Dismounting Orchids?

[Connie Star]

I grow inside and have problems maintaining high enough humidity.
Is it feasible to move a mounted orchid into a pot? I have two, a Laelia anceps and a Brassavola nodosa that I bought mounted (from Andy's) and another, Angraecum didieri that I mounted myself more than a year ago. It seems to be doing fine, although there are no signs of blooming.
Can I remove the orchids from their mounts and pot them? Or should I continue my routine of soaking them in a bucket every other day? Sometimes I forget and leave them in the bucket for many hours, even overnight. It's not feasible to really mist them well as they are in the living room.

[Zoi2]

I also have humidity problems and potted a mounted catt last year. It took quite a while to soak the roots and gently pry them off the mount but I did it without any major damage. I think I have another year for it to mature into a blooming size.
Joann

[natasha]

i do this sometimes as i am not a good waterer - i water my plants twice a day as any tropical grower usually do. before i mount my plant, i either soak them or water copiously. then i pry them out of the mount. if i don't want to injure the roots, i just dog out together with some of the mount material.. then i keep them in a shaded area for a while. and yeah, i watch the green roots come out first before getting my itchy hands there!

[nenella]

Originally Posted by Connie Star

I grow inside and have problems maintaining high enough humidity.
Is it feasible to move a mounted orchid into a pot? I have two, a Laelia anceps and a Brassavola nodosa that I bought mounted (from Andy's) and another, Angraecum didieri that I mounted myself more than a year ago. It seems to be doing fine, although there are no signs of blooming.
Can I remove the orchids from their mounts and pot them? Or should I continue my routine of soaking them in a bucket every other day? Sometimes I forget and leave them in the bucket for many hours, even overnight. It's not feasible to really mist them well as they are in the living room.

I have been known to forget too, I have found that the best way for me not to forget is to put an egg timer on..when it rings it's time to take them out! If I don't hear it ring hubby does and shouts for me!
Seeing they are growing I wouldn't 'mess' with them.

[peeweelovesbooks]

Yes, it is. I've done it many times. In fact, I just did it with a Laelia anceps that I had mounted on teakwood. I soaked until the majority of the roots were pliable, trimmed what was stuck to the mount, and potted it up.

Having said that, is the mount in such a way that you can actually stick it in a pot and cover it up with medium? That's also another alternative if the roots have taken too much hold.

[fotofashion]

I got a Dend. Aprichart 'Rainbow' from a grower last week that, evidently, had been mounted in a coconut shell but had also been kept in a pot apparently after it outgrew the shell. The shell had been broken in several places so it could be compressed a bit to fit the pot. I am just leaving it as it is and will observe its growth to decide just what I need to do next, if anything.
Beverly Al

[got ants]

Youse guys are slipping...

OK, for Connie Star, and all those listening...

After you dismount, it is customary to cuddle.

[Anisa]

Hi Connie! Mounting creatively is a great way to display your orchids but i just didnt have time to water them constantly. Also when you water they are all drippy and you cant display on your living room wall anyway So I gave up on mounts entirely and moved everyone into pots. Including Brassavola nodosa, Even vandas They are doing fine and i dont have to water twice per day. Soak mount and roots very good and be very patient getting roots of a mount.
Or like peeweelovesbooks said put whole mount into a pot if you can.

[trdyl]

Hi Connie!

I do this all the time. It is best to do it when you are getting new root growth so it is less stress on the plant. When you do it, don't hurry, roots will break in the process.

[Royal]

Originally Posted by peeweelovesbooks

Having said that, is the mount in such a way that you can actually stick it in a pot and cover it up with medium? That's also another alternative if the roots have taken too much hold.

I was going to suggest this too. Just drop it in a pot and fill the space with a course media. If the roots want a pot then they have one. If they prefer the mount, the pot won't hurt as long as it's not buried too deep. At the very least, a pot with media will help with humidity around the mount.