I'm a big fan of Oak Hill...but I think they go a bit overboard with the moss on their mounted orchids. Sphagnum can retain quite a lot of moisture...especially when it's packed tight. This means that you have to be really careful about watering frequency. An orchid mounted with that much moss will probably require less frequent watering than the same orchid potted in bark.
It's also super important that new shoots are well away from the moss pad. New growth is very susceptible to rot. Actually...if I were going to use that much moss I'd mount the entire plant higher than the moss pad...so that no part of the rhizome was touching the moss...but close enough so that the new roots could easily reach the moss.
Glad to hear Oak Hill refunded you for the parishii, I've also found them to have excellent customer service.
I've gotten a number of things mounted from them and never had problems with the amount of moss, in fact with some I've added more so they don't dry out so fast. In my conditions (bright windowsills) it's pretty hard to rot things on mounts as long as I maintain good air circulation. You all's MMV, of course...
The moss hasn't been a problem for me as of yet, given our weather here. I put some outtside int heir new homes, and with the heat and humidity they are mostly, if not completely dry by mid day. They seem to like it.
If I'm correct, parishii is one of the Phals. that's naturally deciduous. If that's the case, your plant should be fine as long as the crown is still healthy and you have good roots.
On another note, Mr. Greg and the rest of Oak Hill are great. I decide which shows to attend almost solely based on where they attend. I have never had an issue with one of their plants, and I'd say 75% or more of my entire collection came from them. I do remount when I get my orders though because that amount of moss is deadly with the humidity and moisture we usually get here.
Interesting. I'm fairly close to Oak Hill considering your all's locations, so while I know they are a bit colder and less humid we are generally in the same conditions. Perhaps for me, leaving the moss heavily packed is better than removing as well.
I have 5 of their mounts all packed with moss and they are doing great. My grow area is around 60% humidity and I water every day except the day before I water EVERYONE. Have had no trouble, new roots and I think a couple of spikes are starting.
Most of my mounted Angraecum and Aerangis all came from Oak Hill....infact, one of the Angraecum is in bloom and is one of the most beautiful orchids I have ever seen. I purchased them all in early spring and they are all doing very well indeed.......
Nice mounts! Hope you revive that poor little phal. I've never bought mounts from Oak Hill, but I bought some bareroot plants from them during an orchid show. After getting potted, they immediately took off and started growing.
I haven't ordered from them because I know some plants are very small, and I'm the impatient sort of person...
I'll take a new pic of the Parishii, as it's still doing quite well all things considered. Some of the more mature roots stalled, but that probably was environmental. They newer roots are doing great, and it's put out a new leaf that has continued to grow. It's longer than 1/2" right now, so I'm pretty sure it'll make it.
Updated Phal parishii pic. As you've seen before, this little guy got battered from the heat in a box, and lost most all it's leaves. However, now it's started it's new leaf, and looks to be slowly recovering. And, it was a free 'chid after all, so who can complain. One bloom from this guy and it's totally worth it!
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