Mounting and Baskets? General Questions

[butterfly_muse]

Evening, everyone!

I have been researching various potting methods, and I was wondering if there is a specific reason that certain types are either mounted or placed in baskets as opposed to being in pots with media.

As I understand it, most of our orchid friends are epiphytic and enjoy their roots being open and exposed so they can take up nutrients and moisture if it rains. Is the fact that we grow them in media something that is just for our own human convenience? Especially sphagmum, as it seems that none of them really prefer moss or grow in it in the wild...none that I've happened to read about, in any case. I have seen neofinetias mounded in sphag, but overall most everywhere the consensus is to rid orchids of it asap!

I have been researching many kinds or orchids and many kinds of growing conditions and I've seen mounted orchids, orchids in wooden baskets, orchids without media, orchids inside of plastic baskets inside of wooden baskets...and I am just wondering if there are any benefits to either mounting or using baskets? Are there certain species that HAVE to have this kind of potting/mounting as opposed to pots like my phals or catts, for instance? I have even seen some of them mounted hanging upside down (such as dendrobium ansomum var. alba) to facilitate their blooming.

Mostly, I am just curious. I have thought about doing plastic baskets with my phals, as I currently have them in a shaded west window with a piece of lace in the window to cut afternoon direct sun, but my stupid cats keep knocking them over... And I don't know if it would be better for them anyway, to let their roots breathe instead of hang out in the bark/sphag combo I have them in? I had them in just bark before but it was drying out really, really fast and they were dropping roots.

So I just want to know more about the different options, I spoze.

Thanks in advance!

[clusty]

Here are my 2 cents.
There are certain orchids that due to their growth habit, mounting is almost mandatory for example Epicyclia polybulbon:


For others, it is an aesthetic choice, looking more "natural". For me mounting is impossible until I get a greenhouse otherwise it would dry way to quickly. I use 2 baskets full of moss, and I have to rewater after about 2 days.

[tucker85]

There are certain orchids that grow better mounted. But even more important is the environment. I live in South Florida where the weather is hot and humid. Most people grow their orchids outdoors here and it rains almost every day during the summer. Orchids in pots often rot but orchids in wood baskets and on mounts do very well in this environment. If you live where it's less humid, pots will retain some moisture around the roots longer and make up for the low humidity. You can certainly grow orchids mounted or in a basket in a drier climate but you may need to water almost every day. It may be more practical to use pots if you don't have high humidity.

[butterfly_muse]

That makes sense. What about if it were like my climate? Its extremely humid here during the summer and we often get thunderstorms..that said, we also have low temperatures, snow, ice, etc., in winter...if I wanted to grow them outside during late spring, summer and early fall but had to bring them in for winter what would be the best way?

[clusty]

Originally Posted by butterfly_muse

That makes sense. What about if it were like my climate? Its extremely humid here during the summer and we often get thunderstorms..that said, we also have low temperatures, snow, ice, etc., in winter...if I wanted to grow them outside during late spring, summer and early fall but had to bring them in for winter what would be the best way?

I suggest you give it a shot. Plant something drought resistant like an Encyclia cordigeara or some Cattleya and see if you can keep it moderately moist. If you see the bulbs are shrivelling you always have the time for an "abort mission"

[butterfly_muse]

At present I'm stuck in an apartment with only west facing windows and no balcony...but as soon as I get my piece of paper from university that says I'm smart enough to have a big girl job, I'll be starting the mission to have the big girl house that goes with it...and then...and then my orchid collection shall be something to behold!

Right now I'm still trying to learn all the ins and outs and whys of the growing and blooming process. Also I love the way orchids look in wooden baskets...and my cats couldn't knock them over either! But mostly I am just trying to learn lol.

[WhiteRabbit]

Potted with media, except for terrestrial and semi-terrestrial orchids, is for our convenience.

Sphag itself isn't a bad media, just hard for some people to manage, especially when it's very packed as is the case with many store bought orchids. I have found it great for small orchids especially - tho I dislike having to replace it often.

I like the aesthetics of mounted orchids, but of course they are higher maintenance water-wise, and you need to have somewhere to put the mounts as well - so, I have a couple handfuls of small orchids that are mounted.

As mentioned - the sprawling growth habit of some orchids makes them about impossible to grow in pots.
Pendulous caned Dens are also often grown mounted or in (hanging) baskets to accommodate the canes (a hanging pot also works).

Both baskets and mounts do require more frequent watering than potted. So, a lot depends on one's willingness to water - most of my mounted orchids get watered daily most of the year, twice daily during extremely hot, dry weather.

You can grow mounted or those growing in baskets indoors, but do need to plan where to hang mounts that they will receive sufficient light. My mounted orchids are all fairly small, and so, if inside, I just hang them off the curtain rods. Baskets can be set on a windowsill or hung.

I only have one orchid in a basket, just due to the size of the plant and it's long rhizome. That one is able to grow outside year-round where I live.

[butterfly_muse]

Are there particular mounting mediums, for lack of better wording? I was reading something about some people using tree fern bark (not sure what that is?) and others using cork? Is that like wine bottle cork or cork board cork? Or something different? And what's the difference? It might be a fun experiment for me to mount one of my minis and hang it from a curtain rod, just to see if it does better that way. I've got one that just doesn't seem happy no matter what I try to do for it.

[WhiteRabbit]

Tree fern fiber plaques ? Comes from the tree fern. Cork used is cork bark (bark from cork oak).

Many types of wood can be used. If you just wanted to experiment with small plants, you can get small grape wood, mopani, cork pieces at the pet store

[butterfly_muse]

Interesting. And you hold then on with fishing line or...? And do you mound medium under them or around the roots or...?