Transitioning orchids into terrarium?

[orion141]

Hi all,

So I have finally acquired all of the necessary components for my new terrarium and am beginning the construction portion over the next several days.

This leads me to a few questions regarding transitioning some of my orchids into the terrarium. I have several that I think would be good candidates to be transitioned into the terrarium (H. retrocala, dendrobium dichaeoides, phal parishii, etc). However most of them are mounted (as I received a large number of them andys ). I know that I can stick the whole mounted orchid into the terrarium, but ideally I would like to mount them onto the cork background/rounds that I am placing into the terrarium. This would provide a more natural look and also would avoid the mounts rotting inside of the constantly moist/humid environment of the terrarium. Is it completely unacceptable to remove the orchids from their mounts? Are there any tips/tricks to doing this?

Thanks!!

[Ray]

Unacceptable? No, not at all.

Difficult? Often! Remember that the root cells grow into and around any micro-relief in the mount surface, so removing them might be damaging.

I guess the thing to do is to submerge the plant and mount for several hours so the roots and the mount itself become more supple, then carefully pry the roots off.

I have, on occasion, "whittled away" at the back of the mount, removing as much material as possible without touching the roots (difficult if they wrapped around it), then mount that part of it to the new substrate. Eventually, the plant will extend its grip more broadly.

[Roberta]

As one of Andy's VERY good customers (nursery is very dangerous to my bank account...) how hard it is to unmount the plants varies widely. Some got mounted with a pad of sphagnum under them, and they're easy (those I routinely remount without the sphag) because they typically aren't particularly intimate with the mount in the first place. The ones on shingles tend to come off easily, most plants don't really adhere to them that well. Others are variable... cut the fish line, and soak, you'll find the easy ones.

[orion141]

Thanks Ray and Roberta! I will give a few a try!! I guess the worst case scenario is that I kill one and have to buy a new one