from mount to pot? can this be done?

[Erce]

i just got myself some new chids, and some of them came mounted - but i have bad luck growing on mount at want to pot them up? can i take them of and pot them or will this be a bad thing?

they are both dendrobiums

[boytjie]

Depending how entwined the roots are in the mount, it might be a better idea just to cut the mount down as small as possible (taking care not to damage any of the roots), and then potting it up still attached to the mount. I have done this with a few plants and it worked out really well.

[got ants]

I would say it all depends on what specie/hybrid dendrobiums you have. I like the longer cane types potted as they seem to require more water, but the smaller/miniature dendrobiums do best for me on mounts.

Especially types like Aggregatum/Lindeleyi that needs a good dry/winter rest for optimum flowering.

Could you also explain what difficulties you had previously and with what species/hybrids?

[jason woodrue]

What is it mounted on? if it is treefern I would do what stephen suggests.

[Erce]

they are both on cork - quite big mounts but small plants.

they are Dendrobium formosum and Dendrobium moniliforme

i grow all my orchids inside in my windows and some times have a hard time keeping them moist - always got told that mounts not work in livingrooms??

[got ants]

I just happen to be looking at these among others in the smaller sized Dendrobiums, to monut on the orchid tree I have made (I'll post pics in a bit).

They can be difficult to mount, but once done they do very nice. But since you grown them indoors, I can see the need to pot them. Do you have access to coconut husks (whole pieces)? I have some Dens planted in pots (larger cane types) and basically use 2-3" sections of coconut husks to wedge them in a clay pot and they do well.

It also helps that I have two coconut palms, more than enough coconuts than I can use.

[jason woodrue]

you can probably cut down a cork mount with a hobby knife or a utility knife - that could work pretty well.

Does the moniliforme have much or any sphag on the mount? (i dont know if this matters)

What variety moniliforme is it? shirraya?

[SOS]

I would pot both those if I was growing in a living room too. Soak them, then soak them again if you decide to take them off.

Putting some bark (or pieces of cok you trim off) around the cork (if you decide to stick the whole thing in a pot) should work fine.