Found mount No. 1: What would you do?

[Orchid Whisperer]

Kept meaning to post an update re: the scratch test. Good news & bad news.

Bad news first, the wood is somewhat soft, fingernail definitely leaves a mark, though it is not as soft as pine.

Good news, I have figured out what kind of wood it is: Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua). This is based on bark on the stump it came from, & similar trees in the grove it came from.

I have been thinking about what to do with the mount, and I have decided to continue establishing moss on it, and see how it holds up. Worst case, I have to pitch it before I can grow a plant on it, but I have not lost anything. Best case, maybe I can grow a plant on it after all. If I plant something on it and it does not hold up, I will just re-establish the plant on another mount.

[Brooke]

I had a beautiful piece of driftwood I wanted to use but found it to be too soft to last very long for an orchid. I put "air" plants on it because they only need high humidity or a swift pass with the hose.

It looks great when in bloom and still attractive when out of bloom.

Brooke

[rosebudforglory]

Old post but some will find it — I would use some super glue in gel form. It’s used often to attach coral inmthe ocean or saltwater aquarium. Water actually cures it pretty fast. Bob Smiths Industries website. Or salt water aquarium shops. At Bob Smith’s website - you will see several videos of corals be attached - at least one from Marine Depot.

From Bob Smith Industries: “ IC-GEL's™ most popular application is for the bonding of fragments of live coral (frags) to underwater rocks in aquariums. It has proven to be non-toxic to aquatic organisms and provides instant bonding for the propagation of the coral. IC-Gel has a superior shelf life of over three years and its application nozzle makes it the easiest of all CAs to apply. Click to view Long Island Aquarium Coral Reef Video. They use IC-GEL for bonding their live frags in their 20,000g aquarium reef.” Use in garage or outside, and try to do all at one time. It smells to high heaven and what’s left in the tube goes hard fairly quickly. I think there is a little tip from someone on resealing, seems like it was using vaseline around the top of the tube — wipe the old amount oozing out and then already have the cap coated inside with Vaseline but not sure. Saw that a long time ago.
I figured if it was safe for live coral frags, it would be safe for orchids — use on the rhizome or back of bulb not the roots though. Where to attach depends on the plant. Once it cures in those 20-25 seconds it’s done and isn’t moving. I had been told it was best after mounting was to dunk in a bucket of water. I did it but not positive if was necessary. Sorta like using SuperThrive. Not positive how much it contributes, but always use it anyway. Same with using Molasses in the bare root compost tea soaks with the bare roots too for getting ready to plant new shrubbery. I used it and SuperThrive in 76 strawberry plants — the ones that just got a plain water soak didn’t grow as fast, nor as big. And of course bigger plants produced nicer strawberries. Seemed to work but couldn’t really find any science except I have always used for bare-root soaks. Haven’t tried for orchids though. Next time I purchase a flask might try. Really need to use mericlones. Hybrid seedlings could be too variable.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Wow. Ancient history thread!

I remember the mount but not what I actually grew on it.