Remounting Miltonia

[MelissaSE]

I got a Miltonia x blundii at my orchid society's raffle a few months ago. It's an established plant, rather large, mounted on a piece of cork. Unfortunately, it was mounted pretty high on the cork and is outgrowing it at the top.

There is new growth coming along that will need a place to attach itself. I tried to get another large piece of cork to add to this mount, but the only piece I could get is totally different in shape and will be impossible to attach to the old mount.

How difficult do you think it would be to remove this plant from its mount? Am I likely to kill it? I'd like to either re-mount it lower down on its current mount, or put it on my new piece of cork.

Here are some pictures - when I got this plant, it was held onto the mount with twisty-ties, which I replaced with strips of pantyhose. It has some old sphagnum moss in a few places, and of course the roots are fairly fine.

[orchids4me]

If you seriously want to remove it from the old mount you will need to saok it to make the roots mor plyable and possible break away some of the cork from that mount as you go. Another solution is to mount that cork to a larger piece of hard wood then it can continue its rambling nature and attach it self to that also. If you do decided toremove it from. The cork I would be surprised if it divides so you will have several to re mount also.
Let us know what you decide to do
Good luck!!

[Brooke]

If it were mine I would attach the cork to a bigger piece of cork. I would suggest a much bigger piece of cork because your plant can get massive.

I have several mounts I've had to reattach when the 'chids out grew their first homes.

Brooke

[pikkumyy]

i agree with brooke, that seems to be the best thing when it comes to a plant out growing the mount, and some up sides is that it doesnt disturb the root system and it lets the plant continue to grow as though nothing has changed. plus it adds a bit of interest too

[katrina]

I wouldn't try to remove it because (based on the pics) it's going to cause waaaay too much damage. I would either do as Brooke suggested or...because I don't like the older leafless pbulbs...I would cut the mount just below the lowest leafed pbulb and mount that section onto a MUCH larger piece of cork.

Keep in mind...my cutting the plant into 2 pieces will set it back for a time. Personally, I wouldn't mind the set back given I'd be cleaning up the appearance.

I would most likely also take that leafless section and try to attach it to a much larger piece of cork. It's possible the leafless section will sprout some new growth.

Good luck w/whatever you choose to do!!

[MelissaSE]

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions.

I would love to be able to attach another piece of cork to the current mount, but the only large piece of cork I've been able to find is a curved piece that is totally incompatible with the very flat cork that the plant is now on! I'll keep looking... or maybe I can trim the current mount so it will mesh with the curved cork.

I'm tempted to try Katrina's idea, but will think on it and let you know what happens!

[bearded orchid]

You could check on rePotme.com. They have large corks available and I'm sure they would work with you to find one that could work with your current mount if you sent them an email about it.

[MelissaSE]

Okay, finally got around to remounting my C. Bluntii, after considering my options for a week or so!

First, I cut off the bottom of the old mount - the part this plant wasn't using anyway - to make it easier to attach to my new piece of cork. The original mount was very flat on the back, and my new piece of cork was very curved - kind of a mismatch in shape, but making the old mount smaller helped. It also helped to soak both of them for about 1/2 hour.

I removed all the pantihose ties, and discovered that they really were not needed. This Catt is very well attached to its original mount!

I used some lightweight wire, drilled little holes in both pieces of cork, and wired the old piece onto the new piece. There was about a 1/4" gap between the top of the old cork and the surface of the new cork (due to the curvature of the new cork), so I filled that with sphagnum moss, which looks kind of rusty-colored in the photos. Voila!

[BGGraham1]

I like it! I think you did a great job!

[katrina]

The two pieces are almost seamless in the pics. I would've used a much larger piece so I didn't have to do this again anytime soon...but it looks really good.

BTW -- I use deck screws and just screw the 2 pieces together. Works great and it's much easier than drilling holes and wiring.

[pikkumyy]

wow, thats incredible, very nicely done.