Mounts
 

I have been reading all the posts on mounting as well as member articles. The question I do have is ... what time of year would be best for phals to be mounted. I have a few mini's or semi mini's if I may, that are in "tip-over" pots and need to be moved to a bigger/better home. The phals are showing excellent signs of rooting; would it be a good idea to wait until spring or mount before the winter months. Living in Florida our winter is like a northern summer, short, sweet and "over it" in no time, so cold cold is not an issue. I grow indoors in a nook with excellent lighting conditions. Any thoughts and been-there done-it orchid growers.

I don't think there is a wrong time to mount phals since they're never resting. I have one mounted on a deer antler and alot of seedlings mounted on grapevine and all seem to be doing fine.

Yippee :cheer: That's exactly what I was hoping, they are very active in showing off there roots right now and thought it would be a perfect time to do this...will be my first attempt but seems quite elementary hahaha until I get into it huh. Thanks for the response.

How do Phals grow in nature? (I should know this!)

Correct me if I am wrong...trees and on rock. Have a mini on bark now, loves to stretch those roots.

It would be prudent to attempt this when the roots are actively growing in the spring. If you have a cold snap during the winter, the plant will slow down it's growth.

As Phantasm said the best time would be when there is new active root growth. Sometimes you have no choice however and must repot/mount asap...sometimes they adapt but sometimes they don't. It's always easier with active roots though.

How does one deside how large a mount to pick? Might seem to be a stupid question, but I have always grown Phals in pots and don't know how they might spread if given a chance.

I always use a mount that is sort of in proportion to the plant. It will grow around the mount and if the plant gets too big you can always wire one mount to another bigger piece of whatever you want to use.