How To : Mounted Orchids

[wetfeet101b]

I posted a new "how to" in the Articles section that covers mounting orchids.

How To : Mounted Orchids

I hope you like it.

John

[Brutal_Dreamer]

John, that is a great article! Thanks so much! That last shot of the blooming dendrobium is awesome!

Cheers,
BD

[bench72]

What a great tutorial... and the end result is so artistic!

[margo]

Thanks, John!!! Great tutorial!!! Very helpful! And yes, the result is fantastic!

[walingwaling]

wow, that is some fine article and great job on mounting!

[delphiguy]

wow love the article. thanks.

[Tmai]

John, that was a great article. You show us a wonderful insight for visual perspective of mounted orchids as well as easily understood technique. Your orchids mounted on driftwood are very pleasing to the eye. I have just begun mounting a few orchids and have found that using old fishing net (the decorative twine kind, not the nylon stuff) to secure the orchid and moss to the wood is pretty and complitments the driftwood. Thanks for a great tutorial; your finished pieces are wonderful!

Tami

[Diamond]

It's was great for me John, thanks. I was just trying to figure out how to mount a friend's gift - Dynema polybulbon. I 'll take yours instructions and later I'll send you all the result. Hope I can be so successfully as you were.

[Diamond]

what kind of wood didyou use on this?

[wetfeet101b]

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to post some responses here to questions related to my article. Some questions were sent to me via email, or via PM here on the forums.

Question: Can we use just any type of wood?

We have to be careful with wood/plaque selection.
Not all trees are created equal, and some might contain toxins or other substances that may irritate or harm the orchid roots.
I am not a tree expert so I cannot say which wood is safer than others.
If you are purchasing mounting/plaque wood from a reputable store, then ask them if that type of wood will be safe for orchids.
If you plan on collecting driftwood on your own, then try to do your research on the desired collection area. What kind of trees are local to that area? Do those trees contain any toxins that persists even after the wood dries out?
Also, check with your local government if it is actually legal to collect driftwood/firewood in that area. Some woodlands are considered protected areas and they regulate what items can be collected.

Can we use fresh wood for mounting?

I generally stay away from using fresh wood as my mount medium for several reasons:

1. Wood will continue to warp/deform as it dries out. The final dry form may be a different shape/texture than when it was fresh.
This is the same reason most builders stay away from using green lumber when building homes. They may risk ending up with deformed/warped buildings after a few years if they are not careful with lumber selection.

2. The possibility of toxic/irritating substances will be higher in fresh wood since it still produces sap to a certain degree.

Can I mount a phalaenopsis on driftwood/plaque

Yes.
As long as you can provide adequate moisture to the roots, the phalaenopsis will have no problems living as a mounted plant.
Just take a look at the thriving phalaenopsis plants in tropical climates where growers mount these plants on just about anything.

How often do we need to water a mounted orchid?

This really depends on the plant, and its current growing environment.
Some orchids require daily watering, while some prefer less frequent watering even when mounted.