Taking orchid off mount

[PrincessFiona]

Hi all!

Can anyone tell me what are my chances off successfully taking a struggling cattleya alliance off of a grape wood mount that it has been on for a few years? My trouble is not keeping it adequately hydrated in my house in the winter. Half the plant is dead but a piece does have green roots. Thanks in advance for any info.

[gerneveyn]

I would take it off the mount and pot it. I've done this with an Epigeneium. If the new roots are stuck to the mount, you can try soaking it first.

[astrid]

I'm guessing the mount - if wooden - will be a bit flimsy and soggy if wet. You should just soak the mount for a few hours and then break up the mount if possible.

But honestly you may have to just gently peel some of those roots off and you'll probably lose a few. I've removed some bulbos from mounts and their teensy little roots were very hard to deal with!

The roots might pull up some of the old wood with it, and it'll be easy to soak off then.

[PrincessFiona]

Thank you both for the replies. It did come off rather easily as it was outside in the rain all day yesterday. Here's hoping that it adapts to being placed in a pot.