Inorganic, non-porous mounts?

[Flowers]

I'm not sure if this is the right section for this thread, but here it goes anyway:

I need an inorganic, non-porous mount for some of my Pleurothallids. I'm currently using tree fern, and I really don't like it. Sure, moss grows on it pretty good, and it looks nice for a while, but I'm getting sick of the slime and fungus that grow on/in it. It seems like, no matter what I do, I can never get it looking un-sickly. Most of the mounts I've seen of other peoples well established, fantastically grown plants look super clean and healthy. What are they doing that I'm not? So, I've decided to try and move away from tree fern. Does anyone have an idea of something inorganic, that the plants/moss can grow on, but not in? I also want it to look at natural (color wise) as possible.
(I hope this post makes sense, it seems a little on the rambling side to me.)

[michael_exler]

hmmm, non-slimeable mounts.
driftwood, concrete block, bricks, cocoanut shell, hardwood such as cypress, ceramic tile, unglazed claytile, unglazed clay pots and dishes, wire mesh.
I bet folks have a lot more suggestions to add.

[michael_exler]

oh, most of my mounts are allowed to dry between watering

[Palito]

i like the look of plants mounted in slabs of decorative patio stone.

You can google for ceramic mounts like swampstick. I don't know how well it works.

[shakkai]

What about a rockwool slab? Might stay too wet for some orchids that must dry out between waterings, but should be good for Pleurothallids. Though you can get absorbant and non-absorbant rockwool....

[Ray]

My "mounties" (my apologies to all of the Canucks out there) are on EpiWeb, tree fern, pieces of cedar board, cedar branches, and maple branches (sans bark). They are all misted (watered) daily with fertilizer solution, and I don't have moss or anything slimy growing on anything.

That suggests that the issue is in the cultural aspects, not the mount, and I'd guess insufficient air movement is the likely issue.

Also, adding a periodic spraying with a dilute Physan solution to your routine will keep such things at bay.

[Flowers]

Lack of air movement was a problem. I added a few more fans and now everything dries out completely in 6 hours, where as before it took two days, and given that they all need to stay wet (Lepanthes, Pleurothallis), I have to mist/water them 3 or 4 times a day to keep humidity up. I'll give the Physan a try. I have the bottle sitting here, but have been a little hesitant to use it.


I've also been seriously considering moving all my mounted plants to Epiweb. How would I go about un-mounting super small orchids?

[Ray]

Try a light dose of Physan - maybe a half-teaspoon per gallon.

Un-mounting is a problem, but not an insurmountable one.

First, make sure the plant is growing new roots, but has not yet attached them to the mount.

Soak the thing by submerging it - mount and all - in tepid water for at least a half hour.

At that point, you grab the plant and pry it off. Yes, there will be root damage, but that's why we waited until new ones were growing!

You might also carefully cut away portions of the current mount that the plant is not attached to, leaving as little of it as you can, and just go ahead an leave the reminder there when you remount it.

[Flowers]

There is one problem with that: Most of the plants I have haven't grown new roots in a while. Plenty of new growths (although declining in size) not not many roots. Any ideas about this problem?


The fun just never stops, does it?

[Becca]

Originally Posted by Palito

i like the look of plants mounted in slabs of decorative patio stone.

You can google for ceramic mounts like swampstick. I don't know how well it works.

I'm not saying the Swampstick would be your solution, but I have a Phal. mounted on one with a little bit of moss around it and it is doing geat! I have two more I am going to be putting to use.

But like I said, I don't think the Swampstick or a different mount would be your solution like Ray pointed out that the problem is most likely a cultural problem....Ray knows what he is talking about so make sure you listen closely to him and soak up what advice he gives you because it just doesn't get any better! He has helped me alot!