Advantages to having an orchid mount?

[mytwogirls]

I have been reading and seeing a lot of nice looking orchid mounts and wondering what the advantages are? I have only one phal right now (I plan on more in the spring) and just curious as to why you decided to mount? I think they look great and very natural.

[PhalPal]

I think you answered your own question.....They look great and are very natural!! I have phals potted, mounted and in baskets. I love phals with hanging spikes on a mount. I like mounting for different reasons; here are a few of my observations:
I find the species do best for me when mounted; it's just closer to their native environment.
It is almost impossible to rot roots when mounted, but it takes a bit more work to water them every day.
I love the look of roots growing on a cork slab as it would in nature.
All in all, it is just another way to grow something, but it looks very cool and difficult when it really couldn't be easier! A lot of newbies are afraid of mounting, but remember that pots are for our convenience, not the plants. Orchids grow 'mounted' in nature so it's really a perfect medium for your orchid.

[mytwogirls]

It is easy? Really? So.....I can take my phal, which is in a pot, and mount it? Hmmm....off to do some research. Oh, and where is an appropriate place to hang a mount? I live in Nebraska and it is 40 degrees right now, so it would have to live inside obviously. What would be the best way to do it?

[PhalPal]

Keep it in the same place you have it now. The only change will be you need to water more often, light requirements will be the same. My feeling is the more we can mimic nature the better our orchid will grow for us, and in nature orchids attach themselves to trees.

[lmartiny]

I too like the mounted look. But it is a bit more labor intensive to keep them watered.

[Andrew]

The main advantage of mounting is the faster drying and increase in airflow around the roots. For some species this is essential. However, for most of the commonly grown orchids in cultivation it's usually unnecessary and sometimes detrimental, especially if you don't have the "natural conditions" to go with the "natural look". With regard to the aesthetic reasons, the most convincing one to me is for orchids with a pendulous habit and miniatures with a scrambling/surface hugging habit which do present much better mounted.

Personally, as I don't live in the heart of a Bornean jungle, I find the extra time and water needed to care for a mounted plant is reason enough to grow my orchids in pots where possible. Where I do grow orchids on mounts it's usually because the orchid either resents being in a pot or the orchid's habit just doesn't suit pot.

[exasperatus2002]

The other reason to mount is to make more room for more orchids!! With the mounts (besides the obvious beauty of a mount) you can hang mounts and open up shelf space for others. They will, as previously stated, need more frequent watering.

[mayres]

If I had a greenhouse or lived in a place where I could mimic their natural habitat I would also LOVE to grow them in ways (mounted) similar to how they grow in the wild. If you can provide their natural conditions the care is minimal (which is what I prefer with my plants now - minimal work and maximum enjoyment! ) HOWEVER, because I can't provide that type of envirnonment and must grow my plants in less than ideal conditions - as stated by another previous poster - pots work best. I enjoy viewing and admiring the nice mounts of others on the forum though.

[mytwogirls]

I have been some reading on mounts and I think I MIGHT try it. I think it fits well with my lifestyle, I am a VERY natural person by nature, I like organic, whole and raw foods, live simple, and all that. I guess you could say I am very "crunchy" in general so the orchid mount would fit in. I just need to take that step, and I am kinda nervous about it.

[PhalPal]

There is no reason to be nervous about a mount if you think like a plant. A mount is the natural method for it; a pot is what would be strange to an orchid! I don't have ideal jungle conditions in my grow room or outside because of our very low humidity but my potted and mounted orchids go ahead and grow anyway. I have lots of Catts outside on mounts and a handful of phals inside on mounts. The Catts do really well because they like to dry out between waterings, in fact, they do much better than my Catts in pots. The phals I need to keep a good eye on and water every day with a sprayer but it only takes a minute. Don't be scared - Try It!!!! Pick a plant you are not totally in love with and give it a go!

[exasperatus2002]

My first mount attempt was with a Den. I've had it for years. I started from a keiki. Im going to one of my young Catts in the next day or two.