Depends, depends on your growing conditions and where you are in the world Alaska, Hawaii??? Olla? some sort of porous pot?

Mounting orchids? Only if they grow better that way in your growing conditions.

I have an east facing large window over a frequently used steamy soaking tub in my bathroom in Dallas, Tx. Indoor central heat/air with misting several times a day with a very very weak orchid fertilizer. The sedirea is growing like a weed in charcoal and sphag moss, but it’s just a baby. The paph is well established in an open airy plastic pot in a chunky orchid mix. I have a new paph coming and was thinking of trying the olla. Yes, it is a porous clay pot. I also have a new spidery hybrid oncidium on the way. The plan was to wrap the olla with sheet moss, mount the orchid high on the pot so it’s not soaking wet full time and let it completely dry between waterings, like every 3 days or so.

Maybe that will help you, help me. LOL

Kathy, I have thought of doing that on a clay pot if it is like the same? Im curious too.

I do know that my Sedirea do not like to go dry. They can die rather quickly if left to dry too long even in my barky pots. I already lost one due to drying out too fast and too often in a pot. My oncidiums the same. They like to be moist often and not left dry too long or the bulbs shrivel. So those I keep in a mix that stay moist longer. Not sure about growing on that either unless you have a set up where you can mist those types of plants often all day especially in hot or dry conditions. A nice moist place with constant misting might do the trick?

Mike

Thank you, Mike.

I have a paph sandersonii hybrid, which I have seen images growing on cracks in limestone cliff faces with springs running over and thru roots. Sort of a natural hydroponic set up. LOL I wonder if the limestone is a necessary nutrient? I can always tuck some crushed eggshell into the moss.

So, I want to see if I can do a similar set up with the olla and this paph. I found a post on a diff orchid board who had success with a similar type paph on sheet moss on an olla. They specifically recommended sheet moss, as sphag moss just stayed too soggy for the roots, causing rot. They also recommended only keeping a couple of inches of water in the olla, as too full makes for too much seeping of water thru the pot at all levels. He planted on the upper portion of the olla. The roots appreciated having the drier footing, didn’t rot and still had good root formation.

I have a large bathroom with a big east facing window. I mist everything in there several times a day. Then, a couple of steamy showers or baths happen daily, as well. I have a couple of epiphyllums, stag horn fern, a mystery paph, the little sedirea and a holey monstera curling around my dressing mirror. All these guys (except the sedirea) have been doing great for over a year in this set up. So, I’m thinking this idea may have a chance at success. There is no shortage of humidity or air circulation.

If the sedirea likes that much water, I might see if she’d like a spot lower on the pot. Growing several orchids on the same olla would be the BEST! Maybe it needs to hang in front of the window....

I will keep posting my progress (or not) =) I will post pics as I go...

live sheet moss arrives tomorrow.

I appreciate any advice or comments, as I am totally winging it here *crossing fingers*

I chose two orchids that are lithophytes or have litho’s in their parentage.

I tucked a little charcoal under the moss that is under the orchid to keep it sweet. The paph is mounted on a smaller piece of moss, because it might like it a little drier. The roots were brown and wrapped around inside the pot. I think they’ll like more air.

And the Oncidium hybrid has finer roots, so it will probably appreciate a little more dampness without being smothered by damp moss.

These grow on limestone rock faces with small springs or runoff for moisture. Leaves and detritus get caught in the roots. I am wondering if the limestone is needed and may tuck a few limestone chips in between the roots.

And finally, the pot is sitting on a drain plate with crushed unglazed clay chips with lots of surface area for fast evaporation and good humidity production.

We’ll see how this goes. East window, direct morning sun for an hour or two, misting 3-4 times a day and a humid environment. I will monitor the root health daily and adjust the mount to their liking, if possible.

This is fun! I’m already planning my next experiment, a small Vanda mounted bare to a small olla, hanging in a sunny skylight. =)

I also read to only keep an inch or two of water in the olla. Filling it up all the way will cause weeping over the whole pot. A lower water level allows the water to creep upward and keep the clay damp, but not too wet.

I apologize for having never seen nor heard of an Olla. Is this a vessel for growing plants? What is it made of? Plastic or clay?

The opening appears very narrow. Are the roots growing down into the pot or around the outside. I don't see how your orchids will grow in something like that unless you plan to have it spread out on the outside of the Olla like a mounted orchid. I suppose it would grow in this for a year until it starts making new growths. Where would they go?

I am not a fan of live moss as it can have insects and fungal spores. Unless it were sterilized, I would be cautious using it.

Jane

No worries, I didn’t know what it was either, until I saw a pic of one. LOL

Do a web search for “orchid olla”...it looks so cool!

An olla ( pronounced O’ yah) is an unglazed but fired clay vessel meant to be used in xeriscape gardens. It would be buried in the garden soil to wick water to the roots underground over several days, using less water in water rationing situations.

I wanted to see if I could recreate a similar environment to their wild origins in my home.

In my application, the orchid’s roots are gently bound to and wrapped around the outside of the olla by rubber bands. An internet orchid board recommended to separate the roots and pot with a loose layer of sheet moss to give more aereation to roots. Sphagnum moss was reported to stay soggy, causing rot. Who knows if they are right or wrong? Because anyone can post anything on the internet, so I have to do it myself. LOL

It’s basically a slow release humidity ball with an orchid wrapped around it.

Theoretically, in time the roots will grow around it and hang on by it’s own roots. You can always remove moss if roots need more air.

I agree pests can be a problem with live moss. I will watch it closely.

Keep in mind, I know just enough to screw it up properly! Any and all comments are a learning experience for me.

****It’s true, it all starts with one orchid...then by the 3rd one, your family starts to say, “ANOTHER orchid?”***

Give it a try, what do you have to lose! Sounds intriguing, might work well. As long as the roots are getting air, the moisture inside might help keep the moss damp. Might work well in a dry environment.

Keep us updated.

I learn something every day!

Jane

Kathy,

There are stages, here's a link to a fun older thread :) Stages of orchid addiction

Bob

Never heard of an olla before either. I did try something a while ago called Kool Logs. Same idea where you mount the plant on the outside and fill the inside with water.

The problem I had was they were so small they were dry by the end of the day so for me, refilling everyday defeated the purpose. These are interesting since the look like they might hold water longer.

Few things to think about. First the evaporation at the pot will cool the surface temperature quite a bit. I would notice a 10 degree difference, which could be a good thing or bad depending on the plant. Second, I wouldn’t put fertilizer in the pot, it will cause mineral buildup on the outside. Third, put a cork or something in the opening. This will keep out mosquitos and other bugs and will reduce evaporation.

Please report back on the progress.

LOL @ Bob. If I were not in total denial, some would say that I am somewhere between 6-7 with all kinds of plants, in general. And always looking for a new little oddball to grow successfully and sell. Currently, I am fascinated by orchids. I have 10....2 Phals, 2 Paphs, 1 Vanda, 1 Hybrid Onc, 1 Dendrobium, 1 Blc, and a 2 little sederias.

Thank you, James. I have seen Kool Logs, too. But, the olla was cheaper online than anything similar. Since this is an experiment, I tried to keep my costs down. The olla holds 2-3 inches of water for the better part of a week. It has the capacity to hold more, but it weeps water all the way up the sides of the pot if it’s full. I don’t mind if the bottom is wet, but all the way up the sides I felt was too much. And when I refill it, I rinse off the entire plant and roots with a water shower. But to be fair, that one is in an big east window, in a big bathroom that gets steamy at least 4 times a day. Then, I mist at least 4 more times. I do put a very tiny pinch of orchid food or a couple of drops of Superthrive in my mister, though. And the olla has a plug to block insects. The other olla is going to hold a Vanda in a skylight with several hours of direct sun and a humidifier. Currently, I’m trying to figure out how to free the Vanda from it’s plastic cage without damaging it. I may have to use a wire cutter to cut thru the tough plastic.

So far after a week, the Paph and the Onc on the olla, look fine. The Onc’s pseudo bulbs are a little plumper than a week ago. But, the very tips of its many fine roots have browned, Roots at its base are greening up. Its leaves are bright green. The Paph looks good, but the roots were firm and brown when I took them out of the pot. No change. They are still brown a week later. The leaves look good though. I worry about the brown roots =/

Thanks for the tips, ya’ll! =)

Here’s the second experiment. Just finished it.

A Vanda on an olla. Also placed on a clay drip pan with crushed terra cotta chips. I had to free it from a square plastic basket. Only lost a few roots in the process, though. I plan to make a sling out of paracord to hang it under the skylight. I tucked live moss just under the edges, as the root mass was square from the pot and I want it airy around the roots. *crossing fingers*

The Onc hybrid and small Paph seem very happy in the east facing bathroom window. The Paph has developed a strong grip on the moss. The sunny side of the olla has green healthy moss and the roots of the Onc are green, as well. On the side that does not get sun, the moss has browned. I usually have to put about 2 cups of water in the olla weekly. That allows it to go completely dry for about a day.

So far, these varieties seem to be a success on an olla. I do foliar feed with a very weak solution of bloom booster food.

This was a fun project and very unusual way to grow orchids.