mounting phalaenopsis schilleriana

[Roberta]

The roots need to touch the bark - you want them to attach to it. I have several Phals mounted, and others in wood baskets with little medium that act like mounted plants. But they are in a very humid greenhouse. Maintaining adequate humidity will be the difficult part. They will need daily watering.

[Kittyfrex]

Originally Posted by Feloni

So just to belay: I want the roots to touch the bark, right?

As Roberta said, yes. If for nothing else, to keep it attached (unlike mine).

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Kittyfrex

As Roberta said, yes. If for nothing else, to keep it attached (unlike mine).

Give it time... roots will eventually grab on. Like Vandas, they are in no rush to get intimate with the mount but they will eventually.

[Kittyfrex]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Give it time... roots will eventually grab on. Like Vandas, they are in no rush to get intimate with the mount but they will eventually.

I mean, yes, but those were so..uncooperative, it would have the same effect if i used a piece of rope and just tied it around the stem. One of the main points of mounting, imho, is to make it pretty or more natural-like. And having tons of wires because your orchid hung a tad too low and just flailed roots all over but refusing to touch the mount is... not a fun sight. Might work, especially for beasts like vandas, but in my experience it was just bad looking, tipping whatever way you accidentally blow unless you tighten too much.

[Roberta]

Sometimes, when I need to fasten roots to a mount, I will use something wide and flexible so that I can tighten without cutting the roots. The green plastic tape that is often used to hold young trees to a stake works well. Or strips of old pantyhose also do the job.

[Kittyfrex]

I've also noticed roots being more pliable when wet vs dry, but i am clueless if that only applies to those that were acclimated to media.

[Roberta]

All roots are more pliable when wet. Only new roots will grab the mount. So for orchids like Phals and Vandas whose roots are growing all the time (which is why they aren't fussy about repotting) , you have to wait for the existing roots to branch or a new root to develop so that you have a root new tip against the mount. The free-hanging roots work just fine, though.