Mopani Wood - Orchid Board

Amanda L · #1 03-23-2016, 02:22 PM

Can mopani wood be used to mount orchids? Amazon has some pieces from Zoo Med that are relatively cheap. It claims it will not rot. It's being sold for use in aquariums.

WhiteRabbit · #2 03-23-2016, 10:23 PM

I've always figured that wood sold for aquariums should be fine for orchids. I know questions about mopani for mounting orchids have been asked before, and I recall one quite recently - I think it should help you out

Mopani wood as a mount?

Amanda L · #3 04-04-2016, 09:46 AM

Thanks, Wabbit! I'm glad it's good for them, because I bought 3 pieces. I also have some grapevine that's been sand blasted, which I hate. I wished they had just left it alone. I also should have kept the grapevine and flat piece of wood from my snake setup. Hindsight is 20/20.

hcastil3 · #4 05-24-2017, 01:14 PM

you can use it not problem. I think the only proble is the weight, but if you don't mind the weight of the mount then they are beautiful mounts.

Subrosa · #5 05-24-2017, 01:48 PM

One consideration with mopani is the high tannin content. In an aquarium it means the water will look like weak iced tea, but for mounting orchids it means that it's a very acidic substrate. I suspect that lime loving orchids such a rupiculous Laelia wouldn't appreciate that. My L. alaorii sure didn't, but my Brassavola Little Stars thrived on it.

Dollythehun · #6 05-24-2017, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amanda L

Thanks, Wabbit! I'm glad it's good for them, because I bought 3 pieces. I also have some grapevine that's been sand blasted, which I hate. I wished they had just left it alone. I also should have kept the grapevine and flat piece of wood from my snake setup. Hindsight is 20/20.

Would you like grapevines? If you pay the shipping, I have vines. I think they look pretty cool as mounts and I have lots to share...or, you could take a drive in the country with your handsaw.

Salixx · #7 05-30-2017, 06:43 PM

I know I'm late, but I have two Tolumnia and an Agraecum didieri mounted on mopani pieces - all are doing quite well, the A. didieri looks like an octopus on it... The pieces are quite heavy, however. You may want to check out Malaysian driftwood - it's a bit lighter but also rot resistant.