Brooke, first I must day that your Orchids are GORGEOUS! They look like they have ben growing in a tree on my land in P.R. Great job. I understand what you are saying. I guess it is a lot like the mixes I use for my regular plants. I use a very porous mix, but I have to water more often. It comes with the territory. I could use one that takes along time to dry out, but then I sacrifice the vitality of many of my plants. I can't imagine lifting orchids that heavy. Boy did it grow fast. They certainly love your care and I appreciate your input and insight. Bob: I think I am in the same situation as you. I like your view of things and I feel that I am in the same boat. I don't think I can water them as often as that and then there is the possibility of mold and other diseases brought on my constantly wetting my plants leaves. If I had a dedicated area for them and more time, I would LOVE to try mounted. I think they look so nice on mounts. I actually have coconut shells I was going to try them on, but now I have second thoughts. So with all the help of everyone here and putting things together, this is what I came up with:-) I filled a pot with slits with peanuts, then coconut and pine bark mixed with perlite and set the plant on top. I let most of the roots stay outside the pot while I only pushed a couple into the pot. Now I will sit back and see what happens. It seems to be happy thus far and the roots are coming back. I do mist this plant everyday while watering everything else as normal. See Thanks so much everyone. Hope for the best please. Mike

I hope so to Vtandrea. I received one yesterday in the mail that had fallen out from its pot while in shipment. It's a BIN-Epi. Mabel Kanda 'Green Leaf' , to be exact, and it's inner roots, teh ones buried by the mix look horrible while it was loaded with aerial roots ! the stuff it was potted in was horrible. I plan on using 'fir bark' fines mixed with perlite. I hope someone can guide me within a day or two. Thanks so much. Mike

Trickle towers are a type of filter, but the one you linked to is a new version to me. It looks like it would do a good job of filtering the water. The towers can be made from virtually any material, rocks, lava rock, plastic pots etc, anything that the water can slowly trickle down over. Usually the tower sits in the pond, the water, pumped up through the center to the top of the tower, then trickles down over the outside of the filter, where the bacteria grows. NOTE.The one you linked to, will have the water trickling through the filter media in the center. As the water flows down over the outside surfaces, it also gathers oxygen and then re-enters the pond. "Horton" Here is a link that might be useful: Trickle Tower information galore!

Carolyn you are certainly doing something right because your plant is very obviously enjoying your care. The leaves on my plant are hairy but not densely so. The vines on my plant were about three feet long before I saw any peduncles form and those have fallen off now. The long wait for blooms was worth it because this really is just an interesting Hoya to grow. I grow my plant hanging because it is quite rigid and I have accidentally broken many leaves off my plant. Mike