Is this called mounting ?

[prisana]

Ok, so I braved myself and one of my poor guinea pig orchids to mounting. It looks pretty awkward and no matter how much I tried to make it look natural, it wouldn't comply. Have any of you guys tried mounting a Catt on a cork slab? This one is a hybrid between C. walkeriana x Bc. Maikai , since it has a trace of nodosa in it I thought it would look good mounted.. what do I know ,I still have a LOT to learn.
I will redo it if I can get a few suggestions from any of you who's been there and done it or seen it done before..thanks in advance.

[fred]

take alook at this link it just may answer some of your quesrions

http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/orchid-mounting/

opps I almost forgot can you please post some pics as we might be able to guide you

[prisana]

Oops...Well, here they are..sorry about that.

[fred]

thank you for the pics

all I can say is congrantulations that is one mighty fine job you have done mounting that catt.

keep up the good work

[prisana]

Thanks Fred for answering so quickly. So it's supposed to be hanging off all over the place like that ? Should I cover those exposed roots with more sphag ?

[fred]

I think the plant will strenghthen up in time.

It is ok to have some exposed roots in time again the roots will wrap themselves around the cork some will stay as arial but thats fine.

so no you dont need to cover anymore of the orchids roots.

nice job at mounting

[pikevi]

I may not be qualified to judge. But it looks great to me ,prisana.

Congrats.

[prisana]

Thank you Fred. I'll leave it the way it is.

Pikevi--I think you're more than qualified, how many orchids you have mounted now ? ( probably tons! ) How are they doing so far ? If there's any tips you can give me about newly mounted orchids please let me know. Thanks again.

[brookn]

Prisana-I am not an expert on this at all, but I think it looks wonderful. Give yourself a pat on the back, I am sure that this was very challenging. BTW is the the plant as large as it looks in the photo?

[prisana]

Hi bookyn, Thank you for your compliment, now I'll see if it'll stay up..maybe I should put a pillow on the ground under it..it's a long fall. The plant is actually a near blooming size plant, one or two more growths away from flowering . Seeing it next to the seedlings probably makes it look bigger than the actual size.

[fred]

if you are worried about the plant falling of you can use some fishing line to hold the orchid to the cork.

I have done that with my mounted orchids

[prisana]

Hi, Fred ..I also used fishing line , I'm just afraid it will be too sharp and cut through the plant and roots ( I used lots of sphag to prevent that ) I'm being too silly maybe, I'm sure it will be ok . I'll let you know in a few days.

[pikevi]

prisana: may be you could use a fishline with 'cellotape' wrapped around it , if you are worried about it cutting into the plant or roots.

I saw a fine ,very pliable, piece of thin wire used to hold the the stems on my last Den that I bought. It is coated with something and is soooooooooo soft. I will get more info on it next time I go to the 'seller'

I have only done one hanging type of mount. Have two multiple-mounts on vertical logs and I think some mounts are doing OK with new growth. I am also finishing a tree type (about 2 metres high) of multiple mounts with both anchored and hanging mounts( like weaver bird nests) which I hope can hold about 8-10 mounts( and I hope it does not topple over).

I hope it will look good at the end. But then I am a guy who does not see anything in a Picasso but sees a world in little kids' doodling and scribbling!!

I will post the photo of the new attempt today ( I am glad I cannot hear when people laugh )

[prisana]

Pikevi, there's something about wires that elude me wherever I go. Each time I go to Home Depot, I'd look for them, I even ask people there but they all directed me to the picture-hanging wires.. My home-made bonsai is long over due to be trained and I still can't find the wire ( guess it's time to get on the internet )
Now that I'm getting into mounting, I will need it more than ever I like fishlines, they are invisible but seem so unforgiving to the plants.
Yes, please post pics of your mountings, I saw some in one of your threads before, but I'm sure there are new additions now

P.S. what is cellotape ?

[pikevi]

prisana: cellotape="scotchtape" (a photo is attached)

I think you could use electrician's tape (very soft and elastic) but I have seen it in only one colour-Black

I am also attaching a few other photos. The first one is a 2 metre high branch of a maple tree (crimson king).I could not get the whole structure into the frame. There are are two more areas for mount below which can hold two large orchids. Or so I hope

Other photos show the wires used by this vendor. I can assure you that a nylon string or a fishline will be much more harsh than this 'softie' . I had to feel it when I repotted the plants.

No need to use pliers. Forceps or a tweezer will be good enough to shape it.

I will try and get more info from the vendor ASAP.

[fred]

nice pics

I think with the mounted orchids the fishing line only holds the plant.

The line goes around the spaghnum moss only NOT on the orchid itself.

when i have to tie an orchid i use plactic coated wire as seen in the pics.

most garden sections carry that sort of tie wire.

[pikevi]

Thanks fred.

The right name -'tie-wire' escaped me, lol.

I couldn't believe the softness and the flexibilty, let alnoe the strength.

I frequent graden centres quite a bit but I have not seen anything similar to it: but then I was not specifically looking for it.