Drift Wood Mounts - Orchid Board

boardybell · #1 (**permalink**) 03-09-2008, 10:43 PM

Would anyone be interested in using drift wood to mount? I am thinking of starting a little side venture to merge my two favorite activities, boating and orchids. So if anyone is interested, let me know. I also plan to get cyprus knees as well as cyprus branches on my next trip down to the swamp. Just reply to the thread.
Boardy

flhiker · #2 (**permalink**) 03-09-2008, 10:48 PM

Be careful were you remove both of these they are protected in most places

OrchidPhoenix · #3 (**permalink**) 03-10-2008, 12:00 AM

I would totaly ne interested, for both my snakes and my phals!!

susiep · #4 (**permalink**) 03-10-2008, 01:01 AM

I agree with Dave. Driftwood from the ocean can make beautiful mounts for orchids, but the Cypress trees (and knees) are better left in the swamp to make homes for the wild orchids. Cypress trees all through the south are being destroyed at a very rapid rate (for landscape mulch!) and in their place are growing maleluca, brazilian pepper and other non-indiginous "trash" trees. We all need to do everything we can to not contribute to the destruction of the the Cypress. Especially by not buying things made from Cypress, like mulch!

Please read: http://www.waterkeeper.org/cypress/whitepaper.pdf

flhiker · #5 (**permalink**) 03-10-2008, 10:49 AM

The driftwood in the keys and 10,000 islands are also protected. And the wood that resembles driftwood in the glades is also protected. Iam not willing to go to jail or pay a big fine just for a piece of wood. Thanks Susiep for the info.

Dorothy · #6 (**permalink**) 03-10-2008, 11:31 AM

If you get a piece of driftwood that may have been floating in the ocean for who knows how long .. won't it's salt content have an effect on an orchid .. wouldn't you have to treat it in some manner ? Just a random thought

irrka · #7 (**permalink**) 03-10-2008, 11:54 AM

wait. driftwood is protected?? dead chunks of wood? really?

Ross · #8 (**permalink**) 03-10-2008, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irrka

wait. driftwood is protected?? dead chunks of wood? really?

Yes! Lotsa things are protected depending on where they occur. There are a miriad of reasons - all very good reasons in my mind. I think if you want to collect driftwood for mounts, visit the shorelines of freashwater impoundments near a dam and collect all the flotsam that is usually present there.

boardybell · #9 (**permalink**) 03-10-2008, 04:42 PM

The drift wood is freshwater drift wood that washes up on the shore here. It is not protected and usually burned once a year when we all get out and clean up our beaches in front of the houses. As for the cyprus, we dont have orchids here that grow on cyprus knees that I have ever seen. I have been trapsing through our swamp since I was a wee little lad. Since both come from my property, neither is protected, you can rest assured. Thanks for letting me know that next time I venture more populated areas that there are legislators looking out for the wellbeing of non native wood that had the misfortune of washing ashore.

flhiker · #10 (**permalink**) 03-10-2008, 08:51 PM

Not knowing where your from I thought I might mention this. I know in the North West driftwood can be a nuisances and does get burned. It is protected in the Florida Keys it has been picked clean by the tourist and around most of southern Florida Driftwood serves a homes for fish, birds, crabs and many others.