Mounted my new orchids -- & a howidunit | picture heavy

[SarinahL]

Thanks all!
When I'm done I'll post pictures of the mounting wall ( a regular wall, in a pretty spot).
It's ideal really, because the temperature is even, normal to cold, always highest humidity in the house. No heater there, but still never freezing. Of course, humidity is relative to temperature, but still it's 90% on average. 93% right now, btw.

Originally Posted by camille1585

Nice mounts, I never thought about getting wood at the petstore! Very healthy plants too, which grower are they from.
I have about a dozen mounts at home, but most are struggling. Even with twice a day watering they are still very dehydrated. How do you keep yours?

Pet store is great! It's slightly more expensive, especially if you'd elsewise get it from the woods. But it's clean (although I still soaked it, also because it was lying close to the bird and reptile section, which is dusty.) and these are very pretty pieces. Mostly grapewood, not sure what this is though.

I haven't had much experience with mounts, as I only recently started. I have a catt now one year, in the hallway, medium light, relatively neglected (I forget a weekly watering on that one now and then... ) but it's growing like crazy, attaching roots to the mount, shooting out growths.
But, for conditions in this home, see above ^.^

[SarinahL]

Oh and to answer your question more thoroughly, when I do water, I soak them for 30-60 minutes in a bucket. Every other week with weak to normal fertilizer (pokon for orchids).

All of the above, except for the miniphal-as-centrepiece, is from a Claessen. The phal is a rescue.

I got my backorder today, I'll try making pictures this weekend...they're gorgeous. *bliss*

[spikey2004]

Wooww!!! those look gorgeous!!, I'm also a big fan of mounted orchids and I also go to a petstore to buy mounting materials since they say they're heat treated, therefore there's no need to pre-treat the wood, I soak it in tap water overnight though, just in case, but no longer than that.
Keep posting pics so we can see the progress of your wonderful project and good luck!

[SarinahL]

Thanks! I really recommend the petstore. Sure you pay some $, but the wood is indeed pretreated and the pretty pieces are selected for the terrariums.
I soaked mine for a day, hot water with a drop of reg dishsoap, ~3 flushes after that, air dry. Last flush was with fertilized water. Not sure if it helps the roots any, but can't do any harm I'm sure.
I soaked also because all pieces were in a tray in the back with the birds, who knows what the birds poop-dust contains (apart from the high levels in parasites and bacteria... )

I took some more pictures, will try to post tomorrow.

[WhiteRabbit]

yes, I figure if the wood is safe for reptiles or fish, it's safe for the orchids

I believe grapewood is just that - wood from grape plants

[SarinahL]

Originally Posted by sarinahl

Mostly grapewood, not sure what this is though.

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

I believe grapewood is just that - wood from grape plants

No no, I know
I meant, I'm not sure if thats what I bought. They weren't marked and some of my pieces looked very different from eachother
Oh the woes of typed text

[glengary54]

Sarinahl - You list your Renanthera as vietmanica, if it is indeed a Renanthera then it is more correctly Renanthera vietnamensis. The only vietnamica that I can think of is Christensonia vietnamica, a completely different genus and species.

[SarinahL]

glengary54, I was wondering about that. Quickly googling it gave me the expected pictures, but not too many. Still didn't think too much of it. This was the name as listed on their website and label, of the grower I got ir from.

[SarinahL]

Update!!

This is how I hung them up in the house, in the stairway. Every morning and evening I pass by with my spray bottle.

[glengary54]

sarinahL - I think I solved the issue of your plant's name. After pulling out all of my orchid research books, it turns out that we were both right to some degree. The correct name is: Renanthera vietnamensis. A new species that was first described in 2002. It is sometimes listed by the incorect name of Renenthera vietnamica. Still after all my reserch I was unable to find another species named vietnamica except for Christensonia vietnamica. Here is your plants official listing from Kew Gardens: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew