Sophronitis cernua- keep it potted or better to mount it?

[camille1585]

Yesterday, I visited one of my favorite nurseries, and finally got a replacement for the Soph cernua I lost to rot one rainy summer 6-7 years ago. They no longer had blooming size mounted plants, so I got a smaller ,1-2 years from blooming size plant, but in a 2in pot.

It occurred to me that I've very rarely seen photos of this species potted. The majority of them are mounted, so I'm assuming that there must be a good reason. Are they more often mounted because it's better suited to their growth habit, or do they simply do better mounted in the long run?

I have several mounts that would work for it, and it's growing new roots, so I'm tempted to mount it. But it also looks quite happy potted. Thoughts?

[No-Pro-mwa]

Well both of mine are potted. I would never be able to keep a mounted one watered good enough. My smaller one is in a 2 inch basket setting inside a plastic pot and I need to water it every day. My other one is in a 2 inch plastic pot and I water it about every 3 days and leave it setting in a little saucer of water to soak up. But this is me and my conditions are so dry I have to do this with allot of my Catt's. If you have lost one to rot perhaps you would do better with it mounted. They do look very cool that way.

Both of mine are in need of a re-pot but for me I know it will not be a mount. If you didn't want to do a mount you might think about a basket.

[camille1585]

Thanks for the info! I do like the net pot in a pot method for other orchids so I could try that. I don't mind mounting it, but do prefer the convenience of a potted plant.

Mine did great mounted, but that summer I had put the orchids outside and we had a particularly rainy week. It was a normally sheltered spot, but the rain/wind came from an unusual direction and the plants got soaked. Water got trapped for too long between the mount and bulbs growing up right against it and it rotted.

[jkofferdahl]

I can't speak for everyone, of course, but mine are doing extremely well mounter. I water them a couple of times a day. and keep the humidity level above 50%.

[orchidsarefun]

My experience is that there seems to be a point where they do better mounted. My specimen- sized plant that is mounted puts out 6-8 new bulbs every year. However my 2 smaller ones, with about 4 bulbs each, are also on a mount. They haven't attached to the mount and seem to be doing nothing.