Mounted orchids not blooming

[Marcy McPike]

I have 2 Barbosella orchids (cogniauxiana and australis) that have never bloomed. They are both mounted and the vines are growing slowly. I keep them in a terrarium in a south facing window with grow lights above them. I keep them moist. The mounting material is covered with green mossy stuff as well as tiny ferns. There also seems to be white fuzzy stuff growing in some spots. Should I remove all the extraneous stuff or does that matter? I have had them for over a year with no blooms in sight. What am I doing wrong!

[orchids4me]

I'm not familiar with these. But if you can post some pics for members who do know these to see what's going on there it may be helpful.
Good luck

[katrina]

I don't grow the australis so I can't say for sure what's going on there but I grow the cogniauxiana (formerly handroi) and it requires a lot of light to bloom and grow at it's best.

I keep it moist all the time and it sits next to my catts...very high light. It grows like a weed and blooms several times through out the year.

While I don't grow the australis...I would try more light. If I have a plant this is growing well but it's not blooming...it's usually a lack of light. Try gradually increasing the light over a period of time and see what happens.

As to the white stuff...a pic would be helpful.

[Marcy McPike]

I will get some pictures of both the plants and the "white stuff". I hope I can get a close enough picture of the white stuff - maybe I can find something on the internet!

[Marcy McPike]

I am having problems uploading the pix. Must research!

[Marcy McPike]

These are the pixs of the Barbosella orchids. The larger mounting is the australis, on the left. You can see the various tiny moss and ferns as well. The mountings are approx. 5-6 inches in height. http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/att...1&d=1316111409http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/att...1&d=1316111531

I also added a full spectrum daylight 8000K.

[Brooke]

I'm sorry I can't help you with your orchid but you really need to pull the free loading ferns out of your mounts. Most ferns eventually have mat type roots and will eventually start to smother your orchid roots.

I love ferns as house plants, in my shade gardens but hate them in the g/h.

Brooke

[katrina]

Ditto Brooke on the ferns.

I can't see the white stuff you're talking about but they look healthy so I'm not sure that I would worry about it. The extra light should help. Acclimate them to it gradually....and gradually extend the duration you have the lights on.

[Marcy McPike]

Thank you Katrina and Brooke! Actually, I found out what the white stuff is and will take steps to eradicate it. Evidently it is related to the amount of water in the bottom of the terrarium. I have about an inch of small rocks covering the bottom with the water almost covering the rocks. Too much moisture. I will remove the ferns and green moss around the orchids as well as increase the light. I have added a full spectrum daylight 8000k bulb hoping that will cover the lighting problems. I will keep my fingers crossed that these steps will do the trick!

[katrina]

Leave the moss...unless it bothers you. I find it helps to hold moisture around my plants. I will actually "seed" it from plants that have it to newly mounted plants. Helps w/moisture PLUS I like the way it looks.

[1joyceh]

Originally Posted by Marcy McPike

Actually, I I have added a full spectrum daylight 8000k bulb hoping that will cover the lighting problems. I will keep my fingers crossed that these steps will do the trick!

8000k? what type of bulb would that be?

[Marcy McPike]

The 8000k full spectrum bulb is actually a 18" freshwater aquarium bulb. I originally got it to put over my fish tank but it was too much light so opted to move it to the orchid area. I now have it over the terrarium where I have my mini orchids that require high humidity. As for the moss, I have to agree with you, Katrina, and I will leave it as I think it also adds to the overall "exotic" look of the mounted orchids!