Cattleya aclandiae considering a mounting project

[poetiscariot]

You know how sometimes you get just tremendously attached to a particular plant? Mine is a little C. aclandiae I got last summer. I haven't even bloomed it yet but it's a.) adorable and b.) apparently impervious to my occasionally substandard care. It's like a VW Beetle and the Fonz united and turned into an orchid. I love it. I'm thinking about moving it from its 2" pot with very big bark to a mount of one sort or another, since I'm told that it's one that "likes to ramble."

First question: I grow under a CFL in my living room with a humidity tray. Bit concerned that that situation would be too dry even for C. aclandiae, though, if it weren't potted to hold at least some humidity. Thoughts?

Second question, which may be an obvious one but I'm missing the answer if it's already on here somewhere: once you mount an orchid, do you ever remount it as you would repot one? Do tree fern slabs, etc., break down like bark mix?

Third question: has anyone used ceramic mounts, and if so, what do you think of them?

Thanks for any advice!


Victoria

[Cjcorner]

First of all....don't try more humid potting...think adding a small humidifier with a fine mist. It will work way better.
Second, once mounted always mounted. Just get a bigger stick...
I haven't tried ceramic...although I saw one recently shaped like a stick and it looked like a great idea. You could water the inside to keep the mount always watered perfectly. Now if you could afford one for every mount that would be another matter...they were a little pricey.

[jeffrey6115]

I haven't tried ceramic...although I saw one recently shaped like a stick and it looked like a great idea. You could water the inside to keep the mount always watered perfectly. Now if you could afford one for every mount that would be another matter...they were a little pricey.

I was given one of these ceramic logs. I haven't found a plant I want to experiment with. I want to find just the right one. They weep lots of moisture when filled. I'll have to keep you posted on this subject.

Victoria, Although I grow in a greenhouse my aclandiae species and hybrids do seem to prefer mounts and baskets over pot life. Good luck with your mounting project.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

...
First question: I grow under a CFL in my living room with a humidity tray. Bit concerned that that situation would be too dry even for C. aclandiae, though, if it weren't potted to hold at least some humidity. Thoughts?

I grow in a greenhouse, so I will leave this one to those that grow in the same or similar conditions.

Second question, which may be an obvious one but I'm missing the answer if it's already on here somewhere: once you mount an orchid, do you ever remount it as you would repot one? Do tree fern slabs, etc., break down like bark mix?

As the orchid grows you can either divide it or just move to a larger mount by attaching the original mount to a larger slab. I have not had a mount break down, but have had to move to a larger board because orchid roots were growing beyond the small mount I started with. Finally got rid of the mount completely and prefer growing cattleyas in pots. At least for me, this works the best.

Third question: has anyone used ceramic mounts, and if so, what do you think of them?

Seems like this would be a good idea since, like a clay pot, if the orchid outgrows the mount, you could simply soak the plant and then take a hammer and towel and breakup the ceramic, removing what falls away and potting up the orchid in a new pot. JMHO.

Best of luck with whatever way you go. Be sure to take process photos to share with everyone here too, Victoria. It is always fun to see how people grow and care for their orchids.

Cheers,
BD

[poetiscariot]

I just ran across the log-shaped ceramic mounts as I was reading up on mounting orchids -- the ones I'd seen before were more like wavy plates of unglazed material. If the log ones stay that damp, they might be a solution to my perennial problems keeping Phals between oversoaked and dessicated. I do so much better with plants that need to dry between waterings. I've also seen some smaller clay pots with textured, "grabby" outer surfaces and no drainage holes, that are meant to be used the same way.

So I have a new question now, about preparing mounts. What happens if you soak one in a fertilizer solution before mounting your orchid on it? I've been thinking about doing that the next time I repot things, using fertilizer-water instead of plain water to soak my bark mix overnight.

This is all such good information. And if I mount my aclandiae or anything this spring, it will be photodocumented beginning to end and pics will definitely be put up here. You have to show people these things!

[jeffrey6115]

I've also seen some smaller clay pots with textured, "grabby" outer surfaces and no drainage holes, that are meant to be used the same way.

So I have a new question now, about preparing mounts. What happens if you soak one in a fertilizer solution before mounting your orchid on it? I've been thinking about doing that the next time I repot things, using fertilizer-water instead of plain water to soak my bark mix overnight.

This is all such good information. And if I mount my aclandiae or anything this spring, it will be photodocumented beginning to end and pics will definitely be put up here. You have to show people these things!

I haven't seen those smaller pots yet but I would say yes to mounting something on the outside. They have no use as an orchid pot without drainage.

Soaking your mount or potting mix in fertilizer will only build up salts that can burn roots and deteriorate your medium faster.

I look forward to your pictures.

[navyderek]

Okay, in reference to your humidity question, I have some mounted windowsill orchids. I keep them above a cool-mist humidifier around a number of other orchids on pebble trays. Even so, it is tough keeping them wet enough -- there is a lot ofwatering and weekly soaking, especially if you are in a week when you run the home heater or air conditioner a lot. Sometimes its good to start with an orchid that needs very low humidity -- I am unsure about the growing reqs far your specific Catt but I'd say if it can handle very low humidity, go for it --- otherwise, it might be good to try something like a Brassavola nodosa just to see how your conditions and watering habits work out for a fairly strong/hardy orchid.

[poetiscariot]

I finally got my act together and did this with a piece of cork:



And from the other side:



I went ahead and gave it a good pad of sphagnum. Fingers crossed, anyway!

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Looks great, Victoria! After it grabs hold to the mount, you can remove that string and it will hang-on on its own. Very nice orchid mount!


cheers,
BD