Mounting on Ecoweb or Epiweb?

[nenella]

I'm not an expert but have tried epiweb.
this is only my opinion-I have come to the conclusion that :
-Yes it lasts 'for ever'
- Yes It needs to be watered much more frequently than bark or other types of mounts-pots.
Whenever, I ever... .. get my terrariums/orchid 'houses' equipped with a sprinkling system for watering I would definitely use an epiweb like material for mounting.
Interesting subject thanks for bringing this up

[gnathaniel]

My experience is that this stuff dries out fairly fast in windowsill and outdoor culture, in part from the open structure that unlike solid mounts allows air to flow through, on balance not necessarily a bad thing. In drying speed I'd put it between treefern and cork, probably slightly closer to cork in my conditions. Physically it reminds me more of osmunda than treefern in its flexibility and compressibility, and one of my favorite uses so far is chunks/cubes in potting mixes. Larger pieces of it can be folded/rolled and bound or quilted tighter with strong fishing line or flexible wire; when layered/compressed the structure is less open and water retention improves. I've done some layered composites with tighter-woven plastic meshes (scotch-brite pads) that hold more water, and even just attaching a cedar shake to the back of an ecoweb mount to restrict airflow seems to improve water retention. On balance I'd say it's a versatile material that's nice to have as an option, but it doesn't really work as a standalone substitute for tree fern.

[tucker85]

Originally Posted by Magnus A

Epiweb® Do hold MUCH more water than a cork slab and therefore it dries up slower than a corkslab, under the same condition.

There is no magic as it is the relative humidity, in combination with air movement that make water evaporate.

When an orchid is establisk in epiweb, the roots inside the material helps holding the water as the slab becomes less "airy". I suggest that you try one or two plants on the material and evaluate it under your condition.

/M

Thanks Mangus. Epiweb is hard to get here but I ordered some Ecoweb from Ray and I'll try some plants on it. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks for all your help.

[Jayfar]

You might want to read the Orchid Karma blog entry about the issues that led her to stop using EpiWeb.

Cool vivarium 2.0 « Orchid Karma :: An orchid blog

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Jayfar

You might want to read the Orchid Karma blog entry about the issues that led her to stop using EpiWeb.

Cool vivarium 2.0 « Orchid Karma :: An orchid blog

So what I gather from Karma's blog was that it was hard to cut, and roots grew into-and through it so well, that she couldn't move individual plants around for photography or medical care. The former is a nuisance, but easily overcome; the latter can occur with any mounting material.

Had she lined the viv with plants on individual pieces, rather than covering the walls with large, single ones, and attaching the plants, that would have been averted, as well.

I have several vandaceous x neo crosses, tolumnias, catts and oncids mounted on EcoWeb, and they are all doing very well. I also have plants in wooden-, or EcoWeb baskets containing EcoWeb cubes, and in plastic pots containing the cubes.

[Magnus A]

Originally Posted by Jayfar

You might want to read the Orchid Karma blog entry about the issues that led her to stop using EpiWeb.

Cool vivarium 2.0 « Orchid Karma :: An orchid blog

I have to sacond Ray on this one.

Orchidkarma complains about that the orchid roots grow to good and the material is hard to cut.

Her problem with fungus originates from bad climate controll and the lining of each epiweb piece with a water holding fiber cloth.

It is clear for me that her automated climate system failed and it is easier to blame a product than yourself.

She can not defend herself. But I can not see, if you are not doing something wrong, that a material that most people complain is to dry can cause a disease outbreak that need a to wet environment...


/M

[Oscarman]

Tucker I have been using Epiweb for about 5 years now and it works well in my environment. I usually place a pad of NZ moss on it under the plant before mounting.

More recently I have been experimenting with Roof Ridge Vent material, which is very similar to Epiweb and seems to perform exactly the same. It comes in a roll 11 1/2" wide and 20' long. Here it is approx. $4.20 and linear foot. It is a tad thinner, but just as sturdy as Epiweb. I cut both with my Dremel!

[Jeff9]

I am much more happy with the results from Hygrolon than Epiweb. I know you can use both together but i stopped using epiweb altogether to be honest.

I sew together hygrolon to form tubes and they are wrapped around PVC tubing approx 15-20cm long and 4cm diameter. They are closed off at the bottom with a glued lid and the inside of the tube functions as water reservoir.

The great thing is that the plants can grow on this tube for years and grow all around it, if the tube becomes too small for the plant i can cut the thread and enlarge the mount by using a larger diameter and length tube and sewing extra hygrolon to the existing piece to form a new, larger tube.

The tube water reservoir works great also, at this moment i fill them about once a week but i am pretty sure once i have my growing conditions dialed in better and raise my humidity they will last like 2 weeks.

Another great property is the fact that the material stays uniformly DAMP, not wet, but damp, and my oxyglossum plants absolutely thrive on it.

I planted out about 20 seedlings from 6 different oxyglossum species and all are thriving, 100% succes rate after 2 months, all have put out new roots and growth. I have a D.subuliferum seedling that is wrapping new roots all around the tube i have put it on.

I did a bunch of seedlings 1.5 year ago in traditional medium and the succesrate was about 40%, i had tons of molding issues and medium breakdown or staying too wet.

When these seedlings in hygrolon are larger i can move them from the compot into their own pots and i dont have to worry about the old medium. Also unlike epiweb, should they get tangled up and growing into eachother the thin layer open structure is easy to cut and i could free the roots with minimal effort.

Very happy after 2 months.

The only issue i notice at this point is i water with a extremely diluted fertiliser solution, but when the hygrolon does dry up you can see the mineral build up. It seems much harder to rinse off the miniral build up from this cloth than other materials. I hope it does not become an issue.

[Oscarman]

Hi Jeff, are you able to post some pics of how you have seedlings and the tube set up please?

[toksyn]

Agreed, photos please. Also, it looks like you are in Canada - might I ask where you got your hygrolon? I've been wanting to try it but there doesn't appear to be any US dealers.