Moss and Mounting upside down

[xiongmaopanda]

I have become interested in attempting to mount a small orchid.
I had two questions.
Do Phals have to mounted upside down or could you also have them growing off the side of the mount?
Also, is moss absolutely necessary? My current Phal and I had a bad experience with Sphagnum moss. I realize that the plant needs something to hold onto but does it have to be moss? haha
I would probably attempt with a Phal and need suggestions about the moss.

[mayres]

I believe sideways would be much more common than literally upside down. The moss is only needed for providing a longer term of moisture for the roots - the roots are not "holding on" to the moss at all. Think of ivy - how it attaches to the sides of buildings and trees - phal roots will attach to the mounting over time in a similar way - they are usually "attached" with some clear monofilament fishing line or something similar to start with until they eventually self attach. You will need lots of humidity to be successful with this technique on a phal - greenhouse or live somewhere with year round humidity - (from what I have gathered by reading and absorbing information - I don't personally mount any, but know people in my local society that do many in greenhouses). I'm certain some mounters will weigh in shortly and give you some additional info.

[Brooke]

I'm a mounter :>) I even had some when I grew inside under lights so it can be accomplished.

You need the moss on top of the roots to maintain moisture around them. It isn't anything like growing a phal in a pot of sphag. Inside you will have to water every day since phals want to stay moist but not soppy wet.

Even in a g/h in winter when there is no sun and the heater runs night and day, some of my phals still get watered daily. It depends on the amount of moss I have on the mount, on the type of material I used for the mount, on what oddity that particular phals requires.

You can mount the phal sideways and hope it grows the way you picture. Some phals will naturally grow down or over the edge of the pot. Some will grow up towards the major light source even when mounted upside down. Genetics is more of a determining factor regardless of what we humans insist for them.

Good luck with your decision, mounts are fun if you have the time to devote to them.

Brooke

[Bird Song Farm]

I'm a mounter too! :-)

I mount all my species phals "up side down". As brooke and mayres said, the use of moss is to hold some moisture around the root ball. I'm watering them every two days right now with a good spray down on alternating days. As it gets further into winter and the heat is on more I'll have to soak everyday and a spray in the early afternoon. Well worth the effort tho as they look and perform the way nature intended them to.

Good luck, give it a try, it's the only way to find out how they will perform for you. :-)

Al

[xiongmaopanda]

Hmm...looks like I will have to put a lot of thought into this.
I don't have a greenhouse and North Carolina weather is just too unpredictable.