Problems with mounted Cattleya

[spikey2004]

Hi!
I have a cattleya that I bought at Home Depot, it was in a bag, I mounted it on a tree trunk that I found in the forest, I treated it and cleaned before mounting to make sure my catt wouldn't have any problems, but ist's been raining like crazy here and the humidity way too high, and now I see the trunk kind of decomposing and with a red stuff on the surface? so I went to PetSmart and bought a piece of wood so I could 're-mount it' I've been thinking of it day and night but before I do it I would like to read the opinion of the experts here
The plant is growing nicely but I want to act before its too late, I should mention that the tree trunk is outside and was never protected from the rain,just from the sun.
It was mounted back in March this year.
Thanks in advance for your help.

[TimetoFindMe]

How established is it on the trunk? Did you get the grapevine wood or cork from Petsmart?

If its not too fixed onto the mount you should be able to move it. Especially if you really want to save the plant. Depending on how stuck on the roots are or where they went seeking water, you might be able to carefully slide a plant label under the roots after they (and the mount) have been soaked in water. Kind of gently peel them off without forcing it. I've seen that on wood baskets anyway...

Lets see what someone else says

[Bud]

pictures would be nice....also your grow zone or location in the USA...that is important for us to be able to help you accurately.
what made you decide to mount the catt rather than pot it?

[spikey2004]

@TimetoFindMe, Is kinda well establish and since the trunk is about 2 feet tall is hard to soak in water, it has grown many roots but again I feel the wood is decomposing because if I pull a pice with my fingers it comes off easily, as for the material I bought @ PetSmart, I believe is oak, I mounted another catt before and is doing great, I'll try sliding the roots with the plant label.
Thank You for the advice

[spikey2004]

Originally Posted by Bud

pictures would be nice....also your grow zone or location in the USA...that is important for us to be able to help you accurately.
what made you decide to mount the catt rather than pot it?

Pics are coming,I'm working on it , my grow zone I believe is 10A or 10B? I live in South FL, near Miami, and about my decision on mounting is based on why NOT mounting? here we have humidity, it rains all the time, lots of bugs,ants and all kinds of predators that love nesting inside the pots and I know that catts can be a pain in the neck, (I've been there) and one of my neighbors have one mounted on a oak tree and is way healthier than the potted ones, so I decided to give it a try and bought a pice of oak and I can still move it around were ever I go if I move one day
Thank you for your help,and again, advice is more than welcome

[spikey2004]

I've trying to add some pics but it won't let me I'll try copy and paste

[spikey2004]

nothing

[spikey2004]

Woooohoooo!!! got it!!!

[Bud]

It is well established on that wood, it even gave you a new growing little pbulb(it might give you blooms there)...dont bother to fuss with it...it is happy and growing...the algae and some red stuff due to the rains can be removed manually with an old toothbrush and listerine. the decaying wood from the forest is perfect: its got the necessary fungi and bacteria that the plant is in simbiotic relations with...what Id give for decaying wood...all I get in stores are new freshly cut wood...if its under a tree then its not getting soaked too much...I suggest you leave it alone.

[Zoi2]

For my 2 cents: Personally I would favor a remount to a hard wood, I use mopani. If you're thinking of remounting, now is probably the best time. Your roots do not look to be embedded and you've got a new growth that will be sending new roots shortly.
Joann