Quote:
Originally Posted by Tesa
Yes, mounting needs experience. Orchids that like it wet, will grow perfectly on tree fern. But I donīt buy it anymore because of protecting the endangered population. We threaten the ferns, so donīt forget: There are no fern plantations! The ones who like to dry rapidly I mount on bark. Cork bark is good, walnut is great and normally gratis. Other fruit-tree bark like apple or peach wil do it fine as well. And there are good results on driftwood, oakwood....there are a plenty of factors, and you have to have a kind of sure instinct or green thumb. And donīt forget the moss base, what kind of moss and so on.
Donīt be shy! Mount!
Tesa
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Hey Tesa, I wanted to mention that although your logic sounds..sound, many people think the same thing about cork. Most of the tree ferns that are used are already dead, and clearing them out of the forest gives more room and light for new tree ferns. When they harvest the deadfall, they are required (at least is OZ) to be careful of the crown and leave any growing epiphytes.
People were (and still are) saying that cork is endangered and we shouldn't use it... it's in danger because we DON'T use it, the wine industry has been switching more to plastic based stoppers, which has put the cork growers out of business. Cork forests (plantations, whatever) have some of the most diverse and area specific life in the world (basically, many plants and animals can only live in these forests!)
I may be wrong about the tree ferns, maybe they're wreaking havoc on that ecosystem but I have yet to see any evidence.
(reading here) actually the main problem to tree ferns would be clearcutting. So if the companies who harvest them want to stay in business, they'll have to fight against clearcutting and keep them alive...