Budda Belly Bamboo & Driftwood..Oh My!

[Lorraine]

So if you didn't know before reading this I LOVE to mount my chids! I'm always looking for something new.

While visiting La Jolla a couple weeks ago I found Custom Aquatics www.customaquatic.com and paid them a visit. Custom Aquatics? They happen to have Malaysian Driftwood that is sold for use in aquariums...sitting in water...no brainer..no rot Hmmm. I dug through the broken pallet and found these lighter, branchier pieces and bought the 5 large pieces you see. The smaller ones were found at the bottom of the pallet..to small to sell but plenty big for orchid mounts. Each piece was 16.99 + shipping. Well worth it to me since these guys would not fit in my carry on luggage. I did however bring some other pieces that did fit with me. Fast forward to yesterday. I called a friend asking if she wanted to visit a Bamboo Nursery..Of course! Bamboo poles are nearly impossible to find but Palm Beach Bamboo Nursery in Loxahachee Fl had what I needed plus this really cool Budda Belly Bamboo pole with the branches still on it. Pack em up...er tie that bad boy up there, shove Budda in the back and through to the dashboard and Garmin take me home.

I will entertain suggestions for cutting the 10' X 5" round pole & I'm inclined to put Budda in a concrete pot and trim off the brittle twigs then start mounting. 2 of the driftwood pieces will fit together and make one taller interesting mount. What say yee??

[Junebug]

Wow! Those pieces of driftwood are gorgeous. That bamboo is cool looking too. I can't wait to see what you do with them. Keep us posted.

I like mounts too. My chids that have been converted to mounts are happy, happy, happy.

[got ants]

Lorraine, I built a small pergola for the few vandas I have with bamboo. With the left over pieces I tried mounting some Enc Tampensis onto it and they didn't take. They grew roots, but would not attach onto the bamboo. Don't know why as they grow on just about anything.

Now at the International Orchid Show in Miama, I saw some catts growing on bamboo, but the wood was just about rotted through. It has moss and fungus growing on it.

I only tell you this so you don't go and mount your prized chids onto it, only to lose them.

The other wood though....AWESOME!!! Nice find!

[Lorraine]

Originally Posted by got ants

Lorraine, I built a small pergola for the few vandas I have with bamboo. With the left over pieces I tried mounting some Enc Tampensis onto it and they didn't take. They grew roots, but would not attach onto the bamboo. Don't know why as they grow on just about anything.

Now at the International Orchid Show in Miama, I saw some catts growing on bamboo, but the wood was just about rotted through. It has moss and fungus growing on it.

I only tell you this so you don't go and mount your prized chids onto it, only to lose them.

The other wood though....AWESOME!!! Nice find!

Hmmm..maybe I'll let this bad boy weather some first. But prized chids will have to wait till I see how it does. I was thinking of cutting sections with the top open and since the inside is totally natural having it open on 2 sides, secure hanger & attach the chid to the bottom 2 holes and wire it in. Scuff up the outside to hurry up the weathering.

Nothing ventured..nothing gained..If these chids want to live here with the rest of the gang they better put out some roots, attach and grow

I'm not touching this 10 footer till I get some more ideas.

[Grandma M]

That collection of drift looks fantastic. I wish I had better luck with mounts. I did keep the orchid planted in the coconut shell you sent me a few years ago alive until this spring. I may need to try another one on
a piece which I have left.

Marilyn

[Lorraine]

Well I could NOT wait. 10' is now 8 1/2'. I pulled out my hubby's handy dandy jigsaw and a pencil and had some freeform fun I decided to put lots of holes in this piece for plenty of air to go around and the roots can grab on and in. I'll let it hang outside for awhile and weather. Some...rain..sun..humidity..heat. What do you think..2 weeks?? That will give me some time to decide who gets a new home.

I had a piece that was cut out from the front that I drilled multiple holes and put a hanger on. Gave it to a friend to experiment with also. Oh yea..he really liked the big piece!

[Lorraine]

Originally Posted by Grandma M

That collection of drift looks fantastic. I wish I had better luck with mounts. I did keep the orchid planted in the coconut shell you sent me a few years ago alive until this spring. I may need to try another one on
a piece which I have left.

Marilyn

Hi Marilyn,

Don't give up on mounting. It can be very interesting. If one type doesn't work there are lots of other things to mount on. Let me know what you are working on and I'll give you a hand. The coconut husk for me now are collecting algae so those chids are going to move again soon. Until then its Physan spray and a blast with the hose .

[got ants]

Well, if it works out, let me know, I have plenty of `boo left over. Some of it is lumber type and almost an inch thick in the walls (about 3" diameter). I also have some buddha belly already cured....

[Lorraine]

So I used 2 pieces of the driftwood and wired them securely together. Then mounted a den aggregotum and split a Stlma Kelly 'Lea' added some live spanish moss to protect the roots while acclimating to the mount and Home "New" Sweet Home for these guys!

I chose the Kelly 'Lea' because she blooms for me all the time and there is lots of room to fill up the driftwood. The den is high enough so when it blooms I'll get the spikes cascading over and still have room to spread at the top.

[Junebug]

Looks Great!!! Is that a tillansia in the second photo on the right?