How to clean a mount

[Chococatte]

How do you clean mounts (driftwood) or grapewood before using them to ensure no viruses or other bad bugs are transferred to you orchids?

[Ross]

Since I use cedar slabs for remounting, I don't worry about bugs. I spray heavily with Physan 20 to prevent transfer of molds. For bugs I would recommend a heavy spray of a safe household insecticide. But really, if you clean the bark off, there is little likelihood of critters being introduced by the mount.

[Ray]

Folks over on another forum recommended against grapewood, as it's too soft, so rots and molds quickly.

[kavanaru]

Ray, I have seen orchids mounted in grapewood here in Europe. The wood lasting for many many years without much problems...

[Ross]

I have one mount that is on grape wood and it had to be cleaned of bark and molds quite freely. I tend to agree with Ray (surprize!)