I’ve had a great week end. The council was giving away free mulch and when I borrowed a trailer it was full of green waste so I scored some broms, desert roses and a huge Dendrobium.

Currently sitting out the heat of the day before I get back to work :)

I have no idea about growing orchids.

I’ve thrown it in the shade, given it a quick spray with the hose. I’ll look at it after the mulching.

Ideally I’d like to chop out a smaller plant to mount on a nice piece of dead timber and put the rest into a large hanging basket or pot.

How fussy are they with substrate? Is it feasible to use some sort of coarse medium rather than mounting the plant on wood?

Teleost said:

I’ve had a great week end. The council was giving away free mulch and when I borrowed a trailer it was full of green waste so I scored some broms, desert roses and a huge Dendrobium.

Currently sitting out the heat of the day before I get back to work :)

I have no idea about growing orchids.

I’ve thrown it in the shade, given it a quick spray with the hose. I’ll look at it after the mulching.

Ideally I’d like to chop out a smaller plant to mount on a nice piece of dead timber and put the rest into a large hanging basket or pot.

How fussy are they with substrate? Is it feasible to use some sort of coarse medium rather than mounting the plant on wood?

They are a many and varied orchid. The one you have would dictate how it should be grown.

I got this bit from the GA site.

Cultivation
The cultivation of particular species varies dramatically, though generally a very well-drained mixture of bark and charcoal, often with a bit of added sphagnum moss, is the ideal growing medium. In general, they like a position in full sun or part-sun. Propagation is by division or cuttings, depending on the species.

Maybe it’s a help to you.

I’m jealous about the free mulch too. Our council doesn’t do anything like that.

They charge us enough for green waste, it’s nice to get something back.

We get a few weeks a year for cyclone clean up where green waste is free. They end up with mountains of mulch. By giving it away, they’re helping people keep their gardens under control. Which will make a huge difference during a cyclone.

I mulch heavily once a year for the simple reason that it’s free.

The rate that things grow up here is astonishing. I almost need to mow twice a week at the moment.

Teleost said:

I’ve had a great week end. The council was giving away free mulch and when I borrowed a trailer it was full of green waste so I scored some broms, desert roses and a huge Dendrobium.

Currently sitting out the heat of the day before I get back to work :)

I have no idea about growing orchids.

I’ve thrown it in the shade, given it a quick spray with the hose. I’ll look at it after the mulching.

Ideally I’d like to chop out a smaller plant to mount on a nice piece of dead timber and put the rest into a large hanging basket or pot.

How fussy are they with substrate? Is it feasible to use some sort of coarse medium rather than mounting the plant on wood?

Charcoal is good for your orchids. Mine are in too shady a spot, they are all tied to old bits of timber and they are growing well but not enough sunshine :(

Which Dendrobium? is probably the most important question.