first time mounting jobs

[123orchids]

Here are my first time mounting jobs that I did. Please give me your opinion to how I did as this is the first time for me. They are all three on cork. The last one is a brunched cork tube.

[tucker85]

They all look good. I think you did a very good job. Cork it my favorite material to mount on. I have one observation though. I see that you live in Florida. The Florida rainy season is going to start soon. If those orchids are going to be outdoors, the sphagnum may stay wet for many days at a time when it starts raining. That could lead to fungus problems. If you keep your orchids under a protective roof, it won't be a problem because you can control the moisture. I grow my orchids outdoors in South Florida and any orchid with a pseudo-bulb (cattleya, oncidium, encyclia), I mount bare-root. I use sphagnum when mounting phalaenopsis but I put the moss between the plant and the mount so the roots are on top and they'll get air and light. If you're going to mount another cattleya, try mounting one bare-root with no moss on cork and, after a few months, compare the results to the orchids you mounted with sphagnum.

[123orchids]

Thank you for your advice Jeff, I grow on a screened patio, do you think it should be ok with the moos then? Or did I put too much on it? Or should I just leave it as I have it and water it less? My orchids only get watered by myself they really do not get much rain only the once that are close to the screen, but when it is rainy I do not water. What do you think?

[tucker85]

Gabriela, everyone has their own unique micro-environment and we also have different watering habits. I would leave them the way you mounted them and see what the results are. I'm sure you'll notice if the moss is drying out enough or staying too wet. Maybe your mounting method will work better than mine does. Most of my orchids take 6-8 weeks to attach themselves. I find that orchids, especially cattleyas, love growing on a mount. Good luck.

[stateless]

Jeff's advice is good I made the mistake on some of my first mountings by putting moss around the roots and mounted,and some rotted before they attached. If I use moss I like it to be easily removed without much disturbance, I find it turns to a black rotty mess to quick for me but I grow outside. I really like the third mounting that should look great as it takes. good luck

[tucker85]

Gabriela, what orchids are those that you mounted? Do you know the names?

[Cjcorner]

I live a little farther North, just West of Tampa...and I agree with the above: I'm thinking I would keep an eye on those and maybe remove some of the sphag if things stay too wet for too long. I love mounted plants, I have a whole section of them now. You will enjoy watching them wrap their roots around those mounts.

[123orchids]

Yes Jeff, sorry for the late reply but I am working too much. The first picture is a Dendrobium tetragonum var. gigantum x self, the second one is Den.Yukidaruma 'King' AM/AOS and the third mount is on one side the Sedirea japonica and on the other side the one I do not have the name.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Nice job, Gabriela!

cheers,
BD

[maggs]

Hi Gabriela lovely job, I have cattleyas. and phals that I have mounted on pieces of fruit tree branches, I just mounted a small cattleya today that has about four little pieces of remaining roots I soaked it in a fungicide, then used some rooting powder, tied it onto the branch set in some sphagnum and coconut fiber so all that I have to do is wait to see and hope that it really takes root because it is a beautiful color, oh by the way I have it hung up in my kitchen for now, the other phals have beautiful roots coming out from under the sphagnum and coconut fiber and also there are new leaves peeking out from the middle of the plant, happy growing to you