catt on grapewood

[slippery_biscuit]

Here is a picture of a young catt mounted to grapewood. Fixed this up late summer and it looks like things are off to a good start.

[fred]

off to a good start ! you are right with saying that one
it looks very good

[KenFL]

Looks Great!
Will have to try mounting CATTs

[Tobi]

Nice looking mount Jeff. I have 2 pieces of grapewood that I intend to get
around mounting something on. Just haven't figured out what yet. The one
thing I was told by one of the lower vendors here is to make sure the grape-
wood is cleaned of loose bark or pieces before you mount.

[Nancy]

Your mount looks very natural. I was wondering how much relative humidity is around the plant and how you are providing it. I have a few pieces of grapewood as well but I need to know whether it would be worth while to try a mount with my conditions. Thanks

[slippery_biscuit]

On hot summer days the humidity in the greenhouse can get to 40%. Maybe lower for short spells. In addition to my own misting, late in the summer I installed a misting system which helps a bunch. Now with the NW rainy season it is very easy to keep 60%.

This grapewood came from a local pet store. Cleaned, sterile, ready to go.

Catts are turning out to be my preferred mounts. I've some others (dends, encyclia's, etc) and they are doing okay, but just don't put out the root activity I like to see. At least not as fast... so with time maybe I'll come to appreciate those a bit more.

[Nancy]

I grow indoors and the humidity in my growing area runs from usually 40% on a clear day to 75% on an overcast or rainey day. I think my only problem might be my supplemental lights. I grow my plants in a north window and they grow fine but they seem to dry out very quickly. I quess if I try a mount I'll have to do a lot of spritzing. Does it sound like I might have some success mounting on grapewood in this atmosphere? Thanks.

[slippery_biscuit]

With supplemental lighting and misting you should be able to do just fine. Plant selection will dictate the how much of this supplemental activity you will need. Catts need a lot of light, tho some not as much. As in the pic you can add bits of sphag to help keep things moist on the bark. There are other orchids to choose from, and the question might be how much hands on (as in daily and multiple times a day) attention you are up to. Most mounts are hanging displays but yours wouldn't have to be. I've done a couple table mounts with grapewood and the advantage is that you could set them on a water tray of sorts.

[Nancy]

I will need to clean the grapewood. It's been in several crabitats and sprayed many times with salt water. Any suggestions on how I can get it cleaned from the salt water?