Orchid Mounting: Working with the Orchids Natural Environment
In nature, orchids can be found worldwide growing in the strangest places, rocks, bushes, trees or even soils. However, the majority of orchids are found growing on trees. These types of orchids are called epiphytes. Epiphytes are not parasites. They do not derive their nutrients from the tree that they have mounted themselves on. Instead, they use the tree simply as support.
If you are an avid orchid grower, or just want to try a different growing experience, you can create your own epiphyte environment at home. Why try to replicate the orchid environment in a manufactured ceramic or terra cotta plant? Instead give your orchid the closest to its natural environment and learn orchid mounting.
The Mounting Material:
An orchid can be mounted on almost any type of material. However, the natural materials tend to be the ones that are most aesthetically pleasing. Avoid any material that may have been chemically treated, as they could release potentially harmful toxins in your environment. Orchids can be mounted onto almost any naturally porous material, from tree ferns to wooden plaques.
How To Mount an Orchid:
Mounting your orchid is a fairly simple process. In fact, it can be done in three simple steps.
- The first thing to do is to soak whichever material you’re mounting your orchid to overnight (ideally for a minimum of 12 hours). This will give your orchid the natural moisture and humidity that it seeks, and will promote the roots to grow into the mounted material.
- Once the mounted material is nice and moist, tie the orchid plant into the mount with fishing lines or twist ties around the root. About 16 inches of fishing line is usually sufficient to mount your orchid to its material.
The easiest way to do this, is to have one end of your fishing line in a S-hook shape. Push the back of the S-hook into the mounting material. With the remaining fishing line, gently wrap the roots of the orchid to the mounted material. Ensure that the ties are tight enough so that the orchid remains on the mounted material, but not so tight that they limit the natural aeration that the orchid roots require.
- Observe the roots of your orchids closely. Once the roots have grown into the mounted material, carefully remove the lines or twist ties. Typically this attachment takes about two weeks. When you remove these lines, be careful not to create any damage to the roots itself. Sever only the fishing lines or ties, not the roots.
Maintaining your Mounted Orchid Plant:
A mounted orchid requires a bit more upkeep then a potted one. However, the end result of a beautiful orchid in its natural environment will make the work worthwhile.
The largest modification that you will need to make for your mounted orchid is in the area of watering. As the roots of the orchid are exposed, they will tend to dry quickly. As a direct result, you will need to increase the amount of watering for your mounted orchids. Ideally, a mounted orchid should be watered on a daily basis. In addition, this orchid will require frequent misting. Misting your orchid mimics the natural humid environment that this plant would have grown in.
Additional tips for orchid mounting :
- Provide frequent aeration: whether with a fan or an open window to ensure that the roots are receiving a continual source of fresh air
- Watch the roots for any residue, whether from an orchid fertilizer or soft water, and gently wipe this residue off of the plants.
- Monitor the leaves for any disease or insect infestation, and treat the plant quickly to avoid the infestation from spreading.
Orchid mounting is the most natural way to maintain these exotic plants. Although it does require a bit more upkeep, the rewards for nurturing this growing experience make the work worthwhile.
