Brassavola flagellaris and Cattleya violacea on mount

[Brassavola]

Hello everybody!
I have recently mounted these two species on cork bark, but since this is my first mounting attempt, I am afraid that I will or have done something wrong.
As, for example, I might have added too much sphagnum moss (it covers all the roots of both plants and is beneath the roots). The moss grows all over my garden. The mount is big, so I cannot soak it, since there is no bucket that size. That is why I spray the mount with a plain sprayer a couple of times a day (approx. 4). I'll take photos as soon as I recharge my camera batteries

Does anyone have experience with growing these species?

[fred]

Hi Brassavola
welcome to the forum.
before you can post pics you will need to have reached 5 posts.
Also can you please go into your UserCP and Update your Profile with your Location so we can understand your growing conditions as we have members from all over the world with different growing conditions.
Also with up-dating your Location will also help us to give you the right advice

[Brassavola]

There, I've done it
The climate here is moderate, with 50-60% humidity and temperatures from 15 to 26 °C in spring.

[digitalgate]

it is really experience. I like it dry out before i water again.(harden) So that the roots does not rot easily . But you might just water if it is dry to the touch.

[jerrymeola]

Both Bassovola and Cattleya mount easily and I do not know of anything about these species to think they are unique.

I always put sphag totally around my roots. This allows the plant to grow as if it were still in a pot and as it develops new roots the roots will be on the outside of the moss and the roots inside the moss die off.

This method saves about 6 months of growing time. That is the time period the plant will loss its old roots and then start to develop new roots, if you had placed moss only under the plant.

Spraying is adequate for watering mounted orchids. They probably can get by with a good soaking (by hose or sprayer) 2-3 times a week, not 4 times a day, but you almost can not over water a mounted orchid. You will find better results if you wet the plant and then water again in a few minutes. This gives the moss time to absorb the water and the next watering will penetrate deeper.

This mount of Sogo Doll went from a two inch pot to flowering in six months. Without the moss all around the roots the new roots would have just been starting. The plant probably would take another year to flower. All the roots you see in the photo are new. If I were to remove the moss I would find that the old roots are dead and gone. Therefor, I do not see any gain by not wraping the roots.

[Brassavola]

So, it is enough to just spray the mount? I don't have to soak it?
I was spraying it so often in order to increase humidity, I couldn't think of a better way... I read that it's pretty hard to grow these orchids in a home, so I was a bit paranoid I suppose...

[Brassavola]

Here is what is looks like:

[patticake]

OOOO! That looks beautiful! What kind of moss are you using? It looks very green!
I have mine in the house and just spray it. Of course it hasn't grown either!!
Keep us posted!

[Brassavola]

Thank you
I used two kinds of moss: the first is the one that grows in the forest on rocks, it's a bit thicker and holds on water a bit longer, and the second is the plain one that grows in my garden, but the problem is it dries up very quickly.
The cattleya is now in the growing stage, so a few new leaves are growing.
I just hope the roots don't start to rot under the moss

[Brassavola]

Hello everybody! I'm back
My mounted orchids are doing fine and are constantly growing. The funny thing about cattleya violacea is that it has no resting period like other cattleyas, so it has to be watered regularly all year round. Anyway, I decided to buy a little greenhouse (dimensions are 50*50*100 - width*depth*height) that fits in my room, so my mounted orchids could have all year round high humidity (especially during the summer).
Does anybody have a greenhouse like this? I was thinking of installing a light that encourages growth and the same time warms up the greenhouse in winter. I have no experience with this. Could somebody with more expeience please me give some advise?
Thanks

[solay]

Sorry, I'm trying to get one up and going but it's a outdoor one. I think your mounted orchids look great. Love the natural green color of the rock moss. Lucky that you get some that grows in the yard. Good Luck. Maybe others have more advice for you.

[Brassavola]

Thanks
Wow, I've always dreamed of an outside greenhouse of my own...
The moss in my yard is not so good, it gets dry too soon, so I have to make a little trip to a nearby forest and collect real sphagnum moss.