When similar things happened to me in the past, I also mounted. I got tired of having to water the all the mounts and of course and Vandas every day. Now, as my Cattleyas need repotting I plant them in lava and river rock. I haven't had a problem like what you are experiencing with bark. In this part of the country outside Cattleyas in bark, during the rainy season, don't get a chance to dry out. Rock doesn't have this problem, and it doesn't degrade! My Cattleyas now don't get watered in the rainy season until they haven't had rain for 5 to 7 days. During the dry season I follow the same regiment. Life is good.
It sounds like you’ve really found a great solution with the lava and river rock! Keeping Cattleyas healthy during the rainy season can definitely be a challenge, but your method seems to work well.
Cattleya orchids do great potted under my conditions. I grow mostly in the windowsill and under lights. I use pots with holes so that the medium doesn't stay soggy for too long. I've found that growing things on mounts under my conditions is impractical, and the plants never really thrive. Always worth considering that growing conditions vary when seeking and giving advice. 🙂
It's interesting to hear how well Cattleyas thrive for you! You're absolutely right-growing conditions can make all the difference. Thanks for sharing your experience!
I am mount all mine , bought the cork bark , rewatching your videos so I get it right A big , thank you , still waiting to see u are all ok after hurricane ???
I am sooooo with you! I lost soooo many potted cattleyas that I HAD to have a fence installed on my yard so that I can hang my mounted orchids😜. I didn’t know about “babying” them for at least 1 week. Will definitely do that in the future. Thanks for another great video and I am sure you are going to enjoy your daughter’s visit😍
I am in the Caribbean same exact was happening here until I changed the media to inorganic, volcanic rock, it changed my world around and yes I do water everyday depending how dry it gets and just like you our humidity here can go up to 85-90% in the summer and temperatures this summer had reach 112F. With the high temperatures I can water everyday. I lost over 20 orchids in the past 🤣🤣🤣by putting them in clay pots with not enough holes for air flow and using orchiata bark which is very hard and high quality but it didn’t work on the Cattleyas. It’s been now five years and I have my collection all with volcanic rock, river rock except those orchid that like more humid conditions then I might add a bits of bark or moss but only at the top. It is frustrating when you put so much effort and time to come and find them rotten. I feel you. And I be honest I don’t like volcanic rock buy hey if they like it and are thriving who am I to argue with them😂😂😂 I learned something that help me remove them from the pot with minimum damage I first fill about a quarter of the pot with river rock then the volcanic and I can remove them with very little damage. I love love watching your channel. You are the craziest most funny orchid guys I know🤣🤣
Wow, it sounds like you've really found the right balance for your orchids! It's always a journey figuring out what works best for them, especially in such challenging conditions. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Thanks Dave for all your advice! Keep the videos coming! Though I live at 9000 feet above sea level in Ecuador, a lot of the problems I have are similar to yours even though our climates differ! I love Cattleyas so much but they are a hassle when it comes to getting fungus bacteria. Put them in the air in whatever and they just thrive ! My only problem is them getting wet with our afternoon showers in 70 degree weather. Are any of your cattleyas rained on? Do they ever get black rot ? Thanks for your advice!
Great video full of great info. I'm doing a little experiment, got 2 cattleyas in the same shipment put one in a terracotta and lava rock, small amount of tree fern bark(encourage roots to go down) and plant 2 in 60% tree fern bark with small lava rock, plastic pot. Summer time works great they are outside. We will see how they grow once I bring them inside.
That sounds like an interesting experiment! It's always fascinating to see how different growing mediums affect plant growth. Keep us updated on their progress!
Outstanding! Live in Panama City and am concerned about where I'm gonna put all my orchids when it turns off cold. Any suggestions? Also, is it okay to mount or plant several small orchids in one pot or piece of wood to save space?
Panama city will be tricky in the winter. You either need some sort of greenhouse or get used to living with a bunch of flower freinds in your house. I would not mount more than one orchid per mount. I've had bad experiences.
Dave, I heard that the lanai screen cuts the light by 40%. Is this why my orchids in central FL are doing well with benign neglect and not burning up? I even had potted cattleya that got a bit frozen. They got black spots but still produce every year. Also I just hung my air plants on a wire hook.
Yes, I think it is around 40%. It's great to hear that your orchids are thriving! The lanai screen definitely helps filter the light, providing a more forgiving environment for your plants. It sounds like you have a green thumb, even with a bit of neglect!
I also grow in Florida (also in a pool lanai). Same issues. The only non rotted Cattleyas in pots that I have are grown in Leca and it doesn’t seem to grow as fast as when grown mounted. IMO, bark and other media seems to lead to issues. I think the everyday storms with daily watering doom us.
It sounds like you're really navigating the challenges of Florida's climate! Leca can be a great alternative, but I totally understand the struggle with the storms and humidity. Keep experimenting to find what works best for your Cattleyas!
Greetings from Canada. I have seen a number of mounted orchids with moss wrapped around the roots, obviously you don't do this.....why? Perhaps you do use moss on other species? Thanks
Thanks for your question! I tend to focus on different methods for mounting orchids, but moss can definitely have its benefits for certain species. It really depends on the type of orchid and its environment! I water every day so I don't need it
I agree with you Dave. Growing cattleyas especially indoors like I do in bark in pots is a big risk. I have now switched to just lava rock in clay pots for all my cattleyas. I do want to try and grow some of them mounted. You did make it look easy. I will give it a try. Thank you sir!
I'm glad you found the tips helpful! Switching to lava rock sounds like a solid plan. Best of luck with the mounted cattleyas, I’m sure you’ll do great!
Hi Dave😌🙌Yeah, why have pots been used instead of just growing cattleya on wood Dave? Could the answers be related to culture in Europe where mounting a cattleya is rare. It's because the weather is too cool all year and they are inclined to let them get too dry between waterings, and combined with the cool they go dormant often. My orchids have done much better hanging under my trees. It's 80% humidity and much cooler because of this Japan hot weather in Summer. I keep my cattleya under semi-cover from rain in teracotta pots with mainly pumice with some bark. I have been contemplating just mounting them🙄🤔My mini cattleya has been thriving in its' shallow pot with pumice that it hasn't ever shown any rot at all, only occasionally after very high temperatures it may lose a bulb.
It's great to hear that you're successfully growing your Cattleyas in pots! Finding the right materials like cork can really make a difference in their health and growth.
Great to watch Mounting Orkids.., learned it. Thanks Dave.
When similar things happened to me in the past, I also mounted. I got tired of having to water the all the mounts and of course and Vandas every day. Now, as my Cattleyas need repotting I plant them in lava and river rock. I haven't had a problem like what you are experiencing with bark. In this part of the country outside Cattleyas in bark, during the rainy season, don't get a chance to dry out. Rock doesn't have this problem, and it doesn't degrade! My Cattleyas now don't get watered in the rainy season until they haven't had rain for 5 to 7 days. During the dry season I follow the same regiment. Life is good.
It sounds like you’ve really found a great solution with the lava and river rock! Keeping Cattleyas healthy during the rainy season can definitely be a challenge, but your method seems to work well.
It’s a fun and healthy addiction Dave!!!! I totally understand! It’s fun to watch you because you say it like it is!!!
Thank you Dave. I always learn good new things with your videos. Keep them coming I really need them. 😊
Cattleya orchids do great potted under my conditions. I grow mostly in the windowsill and under lights. I use pots with holes so that the medium doesn't stay soggy for too long. I've found that growing things on mounts under my conditions is impractical, and the plants never really thrive. Always worth considering that growing conditions vary when seeking and giving advice. 🙂
It's interesting to hear how well Cattleyas thrive for you! You're absolutely right-growing conditions can make all the difference. Thanks for sharing your experience!
I am mount all mine , bought the cork bark , rewatching your videos so I get it right
A big , thank you , still waiting to see u are all ok after hurricane ???
I'm fine. We made it!
I am sooooo with you! I lost soooo many potted cattleyas that I HAD to have a fence installed on my yard so that I can hang my mounted orchids😜. I didn’t know about “babying” them for at least 1 week. Will definitely do that in the future. Thanks for another great video and I am sure you are going to enjoy your daughter’s visit😍
I'm glad you found the video helpful! Babying those orchids can make a big difference. Wishing you the best with your mounted beauties!
I am in the Caribbean same exact was happening here until I changed the media to inorganic, volcanic rock, it changed my world around and yes I do water everyday depending how dry it gets and just like you our humidity here can go up to 85-90% in the summer and temperatures this summer had reach 112F. With the high temperatures I can water everyday. I lost over 20 orchids in the past 🤣🤣🤣by putting them in clay pots with not enough holes for air flow and using orchiata bark which is very hard and high quality but it didn’t work on the Cattleyas. It’s been now five years and I have my collection all with volcanic rock, river rock except those orchid that like more humid conditions then I might add a bits of bark or moss but only at the top. It is frustrating when you put so much effort and time to come and find them rotten. I feel you. And I be honest I don’t like volcanic rock buy hey if they like it and are thriving who am I to argue with them😂😂😂 I learned something that help me remove them from the pot with minimum damage I first fill about a quarter of the pot with river rock then the volcanic and I can remove them with very little damage. I love love watching your channel. You are the craziest most funny orchid guys I know🤣🤣
Wow, it sounds like you've really found the right balance for your orchids! It's always a journey figuring out what works best for them, especially in such challenging conditions. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Hi Dave, I use wool to tie orchids onto trees or coconut husks. I think it's gentler than your plastic tie.
Good tip!
Thanks Dave for all your advice! Keep the videos coming! Though I live at 9000 feet above sea level in Ecuador, a lot of the problems I have are similar to yours even though our climates differ! I love Cattleyas so much but they are a hassle when it comes to getting fungus bacteria. Put them in the air in whatever and they just thrive ! My only problem is them getting wet with our afternoon showers in 70 degree weather. Are any of your cattleyas rained on? Do they ever get black rot ? Thanks for your advice!
Since it is always blazing sun here I don't have too many problems. After a hurrican I will have some rot problmes.
I feel the same about my dendrobiums! Using ash wood. As soon as I mounted, it latched on and currently flowering, this is since March! ❤
That's awesome to hear! Dendrobiums can be such rewarding plants, and it sounds like yours is thriving on that ash wood. Keep up the great work!
Great video full of great info. I'm doing a little experiment, got 2 cattleyas in the same shipment put one in a terracotta and lava rock, small amount of tree fern bark(encourage roots to go down) and plant 2 in 60% tree fern bark with small lava rock, plastic pot. Summer time works great they are outside. We will see how they grow once I bring them inside.
That sounds like an interesting experiment! It's always fascinating to see how different growing mediums affect plant growth. Keep us updated on their progress!
Mounting it, or planting it in a terracotta pot w hole for air flow? If mounting isn't really an option I would think a good second option.
I like the honeycomb mount that behind you at 14:25
Outstanding! Live in Panama City and am concerned about where I'm gonna put all my orchids when it turns off cold. Any suggestions? Also, is it okay to mount or plant several small orchids in one pot or piece of wood to save space?
Panama city will be tricky in the winter. You either need some sort of greenhouse or get used to living with a bunch of flower freinds in your house. I would not mount more than one orchid per mount. I've had bad experiences.
Dave, I heard that the lanai screen cuts the light by 40%. Is this why my orchids in central FL are doing well with benign neglect and not burning up? I even had potted cattleya that got a bit frozen. They got black spots but still produce every year. Also I just hung my air plants on a wire hook.
Yes, I think it is around 40%. It's great to hear that your orchids are thriving! The lanai screen definitely helps filter the light, providing a more forgiving environment for your plants. It sounds like you have a green thumb, even with a bit of neglect!
Try ordering your cork from Chewy or other pet supply stores. It is less expensive and the same stuff. They sell it for reptiles.
Thanks for the tip!
I also grow in Florida (also in a pool lanai). Same issues. The only non rotted Cattleyas in pots that I have are grown in Leca and it doesn’t seem to grow as fast as when grown mounted. IMO, bark and other media seems to lead to issues. I think the everyday storms with daily watering doom us.
It sounds like you're really navigating the challenges of Florida's climate! Leca can be a great alternative, but I totally understand the struggle with the storms and humidity. Keep experimenting to find what works best for your Cattleyas!
Greetings from Canada. I have seen a number of mounted orchids with moss wrapped around the roots, obviously you don't do this.....why? Perhaps you do use moss on other species? Thanks
Thanks for your question! I tend to focus on different methods for mounting orchids, but moss can definitely have its benefits for certain species. It really depends on the type of orchid and its environment! I water every day so I don't need it
I agree with you Dave. Growing cattleyas especially indoors like I do in bark in pots is a big risk. I have now switched to just lava rock in clay pots for all my cattleyas. I do want to try and grow some of them mounted. You did make it look easy. I will give it a try. Thank you sir!
I'm glad you found the tips helpful! Switching to lava rock sounds like a solid plan. Best of luck with the mounted cattleyas, I’m sure you’ll do great!
Hi Dave😌🙌Yeah, why have pots been used instead of just growing cattleya on wood Dave? Could the answers be related to culture in Europe where mounting a cattleya is rare. It's because the weather is too cool all year and they are inclined to let them get too dry between waterings, and combined with the cool they go dormant often. My orchids have done much better hanging under my trees. It's 80% humidity and much cooler because of this Japan hot weather in Summer. I keep my cattleya under semi-cover from rain in teracotta pots with mainly pumice with some bark. I have been contemplating just mounting them🙄🤔My mini cattleya has been thriving in its' shallow pot with pumice that it hasn't ever shown any rot at all, only occasionally after very high temperatures it may lose a bulb.
I grow most of my Cattleyas in pots because it’s too hot and dry where I live.
You can get the cork cheaper, by the pound.
It's great to hear that you're successfully growing your Cattleyas in pots! Finding the right materials like cork can really make a difference in their health and growth.
👀😊
Dont insult your audience by bad mouthing Home Depot pine bark. Everyone cannot afford the expensive Orchiata and NZ fern, you know.