Borers

[Andrew]

FlaCo's 'log in a pot' thread got me thinking. I've seen a lot of people on various forums use logs and branches for mounting orchids instead of commercially available mounts like cork or treefern. For those outdoor/greenhouse/shadehouse growers who mount in this way, how do you prevent borers infesting the mount? When I've used branches in the past, borers move in within 2-3 years and the branch is falling apart a year or two later, just as the orchid has settled into its mount. One local nurseryman recommends periodically dunking mount in a bucket of carbaryl but that tends to be a very expensive exercise after a while. Has anyone had success maintaining branch mounts in the long term and if so, how?

Andrew

[made4engineering]

Perhaps you have had some bad luck? I think if borers were that aggressive, trees would simply not be able to live beyond 2-3 years because borers would just eat them all. An alive tree can fight off rot, but is way more nutritious for bugs.

[Andrew]

I used to use branch mounts regularly (because they were attractive and free) until I got so sick of the borer problem that I've remounted everything on to fence palings or cork, which don't seem to succumb as quickly. Unfortunately, these are quite dry mounts ,which can be a problem for species that like moisture. Incidently the trees the branches came from have never showed signs of borers. I have a few twig epiphytes mounted on to live hosts and these hosts have not been infested despite being grown next to infested branch mounts. I suspect the borers in question prefer decaying wood over live wood.

[exasperatus2002]

When you've mounted with branches, have you made and recesses into the wood prior to mounting the chid there? I was thinking of trying it for 2 purposes. 1. it'll hold the mount in place a little better and 2. give a spot for some extra sphag to help with moisture retention. Also if you do this on cedar, will it be ok if it contacts the wood directly or should it only be on the bark?

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by exasperatus2002

When you've mounted with branches, have you made and recesses into the wood prior to mounting the chid there?

I always mounted directly onto the bark without scoring any recesses. Even with cork I prefer to mount on to the raised areas rather than the recessed areas. If the recess is shallow and the orchid is large it shouldn't be a problem but I just find it easier to tie the orchid firmly to a raised surface.

Also if you do this on cedar, will it be ok if it contacts the wood directly or should it only be on the bark?

The only bare wood I've mounted on to has been weathered hardwood so I don't know how cedar compares. Orchid roots attach seem to attach to wood easily. If the branch has only recently been lopped, I'd be inclined to allow any bare wood to weather for a few months before mounting to reduce any phytotoxins.