Mounted to pot?
 

Can you transfer an orchid (thinking dendrobium, here) from a mount to a pot?

Well, yes, but you have to assess how much root damage it will take for you to dislodge it from the mount. Also, is the mount something that you can cut to size and pot it up instead of removing it altogether?

Ah, that's an even better I idea that I'd feel a lot more comfortable with. I want to purchase a gorgeous dendrobium, but it will come to me mounted, and there just isn't any way I can do mounting yet with what I have available here at the house. I can do pots all day long, though. Thanks!

Can't do mounts how?
they aren't difficult to care for and since most orchids that is their natural way of growing - most love it

We live in an antebellum home - the walls, inside and out are a foot and a half thick brick. There are absolutely no beams - no nothing to hang anything on. The backyard has nothing - no trees, no structures that can hang mounts at this point. (Hopefully in the future) When we restore each room, then we can start thinking about what kind of utilites we can build up to enable hanging mounts (both inside and out.) But it's one heck of a project we're starting - and it's going to be a while.

So, for right now, pots are going to be the way I'm going to have to care for my orchids until we can make other arrangements. There's just simply no way of hanging them at this point.

No problem. I don't know on what material it's mounted, but maybe it's soemthing that you can trim to fit the size of the pot you are considering. good luck!! :)

How do YOU hang your mounted orchids?
 

Ok. . .I asked a question a few minutes ago about whether or not you can transfer a mounted orchid to a pot. When I was asked why I don't want to use mounts, I explained about our home - brick walls inside and out, no beams, no place to mount. Outside there's no place to mount, either, and the winters here are pretty fridged (aiming for that green house one of these days!).

So. . .if you don't mind my asking. . .are there other ways of making sure a mount is upright? . . . Like maybe some kind of stand? Pictures would be much appreciated!

A mounted orchid can be a problem if you cannot keep it wet enough. I removed two from mounts for that reason. They are happier in pots because I do not have a greenhouse. Someday. Carol

Yeah, I know what you mean. . .watering is an issue for me too. I can do a couple of times a week, but not every day.

I understand :)
I have a couple mounted plants not hanging - on is a 'chunk' of grapewood I just have setting on a table outside - another is propped up in a windowsill
- both are not very large

Aw! Now that's a possibility! I saw on line some form of wick system to water mounted orchids. My current phal hangs over her pot to the side. I never correct it, she seems comfortable and happy that way. If I can figure out a way to keep the mount the Dendrobium comes on, I would MUCH prefer that.

Thanks, WhiteRabbit!

I have about a dozen mounted orchids hanging from the mesh shelving that came with a small,portable G/H. We hung that from hooks that were already on the underside of the mantel of our fireplace (which we never used, of course;)). This weekend I moved two of the mounts--Brassavola nodosa and Bl. Yellow Bird--back to pots. I did have to hack away at the cork on the Yellow Bird, but luckily she fit just fine in a six-inch orchid pot. The roots had too much of a hold on the substrate to even think of trying to remove them--Anyway, I plan on moving the other mounts to pots, also.

I didn't realize they needed to be sprayed every day and I am much more of the water-once-a-week kind. Live and learn, I guess:dunno: A friend has a few large mounted phals, but she says they are not doing too well. She can't give them enough moisture...Maybe it's where we live--not great humidity here. Best of luck with your den...

Cool - you can give it a try - and have the back-up plan to pot it.
I don't know how large of a plant your den is - but here are a few of my small mounted plants to show different ideas for them

1. bread or wine rack picked up from stuff neighbor had out on the curb for free. Now is home to potted and mounted tolus

2. shower caddy thing I never used cos was missing screws or something and I never got around to returning it lol

3. burned sedirea on hunk of grapewood just setting on table with potted plants

4. used a picture hanging 'hook nail thing' lol on this beam that supports the patio overhang to hang this neo

i think my environment is also not suitable for mounting. when i get one (i try not to) i'll do my best to fit it in a pot. trim all the excess media and dunk it to the pots. my place can get really hot sometimes. and i sometime do come back too late to water my chids. so pots are really my best bet, especially plastics.

oh - and the currently just propped up in the window mount ;)

WhiteRabbit, that's really resourceful! Here's a pic of mine on a freestanding shelving unit taken from an angle so you can see the hooks.

Attachment 33738

cool!
I forgot to mention that I also hang small ones from curtain rods using s hooks ;)

We have ours hanging from the shelf above on a free standing unit. The bark on each one is also sitting in a saucer. This ensures emough water for them. We still mist them daily. I really prefer to have them in a pot because they require less attention that way. Carol

White Rabbit, I really like your wine cooler setup. Very inventive!

Bill

Hi Beth,
Sounds like you are into a house restoration project and I know how that can be!
Here is a rack I made for my mounted plants. I used scrap wood and a piece of left over lattice.
It works great and is easy to move outside in the summer. I'm going to add casters to it so I can just roll it to the sink to water.

If you would like more information on how I put this together, let me know. It's pretty simple and you only need basic tools and skills.
Al


http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ed-orchids.jpg

Hey mspatt...It's me!! I had to chime in...you forgot about the plants (including phals) that are doing well. Once I added more sphag to the moisture lovers...problem solved. :Tup:

Even w/the extra sphag...they definitely require a good deal more attention.