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Unmounting needed?

Hello guys,

So I ordered this bushy Brassavola Nodosa online. Upon arrival, I realized that it is badly overgrowing its mount. The mount also seems to be coming apart. Moreover, about 40% of its roots are mushy. I was wondering whether I should unmount it and cut off all the bad roots? If yes, how do I do it? Or will this plant survive in the present condition? I really need some help, I don't want to kill this plant!

Thanks for your replies.

I've unmounted a few by soaking the whole thing well and gently peeling each root off of the mount. It might be better in this case to gently destroy the mount, or perhaps a combination of the two processes.

I too have removed orchids from their mounts but I've never tried to do one that was so attached. It looks like a cork mount (?) but even if it's just wood, it appears to be completely grown into the mount so it might be tough to get it off w/out totally destroying the plant. Sometimes these guys will lose roots because of being too dry and that might be the problem w/yours. Maybe.

If that were mine and I was having to make a decision...I would remove as much of the rotting portion of the mount and then I'd put whatever is left down into a pot and back-fill w/a very chunk and open media. Maybe lava rock or leca. This could be your best bet and I've had success doing just that w/cork mounts and tree fern mounted plants. W/the proper culture, it will eventually grow big enough that you can just remove that older portion down the line. Like dividing the plant...but you'd entirely remove the old section in the process.

My observation has been this species does much better mounted than potted if it is growing in a climate it likes. I have seen enormous B. nodosa plants growing as a huge mass with nothing to grow on, suspended by a heavy wire inside the mass. If your climate is good for growing this plant mounted, I would not remount it.

What is the high-low humidity range at different seasons through the year where you live? What part of the year does it rain? How long does the rainy spell last? Do you have long dry spells with low humidity?

Quote:

Originally Posted by estación seca (Post 788792)

My observation has been this species does much better mounted than potted if it is growing in a climate it likes.

They can also do quite well in a pot...w/an open and chunky medium. This picture is more than 2yrs old and it's now overgrown that pot and in need of dividing.

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/p...psa265a07e.jpg

Just 2 yrs prior, this was the same plant - I removed it from a wood basket and had to divide it in the process. The above is the same plant as the in the upper left corner.
http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/nodosa_C.jpg

I think it's safe to say that it's quite happy in that pot. I should get a pic of it today...it's overgrown the pot in multiple directions. It's potted in leca w/sheet moss on the top.

They certainly do well in pots... but in a great climate, a plant hanging on a wire is easier to take care of, doesn't need repotting, and there is no medium to rot.

Katrina, that big pot, can you tell me what size it is? Drainage hole,does it have one? Where did you get it? I love it! It looks like it is clay, correct?
Thanks...Jean

Quote:

Originally Posted by estación seca (Post 788817)

They certainly do well in pots... but in a great climate, a plant hanging on a wire is easier to take care of, doesn't need repotting, and there is no medium to rot.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vjo (Post 788932)

Katrina, that big pot, can you tell me what size it is? Drainage hole,does it have one? Where did you get it? I love it! It looks like it is clay, correct?
Thanks...Jean

The pot has one large drainage hole in the bottom but it's clay and it's shallow so the medium dries out nice and evenly. It's actually a cactus "bowl". I found these at Meijer and liked them because of that wide, shallow structure. The top is 10" across but quickly tapers into stable base and it's only about 4.5" tall. I also have a couple of 12"-ers. Unless I opt to divide the nodosa (and I'm thinking dividing might be best at this point)...it'll go into the 12" size once it's done blooming. Although, at this point, it's so overgrown that pot that it might already fill up the 12" so dividing might be the only way to go anyway. My indoor space is such that anything over 12" becomes unwieldy...I grow vertically on shelves and going up and down a step ladder w/heavy 14" pots is not the ideal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by katrina (Post 788936)

Good point and I have seen pics of some gorgeous, monster nodosas on mounts. If I lived in a perfect climate and I could grow outside all year long, I think I might grow all the true ephiphytes mounted. Alas, Columbus, Ohio is far from a perfect climate for orchids. My winter space, under lights, can get very dry. I do have a fair amount of orchids mounted but they are a lot more work so I try to limit the numbers in that set up.

If the ideal climate is not to be had or someone doesn't want to water every day...a pot can work exceptionally well for this species. Provided it gets sufficient light and the medium is chunky, open and airy. :Tup:

The pot has one large drainage hole in the bottom but it's clay and it's shallow so the medium dries out nice and evenly. It's actually a cactus "bowl". I found these at Meijer and liked them because of that wide, shallow structure. The top is 10" across but quickly tapers into stable base and it's only about 4.5" tall. I also have a couple of 12"-ers. Unless I opt to divide the nodosa (and I'm thinking dividing might be best at this point)...it'll go into the 12" size once it's done blooming. Although, at this point, it's so overgrown that pot that it might already fill up the 12" so dividing might be the only way to go anyway. My indoor space is such that anything over 12" becomes unwieldy...I grow vertically on shelves and going up and down a step ladder w/heavy 14" pots is not the ideal.

I know I posted this before, but.........this plant is a 3' diameter sphere growing through a section of wire fence:

Quote:

Originally Posted by estación seca (Post 788792)

What is the high-low humidity range at different seasons through the year where you live? What part of the year does it rain? How long does the rainy spell last? Do you have long dry spells with low humidity?

My region is quite dry during the winters. It goes down to minimum 8 degrees Celsius and average day time temperatures are 20-23 C. Summers are hot up to 43 C and goes down to 30 C.
July and August is heavy monsoon season when it rains almost daily. Temperature in monsoon is around 26-30 C.

Quote:

Originally Posted by katrina (Post 788717)

If that were mine and I was having to make a decision...I would remove as much of the rotting portion of the mount and then I'd put whatever is left down into a pot and back-fill w/a very chunk and open media. Maybe lava rock or leca.

I'll do that. Thank you so much!

Quote:

Originally Posted by katrina (Post 788816)

They can also do quite well in a pot...w/an open and chunky medium. This picture is more than 2yrs old and it's now overgrown that pot and in need of dividing.

WOW! You have some really healthy plants! I am inspired, thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subrosa (Post 788940)

I know I posted this before, but.........this plant is a 3' diameter sphere growing through a section of wire fence:

This plant is so impressive! How old have you had it for?

Thank you so much everyone for your help! I will post the pictures after potting it.