Which orchids on these pieces of wood?

[Ale_V]

Good morning, everyone,

During the Christmas holidays, I went to the mountains and found two pieces of wood in a conifer forest that I really liked. I decided to take them to see if I could grow some orchids on them.

One is a large base of a bifurcated tree, likely very old and carried by the nearby river. The other is a much smaller piece of wood.

I’d like some advice on which orchids to mount on them. For the larger piece, I was thinking of placing two large orchids where the base split into two main trunks. For the smaller piece, I’d go with something more proportionate.

For both, I plan to build stands to support them and set up an irrigation system to mist water directly onto the roots (several times a day if needed) and collect any excess water. They’ll be placed on the window shown in the photo, but I’ll add curtains to prevent direct sunlight. If the light isn’t sufficient for the chosen orchids, I can install grow lights.

The temperatures are about 30/25°C (max/min) in summer during the day with 80/70% humidity, and 21/14.5°C (max/min) in winter with 55/40% humidity (all max/min values are daily variations for day/night).

Thanks so much for your suggestions!

[Fairorchids]

I agree that these pieces of wood look good, and would look better with plants growing on them. However, if the wood is from conifers (= 'softwood'), they will probably not last long if you mount orchids and water as these plants need.

I have seen wood like this disintegrate in a year or so. You would probably have better success with oak (or cork).

[Ale_V]

Thank you for the advice!
I wouldn't know where to find a similar piece but of oak or cork but I'll keep my eyes open!

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by Ale_V

Thank you for the advice!
I wouldn't know where to find a similar piece but of oak or cork but I'll keep my eyes open!

This is where I get my cork.
Cork Rounds | Cork Bark for Sale | Reptile Wood | Pangea - Pangea Reptile LLC

[Roberta]

Those pieces of wood may be more durable than they look... they have been out in nature for some unknown amount of time and haven't rotted. (rain or river water or both)

The things I look for in choosing wood for a mount are rough surface and durability (so hardwood better than softer woods). Cork is the bark of the cork-oak tree, has good surface and durability. But I have had excellent results with wood from the trimming of local trees, too.

[Ale_V]

I will surely give it a shot!
Any suggestion for which orchid to put in such environment?
Many thanks!!

[Roberta]

Most important is that the plant MUST be just starting to put out new roots. New roots are the only ones that will attach to a mount. Any handling can damage them and cause them to stop growing, so catching it when it just starting to root guarantees that there will be more new ones coming.

Right now for me, Laelia anceps and relatives doing that. For your plants, just observe. As spring approaches, you will see more start. (Look for the little bumps that indicate that roots are getting ready to poke out.)

Anything in the Cattleya tribe is great for mounting, I don't use any moss for those. For other groups (like Pleurothallids) maintaining moisture is more of a challenge. If you choose those, put the moss (for extra moisture retention) over the top of the roots (so that the roots touch the mount directly, no moss between roots and mount)

---------- Post added at 10:50 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:48 AM ----------

Another note if you put more than one plant on a piece of wood... make sure that all of them need the same conditions. (Like, don't put a Cattleya-tribe plant and a Pleurothallid on the same mount because the Catt needs much less water than the Pleurothalid)

[Ale_V]

Thank you very much for the suggestions and advices!

Are Cattleyas ok with:

The temperatures are about 30/25°C (max/min) in summer during the day with 80/70% humidity, and 21/14.5°C (max/min) in winter with 55/40% humidity (all max/min values are daily variations for day/night).

?

Something bigger?
The Phals I have are growing well, maybe I could try a species and not a common hybrids for once?

[Roberta]

You need to choose which Cattleyas, there is lots of variation in temperature tolerance (and size). For hybrids, look at the species in their ancestry. For species, C intermedia is a good one for temperature tolerance, and not too big. C. (L.) johgheana might also be nice.

Mounted Phals may have a problem with low winter humidity and temperatures. And like their Vanda cousins, their roots often don't get intimate with the mount, just use it for hanging on.

[Ale_V]

Thank you very mcuh for your advice!

Is there a reliable website where I can find the ancestry of hybrids? I've found something on orchidroots.com, is it a good source?

Thank you!