--- title: "Welp, guys, I did a thing. 😬 I’ve always said that I would never try…" description: "Welp, guys, I did a thing. 😬 I’ve always said that I would never try to grow mounted orchids because I know that my lifestyle would prevent me from watering…" url: "https://getplanta.com/community/JmTUi1iSQr6-tX35luAMXQ/bDYSDm9CMw4WcHPBx3Aw4P" community: "The Orchid Oasis" author: "Jen" published: "2025-09-19T20:58:06.457455Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/yzTKthJiLOlCUPKH-vsQ5NzOhcFfTrb-kTRTwJ_ViN0/mI0EzWkJQ8-V9mEblUOU4Q.webp?size=large" --- [Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [The Orchid Oasis](https://getplanta.com/community/JmTUi1iSQr6-tX35luAMXQ.md) # Welp, guys, I did a thing. 😬 I’ve always said that I would never try… _Posted by Jen on 2025-09-19_ Welp, guys, I did a thing. 😬 I’ve always said that I would never try to grow mounted orchids because I know that my lifestyle would prevent me from watering properly. But I’ve been eyeing this Chiloschista Usneoides for over a year, and I couldn’t resist any longer. Otherwise known as “the leafless orchid,” it just seemed too cool to pass up. This particular one has tiny little leaves, but clearly photosynthesizes more through the vast root system. I’ll put a picture of what the flowers are supposed to look like in the comments. They’re just so tiny and sweet, and I’ve read that they smell wonderfully. ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/yzTKthJiLOlCUPKH-vsQ5NzOhcFfTrb-kTRTwJ_ViN0/mI0EzWkJQ8-V9mEblUOU4Q.webp?size=large) ## 17 comments ### Karen commented on 2025-09-19 Oh dear. ### Jen commented on 2025-09-19 I plan to unmount and potentially semi pot the orchid, threading some moss in the roots, which will be mostly open to sunlight, hanging in a window. Any thoughts or suggestions would be welcome, certainly if you have any experience with leafless orchids, or any closely related, really. We’re winging it here, people. #### Karen replied on 2025-09-19 I agree with that ### Jen commented on 2025-09-19 ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/yzTKthJiLOlCUPKH-vsQ5NzOhcFfTrb-kTRTwJ_ViN0/ZSJ2UaJaRouYCnMg5dLbWA.webp?size=large) #### Karen replied on 2025-09-19 So pretty ### MeasomerPi commented on 2025-09-19 Yay! Sounds like a fun cannonball into the deep end. Don’t have any experience with this one so not much help here. The only thing I can think of would be research to see if this one has sensitive roots, like a cat. Good luck!!! #### Jen replied on 2025-09-19 Cannonball indeed. Lol. Good thoughts on the roots. #### Karen replied on 2025-09-19 lol 😂 ### Waspinator commented on 2025-09-19 I've gotten into mini and mounted orchids recently. Mine are leptotes unicolor, aerangis cryptodon, and dendrobium moniliforme. Tips for yours from the american orchid society website: it prefers a smooth mount instead of more textured things like cork. You need to manage algae because it can prevent root photosynthesis. These like high humidity but don't need any sphagnum/extra moisture retention on the mount. Yours likes cooler temperatures than average for the chilochista group. For watering, you can mist it every 1-3 days, with a full watering (soak the entire wood block) once every 1-2 weeks. Anywhere you see leaves, try not to get the stems/crowns wet #### Jen replied on 2025-09-20 All sound advice. Sounds like an extrapolation of common sense tactics from my knowledge of other orchid types. Appreciate it! #### Amy replied on 2025-09-23 How do you soak the wood block with the he mounted orchid without getting the stems wet? Maybe I’ve been soaking my mounted dendrobium all wrong? I dunk the whole mounted orchid in a big bowl of water and then let the excess drip off before rehanging. #### Jen replied on 2025-09-23 I plan on unmounting this guy, so you would have more experience than I would here. Also, this “leafless“ orchid has way less potential rotting vegetation, no pseudobulbs, very few leaves, I would think yours definitely has more risk. This is one of the reasons that I’ve always avoided mounted orchids as well as concern about keeping up with watering. #### Waspinator replied on 2025-09-23 I've been using a spritzer bottle and just been very careful about aim. For longer soaks you can put the bottom of the wood in water and it'll absorb upwards like a sponge ### MeasomerPi commented on 2025-10-19 Super curious how this one is doing. Did you unmount? #### Jen replied on 2025-10-20 I did, and I’m watering twice a day. I will add more moss and see if that maintains a little more moisture. It hasn’t gone downhill, nor is it thriving and taking off… so… 🤷🏻‍♀️ #### Jen replied on 2025-10-20 ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/yzTKthJiLOlCUPKH-vsQ5NzOhcFfTrb-kTRTwJ_ViN0/Qu0k86kfT0OrBGzGr5p_Ng.webp?size=large) #### MeasomerPi replied on 2025-10-21 🤞 Love the pot plant combo! --- _Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_