What do you do?

[syndywindy]

I have several mounted orchids and they really do quite well. I have a couple though that while they look great and are growing nicely, the sphag is looking really old. I have one that the roots have really adhered to the mount and I know if I tried to remove it the roots would tear. What does everyone do with their mounted orchids that might need some fixing up?

[Brooke]

I have never found the need to replace sphag on a mount. Yes it gets old looking but that has never been an issue.

I've read that sphag turns sour in a short period of time. I've got some Lycaste (and probably others) that still have the original application of sphag because all I do is up pot them into more sphag. I have never experienced sour sphag or had issues with a mature plant declining. Lycaste are heavy feeders during their growth period.

Brooke

[rcb]

I don't know if it's needed or not, but I have replaced spag on mounts before. Since the spag is over the roots, it can be easily done. I just cut the thread holding everything, and if the plant is well rooted to the mount, the plant doesn't move. I tease off as much of the old spag with my fingers. I don't worry about getting all of it, grab a fresh damp pad of it, and tie it down with new line. That's it.

[syndywindy]

Thanks for the response. I kind of thought I really didn't have to, but always wondered if I replaced some sphag as Renee mentioned, would that encourage more growth than stale sphag?

[psyc1210]

I have a few mounts as well that have had the sphag for a couple years now...I don't plan on changing or trying to replace it..if I do anything, it would be just add some more to the mount

[Phalcycle]

I let the sphagnum moss do it job, while the orchid's roots adhare to the wood. By then, the roots would have stuck to the wood enough, and would be adapted. I don't add new moss or such, I just leave then be, as if they were in the jungle. The few mounts that I do have, do fine, I think a few have no moss around the roots currently.

[katrina]

Ditto JoBeth! I don't remove old but I have added sphag when the roots get going and I need to get more moisture to some of the newer roots/root tips.

[koshki]

For the most part I have not removed the sphag on a mount, but recently, I did just that with a new aerangis brachycarpa. I just didn't like the look of the sphag, so I pulled the line off and the whole thing fell apart. The plant had not rooted to the mount, but the sphag was in poor shape. Then I added a bit of coco fiber and re-tied the plant to the mount. Since then, the plant has sent out two new roots, including one off the back that has stuck very nicely to the wood mount. It seems very happy, and I'm glad I did it.

Recently, Renee gave me some good advice about putting the sphag (or coco fiber) on TOP of the roots, so that if replacement was necessary, it would be easier than if the sphag was under the roots.