Remounting an orchid.

[Phillip C]

I bought a mounted Phal. gibbosa the other day when Maura and I were attending a show on the west side of central Florida. It is mounted on tree fern bark and has roots growing higeldy-pigeldy off the mount. The prior owner told me that after is blooms, that it will need to be remounted. I will send some pictures in when we get home either late tonight or tomorrow. The prior owner also told me that this is an old plants, and it has overgrown a 3 x 6 (in) piece of fern bark.

I am told that this is a rare, though not extremely rare species and at any rate, I do not want to damage it when remounting. Its has some old dried up roots that will need trimming away. Would you soak it thoroughly to get the roots pliable enough so as to do as little damage as possible? I've got the obvious, like cutting the fishing line that is in place. I wish I could post a pick of this thing now, but it doesn't look as though it will go gently (into that dark night)(With all apologies to Dylan Thomas). How "rough" scan I get with this thing? Should I treat it with much care?

I have never intentionally un-mounted an orchid before. Wish some of you guys would just come over and do it. You'll see when I am able to post pics - it looks like it has healthy roots going into the tree fern bark.

Thanks for you time and input. I appreciate any advice. I will post pictures when I get home, either late tonight or tomorrow. Thank you again

Phillip C

[Gage]

If it is on tree fern, there isn't any good way to remove it from the tree fern without cutting off the roots. You can always attach more tree fern to the current mount, and the Phal's roots will grow into it. If it is a tree fern plaque, you can just take a larger plaque and attach it behind the original one with wire. I use the smallest aluminum wire for all of these kinds of projects, but whatever works for you.

[Kmac]

Yep, I agree with Gage's advice. Good luck!

[pavel]

If the current mount is breaking down, just clip/break off those portions of the plaque. (If the old fern is really ready to go, it should practically disintegrate or at least be soft and very pliable.

If the current plaque is still in good shape, then, as Gage and Kim have mentioned, simply mount the plant -- plaque and all -- onto a new plaque of fern or Epiweb. And yes, you should soak the plant well to make the roots more pliable before mounting.

[orchids^_^]

Well, you got the advice! I'll second that.
Good Luck to you!
Alex

[ladylaelia]

I agree with the others. I'd take a larger piece of treefern and attach the mount to that.

[Phillip C]

I appreciate all the good advice and the consensus seems to be to amount the mount on a larger piece of tree fern bark. Pavel, the bark isn't breaking down, the roots and plant have just overgrown the taller piece that it's on. A picture would be worth a thousand words here and as we got back late last night, my camera is still packed up. I promise to get one up so that you can actually see what is happening here. The advice given sounds like the answer.

One question though. When mounting this new, larger piece of tree fern bark, should I just wire it to the back of the one it's on now, sorta like stacking them? That is what I hear you guys saying and that makes a lot of sense.

Thank you for all your time and attention. I really appreciate it.

Phillip C.

[cdayinflorida]

Phillip, While I'm not an accomplished grower of Phals. I do grow many other plants, well. I think some of my success can be attributed to tree fern. Some growers hate it, some like me, love it.
It will continue to be come very scarce as the production has been ceased in the wild.

I have a great link that simplifies the virtues of tree fern products. Orchid News # 4

[pavel]

Yes, Phillip, you're just going to be stacking them.


Cathy, the issue with tree fern sustainable harvesting is a real one as you already know. That's why some folks are shifting to the use of Epiweb.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Some good advice offered. I would stack the mounts and let the orchid take over both pieces.

cheers,
BD