Mounting how-to question

[ALToronto]

I've read through a lot of past posts about mounting, and there is one issue I haven't seen addressed.

Do you hang up the mount right away, or do you keep it horizontal until the plant roots start adhering to the mount? I will be mounting Catt Alliance plants.

[Paul Mc]

I think the answer depends Upon how securely it is fastened versus how heavy the plant is. If its securely mounted and the weight of the plant won't cause any issues, then I'd say hang it up. Otherwise, you may want to wait until it has taken good hold of the mount. Just my 2 cents.

[tucker85]

I attach them securely so the plant won't move around and I hang them up right away. Cattleyas love being mounted.

[RosieC]

I have attached them securely in the past then hung them straight away. The Catt I mounted seems particularly quick to attach it's roots, all the growing roots seemed drawn to the mount and quickly gripped on tight.

[The Orchid Boy]

Correct me if I'm wrong but, I don't think orchid roots are affected by gravitropism, that is gravity doesn't attract their roots. There is also phototropsism which is when plant spikes or leaves grow towards the light.

[RosieC]

I would agree that I don't think they are attracted by gravity to grow down. Many of my mounted ones grow back towards the mount rather than down.

[isurus79]

I've always secured my mounts and then hung them up.

[tucker85]

Originally Posted by The Orchid Boy

Correct me if I'm wrong but, I don't think orchid roots are affected by gravitropism, that is gravity doesn't attract their roots. There is also phototropsism which is when plant spikes or leaves grow towards the light.

I agree with you and Rosie. Gravity does not seem to affect the roots. Over the years I've noticed that the roots, on many of my cattleyas, grow away from the light. That makes perfect sense to me because that's where the tree trunk would be in nature. The opposite seems to be true with phalaenopsis. For some reason their roots seem to be attracted to the light. In any case orchid roots never seem to have any trouble finding the mount. I've had the same experience as Rosie. My cattleyas attached to the mounts very quickly. I removed the ties on two cattleyas recently because the roots were firmly attached to the mount after only 6 weeks. Most of them take longer than that though.

[Lorraine]

One thing to remember when mounting on anything is to make sure the orchid is secure. (This include non mounted in pots, use pot clips) If it is loose it will move on the mount and the roots will keep breaking away from your mount and you risk loosing your plant. I use wire, monofiliment fishing line, cable zip ties and pantyhose to attach my mounts. The panty hose is used on live trees and the rest on all other media (legs cut off and cut length wise on both sides to the toe making a very long piece to use). Everything is done and placed where it is expected to grow although in slightly less light until it is growing new roots and happy.

[RosieC]

Good point. I have managed to successfully do one that I just couldn't get secure enough however hard I tried. I succeeded only by hanging it and not moving it all summer. By the end of the summer the roots had secured it firmly on the mount. However if you need to pick them up (for example to water) it needs to be really secure for the roots to attach.