Mounting orchids for the first time

[mofms1]

I bought two bare-root orchids from a show a few weeks ago. The roots were wrapped in some kind of fiber (maybe coconut fiber) and there was a small piece of sponge in the center of the roots. The types of orchids were BLC and Polystachya Paniculata.

I have since mounted the Polystachya Paniculata on Tree Fern and hung it in my bathroom where it will get filtered NE (filtered through the blinds which are mostly closed for privacy) sun, and I can spritz the roots one or two times a day. I did put some sphagnum moss over the roots, but even that dries out over the course of a day. I'm not sure if it's thick enough to keep the roots damp, but also don't want to put on so much that it will rot the roots. It seems to be a very young plant and the roots are maybe only 1-2 inches long and there aren't many. Should I wait to mount this plant and give it a bit more time to grow? If the roots are dry by the morning and at night with me spraying it twice a day, should I add more moss if I keep it mounted?

I haven't mounted the BLC yet but would like to do so this weekend if it doesn't need more time to grow. I already have a Tree Fern to mount it to, and a place picked out to hang it, by the windows in my breakfast nook. It will receive shaded southern sun. I have two store-bought, potted orchids growing really well in the same location. The roots on the BLC are also not very long (1-2 inches) but they are thick and seem really healthy. They are in a little jar now, there is no standing water, but they seem to retain their moisture for about 2 days before they need a spritz or dip in water. Should I wait to mount this? When I mount it should I put sphagnum moss over it? If so, how thick should I layer the moss?

Any advice would be appreciated and thank you ahead of time for your help.

[WaterWitchin]

Growing roots adapt to their present environment. Best to go ahead and mount. Some folks say very little sphag over and/or under the roots and/or base. I use a fairly good "wad" of it under, and a bit over it when starting out. Main thing is to get it where the mount won't "wobble" until the roots get set actually clinging to the mount. Otherwise the growing tips can be damaged. I sit mine that are mounted one by one into a sink a couple of times a week and soak the heck out of it with my sink sprayer or with a sprayer filled with RO water. I only have Tolumnia and a bunch of Phals mounted these days. I'll try to take a picture or two of some I recently moved to a mount.

[mofms1]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Main thing is to get it where the mount won't "wobble" until the roots get set actually clinging to the mount. Otherwise the growing tips can be damaged.

What kind of "wobble" are you talking about? Right now it's tied to the tree fern with some cooking twine, and it's flat against the tree fern, but not super tight. Also, I wasn't sure where to place the orchid on the tree fern. It's towards the bottom now b/c I thought the orchid would move up the tree fern, but I've read some stuff saying the roots actually move down whatever they are mounted on. So now I'm unsure if I should move it up to middle or top of the tree fern.

---------- Post added at 01:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:09 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Ray

I recommend NOT putting sphagnum between the roots and the mount, but do put a decent wad over the roots.

I have found that a pad under the roots encourages the plant to grow roots into the pad, rather than in/onto the mount. It'll do so eventually in either case, but I like removing the fishing line I use to tie it on the mount sooner rather than later.

Do you mean a padding of sphagnum moss or a different type of pad?

---------- Post added at 01:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:12 PM ----------

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

there are a lot of ways to mount an orchid too, lots of orientations to play with.

i made this "cookie" plate for a Phal a year or so ago and she's very happy. i have others mounted completely upside down and others on the side of logs.

That looks awesome. I have mine mounted flat against a vertical flat tree fern piece

[Ray]

Originally Posted by mofms1

Do you mean a padding of sphagnum moss or a different type of pad?

Sphagnum

[sjohn]

I lived in Singapore and Borneo for 20 years and have mounted 1000's of orchids a few hundred types.

I think it is best to mounted about 2/3 down the fern bark as sprayed moisture moves down, the roots will go both up and down. The plant on the other hand depends on the type. Vanda types like trichoglottis will crawl up and around, so will Cattleya group, while Phaleonopsis will stay the same place. The roots will seek lingering moisture whether up or down within or behind the mount.

Spaghnum with or without is a choice as with you can water less often but if you like to frequently spray your plants then without may be better. Vanda types in general do better without moss and a frequent spray with high humidity.

For mounting I usually put a small pad of moss behind the plant between the mount. Chiloschista on the otherhand do well on a small branch, no moss.

[Leafmite]

Hello and welcome! I hope you will continue to be a part of our orchid forum.
Lately, I have been either mounting orchids or buying orchids already mounted so I was glad to see this older thread appear. Thanks!

Originally Posted by sjohn

I lived in Singapore and Borneo for 20 years and have mounted 1000's of orchids a few hundred types.

I think it is best to mounted about 2/3 down the fern bark as sprayed moisture moves down, the roots will go both up and down. The plant on the other hand depends on the type. Vanda types like trichoglottis will crawl up and around, so will Cattleya group, while Phaleonopsis will stay the same place. The roots will seek lingering moisture whether up or down within or behind the mount.

Spaghnum with or without is a choice as with you can water less often but if you like to frequently spray your plants then without may be better. Vanda types in general do better without moss and a frequent spray with high humidity.

For mounting I usually put a small pad of moss behind the plant between the mount. Chiloschista on the otherhand do well on a small branch, no moss.

[Ray]

I recommend NOT putting sphagnum between the roots and the mount, but do put a decent wad over the roots.

I have found that a pad under the roots encourages the plant to grow roots into the pad, rather than in/onto the mount. It'll do so eventually in either case, but I like removing the fishing line I use to tie it on the mount sooner rather than later.

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by Ray

I recommend NOT putting sphagnum between the roots and the mount, but do put a decent wad over the roots.

I have found that a pad under the roots encourages the plant to grow roots into the pad, rather than in/onto the mount. It'll do so eventually in either case, but I like removing the fishing line I use to tie it on the mount sooner rather than later.

Yeah, but I'm a much lazier waterer than you are Ray.

[davidg]

Late arrival on this thread, but I have some orchids in pots I am going to mount. I tend to be a neat gardeners, and usually remove dead roots when repotting plants, but I am new to orchids. Is it OK/best to remove any dead roots, or should they be left to form part of the growing environment?

[DirtyCoconuts]

there are a lot of ways to mount an orchid too, lots of orientations to play with.

i made this "cookie" plate for a Phal a year or so ago and she's very happy. i have others mounted completely upside down and others on the side of logs.

i prefer to put less under the roots and more over them WHEN i add any media at all...the ideal is to have them with nothing so there is nothing to break down.....you cannot repot a mount lol

Plants, yo by J Solo, on Flickr
Plants, yo by J Solo, on Flickr