quite sure about that moss, pretty sure no, but the stuff I applied is actually dry moss powder. I did buy it at the same place as hygrolon, it was powder, and you just mix it with water to make a paste and than spread it (with butter knife) on the hygrolon. I heard that you can even make it by yourself if you collect your moss you have around, dry it, blend it to the powder and than apply. It takes long time, I did apply moss powder at the beginning of September, and just now I am starting too green spots, so I would say at least another month till it will look great and green!