Mounting Cycnoches herrenhusanum?

[The Orchid Boy]

I have a nice little Cyc. herrenhusanum (SVO x Cindy Hill) that I'd like to mount. I've never mounted a catasetum or relative before and was wondering how they do with dry dormancy and all. I do have various other mounted orchids.

[euplusia]

Mount only if you are sure you can give enough water and fertilizer. Often potting works better. Or mount a smaller pot.

[isurus79]

This is a group that is VERY thirsty when growing.

[AvantGardner]

I would say, if you're very dedicated (and unemployed) and can mist with water every 2 or 3 hours every day you'd be fine. Even plants in this group planted in large mixes or pourous mixes need to be watered every day, sometimes twice daily. I saw a post by Catasetum Ian a few weeks back where he stated he has all his catasetinae potted in straight charcoal. He waters twice daily during active growth. Even mine in orchiata/CHC blend are watered every other day or so.

[smweaver]

They require a dry dormancy, and since the root system is basically only useful for a year (at least in my care), with a new root system created with each new growth, you can probably get away with mounting it as long as you are able (as others have already noted) to water the heck out of it once it starts to grow.

You could probably also wrap it in NZ sphagnum, place it in a wooden basket, and it should do equally well. In general (again, this is my own experience) the cycnoches and catasetums grow like weeds from spring through fall, then they drop their leaves and flower. Afterwards, they go dormant and I just yank them out of their pots, trim the old roots back and shove them in a cool (not cold) closet for the winter. This probably sounds cruel, but they don't seem to mind. :-)

Good luck with your experiment. And please keep us updated on your progress.

[The Orchid Boy]

I've thought about mounting it to tree fern fiber plaques because those hold more moisture and glueing a rapeseed cake near the root system for fertilization. I've read about someone doing that with Denrophylax lindenii. I'm still thinking about it though, but I just love mounted orchids...

[Leafmite]

I love the mounted orchids, too, but these would not be easy to keep happy on a mount...though mounted, they would be gorgeous when blooming with their cascading flowers. If you do decide to mount them, please show us the pictures when they are in bloom!