First mount attempt

[otis 226]

Well, I included some pics of my initial mount attempt on the mopani wood I got a while back. I decided that trying my violacea sp. Phal, that was flat and growing sidways made sense. I used the panty hose strips to hold it on and added some spag under and over most of the roots until it gets over the 'repotting' shock and hopefully grabs onto the mount

The only big blunder, (I think), was having the newest leaf crack in two while manuvering the ties around the back Anyway, thanks to my wife's finger help when making the knots . I got 'er done.

After not liking the place I had it hanging from, you can see in the last picture I think I found a good place for now where it'll drip onto a christmas cactus instead of the floor when it's watered and sprayed. Not the prettiest thing, but if it takes and the ties can be removed, I think I'll really like it
Tony

[BGGraham1]

That's a really interesting piece of wood you have there. I don't know about mounting at all, just learning myself, but it looks really good to me.

[orchids4me]

First for me to see it done with panty hose striops this way. It looks good. Was wondering if you only tied it up with the hose strips on the top area and not under the plant ? Are all the roots going up the mount not down?
Just wondering how it holds it in place and support.
Thanks

[otis 226]

Originally Posted by orchids4me

First for me to see it done with panty hose striops this way. It looks good. Was wondering if you only tied it up with the hose strips on the top area and not under the plant ? Are all the roots going up the mount not down?
Just wondering how it holds it in place and support.
Thanks

Emmaye, I got the idea of using the hose strips right here on the board. I think it was Anton who posted it and it became a sticky. I don't remember if the photo shows, but the mount was originally going to be the other way up, (thin end). When I decided to mount this particular Phal, I went ahead and chaged it to the wider side up, since this plant had a nice amoung of longish roots. I plopped some damp spaghnum in the recesses on the wood, then spread the roots as well as I could before tying the hose trips across the root ball and once just at the crown. Seems pretty stable to me. Then I added a bit more damp sphag and that was it. Of course with my BIG hands, the job hardly involved surgical precision , but I did the best I could and really hated cracking the nice middle leaf. Hopefully I'll get some growth and the mount will take. I really love this little Phal. Its been a real learning orchid for me. I must have repotted and accidently knocked it out of its pot 3 times, before pulling this on it!! And through all of that, 2 out of the original 4 blooms that were on the spike when I got it are still going strong. That spike has what looks like a secondary bloom spike at the tip and something else going on at one of the nodes. I probably should just cut the spike off to send more energy to the plant, but I enjoy those blooms so much, I'll probably leave it, at least until the blooms fade. The spike is at a kind of funky angle now, but hopefully future bloom spikes will come out facing down. This plant is very flat and has been on its side since I got it.

[Puddy1]

Good luck with your new mount Tony. Love the wood. It should look really nice when it takes.

[Brooke]

Otis I hate to be the bearer of bad news but your Phal isn't a violacea. The leaves are incorrect and the long spike is a dead giveaway it is something else.

A violacea has short spikes, which they hold for years as they make new ones each year. There is also no yellow in the blooms. The blooms vary from light pink to magenta to white to coerulea but no yellow.

A blue version



Here is the magenta one mounted - this is about four years old and you can see how short the spikes are.



You did a great job mounting it and you can enjoy whatever it is but now you need to buy a true violacea.

Brooke

[otis 226]

Originally Posted by Brooke

You did a great job mounting it and you can enjoy whatever it is but now you need to buy a true violacea.

Brooke

Brooke, I guess I'll have to go along with the general opinion that you're probably one of the best 'enablers' on the board!

Seriously, I did kind of figure out that this wasn't a violacea sp. after checking it out further online. I just thought it must have some violacea parentage in its background, since I've never seen such a flat, sideways growing little Phal, in my limited experience. Thought it would make a good mount anyhow.

I do appreciate all your comments, always, you are one savvy orchid lady, and I thank you.

Oh, what I've REALLY got on my wish list are some mottled leaf Phals, and of course a Paph or two, that I hope to encounter on my upcoming trip to Odoms!

[Brooke]

Otis several Phals have the same growth habit of a violacea.

Good luck at Odoms - I'm sure your wallet will be thinner but your orchid area will multiply.

Brooke

[syndywindy]

I've used panty hose to secure my plants to mounts several times. They work great, don't cut into roots and really holds the plant to the mount. Growth can get through as well as roots.

[otis 226]

Originally Posted by otis 226

Well, I included some pics of my initial mount attempt on the mopani wood I got a while back. I decided that trying my violacea sp. Phal, that was flat and growing sidways made sense. I used the panty hose strips to hold it on and added some spag under and over most of the roots until it gets over the 'repotting' shock and hopefully grabs onto the mount
Tony

I did find out, (thanks Brooke), this is not a violacea sp. Phal. Turns out is P. Brother Sara Gold, one of my fav hybrids.
Tony

[pikkumyy]

Originally Posted by Brooke

A violacea has short spikes, which they hold for years as they make new ones each year.

so what do you mean by, "they hold for years" ?

are they sequential bloomers?

[bearded orchid]

Originally Posted by pikkumyy

so what do you mean by, "they hold for years" ?

are they sequential bloomers?

They sure are

[pikkumyy]

Originally Posted by bearded orchid

They sure are

WOOHOO, ive always wanted one of them

[1joyceh]

Great job Otis, and beautiful blooms