Driftwood as orchid mounts

[ArronOB]

Hi. Recent bushfires followed by floods have deposited loads of timber on our local beach - a rare event. I went down there today and chose some really gnarly, characterful pieces to use as orchid mounts.

These would be pieces of local eucalyptus hardwoods, with burnt patches. How long they would have been in the salt water I can’t say - they could have been washed into the flooded river in recent days, or could have been lying around the shoreline in the many sheltered bays and inlets upstream for any amount of time.

So I’m guessing that the burnt patches won’t bother the orchids as they do well in charcoal potting mix. But what about the possibility that they might be waterlogged with seawater? Is that even possible? Anyone used driftwood for orchid mounts? Did you do anything to remove any possible salt?

I would really like to use these pieces as interesting, well weathered mounts like these are not easy to come by locally. So would they be safe choice?

Cheers
Arron

[Subrosa]

You'll definitely want to soak them to eliminate any salt that might have leached in. Most orchids (and plants in general) are very intolerant of salt water.

[Ray]

Yes, seawater saturation is a problem and must be avoided, but a long soak in an excess volume of fresh water - or better yet, water with about 1-2 ml/L of Epsom Salts - will help a great deal.

My "epiphyte tree" was soaked in just plain water for a week.

[DirtyCoconuts]

If you have access to a canal or lake, tie it all in a bale and then to a cinder block and sink the whole bale for a week or more.

If not, I know people who will leave them out in the sun and soak them daily with a hose letting them dry and wet to expand and release. I do not like this as I don’t think it fully removes the salt.

[Connie Star]

Is the oil in eucalyptus a problem for orchids? Agree with the concerns about sea water. I don't grow much on mounts so not an issue for me.

[ArronOB]

Originally Posted by Connie Star

Is the oil in eucalyptus a problem for orchids? Agree with the concerns about sea water. I don't grow much on mounts so not an issue for me.

I have no idea. Few of the local species grow on eucalypts but that may be more to do with the ever-shedding bark and possibly the mycorrhizal fungi.

I also rarely grow on mounts because until now (moved house) it hasn’t suited my growing environment. Now I have a long, partially shaded boundary wall that is in need of some sort of feature.

---------- Post added at 08:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:39 AM ----------

Ok, so I’ll soak them in fresh water for a week, changing the water daily.

I have a couple of similar pieces from dry-land sources which I can use as well, so will be able to see what works.

My concern is more that I want to get moss and lichen growing on the mounts as well, to give them a more natural look. Anyone had success at that?

[DirtyCoconuts]

I have Spanish moss draped on almost all of my mounts. It is very easy as long as you can get the stuff.

It is not actually moss but tillandsia usneodies

[AnonYMouse]

Lichen and moss are probably just as sensitive to salts and oils. They can be your canaries.