Mounting Orchids
If you have a yard, you've probably got a good orchid tree. Citrus, oak, or palm (smooth trunk) make great orchid hosts. Make sure that there is a spot on the tree that receives plenty of light and is near a water source so that the plant can be watered during the dry seasons (a newly mounted orchid can rarely be overwatered). Also, pick a spot that you will be able to see - you want to enjoy your orchid! Find a nice clean spot on the main trunk or a side branch - a hole or a knot doesn't always work too well.
Attaching The Plant
It is very important that the orchid is attached solidly to the tree, so that when the roots begin to adhere they aren't disturbed.. We like to use large romex type staples (you can get them at the hardware store- they're about 3/4" across), nailing them over the rhizome (the hard stem which connects the psuedobulbs) of the orchid into the tree. For a three or four bulb plant, one staple should do the trick. Some people tie their orchids to the tree using filiment line or green grafting tape. This is alright - most important is that the plant is secure against the wood. Make sure that the rooting side of the plant is in towards the tree, so that the roots will be able to grab right on.
The Best Time To Mount Your Orchids
Mount when the new growth is just starting. Mounting plants, just like potting plants, for many kinds of orchids, is best done at the appropriate time in the growth cycle. Ideally, we want root actions to start just after mounting so the plant gets started right away. If the roots and growth are in the middle or later part of their growth flush, it is usually a mistake to process the plant at that time. Mounting just after the growth has matured is possible, but care must be taken that the plant, which may sit there for 3-4 months before new roots start, does not suffer too much water loss.
SANTA BARBARA ORCHID ESTATE
1250 Orchid Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93111 +++
1-805-967-1284 +++ www.sborchid.com