Two new mounts, opinions needed...
 

Well after researching this forum for a any and all info I could gleen from what other people have writen I finally decided to try and mount 1 or 2 of my smaller orchids.

I have three plants that I'm thinking of mounting.
1) Phal. stuartiana (which is starting to open it's first blooms for me!)
2) Neostylis Lou Sneary 'Bluebird'
3) Brassavola cordata

I have seen all three of these mounted by other people here. And I have told by folks here that the Brassavola really wants to be mounted. And then there is the wonderful Phal. stuartiana. The pictures I have seen of this plant mounted really are pretty neat. Also there is my Neo. Can that one be mounted, or better yet, should it be mounted? I know where to get another small stuartiana that could use a good home. Maybe I'll do that one mounted and keep my first plant in it's pot that it seems to be happy in. Hmmmm...

So that's what I have for plants that I want to mount. They are all smaller in size and each have good root systems.

As for what I want to mount the plants onto, I have two different mediums I want to try.

First, the classic hardwood mount. I went over to Petco today and found a really nice piece of Mopani drift wood designed for use in a freshwater aquarium. It comes from Africa. It's a large piece measuring 17" long x 15" wide x 8" deep. It has lots of nooks and crannies for plants to rest in and roots to crawl all over it. I was thinking that this larger piece would be a great spot formy Phal. stuartiana as it will get fairly large some day and the flowers tend to go everywhere with that plant. Or maybe even two smaller orchids.

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_5875.jpg

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_5879.jpg

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_5880.jpg

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_5889.jpg

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_5886.jpg

And then there is my own creation that I made in about 3 hours. I saw a link in another post in this forum talking about using Epiweb over a formed structure.
Epiweb
I read all the way through that site and thought it was pretty neat. Now I don't want to grown freakishly rare mosses like that guys does, I want to grow a cool mounted orchid on some and maybe some more common mosses to make the mount look cool.
I don't have the Epiweb yet, but I know some folks who sell it here (Ray) that I'm sure would help me out.

Here is the underlaying structure and internal watering system.

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_5893.jpg

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_5907.jpg

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_5906.jpg

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_5901.jpg

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_5899.jpg

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_5903.jpg

This is my first effort in building anything like this. My kids think I built a metal cactus or something. I see it as a sculpture that isn't done yet.
It is PVC covered metal wire that is cut and shaped to look like a tree branch. Soon it will get covered with Epiweb for the plants to mount to. The base is a piece of slate that I found in the tile department at HD. The internal watering system are bits from the drip irrigation aisle at HD as well. That will get hooked up to a small pond pump and the whole structure will sit in base of water as it's resavoir. I have not yet tested the pump and spray system yet, but if it doesn't work out I can gut that and still use the mount with a spray bottle in my orchid enclosure.

So, what'cha think? Again, I have never mounted any orchid in my life, so any advice using either system would be helpful. :shock: Thanks! :bowing

The piece of wood you found is awesome. It will be a great place for one or 2 stuartianas plus some other small ones.........P. equestris??

Now the wire 'cactus' is pure genius! I sure hope your watering system works. I wonder if there isn't something more natural you could cover it with tho.....just a thought.
Please keep us posted!
Al

Al, is there something you are thinking about other than Epiweb? Again, I'm new to this idea of orchids not growing in a pot.

Wow, awesome project! Good job, I can't wait to see the finished product!

Chas, let me think on it for a bit.........

AL

Chas, those are spectacular mounts! I am partial to the driftwood, but your "cactus" as an orchid tree is fantastic.
Joann

I have mounted orchids, bromes, and just about every other epiphyte you can imagine to many different materials. It seems to me the the epiweb I have seen would be hard to get to conform tightly to you frame. But, I have only seen small pieces. I have used long fiber sphagnum on frames like this and it works great but it breaks down over time. I have also used coir but it breaks down also.

In the vivarium trade I have seen a frame like this be sprayed with great stuff and then coated with either of 2 methods. Coat the foam with 100% silicone caulk and then press perfectly dry coir or peat into the silicone or mix coir or peat in a bath of carpenters glue to make a paste and use that to coat the structure. I have personally done both and I think both will work but I really don't know how long they will last.

Hope this helps! Love the armature!

Harry, thanks for the kind words! And thanks to everyone!
Do you have any pictures of what you are talking about with the foam and peat?

If those are dig corp micro-sprinklers (10' coverage)... then if the output turns out to be too much then you can always replace them with dig corp misters (5' coverage)...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3621/...3c911cd8a7.jpg

I was thinking of this thread over at Dendroboard

http://www.dendroboard.com/forum/mem...ween-tree.html

But, there are also many threads on this site sister forum Vivarium Forum. But, be careful! You will be building terrariums in no time. I got the bug and built this.

125 Gallon Vertical Build Log w/Pics - Vivarium Forums