Orchids on palms

[Walter John]

It's been over a year now, when do you think I should see some flower action ?

[Tampa Scott]

Wal, I have many Orchids growing outside on trees. Most flower for me in the late fall early winter months. That time is now approaching for you, give them a few more months and I think they will be in flower. Scott

[ariscott]

You have a few different types of orchids there. They will all flower at different time, so you have to be a tad patient. The cattleya only flowers once a year in Brisbane, and so is dendrobium. Up in the tropics, the dendrobiums can flower twice a year with the right condition. Just spray them with some orchids fertiliser every now and then to induce flowering....

Regards, Ari

[PalmatierMeg]

Very cool concept. I have a number of Phalaenopsis in pots on my living room windowsill. About 2/3 are or about to bloom. Late winter/early spring seems to be prime time here In Paradise.

[SubTropicRay]

Scott,

What orchid types do you have mounted on trees? I'd like to try that at my place but am always concerned about the cold weather.

Ray

[junglegalfla]

Ray,

Mine are stuck in trees and have done fine...a couple of the different types

Currently blooming

this one blooms from Thanksgiving to Jan, I got it from Jeff

[Jeff Searle]

This is a whole nother "can of worms" I openned. Andrea and I have been recently, or I should say finally getting around to mounting several orchids on the trees and palms. It really adds to the garden. We have several intergenerics, a few vandas, dendro's, and lately added some phal's.

Jeff

[DoomsDave]

Mounting . . . .

Egad! Orchids on trees, dang that's wierd . . . .

Oh, wait!

Never Mind!

A mountie always gets the orchid, in the tree . . . . .

[Tampa Scott]

Scott,

What orchid types do you have mounted on trees? I'd like to try that at my place but am always concerned about the cold weather.

Ray

Ray, I have Dendrobium, Oncidium and Phalaenopsis growing on a Ligustrum tree. The orchids have never been hurt by the cold temps. we received here in the last 11 years. I also have the Vanilla Orchid (pic) growing up a few palm trunks. I will be cutting back the Vanilla after flowering has finished as it has grown into the crown of the palm now. If you want cuttings let me know. Scott

[SubTropicRay]

Thanks Scott. I would love a cutting. That and I'd love to see your garden in person anyway.

[palmmermaid]

At the Orchid Society meeting last week, this was the topic. I have a friend who does treescapes with orhids and bromeliads. He starts out with a chicken wire cage on the tree, then fills it in with orchids and bromeliads. He fills in any spots where the wire shows with spanish moss (another bromeliad). Once he is done, it looks as if it has been there for years.

He doesn't use any sphagnum when mounting the plants. He also gave us some suggestions for great trees t ouse for mounting - bottlebrush, calabash, palms (beware of falling fronds), oaks, even pines. Anything with rough bark. The main thing to remember is to mount the orchid so it doesn't wobble at all.

[SubTropicRay]

Squirrels always have a way of interferring with my treescapes. They sink their teeth into things that don't seem edible. Around my garden, they even chew on unopened emerging palm spears.

[Really full garden]

This is the entrance to my office.The palms are twenty year old Dypsis lutescens covered in orchids and bromeliads.All the orchids are natives and were rescued from fallen or felled trees on the finca.

Brassavola nodosa

Neoregelias

These vandas are not mounted but are just hung on guava limbs attached to the trunks.Vandas do not look that great when not in bloom so this is a great way to grow them until they are flowering and I move them closer to the house.

[plantapalm]

I have collected pieces of palm trees that have fallen. Then I will drill 2 baby holes just big enough for a twist tie and attach them snug. With in a few months the will be attached and then I will remove the twist tie. I have these mounted on my screen porch.

This is my first double orchid mount

Rescued Encyclia tampensis

Still waiting for this unknown to attach itself

[plantapalm]

And these are a few others

Phal. Naples nights x (Petite rose x Glad melinda) mounted in a split coconut

Blc. Husky Boy 'Romeo' mounted in a premature dried coconut with the top cut off. The only picture I have is showing the broken new growth when I was potting it.

Another NoID

[SubTropicRay]

Encyclia tampensis (named after my hometown) is a great orchid. I purchased one last year from a local native orchid grower and can say it is as maintenance free as any native plant should be. I mist it on occasion (when I remember) but otherwise let it do its thing. Non-native orchids seem like more maintenance despite my hearing things like "thriving on neglect" from orchid hobbyists. That's a myth if I ever heard one.

[plantapalm]

Here is another Encyclia tampensis that I am just starting to mount. A branch on an old oak fell off on my property and I grabbed these guys. I have a massive clump on an oak and an old cypress that most of the upper branches are coated with them. I will try and snap a shot later today.