Trichosalpinx-blaisdellii

[Johndeaux22]

Here’s an unusual one. Trichosalpinx-blaisdellii , as best I can tell, it’s a Pleurothallid, growth habit is not like anything else in my collection. For me it’s only sent out one new growth in almost three years, but it has been nearly everblooming. It’s also about time to re mount it, the stick it’s on is completely falling apart - it likes it wet.

** please excuse the somewhat blurry flower photo, I couldn’t get this thing to sit still!

[Roberta]

Definitely a Pleurothallid. And it does need a new mount... I usually end up remounting most of my Andy's Orchids plants within a couple of years. Pick a mount that has a rough surface, and hard wood. Where I live, Bottlebrush wood is easy to get because the trees are in landscaping all over the place, and people trim them, and it works really well. Cork slabs are always good - and long lasting. (If you don't have a local source, you can find a variety on Amazon, or at a reptile store) But you may have suitable branches of other types of trees where you live, that you could use. Since this is a Pleurothallid, which likes to stay rather wet, be generous with the moss when you mount it.

[Johndeaux22]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Definitely a Pleurothallid. And it does need a new mount... I usually end up remounting most of my Andy's Orchids plants within a couple of years. Pick a mount that has a rough surface, and hard wood. Where I live, Bottlebrush wood is easy to get because the trees are in landscaping all over the place, and people trim them, and it works really well. Cork slabs are always good - and long lasting. (If you don't have a local source, you can find a variety on Amazon, or at a reptile store) But you may have suitable branches of other types of trees where you live, that you could use. Since this is a Pleurothallid, which likes to stay rather wet, be generous with the moss when you mount it.

I have a bunch of black locust from a tree I took down on one of my ranch properties that seems to be working out well for the other plants I’ve remounted over the last year. It has wonderfully rough bark and is incredibly hard/dense. I’d also be interested in your opinion of Rocky Mountain juniper, I’ve got a ton of it on the burn pile at home, but am hesitant to use to mount orchids because of its resinous nature; I do, however like the rot and pest resistance of the wood, as well as the interesting appearance of much of it. Anything I use for mounts I bake at 300* F for an hour or so to kill anything that may be lurking from outside.

[Roberta]

I suspect that juniper and other soft woods like pine, would be less good - along with resin (which may discourage roots from attaching), they won't last as long as that Black Locust hardwood. With the frequent watering that mounted plants, especially Pleurothallids need, you may get 2-3 years out of a softwood mount before rot becomes an issue where you could get 10 from a hardwood mount. (Most of those Andy plants have already been on their mount for several years before you buy it - plants are well established - the upside, but you're well into the lifetime of the mount. )

[Johndeaux22]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I suspect that juniper and other soft woods like pine, would be less good - along with resin (which may discourage roots from attaching), they won't last as long as that Black Locust hardwood. With the frequent watering that mounted plants, especially Pleurothallids need, you may get 2-3 years out of a softwood mount before rot becomes an issue where you could get 10 from a hardwood mount. (Most of those Andy plants have already been on their mount for several years before you buy it - plants are well established - the upside, but you're well into the lifetime of the mount. )

I’ve remounted the plant on black locust, and am seeing no complaints thus far. The juniper should have similar to superior rot resistance to cedar, I am mostly concerned with whether the aromatics in the wood may be cause for concern.

[SG in CR]

On the topic of the juniper, I would guess that the heating to 300 degrees would cause the oils and other volatiles in the wood to evaporate out. Might be worth trying on something not too valuable.

[Johndeaux22]

Originally Posted by SG in CR

On the topic of the juniper, I would guess that the heating to 300 degrees would cause the oils and other volatiles in the wood to evaporate out. Might be worth trying on something not too valuable.

I’ve got a Restrepia brachypus that has a few offshoots that are begging to be their own plant. Maybe I’ll put one of those on juniper with a bunch of sphagnum and see how it does.