Choosing mount size for future growth

[braxtonds]

This is my first post with a pic, I hope it works out.

I just received a shipment from Oak Hill Orchids, $10 for any mounted orchid special. They seemed alittle small for my preference but for the price and most importantly, for the species they had available, I am very pleased. These are my first mounts I've ever tried.

I received Bulbophyllum lobbii and Rhyncholaelia digbyana and both appear to be seedlings. I am very familiar with cattleyas, but this is my first bulbo. My question is the mounts are very small, should I consider transferring them to a new mount now, while they are attached but seemingly not permanently? Or should I wait until they are overgrown?

The website lists care instructions where it suggests that every 2 years you need to remount the orchids. I would prefer to choose a mount that will last much longer than that. Currently, the mounts are maybe 6-7" long slabs of wood and not very wide, what size should I choose for when I do need to remount?

[cbuchman]

I can only speak about the Bulbo... Do not move it to a new mount. Bulbos hate to have their roots disturbed and they can cover some distance pretty quickly as they have a tendency to "ramble."

The more typical issue is that the plant outgrows the mount - and that problem is easily solved by attached to orchid, mount and all to a bigger mount . I can only hope that you end up with this problem!

[Brooke]

Is your heart set on growing these mounted? Both of these species get very very large. Remounting every two years will really disturbed the attached roots. The digbyana wants to dry out but the lobbii wants lots of moisture.

Here is my lobbii in a 10" pot. It is also a very very prolific grower with growths in every direction.

Bulb lobbii 'Highjack' CCE-AOS LUR_4443 by kentucky4, on Flickr

Brooke

[braxtonds]

Thanks for the replies. Well no, my heart isn't set on growing them mounted, it was just shipped that way. Would you suggest growing the bulbo potted in a basket? Would that even contain it? What media should it be in? Also, your lobbii is amazing, the amount of blooms is unreal, how long have you been growing it?

[Brooke]

Thank you - I've had the plant since 06 or 07. It was repotted two years ago and the main instrument in getting it out of the basket was a saw I am a procrastinator and waited much too long for the repot

I grow all of my potted Bulbos in the net basket lined with sphag with p'nuts in the bottom, sitting in a saucer of water in Catt light. The media is Orchiata seedling bark mixed with either large perlite or Growstones. You wouldn't have to use the saucer if you can keep it moist enough by watering frequently.

Nothing can contain the growth because it grows in every direction. Don't make the mistakes I make, repot it before it becomes an over grown monster. The net pots let you cut the basket away without much root disturbance.

My digbyana I grow in a clay pot with LECA as the media but I don't have a pic of it.

Brooke