Hanging your mounted orchids

[amyqofu]

Hi,
I mounted one of my orchids a few months ago. It's a laelia hybrid (down two flights and out in the yard - too lazy to go read the tag) that seemed to want to crawl out of its pot. It has been wildly happy, put out 4 new growths and 2 spikes. But, I am not happy with the way I hung it up. I used wire that I wrapped around the whole thing, twisted into a hook shape, and hung from a dowel. It's way too obvious and messy looking. Before I mount some of my other pot escape artists, I'd like to know how more experienced mount growers like to hang theirs. Thanks in advance for your info.

[unhappykat]

did you mount your plant on a piece of wood, sounds like you just hung it with some wire bare root, any pictures?
I will post pictures tomorrow if i can find them.

[amyqofu]

I'm sorry, I was not very clear. The orchid is mounted on a slab of wood. It's how I hung up the whole thing that I'm not happy with.

[camille1585]

I'm new to mounted orchids, but the ones I do have are hanging by a wire hook. I received them that way.
This weekend I prepared a mount for one of my orchids and I did that same thing as for the others. I drilled a hole through the top of the mount, and then put a strong piece of wire through it that I fashioned into a hook with some pliers. Originally I wanted to put an S shaped hook through the hole, but went with the wire since I had that on hand.

Hope that helps, and hope I understood your question correctly!

[Ross]

Mine are hung on wire racks made from 1/2 x 1/2 welded wire "fabric" from Home Depot. See the following:

[Gin]

Here are some of mine hanging from a wire grid actually an extra shelf from a plant rack . I drill a hole and use wire , or screw in one of the eye things like they use to hang pictures. They are ones I just mounted . Gin

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Gin

Here are some of mine hanging from a wire grid actually an extra shelf from a plant rack . I drill a hole and use wire , or screw in one of the eye things like they use to hang pictures. They are ones I just mounted . Gin

Yours is a larger version of mine (the welded wire fabric comes in many sizes at Home Depot.)

[Gin]

I have some of the welded wire that is plastic coated dark green they use it for floors in rabbit cages . Gin

[cirillonb]

Originally Posted by amyqofu

Hi,
I mounted one of my orchids a few months ago. It's a laelia hybrid (down two flights and out in the yard - too lazy to go read the tag) that seemed to want to crawl out of its pot. It has been wildly happy, put out 4 new growths and 2 spikes. But, I am not happy with the way I hung it up. I used wire that I wrapped around the whole thing, twisted into a hook shape, and hung from a dowel. It's way too obvious and messy looking. Before I mount some of my other pot escape artists, I'd like to know how more experienced mount growers like to hang theirs. Thanks in advance for your info.

As I understand you, the wire that hold the orchid on the slab is also continued up to form the hook. I think, once the orchid is staying on the slab without help, you may want to carefully remove all the wire and then rig up a hanging wire or hook. By then the orchid itself will not need the wire.
In the future, many people use fishing line, strips of nylon stockings, fine wire and even twine to attach the orchid to its mount. Then the rig a hook to fit their needs. There are some good threads on this Board describing mounting in detail.
Nick

[Jkelee]

I use Fish EYE hooks from Lowes that screw in the wood. Then I use Aluminum ties that are already made up for Aluminum fencing. They come about 7-8" long, and already have one end hooked. I use that hang the mount. And then hook the other end in the Fish Eye hook (I call them).

Sometimes, the wood I might buy already has a hole cut in it to hang. So I wrapped some wire in there to make the loop, and still use the Aluminum ties, as they are soooo easy to use!! And I've never had one mount Fall!!

Oh, and I use fishing line to tie the chids on the wood. Using lots of sphag moss under the fishing line, not to harm/hurt the roots. I find one good area of the chid to pretty securely tie the chid down, and loosen up the fishing line a bit around the rest of it. As in just a couple of months the roots are grabbing the wood sooooo good!!

As you can see the "Fish Eye hook in the first pics.

And the other already made Aluminum ties I call them, in the last pic.