Oncidium mounted in baskets

[jiter]

I received 2 mini oncidiums. I wrapped their roots in sphagum moss and then planted them in a small wooden orchid basket and put them on my lanai hanging at an angle suspended from a linked chain. They look real good, and so far the flowers are still blooming fine. I soak them once a week, and mist once in a while, (been humid here in Fla.--still) but I keep the moss damp. As I am trying this little experiment on a wing and a prayer, I need some input from someone out there with any additional informtion to see if I did right and whatever else may be needed to keep this wonderful orchids going......

[janice]

jiter, I brought back two mini oncidiums this past fall to southern Illinois. One is mounted on bark and one is in a tiny clay pot. Since my orchids have to come inside in the winter and the humidity can be a problem, I too am praying that they make it. I tend to be an overwaterer so I am concerned re: my watering regiment. It sounds like we both could use some help here. Good luck!

[jiter]

Welcome aboard!! Glad to have someone to share the fun of growing these
little guys with someone. we can learn together about them over time. Although I am growing outdoors, very interested to see how they will do indoors, so we have the best of both "orchid" growing areas for these oncidiums....Good Luck!

[Nancy]

I have an Oncidium Sweet Sugar that is in a metal basket. It appears to be thriving. I think the oncidiums with thinker roots do better with mounting and in baskets because they have a littlemore storage capability. Good luck with your plants.

[jerrymeola]

using a wooden basket and wrapping them in moss is no different than my mounting them on wood wrapped in moss. I do about 2000 of these a year, at least half are Oncidium alliance..

You will find they dry very fast and require watering more often than pots. Over-watering is almost impossible as there is no place to store the excess water it just drips out.

Oncidium have much less roots than Cattleya and other orchids They live mostly on the reserves in the bulb. For this reason I like to soak the plants in a bucket 15-20 minutes when watering. Spraying with water often runs off before the water gets inside the moss to the roots. This is not as big a problem with baskets as with wood wraps since the moss is looser. It either event soaking allows the bulb to drink as much water as it wants and 5 minutes after removing it from the basket the excess water is drained off. I have forgotten them overnight without problems.

[janice]

Jerry, thanks for the input because my oncidiums are the first ones I have bought and my other orchids are Phals, Vandas, Acndas., Catts etc...It is 20 outside this morning so they have to be inside during the winter - being mounted or in a basket they appear to dry out quickly and I go from worrying about too much water to too little. jan

[Gladys47]

I have a mounted Sweet Sugar. It lives ,but looks shriveled and does not thrive. This in spite of regular soaking and misting. I'm wondering now if I should add more spagh. I do not hav alot on the mount. Very little in fact. Gladys

[PhalPal]

Gladys I have a very hard time with mounts in my climate zone. You have more humidity then I do but it is still hot and dry most of the year. I put the few mounts I have under my nose so I can water them almost every day and I have given up on growing outside except for Laelia anceps. The one mount I have that is doing great is a little species, Phal fasciata. Currently it has two spikes and just loves me; go figure. I will post pics when they peek out.

Just a thought.......what kind of moss are you using?? Since I now use only Grade AAA NZ spraghum I have had much better results and it holds moisture longer. The stuff sold in stores just doesn't do the job.

[articuno75]

Connie, if you can get it try 5A NZ long strand. It's the best. Costs a little bit more, but you can cut it or chop it to any length you need, and the stuff is second to like a sponge !!! Love it!!!

[Nancy]

I don't know how your humidity is but there are things you can do tobring itup. Do you have a humidifier? I run mine 24/7. I also keep all my plants close together, which seems to help to increase thehumidity when the other plants are watered. Hope this helps and good luck.

[PhalPal]

Jenny it might be AAAAA that I have; I didn't know how many A's it had! It is long strand and a person I trust told me it was the best you can buy. It came in a clear plastic bag and is no longer labeled for me. It works great for my little spraghum plants and mounts.

Nancy - I can't do much to bring up the humidity outside except for grouping and watering. I would love to change my set-up outside to grow everything but phals out there year round. In summer we can get to the single digits in humidity; the hotter it gets the lower the humidity, so summer is very dry.
I am just now setting up T5's inside and weaning phals and some mounts to them. I bought a cheap Target humidifier and will have the whole thing put together by tomorrow. I'm curious how much it will help.

[articuno75]

Connie~ Here is a webpage that has a portable greenhouse for less than $7.00 ! Maybe you can use it for your Phals outside? Harbor Freight Tools

[Nancy]

This is probably a dumb idea, but I was wondering if it would be possible to hang a clear plastic bag over the plant when the humidity gets to be too low. I know this works with a pot and serves to keep the humidity steadier indoors. I was thinking that this could be done right after the plant was watered. You could leave the bottom of the bag open for aiir circulation. Anyway, just an idea.

[articuno75]

Nancy~ yes you can, and it does work. Be careful about the circulation of air though cause you can create mildew.

[jiter]

Jerry, thanks so much for the information about the watering. I will water more often now that I know how quickly they dry out. Hanging where they are, they get plenty of circulation so that is a help too. I am so excited with these oncidiums.....Is the militonia in the same family and care? Saw some, but was hesitant to buy.....thanks!

[PhalPal]

Jenny currently I have my phals set up under T5's inside. I JUST set it up and I'm moving things around everyday; I just can't seem to get things where they are easy to access. I have promised a few other members I will post pictures when I get a good arrangement.
I have Cymbidiums, Oncidiums and Laelias outside. I do want to build a little shade house on the east side of my house for my cyms in summer. Too hot and too cold for phals outside any time of year. I tried two outside in fall weather and it ruined their leaves, even above 50 degrees. I like my leaves pretty!

[jerrymeola]

Did you know that mini Oncidium (Tolumeria or Equitants) will continue to flower from the nodes below the flowers. If you cut the stem just above the node it can branch and re-flower like a Phalaenopsis

[sandra]

jiter, I keep my minis (tolumnias/equitants) in small wood baskets also (tied in) with a little charcoal and sphag. I mist daily and that's it. They love the sphag. and that's the biggest and most favorable difference I see using this in relation to other mediums. "If it ain't broke"....sounds like you're doing exactly what you should for them. Enjoy!