Hi Tmai,

The Onc. alliance would do well mounted/outside, where you live, provided you don't have one of the critters that likes cooler temps. That wouldn't work at all!

Mind you, I've just spent a good part of my afternoon unmounting a fellow that I've had for some time, so mounting and I are oh gosh, I really want to say "odd bed fellows" at the moment, but I just can't bring myself to it! Let's just say, I'm sensitive to the topic...

The way to test mounting materials is to soak them. It require a handheld device to measure either pH or TDS (total dissolved solids). What you do is measure the pH or TDS of the water you're going to use to soak (right out of the hose or tap). Then fill a container and soak the mount. Then after whatever time you soak - 6-12-24 hrs, say, remove the item and retest the soak water. If there's a big change in pH or TDS, repeat as needed.

I'm hunting down affordable TDS and pH meters for myself. I'll let you know when I can recommend sources. For what we're looking at, a pH or TDS meter should be about $30-50. There are combo ones out there for close to $200 bucks, but you don't need those.

I've got a couple of fertilizer posts I'll be putting up this weekend, where I'll get into it all more, but this hopefully answers your question.

Julie