Orchids in the cham cage

[ridgebax1]

I was wondering how anyone who keeps orchids in their cham's cages put them in there. Do you keep them in the plastic pots they come in or do you use something else?

 

[Deevo]

You could keep them in the pots but make lots of slits in the sides to allow the roots to grow.

 

[PressurePro]

The base can often be wrapped with spaghnum moss and monofilament. If you check out dendroboard or this http://www.flickr.com/photos/29741813@N05/sets/72157623031340089/ gallery page of Black Jungle Terrarium Supply you will see a number of methods for attaching to various surfaces.

If you have a screen cage it might be tough keeping humidity high enough without an automatic mister or humidifier.

 

[pigglett79]

the ones I have seen are without pots or anything on their roots.

Like in this thread

https://www.chameleonforums.com/extreme-makeover-malcolms-cage-edition-116769/

It seems that they do just fine like that.

 

[CarlC]

Angraecum species of orchids are native to a lot of the area's Malagasy chameleons are found. They are not dense plants but could probably support lateralis or campani crawling on them. They aren't the easiest to grow but not the hardest either.

Carl

 

[melble68]

I just put an old monster Vanda into my outdoor enclosure just hanging from my misting system pipe. Vandas grow without any substrate. Just a cedar slat hanging pot kind of a thing. It's a big enough plant that I think it will ok with an adult climbing on it. I'm also planning on putting some catalaya clones in there eventually. Small clay pot with some typical clip hangers that I pick up from the depot. These hang thru the 1/4" hardware cloth. I already have a small baby tears hanging the same way in there.

 

[xraygirl]

Best thing is to mount an orchid to something, so that you don't drown the roots from the water from misting. Mounting can be a piece of driftwood, a chunk of that wood board stuff, and gently wrapping the roots and base of the plant in some cheap panty hose (fishing line can cut into roots). Also, you can experience crown rot in a orchid because water will sit in the crown and not be given a chance to dry out, and kills the plant in most cases. I've killed many orchids from crown rot, and in doing so, I run fans on them after watering to help dry the crowns and leaves out. But I also don't have any of my orchids in my chams enclosure.

Being an orchid geek of about 8 years now with 40+ orchids now (and still growing), especially in vandas, I would place the orchid in the enclosure where the misting will hit the roots mainly, and not the leaves so much, as to prevent crown rot. Also, lighting is a big thing, vandas require higher lighting than other (like phalaenopsis) orchids.

 

[melble68]

Best thing is to mount an orchid to something, so that you don't drown the roots from the water from misting. Mounting can be a piece of driftwood, a chunk of that wood board stuff, and gently wrapping the roots and base of the plant in some cheap panty hose (fishing line can cut into roots). Also, you can experience crown rot in a orchid because water will sit in the crown and not be given a chance to dry out, and kills the plant in most cases. I've killed many orchids from crown rot, and in doing so, I run fans on them after watering to help dry the crowns and leaves out. But I also don't have any of my orchids in my chams enclosure.

Being an orchid geek of about 8 years now with 40+ orchids now (and still growing), especially in vandas, I would place the orchid in the enclosure where the misting will hit the roots mainly, and not the leaves so much, as to prevent crown rot. Also, lighting is a big thing, vandas require higher lighting than other (like phalaenopsis) orchids.

Wondered when you were going to chime in.

 

[xraygirl]

Wondered when you were going to chime in.

I have a spidey sense that gets to tingling when orchids are mentioned.