Mounting

[Nanci]

Ok, I'm a newbie and I'm sure this has probably been asked before... but because I can't locate the information I'll ask again. I beg your patients.

Can someone please direct me on how to mount orchids, including technique and best types to mount? I love the look and the versatility of being able to hang my plants from various locations in my ceiling and house and would like to expand more with my knowledge.

Any assistance would be appreciated.
N

[Gin]

Hi Nanci , One of the things to consider is how dry your house is and how much time can you devote to watering . most will require daily watering sometimes more than once a day depending on Temps .
Some people use cork slabs , or rough textured wood slabs with no oil in the wood , wild grape vines and cactus skeletons work well .
I use strips of panty hose to tie them to the mount with the roots directly on the mount with a little Spag. over them . gin

[ATester]

Hello Nanci,

When considering materials for mounting orchids, one of the things I find important is the type of material you are using and the type of orchid you have. When I mount an oncidium, for example, I know that it has natural water storage in the pseudobulbs, so I mount on wood (when mounting on wood, do not use wood from coniferous trees as they have a tendency to be acidic...oak is the same way.) Others, like phalaenopsis do not have water storage, so I use cork or osmunda fibre that is bound together since that holds a little bit more water. Also, as the binding material, choose something that is non-reactive like monofiliment fishing line or flourocarbon material (I have tons of it since I am a fly fisherman), don't use something like copper which could potentially poison your orchids.

What are you looking to have mounted?

[orchid-man]

heres a link that you might find usefull. Its just down the page

http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchid...ead.php?t=4485

[Piper]

And yet one more consideration...

I've found that for windowsill growing, mounted orchids can be challenging. They'll grow to the source of the light. And since they're usually hung on a wall beside a window, it means they'll hang a sharp right turn, or a sharp left turn and grow right at the window. I think they work better in a greenhouse.

Julie

[sake of silence]

With one more thought...

Make sure your said plant to mount has actively growing roots. Trying to mount a plant that is not actively growing is not generally the best idea.

Cork slabs come from Quercus, the same genus as all other oaks... So Im not understanding the idea about not using oak.

[Diane]

With one more thought...

Make sure your said plant to mount has actively growing roots. Trying to mount a plant that is not actively growing is not generally the best idea.

Cork slabs come from Quercus, the same genus as all other oaks... So Im not understanding the idea about not using oak.

I'm not sure, but since cork is only the bark, and not the wood, it is possible it does not have the same level of acidity... (it's also much softer so the plant can dig in its roots)

[Diane]

With one more thought...

Make sure your said plant to mount has actively growing roots. Trying to mount a plant that is not actively growing is not generally the best idea.

Cork slabs come from Quercus, the same genus as all other oaks... So Im not understanding the idea about not using oak.

Cork is only bark, not heartwood. That could explain the difference. Also, different oaks in growing in different soil conditions would have different levels of acidity??