Rescue boards - Orchid Board

james mickelso · #1 05-20-2012, 11:00 PM

When all else fails this is where the almost dead end up. When they have spent a couple years trying to live and have almost given up the ghost they get one last chance here. Yes it looks like a normal mount but with a twist which I found works pretty well. The key here, I think, is that it helps keep the humidity high around where the roots are going to come from and the new eyes. And one of the advantages of this is that I can water nearly every day without worrying about rotting anything. And I can mix up rooting hormones and continue to soak the spag with it to encourage roots to form. Take a look and tell me what you think.

Wjs2nd · #2 05-21-2012, 08:18 AM

So you've drill multiple holes into the mount before mounting your orchids? Very cool idea. Your orchids seem to really like it. The holes will help the back/inside moss dry evenly. The holes should also help retain some moister and give the roots more to grow around.

RosieC · #3 05-21-2012, 08:22 AM

Cool, never thought of something like that before, but looks like it works well for you.

WhiteRabbit · #4 05-21-2012, 02:48 PM

Very cool!

camille1585 · #5 05-21-2012, 03:57 PM

Neat mounts! What gave you the idea for all the holes?

james mickelso · #6 05-21-2012, 07:30 PM

Thanks Sonya. Camille, when I used to mount orchids on cork and tree fern the ones on tree fern always seemed to do better. So I looked at it and decided to try to duplicate the tree fern micro environment (tree fern is expensive too). I reasoned that the spaces in the tree fern and the holes in the boards held water and therefore kept the humidity up which is what the rescues really need more than anything else. The leaves transpire a lot of moisture that the pbulb can't replace if the humidity is low. So the holes keep the water in, the board is soaked, and the moss also helps yet the whole thing dries out in a day and so rot doesn't get a hold. That's what seemed like would work and it has. I use cedar mostly because it lasts the longest. I haven't tried redwood but cedar lasts just as long. Fir and pine rot readily and that's ok because most of the orchids I mount on the boards I'd like to pot up some day anyway. I can use pliers at a later date and just crush the boards up into small chunks without hurting the roots. Or just plant the whole thing orchids and all. They dry quickly too which in my area is a plus.