Sorry Traci, hope I didn't come across as a jerk.

I'm not really sure. I know a lot of people do put a small pad of sphag on the mount just to get the plant started. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt.

I've talked to other folks about some of these plants and everyone seems to agree that if the recommendaton is to mount them, you really should mount them. Sometimes people are successful growing them in pots, put the casualties seem to outweight the successes. Maybe this one is different.