Mounting on driftwood

[fisher60]

I have this large piece of ocean driftwood. I have soaked it in fresh water for a month, changing the water every two weeks. My local orchid supplier says to try mounting some Phals on it because they are the hardiest. How much moss should I use for the medium?

[got ants]

Tom from Broward Orchid Supply gave me some sage advice on planting orchids onto mounts. He said the less additional material, the better.

The orchids will not attach themselves if too much added medium because the roots will grow to the medium, not the mount.

I still use a little spag and a top coat of palm frond silk. Then once I see new roots developing, I pick the spag out and eventually remove the palm silk.

Now, it all depends on what you are mounting it to, and what the plant is. Phals will probably require more spag in the beginning, then that of a Cattleya or Encyclia.

Keep in mind, if you haven't used mounts before, while they have the added benefit of not getting rot, per se, like as would in a pot, they also need more frequent waterings.