How to mount Orchids in drift wood

[zynah]

How can we redirect the roots of orchids in drift wood.

[Discus]

Make sure the drift wood is well soaked in water; driftwood collected on a beach is likely to be extremely salty and probably useless for orchids until that salt is all leached out.

I find establishing orchids on wood easier if there is some sphagnum moss or coconut fibre (coir) to keep the roots a little damper for longer, but if your growing area is very humid this may not be necessary. I generally find that orchid roots naturally adhere to wood once the plant is properly secured; wayward roots are given a strong suggestion of where to go by gradually training them into place with "twisty ties" (I have long roll of this, sold for garden plants, which I trim to the appropriate length). Once the root/s is/are attached, the tie is removed.

To secure the plant in the first place, you can use nylon fishing line, old stockings, cotton thread or even "twisty ties". Make sure you remove it once the plant has attached as it can damage things in the long run (particularly wire and nylon and synthetic threads).

Hope this helps!

[tucker85]

Don't worry about the existing roots. They will not attach to the mount although new root tips may grow out of some of the old roots and they can attach. The orchid will grow new roots that are more suited to environment on the mount. Those new roots are the ones that will attach and they won't require any help.

It's humid where I live so I don't use any sphagnum except when mounting phals (they require extra moisture). If you decide to use sphagnum, I suggest placing it between the plant and the mount. That gives the roots access to the air while still providing some extra moisture.

For sympodial orchids, place the newest growth toward the mount so that the new roots will be close to the place where they need to attach.

I don't like to cut off any of the old roots. In fact I often tie the entire rootball to the mount with some of the media from the pot still attached. Those old roots will give the plant moisture until the new roots start to grow. The old roots can be trimmed off later if they look unsightly. Like Discus said, you can use almost anything to tie the plant to the mount. I water mounted orchids almost every day until there are plenty of new roots. Then they can be watered every day or every couple days.

[MysticOrchid]

I agree with these guys. Mounting it's not a complicated process, but requires attention and care that the mounted orchid needs. That is same when you take the orchid from the jungle Mist the roots if they are getting dry, and the leafes too, but be carefull not to hit the center of the growing crown with water, because this could cause crown rot, even if the orchid is mounted and the leafes are hanging down and dripping the rest of the water. This is just to add more moisture to the plant, and make the plant grow new healthy roots, that will attach to the bark, and of course new leafes, that will support food for the plant, and the beatifull flowers! Good luck with your mounted orchid!