Mounting Tolumnia... A Question

[WaterWitchin]

I am determined to have some mounted tolumnia. A part of this year's goals for me. Am I good at raising tolumnia? Ummmm, not really. Thus I keep searching for something that will work for both them, and for me. A method where they will thrive, not just survive.

I've read thru numerous threads regarding mounting them, and most talk about adding the water-retention of "something" either over or under the mount.

Here's the question... I don't understand "why" the spagnum moss or coco-fiber, etc, either under or over roots on a tolumnia mount. It seems counter to its requirements.

Would someone be willing to explain the "why" of the water-retention material? I would truly appreciate it before I proceed.

[Paul]

If you lived in a climate wherein you had constant, year-round high humidity, regular/very frequent heavy morning fogs or mists, then a water retentive patch of material would likely be both unnecessary and undesirable. However, like so many of us, you don't. For those of use in this second situation, having a pad of water retentive material keeps moisture around the roots long enough for the roots to have a chance of absorbing enough water for the plants needs. Without it, the water would drip away and dry up far too fast to do the plant much good.

In my dry winter air, for example, if I saturate such a mounted plant, it will be completely dry just a couple hours later.

[WaterWitchin]

But isn't that the goal? Quick drying, I mean. Does this mean quick... but not that quick? Because of our lack of humidity in winter?

Not trying to be dense... just not wanting to torture yet another tolumnia. I have a couple in S/H, and they are "okay" but not great. I think it has to do with warmth, but can only plug in so many heat mats, thus a different tack.

And BTW, thanks for the quick response!

[cbuchman]

I have several mounted Tolumnias. Two are mounted on hard wood and one on cork. I used sphag sparingly as a pad on the hard wood in particular since they don't retain water. As the Tolumnia'a attached (you will see the little roots wind their way across the wood), I used tweezers and removed most of the sphag (which doesn't have a unlimited life span anyway). On the cork, I don't remember using any moisture retentive material, but was very careful to keep the cork itself moist as the plant was establishing.

I do have to watch that the hard wood mounted guys aren't too dry. I dunk the whole thing (wood and all) every two or three days and mist at least daily, in the hot summer even more often. Mine are outside in summer and indoors in the winter which means high humidity in summer and low in winter. So I watch them year round.

The cork and first wood mount have been going for about 2 years now and the second wood mount which has 3 plants had had 2 of them for 2 years and I just added the third. All the plants mounted 2 years ago are established, growing and have bloomed. As they mature on the mount, I expect even better displays . I just hope to get the three mounted together to bloom at the same time!