Just sharing

[pikevi]

I found an easy way to 'high-mount' or 'dome-mount' certain orchids. I tried it with Neofinetia sp. and it seems to hold well.

Here is what I did:

1) inserted a round balloon through the drain hole. Inflated it until it had risen to about 2/3 the height of the pot.

2) tied it outside the pot to prevent the air from escaping.

3) filled it with sphagnum moss , a litle bit of charcoal, and small bark - over and above the brim (to allow for settling).

4) mounted the orchid on top of the heap. Filled it high.

5) cut the protruding tip of the ballon from below the pot.

6) there was a little bit of 'coning' of the medium as it settled down.

I used a flash light to look inside and there is enough space under the plant.

I will keep you updated if the 'dome' collapses.

[jbigio]

Sounds good keep us posted I have one also that I might try if this works

[joan gero]

Pikevi, Can you please explain the purpose of this technique, what it accomplishes? I don't seem able to figure it out, sorry.

[jbigio]

joan
This is a tradition Japanese way of mounting/ potting these it helps assure proper root development and proper aeration.
Joe

[made4engineering]

It seems like a halfway point between potting and mounting. Unfortunately, I believe the rubber will degrade with exposure to water, and pop.

[jbigio]

I'm assuming that once the plant is potted the balloon if deflate leaving a domed effect in the pot as in the traditional methoded.

[ganim]

It is a good idea to have good circulation of air around roots area but the technic is a little bit scary to me. As root develop the bloon might burst then you have to redo it again. Mine I did was cut a plastic bottle of water, place it under the root system and filled with media.

[kellyincville]

I might be reading her post incorrectly but it sounds from #5 that the ballon is removed. Is that correct?

Once the ballon is removed, how do you prevent the medium from quickly collasping into the space?

Seems like a more practical idea that the beer bottle method!

[Brooke]

For my neo I filled the bottom of the pot with lava rock. Then I made of mound of lava rock in the middle of the pot almost to the rim, inserted sphag/tree fern down around the sides of the pot to keep the mound in place. I placed the sphag on top and continued to layer the mix around the roots.

The finished product is a sphag mound with the neo on top. I used one of those common glazed orchid pots with holes in the side. The roots grow down the sides of the pot and duck into the holes and I also don't worry about lack of air to any roots growing down into the middle of the pot.

The neo was done approximately one year ago and I've had no sinking/collapseing of the mound.

Brooke

[pikevi]

Yes, jbigio and kellyincville are right.

The balloon was deflated and removed. May be I should have been more clearer.

joan gero: I hope you got the answer from others.

I am sure there are civil engineers on the forum and they will confirm that arches and domes are the strongest structures that can be built. And Romans built large arches with 'shaped' stones without using any mortar. The only problem here is that the medium is soft and , probably will collapse eventually, because of moisture content.

I will monitor it and let you all know. I have two more plants to be potted that way .

[kmarch]

pikevi,

Do you know/can you tell us the conditions in which he Japanese grow neos potted in this manner? I'm most curious about the water/humidity/temp and am wondering how this potting method affects the drying out speed and its impact on watering frequency etc.

[pikevi]

kmarch: Thank you.

I have read a bit on 'samurai' orchids and many accounts are on the origin and history of them than about growing.

But I have a few bits of information that states they require constant humidity , an even moisture content in the medium and the roots as well as leaves require fresh air circulation. There is a lot of emphasis on aeration of the roots to I am giving it and the moisture with fans blowing air through mesh-cloth, the edges of which are dipped in standing water. As the fan blows the air picks the moisture from the cloth and the water seeps up by capillary action to the drier area and the cycle continues. I just fill the bottom container.

There are many containers ( thanks to blueberry packings) with holes that have moist sphagnum moss inside them.

The pots are also placed in saucers of water.

I may have used bigger pots than necessary but that is somethinmg I have to work at

I think articuno75 has a lot more info on Neofinetias.

almost missed this.. the temperature is at about 20C (68F). I can bring it down a bit if I move the setup to the basement. The night temperature is supposed to be around 13C (55F) which is not possible for me to achieve with the current setup. But I am working on it.