Wooden roots for mounts

[dougbraz]

I just bought a lovely shaped piece of wood (a part of a root methinks) originally intended for decorating an aquarium. It is from SE Asia somewhere, but that is by the way.
I intend to mount two small orchids on it (with sphagnum) and keep it as a centerpiece on a (well lit) table.
My question is:
To use this piece of wood in a freshwater aquarium, I would soak the wood for a month or so to get rid of the excess tannin in the log that would otherwise darken the water too much when it leeches out.
Do I have to do the same for an orchid mount? A branch is a branch is a branch, right? on an actual tree there is no no problem, using a dead one therefore I (think) also no problem, right? I seem to recall reading somewhere that the tannin wasn't good for orchids, but maybe I am mistaken.
Any pointers?
Thanks in advance
Doug

[Discus]

I've never heard of anyone soaking wooden mounts before using them for orchids - I wouldn't worry about it. If it's safe for fishtanks, I can't imagine it would be a problem for orchids.

People mostly soak them for a month either because they don't like the tannin colour in their fish tank, or because they don't sink without doing that! If you're keeping soft water fishes, they often quite like the tannins anyway.

[dougbraz]

OK great - thanks for the reply. Off to buy some small orchids then!

[Bud]

I let the wood for mounting out in the open for a year to experience the weather in my zone; get rained and snowed upon and sundried....maybe let the resins and tannins disolve and the pores widen to let the roots establish fast.

[WhiteRabbit]

I too generally assume, if it's safe for fish or reptiles, it should be safe for orchids. I know people soak 'found' wood to be sure it's clean and use physan or other product to be sure the wood is free of fungus and such.

[dougbraz]

OK great - thanks for all the feedback.
Now if only I can decide which flowers to buy.... hehehe

[ezil]

I have bought many pieces of mopani wood (and other types as well) in the past for our fish tanks. All of them came with the instructions to soak thoroughly before use. I use them now for orchids, and they seem to love the grooves and holes. I use very little sphagnum moss with these mounts. They last for years!

[keithrs]

If you want to be safe and the piece is not to big you can boil it and that will remove the surface oils. I also weather my mounts before use just by the fact that I store it outside.