Mounting on clay pots

[bumpman]

I saw a thread about mounting on clay saucers then came across a photo of orchids mounted on the outside of large clay jugs. (Sorry, can't post pics yet) Has anyone tried this method? I imagine the jug is filled with (nutrient?) water, so the setup would be somewhat similar to SH. Would the roots still need spraying, even if the roots get moisture from the jug?

[Dendian]

I am experimenting with a couple of clay mounts made to hold water - hydromounts and swampsticks.

I do not have to spray the outsides - the water seeps through the clay and the plants have nice green happy roots. However the instructions do call to water until the water flows over the outside of the mount - mostly to wash off any mineral buildup on the outside of the mounts.

I have mounted a few of my mini-Catts and a few small species Catts (C. coccinea and C. sincorana) - as well as one Aergs. luteoalba. They all like it - I just let it dry out and fill it back up again. Some of the mini-catts were looking very unhappy before I mounted them on these - they weren't getting enough constant water in the bark mix because I didn't want to rot them. I have new growth on all of them.

[kmarch]

I'm pretty sure there have been some discussion of this here on the forum, I seem to recall even with pictures. I'd do a search of the mounting forum using maybe a keyword like "pots" or "clay pots." There was some good stuff in there as I recall.

[bumpman]

Here's the pic to which I was referring

I could imagine mounting several orchids all around a large pot. If all it took was keeping the jug filled with nutrient solution, then it might be easy care with just occasionally washing away mineral buildup - I'm guessing.

[1joyceh]

that is one fabulous picture bumpman!!
where was it taken?????

[bumpman]

I think it was in Asia, but it looked really interesting as a different kind of mount that would be great on a partially shaded summer patio.

[1joyceh]

I would think would have to be fairly humid and hot too, would love to do that...not sure if I could maintain the conditions though...
love that though...hmmm...maybe in a terrarium???

[bumpman]

Good point Joyce; what about the jug sitting in a large clay saucer filled with water for a locally humid environment?

[1joyceh]

hmmm..bumpman, you gave me an idea...OH OH!!!
tomorrow will try something and we will see if the "experiment" will work...and, will take pics...LOL

[bumpman]

For anyone interested in experimenting with this kind of mounting I just found a site to order porous clay jugs - they're called ollas and are typically used as underground irrigation systems. I ordered one from peddlerswagon.com Now to figure out what orchid to mount on the jug.

[abiom]

wow! something i can try here

[hera]

That is a very interesting idea. Food for thought.....

[maria1971]

Lovely pictures!!!

[RebelCowgirl]

Oh that looks so cool

[1joyceh]

well, my experiment did not go well...back to the drawing board, will update when I figure out a better way....hmmmm...

[bumpman]

I just received my olla from Peddlerswagon. I had a recovering NOID phal in SH so decided to try it mounted on the pot. This is a pic just after mounting. The experiment will be to see if this recovering plant takes to the system. Note the pot "sweating" so I don't think I'll need to spray the plant at all or worry about humidity. I used a dilute fert solution within the pot and will just keep it filled. We'll see what happens.

[Puddy1]

What a fascinating idea! I really love the way it looks.
Bumpman & 1joyceh...please keep us updated. I would be interested to know how it works in your areas.

[Brooke]

I could be wrong but I don't think fertilizer water inside the pot will sweat to outside the pot.

Brooke

[bumpman]

I also thought about this Brooke, so I'm curious to see if there is any salt build-up on the outside, which would be an indication that nutrients are moving along with the water.

[NancyH]

HI Bumpman. What an amazing idea! It looks so awesome and beautiful. I would try it, but I wonder what happens when I would want to bring in my blooming orchid from the greenhouse to the inside of the house to enjoy. I would be worried about keeping the plant well hydrated. My greenhouse is on the wet misty side so this system would work for me. Maybe I could try one and see how it goes. Would any unglazed clay pot work, or do you have to use the one you ordered? I think the shipping would be expensive.
Thanks,
Nancy

[NiNiDazzle]

Experimentation time! I will try this in the spring when I can leave the jug outside. I will try it with a big box NOID first to see if this mounting method is compatible with my locale.

[JYM]

cant wait to see how it works out!

[lmartiny]

There have been threads here about mounting on clay pots. Put regular clay pots. I have to say your's look outstanding; and that is not an everyday clay pot. very nice.

[bumpman]

So far the olla pot is working well- almost too well as it is still seeping a bit. But there's plenty of hydration, local humidity, yet exposure of the roots to air movement. I have to pour off some water from the plastic saucer every few days. Eventually I'd like to mount a second Phal on it. In response to Nancy, I would think that any unglazed clay pot would work as long as it has some porosity.

[bumpman]

update on my mount: added two more NOID phals (were on sale at a box store)

[ArtGeekMark]

Nice variegated find.

[minhnhattung]

I will try it. Is the pot full of water?

[1joyceh]

That looks great bumpman!!
love the Sarracenia in the background

[bumpman]

Yes, the pot is full of water. So far it doesn't seem like there's any salt build-up outside, so I've been fertilizing externally.

[Filb]

That looks awesome with multiple orchids on there!
Very cool idea and I love that it's working well for you, thanks for sharing with us!
Like Linda, I may try an experiment with this in the spring!

[SurfDudeVb]

Bumpman, what size olla is this? Peddlerswagon is on backorder but they have multiple different sizes.

[bumpman]

Thanks all for your feedback! This olla was the large size as the smaller ones weren't available at the time I ordered. So far the seepage seems to be slowing and I may let the pot dry out a bit before refilling to encourage new roots to attach to the pot.

[j0ker918]

I think this is a great fun, low-hassle way to grow orchids. I love set-it-and-forget-it techniques. I assume it must be working since It's been a month and your orchid is still alive. I hope you get some blooms using this method.

Notice any root growth on the original phal?

Post more pics

[JudyC]

Holy moley - what a wicked idea!!! Looks absolutely beautiful!!!!!! *bookmarked* this page

[bumpman]

As for roots, the first "sickly" phal has put out a new root as well as a new leaf. The recently added NOID phals had just finished blooming (hence on sale at the box store) and had decent roots in tightly packed sphag in their original pots (probably sphag added in preparation for sale). I used some of the sphag as you can see on the mount. It's winter here in NH but the pot has a little additional light. I'm going to let them "rest" a little (N 65 F to D 75 F) then start warming them up with more light to induce new growth. Fingers crossed.

[Micky]

Wow... Can you do this to any kind of orchid? It looks awesome... I wonder if it will work on the outside of a standard terracotta pot?

[Musika]

I would love to see an update on this project of yours!!

[imagineink]

this idea is really cool im very excited to new pics!!! all the ideas and options..turbo neat

[bumpman]

Update: Plants still doing fine, as it's midwinter here and the plants finished blooming before I bought them, I'm still letting them "rest" (I know phals don't need a typical dry rest). Some new growth continues on the first phal.

[JudyC]

Photos pleassseee bumpman!

Has anyone else ventured this way?? would LOVE to hear/see how they've also made out!!

[j0ker918]

definitely my next project once I can make some space

[lmartiny]

Nice. And I too use big box/clearance Phals when I try multi mounts. I've got a couple going on driftwood pieces. I still have a rock I want to try. Someone here did a Tolumnea. I'll have some basic pot mounts by default. That is... too grown to its orchid pot to mutilate trying to '"repot."

[jpyerry]

I think that this is great idea, mounting on terracotta! Inspired really, I am looking forward to trying one myself.

I can't help but notice that the notion is very similar to the concept of the Chia pet, not that I have any desire to reduce the idea to an "As Seen On TV!" toy, but one cannot help but think of the similarities. Hopefully, we won't see Chia Orchids being sold anytime soon.

But, I can't wait to give it a try, I think it is a marvelous way to have an almost self-watering mount, which one of the reasons I have so few mounted orchids is that for at least two days a week I simply can't be home, so every week I have to wrap the mounts in plastic which I know can't be good for them. I hope it will be an elegant solution to my problem.

Justin

[PaulB]

Definitely will give this a try. Thanks for your post, Bumpman!

The only thing that I'd be concerned about, being in So. Cal, is that we have a lot of issues with mosquitos and standing water. I'm sure others on this thread deal with the same thing. Maybe some type of "net" inside to keep the little suckers out of the water. Or put some mosquito fish in the pot...

[jpyerry]

Originally Posted by PaulB

Definitely will give this a try. Thanks for your post, Bumpman!

The only thing that I'd be concerned about, being in So. Cal, is that we have a lot of issues with mosquitos and standing water. I'm sure others on this thread deal with the same thing. Maybe some type of "net" inside to keep the little suckers out of the water. Or put some mosquito fish in the pot...

Another thing to consider is floating a mosquito dunk in the water. I have been using these in any area that has standing water, like humidity trays and such. They may not make the most aesthetically pleasing sight floating in the water, but I have noticed a vast reduction in fungus gnat numbers. I think they are good products, I still have fungus gnats but far less of them.

Justin

[PaulB]

Didn't even think of the dunks, Justin. Good idea! I have used them, years ago. The mosquitos are nasty here. The kind that cause all kinds of problems and are thought to be the things bringing in viruses... killing a lot of birds.

One can also get the mosquito fish (free here) from the County Mosquito Abatement Dept, which work really well. Plus, they're a natural way of keeping the larvae community down.

[jpyerry]

I also have a decent sized collection of carnivorous plants, they are not a perfect solution to the problem and they won't eradicate mosquitos/fungus gnats, but the butterworts and sundews are pretty and they love the small insects, plus they are fun to grow. Food for thought...

Justin

[JudyC]

Well I decided to bite the bullet - and took the sickliest mini and mount it on a clay pot I have. I filled it with just temp. water and placed it in a water tray.

Kinda' the last resort for this little fella. Keeping fingers crossed

[j0ker918]

I think the easiest way to prevent mosquitos is just to place a smooth river stone on the top to cover the hole. That's how the Spanish would sometimes do when they used it as gardening devices. Or you can get creative and put something cool on top like a cork, tennis ball, or a giant diamond.

[lmartiny]

Here they put goldfish in rain barrels to eat the mosquitos. I have high humidity and grow outside most of the year. Mounts can be more labor intensive for water needs. But I think they can go a day or few without any special attention and they will do fine. I would not overwork it.

[funktified]

Great post - makes me want to try this myself... keep the pictures coming

[bumpman]

Here's the latest pics


So far so good

[lvanderb]

Those are some happy looking orchids. What a cool idea!

[Musika]

So do you just leave the pot sitting in water?

[JudyC]

They do seem to LOVE that jug!

Fantastic photos! keep them coming when you can please

[JudyC]

Sad news: my sickly mini phal didn't take to this...think it was too far gone. *sigh* oh well not for a lack of trying

[j0ker918]

You don't leave the olla in water. You fill the pot with water and it seeps out at a slow rate to stay constantly moist, but that means you'll have to put a tray underneath to collect the seepage. You can choose to leave the olla in the water without tossing it regularly, it won't harm it, but the water might start getting stale and contaminated. Also, the wetter the clay, the faster it will break down over time so keeping the bottom of the olla submerged all the time will cause uneven decay over the years.

[DianesOrchids]

Will the roots of the Phal actually attach to the outside of the pots? Seems like they wouldn't have anything to grab onto.

[bumpman]

To Diane, that's what I'm most interested in determining -so far they've haven't attached as here in NH I'm waiting for new growth from these recent mounts. But you can see in the original picture the chid roots have attached to the smooth terra-cotta and I've seen other Terra-cotta mounts with roots attached.

[Miss Joaquim]

Hi,

I'm new to this. I've been reading and learning lots from all your posts about mounting and got inspired. Today, I decided to pluck up my courage to mount 2 of my orchids, a phalanopsis and a sarc.
Blessed with 3 unglazed 'vases' thru ebay and here are the pics.
Keeping my fingers cross.

[bumpman]

Good luck with them! Looks like that you're mounting at just the right time with good root growth.

[j0ker918]

How are people's ollas doing during this blooming season?

[Mondo]

will it work with bigger terracota pots? and will it work with dendrobiums?
reallly inspirational! thank you~

[SilverShaded]

Just came across this thread, very cool! About 15 years ago i lived in Japan for a couple of years and they commonly sold vandas attached to the insides of normal clay pots in a similar way, with roots very neatly trained to go around the inside rim of the pot. With a spray ever day the used to grow really well.

[Catt Mandu]

Intriguing mount method - if I find the right containers, I would certainly try it!

[trev]

This is a very interesting thread. Now that thing about the Chia containers...hmmm..I do have one I can experiment on. Might as well, it is just now an empty container amongst a lot of other things..a nice way to repurpose it somehow. Will see how it goes..maybe I will try it on one of my pleurothallids..they seem to be always thirsty.

[trev]

I did my chia planter and mounted a segment of my Barbosella cogniauxiana ..though I did not use any moss, seems the container is already damp moist enough. So will observe how this goes. I filled up the chia planter first with water, let the water seep through the container overnight before I mounted the plant. If this goes successful I will mount the other pleurothallids!

[empress]

Originally Posted by trev

I did my chia planter and mounted a segment of my Barbosella cogniauxiana ..though I did not use any moss, seems the container is already damp moist enough. So will observe how this goes. I filled up the chia planter first with water, let the water seep through the container overnight before I mounted the plant. If this goes successful I will mount the other pleurothallids!

Chia pets! Thats a great idea~

[PaulB]

Haven't seen this thread for awhile, even tho I stated above that I was going to try it.
I haven't thrown pots for quite some time, so maybe this will inspire me to get back to it. My potter's wheel is just gathering dust.

[trev]

I changed the plug that I have put on the hole of my chia planter..I got an old wine stopper..just for aesthetics

Observing this container..the texture of this planter is rougher..hoping that will be a good factor too for the roots to hold on,unlike trying to hold on to a smooth clay pot. But it is still too early to tell..will update later on..if it worked

[empress]

Originally Posted by trev

I changed the plug that I have put on the hole of my chia planter..I got an old wine stopper..just for aesthetics

Observing this container..the texture of this planter is rougher..hoping that will be a good factor too for the roots to hold on,unlike trying to hold on to a smooth clay pot. But it is still too early to tell..will update later on..if it worked

Hey! I think I have that exact stopper~

[trev]

Cheers!

[Catt Mandu]

Originally Posted by PaulB

Haven't seen this thread for awhile, even tho I stated above that I was going to try it.
I haven't thrown pots for quite some time, so maybe this will inspire me to get back to it. My potter's wheel is just gathering dust.

But if you throw them, won't they break?

All kidding aside, I wish I had the talent/patience to make pottery. I really like the jugs in the original post. Might even work better to press burlap etc. into the surface of the wet clay, to give it a little texture for the plant to hold on to.

[vanessa]

Is bumpman still around? Would love to see an updated picture of the above olla.

[PaulB]

Originally Posted by Catt Mandu

But if you throw them, won't they break?

All kidding aside, I wish I had the talent/patience to make pottery. I really like the jugs in the original post. Might even work better to press burlap etc. into the surface of the wet clay, to give it a little texture for the plant to hold on to.

Hmmm... I don't use unglazed clay pots for any of my orchids, but you do, I think. Don't the roots of your orchids eventually "cling" to the clay? Plants that I do have in the red clay pots, like Plumerias and others will, if they have a rough enough inside surface.
Since the unglazed pots are basically what is called the "Bisque" stage, the clay isn't hardened as much as a vitrified pot would be, meaning that it has hardened temperature-wise to the point where water will not seep through it. Like a coffee mug. So, being bisque, the surface could be roughened with a stone or even a grinding stone. it could also be scratched enough to put small V-grooves on the surface.

...and yes, I have been known to break a few by the tossing method.