just a mount or the wood only

[Swamper]

I went shopping for a cork mount a couple of days ago for a cork mount, and ended up buying this thing that I just keep looking at wondering what to do with it, may not even mount it, the last one I did was a lot harder (creatively) than I thought. Thanks for your help Sue...
Anyway here is the newest one, any ideas would be appreciated. Maybe a couple of small ones instead of just one?

[isurus79]

Thats a pretty big mount! I think I would leave it whole, but put something on it that grows fast, something that will take it over in a fairly short time. Maybe a Brassavola nodosa (or one of its hybrids), Dendrobium loddigesi or a rambling Bulbophylum.

[cb977]

Oh my! That is FANTASTIC!!!

I'd put either something that has a rambling nature or a few miniatures. If you decide to go with more than one plant on it, keep in mind that they should all have the same lighting and watering needs

Let us know what you do with it...I'm looking forward to seeing it

[Swamper]

Steve, I like the idea of something taking over a large mount, though Im not sure I wanna totally cover this one up.
Sus I like the idea of several minis. I have no clue on them though. I'll have to see if any locals sell any?

[Royal]

Ok, I'm a freak but - I'd cut it. I'd cut it through the thick "knuckle" part. Then you have two with flat bottoms. You could even cut one of those further, like into stick mounts with a nice bulge at the bottom of each to support a plant. But that's just me. Good score.

[Swamper]

Royal....go to your corner. LOL jk, thanks for the imput though I really do appreciate it. I think if I had two of these I would actually do that with one. I'm sure that would look awesome.

[Ross]

I'm with Royal. As for most mounts, unless you mount something like a standard Brassavola that rambles, you'd be faced with multiples. Problem with that, is you'd have to pick several that had exactly the same requirements. For me, I personally would not have made that selection. Nothing wrong with your choice, but I wouldn't have done it because of the difficulty of working it.

[kavanaru]

or what about a single large plant with big foliage to cover the space but not very invasive, so that you can still enjoy the mount?

For example, a large Catasetum... with time it would even start producing the typical aerial roots pointing up (see the picture of the green Catasetum in the calendar Poll!) or even a cycnodes hybrid, which would add a dramatic tough when blooming after having lost the leaves?

[Swamper]

hmmmm a lot of great suggestions, thanks everyone.

[unhappykat]

I think it would look best with some minis, especially masdevallias, draculas, dryadellas, stellis(?plural) , or even a few of the smaller bulbophyllums like Picta. Maybe a different masdevallia at each branch tip to give the effect of leaves growing at the tips of a tree, or a compact but pendulous dendrobium to give it an even better appearance of being a live tree, one of the soft cane deciduous varieties so it blooms when completely bare then leaves out, new growths, just as spring arrives. Too many I deas not enough time to spit them all out. One last idea, maybe try mounting several forms of Den Kingianum, they can become quite large ovre time but if placed toward the branch tips they will grow in a pendant formation, sort of, and reward with plenty of blossoms in spring, stay away from standard pinks as they are often too vigorous, go for the alba, Silcokii, and bicolor forms, maybe even a compact pink for one of the larger tips. Have to go now.