Should I attempt my first mount with this plant?
 

Ok, so I'm in two minds and looking for the views of others.

I have grown a miltonia on a mount, but it was already mounted when I got it. It grows well for me although has not bloomed as yet.

Anyway, my spring project plant is the Den loddigesii and I was expecting it to be mounted but it's potted. I'm in two minds whether I should attempt to mount it, but I've never done the job of mounting before and currently don't have any materials (including a mount).

There are some pics of my Den here on the project thread.

I really don't want to kill this plant, but am also a bit disapointed that it wasn't already mounted.

So given my complete inexperience at mounting and assuming I could find an apropriate mount (I do have moss for a moss pad, and could easily get hold of wire, so it's really just the mount I need to find)... what do you think :hmm should I try mounting this orchid, or am I best keeping it in the pot.

Great question, Rosie... While I can't help much because I have less than zero experience with mounting, I am interested in the responses you get. I'd like to try this myself and was wondering if just any old tree bark can be used? I have LOTS of it just lying around in the woods behind my home... and can ANY bark be used and does it have to be "sterilized" before mounting? I know the one plant I have that I got already mounted is held on with nylon thread or fishing line and you almost can't see it!

I don't have huge experience with mounts but I've had positive experience with the 2 that I have, so I'd probably vote for yes.
Both of mine are very small, however, so have been easy to manage, but I like that I can see the roots, and keep an eye on what they need. I've got a mounted Promenea that lost all of it's roots, and I mounted it out of a last ditch effort to save, and it's now putting out a new root.
Wouldn't want them all on mounts though, just because of the amount of attention they need.
I'm interested to hear what you decide!

Oh - I also meant to say, that it wasn't as hard to mount them as I expected, and in terms of a material mopani root is incredibly easy to come by at pet shops. Interesting shapes too!

Hi Rosie! Here's my idea......take the 2 keikis in the first and second picture and mount them. If they don't make it you will still have your original plant. It looks to me like there are enough roots on those 2 babies and the roots are already exposed to the air so they should take to a mount well.

D. loddigesi is a little tricky mounted here outdoors in SoCal because it seems to like a bit more moisture than most of my other orchids. Moisture is probably not an issue in your area though.

Tropicgirl's idea of mounting the keikis is a good one. You could also do the opposite as well...mount the main plant and pot the keikis. Either way, I'm definitely a big fan of not putting all your eggs in one basket.

Thanks Nic. I've seen those mopani roots in a pet shop joined to one of our garden centers and I was wondering about it as a mount. They also had lumps of cork bark in there which I wondered about, altough I'm not sure if that would be strong enough or if it would fall to bits too quickly.

Thanks Angela. That had crossed my mind as well. The first keiki especially has quite long roots, but it is still very tiny seeming at only just over 1" long in the cane. The second keiki is 2" long but has smaller roots. I'm still not sure if either is big enough to remove yet... although the plant is a small one anyway.

I do like the idea of 'not putting all my eggs in one basket', I'm just not sure if the keikis are ready yet:hmm

Interesting, usually humidity is not bad here and I plan to keep it near some of my Masdies which I'm going to have to keep the humidity high for. Hopefully if I do decide to go with mounting some or part of this I'll be able to keep it high enough.

Hi Rosie,

I did a lot of research on this plant 'cuz I wanted it mounted, too. Most everyone said mounted on tree fern was the way to go. If you search this plant right here on OB you'll find some really good info.

Mine came mounted from Andy's but it was on a cedar shingle and from what I had seen I decided to move it to the tree fern.

It was easy and came out great.

It's got three kiki's that I don't want to remove yet. But it's putting out two new canes and new roots. The kiki's have gotten bigger also.

I say go for it!!!!!!!