Where to Plant Orchids
The completed tree can be sprayed, wetting the plants and bark alike. From now on the tree will require spraying two or three times a day during the summer, and less in winter. With little in the way of compost around the base of the plants there is no danger of overwatering, but as shrivelling from underwatering can occur quite rapidly moisture is important.
Taking the first plant and a suitably-sized wad of damp osmunda fibre or similar material, place the latter against the tree with the plant on top. Any exposed, non-aerial roots can be tucked underneath the fibre. Once the plant’s exact position has been settled, a length of the wire is taken around the branch and plant and pulled as tight as possible with the pliers, and then twisted, and the end cut off short. Two or three tics may he necessary to secure the plant, which by now must be very firm in its position.
The old wire can be cut and pulled out, when it will probably be found that the plant is well rooted onto its bark. Careful teasing will lift the plant and its osmunda base clear of the hark, and the old fibre can he left in place to be used again.
Having carefully removed the plant from its bark, the dead roots or pseudobulbs can be cut away. One of the advantages of bark culture is that there is hardly any disturbance to the plant, and its entire root system can be left intact; there is no need of root trimming. Even roots slightly damaged during the rebarking operation can be left on the plant. Exposed to the air they will simply heal themselves and continue to grow.
The pad of osmunda fibre or sphagnum moss is placed the whole length on the rough side of the bark with the plant positioned directly on top of it. The oldest pseudobulbs should go to one end with maximum space left at the other end for the plant to continue its upward-growing habit. There is no danger of overbarking, as there is with overpotting, but a long slender piece of bark will suit better than a very broad piece. The roots should be laid carefully against the fibre or moss pad and spread out where necessary. It only remains to wire the plant into position with a number of wire ties along the length of the plant, with one extra tic above the plant to hold the fibre or moss placed there in position. It is important that the plant should be held securely by the wire, and not wobble about. The rhizome between the pseudobulbs is hard, it is the hardest part of the plant, and there is little danger of snapping it by pulling the wire too tight. In our experience it is the wire which breaks if pulled too hard! The wire twists can be to the rear of the bark, out of sight.
Finally trim the osmunda fibre with scissors. This is done for neatness, and will put the finishing touch to the tree. Any pieces of fibre which have become loose can be trimmed off or wired back into position.
Tags: a, e, f, family, flowers, free, g, gardening, general, h, hobbies, home, home & family, i, internet, k, l, n, news, o, outdoors, p, plants, recreation, s, skateboards, u, w, web
 Print This Post
|
Rate this post:
Related Posts:
- No related posts