New plant in my mounted collection

[MelissaSE]

Here are a couple photos of Chiloschista lunifera, which I just got this week. It's mounted on a piece of crepe myrtle, with some sphag. I saw this in the Carter & Holmes winter catalog and HAD to have it... well, you know how that goes

Anyone else growing this?

[orchids4me]

I don't grow that one but its defiantly different and interesting. Hope someone comes along that does grow it interested in what they say about it.
Thanks for sharing your new baby : )
Emmaye

[Ladyofthelakes]

Yes Melissa, we know all to well how it goes, gotta have it.

Keep us posted. I will be waiting. Love to see the mounted orchids because I will probably never do mounted orchids. With the heat on so much of the year, I believe it would be a struggle to keep them alive. I see you are in S.C. I have some extended family in Rockhill.

[koshki]

I'm not familiar with this type...is that the orchid (somewhat greener) under Spanish moss? Or is that the whole plant?

[katrina]

I had a chiloschista for a number of years. It died recently. They are great little plants...unfortunately, they simply are not long lived plants. Even short lived, it's a very interesting little plant... I should get another one.

I found it to be quite easy but they do like a lot of moisture so unless you want to water it more than once a day...I would increase the sphag a little bit. Low light, lots of air and daily moisture...you'll have a happy plant. Some say not to let it dry out but I found as long as I watered it every day it was quite the happy little plant. I think I had 4 spikes last year.

Excellent choice!

[MelissaSE]

Yes, I'm doing my best to keep it moist - misting several times a day, and watering almost every day. So far, so good.
The 'chid itself is the greener part under the Spanish moss, it's all roots and no leaves. I wonder if I should get rid of that moss, or does it help keep some moisture close to the plant? My original impression was that it was basically "decoration". I can see that it would provide some shading, although I don't have it in direct sun.

[katrina]

Mine was mounted on cork w/a nice pad of sphag (underneath the plant)...it sat in direct line of a fan on the other side of the room and I only watered it once a day. I rarely water anything more than once a day (no time for that) and I don't "mist"(IMO, a worthless activity). The extra sphag allowed me to water once a day and still keep it happy.

IMO, the Spanish Moss is more for decoration...I don't think it'll hurt anything but it's not going to add much in the way of humidity.

BTW -- I looked up your lunifera on Orchid Wiz and it appears that your species requires some "dry" time during the late Winter/early Spring. It should dry out between watering but should not remain dry for long periods.

Good luck w/it!

[MelissaSE]

Thanks so much for the info from OrchidWiz - I'll let the "new guy" dry a bit between waterings for the next few months. So far he seems pretty happy with his new situation.