Changing moss on mounts

[wintergirl]

Originally Posted by katrina

I grow several of the very mini/compact phals in the exact same manner...a couple having been on their mounts for 6-8 years. And I'm not talking about the easy mini hybrids...I mean some of the more difficult species.

I have a friend who has masdies, pleuros, and bulbos on mounts...for 10+ years and never changes sphag.

I can say with 100% confidence, if your plants are struggling on the mount, it is because of something else and not due to aging moss. Provided you haven't attached an overly thick layer...that is an entirely different ballgame.

You can do whatever you like but you really are making more work for yourself than you need to and possibly causing more trouble for the plants than you realize.

They actually do better once I change or take out old moss.

[bil]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

They are growing, not appearing to struggle but, not attaching to the mounts. I think in my case this is an easy fix.

Interesting. You'd think that the roots would burrow into the moss and strike the mount sooner or later.

[Dollythehun]

Maybe I'm not patient enough. I mounted them early last winter.

[SaraJean]

Goodness, thank you all for the replies! I think I'm going to error on the side of caution and do nothing. Most of my mounted orchids are bulbophyllums so to not damage the roots would be virtually impossible. The only one I might redo is my bulb. lasiochilum, but that has more to do with the fact that I used WAY too much moss when I first put it on the cork

[bil]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

Maybe I'm not patient enough. I mounted them early last winter.

Dolly, I am curious. How did you know the roots weren't holding to the mount?

[Dollythehun]

Because when the string rotted one fell off.

[bil]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

Because when the string rotted one fell off.

Ah, gotcha.

Have a look at using braided fishing line. Fabulous stuff, almost invisible and lasts for... ages. I had something secured with it that was outsde in full sun for a decade.. just be careful using it that you don't cut yourself.

[SG in CR]

I grow nearly all my orchids mounted on live trees and have found that they do not like any sort of padding between them and what they are mounted to. I used to use coconut husks which actually work great till they start to break down and leave your orchid dangling. Then I tried moss and some orchids just seem to have a hard time going through the moss to the mount. Notably some miniature phals that I split up last year. They were doing horrible, so I removed them to cut off the dead roots and I tied what was left straight to the tree trunk, nothing covering them. After losing most of their leaves they started to recover and now they have nice new roots bonded firmly to the bark of the tree. Just my 2 cents on the matter, I'm sure greenhouse conditions might make the moss more important to maintain humidity.

[Dollythehun]

I agree, I'm finding the same thing.

[SaraJean]

Originally Posted by SG in CR

I grow nearly all my orchids mounted on live trees and have found that they do not like any sort of padding between them and what they are mounted to. I used to use coconut husks which actually work great till they start to break down and leave your orchid dangling. Then I tried moss and some orchids just seem to have a hard time going through the moss to the mount. Notably some miniature phals that I split up last year. They were doing horrible, so I removed them to cut off the dead roots and I tied what was left straight to the tree trunk, nothing covering them. After losing most of their leaves they started to recover and now they have nice new roots bonded firmly to the bark of the tree. Just my 2 cents on the matter, I'm sure greenhouse conditions might make the moss more important to maintain humidity.

Oh how I wish I could grow some of mine on trees