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#1
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Wood for Mounts - what to use?
This week I bought myself some birthday orchids from OakHill. Great plants,
great service, great value..... Side story...I ordered a Bulb. phalaenopsis on a mount for $12.00. Now I didn't expect much at that price and these get to be several feet long leaves. I had to chuckle when I took it out of the wrapping. It was a cute small seedling that will be several years before I can "enjoy" the fragrance of rotting meat in my greenhouse. Even stinky monsters start out as tiny babies! Ok...back on topic now. They seem to use grape wood for many of their mounts. Most of the mounted stuff I've bought from OakHill has been smaller stuff and the grape vine is no bigger than my little finger around. So now to my questions.... If you use grape vine for mounts should you let it age/dry for a while? I have lots of wild stuff killing the trees and could get some nice pieces to use but I know it oozes sap for a while when you cut fresh grape. What other native hardwoods make good mounts? I have an oak branch with a Phal equestris that I mounted the keikis on about 3 or 4 years ago that seems to be doing well. Occassionally, I get a shelf mushroom forming on the end and just break them off. I know dogwood is very hard and when I prune, difficult to cut. Has anyone tried dogwood for a mount? Lilac and Crepe Myrtle both are also really tough to cut when I prune. I would think they would do well. Any growers of mounted plants want to weigh in on this topic? Good Growing, Gene |
#2
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FWIW, I have a lot of those self-pruning trees, maples. The branches fall
after aging in-situ for a while. Everything I've ever put on them has taken to it like crazy, and it seems to last years. -- Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info! "Gene Schurg" wrote in message news:KBpUe.912$Hs6.839@trnddc07... This week I bought myself some birthday orchids from OakHill. Great plants, great service, great value..... Side story...I ordered a Bulb. phalaenopsis on a mount for $12.00. Now I didn't expect much at that price and these get to be several feet long leaves. I had to chuckle when I took it out of the wrapping. It was a cute small seedling that will be several years before I can "enjoy" the fragrance of rotting meat in my greenhouse. Even stinky monsters start out as tiny babies! Ok...back on topic now. They seem to use grape wood for many of their mounts. Most of the mounted stuff I've bought from OakHill has been smaller stuff and the grape vine is no bigger than my little finger around. So now to my questions.... If you use grape vine for mounts should you let it age/dry for a while? I have lots of wild stuff killing the trees and could get some nice pieces to use but I know it oozes sap for a while when you cut fresh grape. What other native hardwoods make good mounts? I have an oak branch with a Phal equestris that I mounted the keikis on about 3 or 4 years ago that seems to be doing well. Occassionally, I get a shelf mushroom forming on the end and just break them off. I know dogwood is very hard and when I prune, difficult to cut. Has anyone tried dogwood for a mount? Lilac and Crepe Myrtle both are also really tough to cut when I prune. I would think they would do well. Any growers of mounted plants want to weigh in on this topic? Good Growing, Gene |
#3
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On Fri, 9 Sep 2005 21:39:26 -0400, "Ray"
wrote: FWIW, I have a lot of those self-pruning trees, maples. The branches fall after aging in-situ for a while. Everything I've ever put on them has taken to it like crazy, and it seems to last years. As long as you keep an eye on it - backyard prune seems to do well. We have used fruit trees. My mentor used Cherry. But any and all mounts eventually disappear. I picked up a plant I have had for several years, and realized my fingers were touching thru the roots covering the mount. The tree branch was just 1/2 as long as it used to be. The sheath of roots covered the location of the shrinking branch and I had not realized it was shrinking. We also used the branches they have for bird perches. I have forgotten the name of the wood. It is popular in CA and is often suggested. But the only local supply is the pet center's bird perch supply. This is often smaller than I would like. I am trying evergreen roots. We had to cut a creeper out it was not creeping and I kept a couple of the gnarled pieces to get some interesting wood that was a little larger. I am using plastic baskets and moss as per Andy for most of the Bulbo.s. But some of the smaller pieces I mount in little baskets made of Hardware cloth that I hang sideways on the wall. Then I fill the basket with Moss and plant in it. Too many 'fern slabs' disintegrated under my care. Cork can be hard to get the plants established on - and who likes looking at support wire while they wait. SuE http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/albums.php |
#4
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What a timely question. We rec'd the following as part of an email from
Motes just yesterday. It will speak for itself. There are typos, but the gist is there. Diana Treasures from the Storm It's an ill wind that blows no one any good. Katrina while merely a major nuisance for us in South Florida would have been reckoned sufficient of a trouble maker had we not watched as she wrought real tragedy in her denouement. Small blessing have nonetheless flowed to S. Florida orchidists in the enforced pruning of our trees which will bring cherished light to our orchids. The prunings themselves are a major resource for the clever orchidists. The streets of Dade county are now line with a virtually inexhaustible lode of great orchid mounting material. All that is needed is the energy to cut and haul the appropriate branches that will supply years of great orchid mounts. With such an abundant(dare I say windfall?) one can even be quite picky. The savant orchidist should select his material with an eye to the best suited and the most appealing. Three species stand out. First, the golden trumpet(Tabebuia argentea or cariba) whose cork like bark is ideal for most orchid species was the first to fall and particularly abundant. Live oak(Quercus virginiana) is also highly favored by epiphytic orchids in general and dendrobiums in particular. It is, of course, of the very same genus as cork itself. Next among the commonly fallen and desirable is button wood(Conocarpus erecta) both green and silver. This is "driftwood" on the hoof. The roots of this species are the "driftwood" of orchid culture. Other species are good but these common storm victim will provide more than enough of the very best mounts. Look for branches that are forked or twisted or that have other distinctive turns that will add character to the finished mounts. Try to imagine the plant situated on the branch. A small chain saw makes short work of these branches, quickly rendering them into raw works of art but even a well sharpened double set hand pruning saw will do fine. Now would be a good time to acquire these tools if needed before they are inevitable truly needed in the aftermath of a major hurricane. In the meantime we can count our blessings and the orchid manna falling from heaven. |
#5
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Here's one we awarded a few years ago:
http://www.aospacificcentral.org/SFJ...2003/bulb.html I like that Eric had the owner stand next to the plant in order to show its size.... K Barrett "Gene Schurg" wrote in message news:KBpUe.912$Hs6.839@trnddc07... This week I bought myself some birthday orchids from OakHill. Great plants, great service, great value..... Side story...I ordered a Bulb. phalaenopsis on a mount for $12.00. Now I didn't expect much at that price and these get to be several feet long leaves. I had to chuckle when I took it out of the wrapping. It was a cute small seedling that will be several years before I can "enjoy" the fragrance of rotting meat in my greenhouse. Even stinky monsters start out as tiny babies! Ok...back on topic now. They seem to use grape wood for many of their mounts. Most of the mounted stuff I've bought from OakHill has been smaller stuff and the grape vine is no bigger than my little finger around. So now to my questions.... If you use grape vine for mounts should you let it age/dry for a while? I have lots of wild stuff killing the trees and could get some nice pieces to use but I know it oozes sap for a while when you cut fresh grape. What other native hardwoods make good mounts? I have an oak branch with a Phal equestris that I mounted the keikis on about 3 or 4 years ago that seems to be doing well. Occassionally, I get a shelf mushroom forming on the end and just break them off. I know dogwood is very hard and when I prune, difficult to cut. Has anyone tried dogwood for a mount? Lilac and Crepe Myrtle both are also really tough to cut when I prune. I would think they would do well. Any growers of mounted plants want to weigh in on this topic? Good Growing, Gene |
#6
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That is so huge!
Mine would fit in the palm of your hand and still leave lots of room for other plants. It will be such an accomplishment when mine gets big. Gene "K Barrett" wrote in message ... Here's one we awarded a few years ago: http://www.aospacificcentral.org/SFJ...2003/bulb.html I like that Eric had the owner stand next to the plant in order to show its size.... K Barrett "Gene Schurg" wrote in message news:KBpUe.912$Hs6.839@trnddc07... This week I bought myself some birthday orchids from OakHill. Great plants, great service, great value..... Side story...I ordered a Bulb. phalaenopsis on a mount for $12.00. Now I didn't expect much at that price and these get to be several feet long leaves. I had to chuckle when I took it out of the wrapping. It was a cute small seedling that will be several years before I can "enjoy" the fragrance of rotting meat in my greenhouse. Even stinky monsters start out as tiny babies! Ok...back on topic now. They seem to use grape wood for many of their mounts. Most of the mounted stuff I've bought from OakHill has been smaller stuff and the grape vine is no bigger than my little finger around. So now to my questions.... If you use grape vine for mounts should you let it age/dry for a while? I have lots of wild stuff killing the trees and could get some nice pieces to use but I know it oozes sap for a while when you cut fresh grape. What other native hardwoods make good mounts? I have an oak branch with a Phal equestris that I mounted the keikis on about 3 or 4 years ago that seems to be doing well. Occassionally, I get a shelf mushroom forming on the end and just break them off. I know dogwood is very hard and when I prune, difficult to cut. Has anyone tried dogwood for a mount? Lilac and Crepe Myrtle both are also really tough to cut when I prune. I would think they would do well. Any growers of mounted plants want to weigh in on this topic? Good Growing, Gene |
#7
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Gene Schurg wrote:
That is so huge! Mine would fit in the palm of your hand and still leave lots of room for other plants. It will be such an accomplishment when mine gets big. Gene Be sure to take some "baby pictures" now. I think it would be fun to remember and, perhaps, show others how it started. Steve |
#8
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I use pieces of cedar roof shingle to mount oncidiums that want to
"crawl" out of pots. People who want to use cedar shakes should be sure to buy untreated shingles. Some shingles are treated with a fire retardant that is probably not good for orchids. J. Del Col |
#9
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the wood used for bird perches is probably manzanita? we had a few of those
for the parrots. they last forever, but are very smooth. has anyone tried the mopani wood they sell in pet stores for mounting 'chids? it seems like it would be great, with it's rough gnarly bark. it is frequently used in terrariums. or so i hear... --mo-- "Gene Schurg" wrote in message news:KBpUe.912$Hs6.839@trnddc07... This week I bought myself some birthday orchids from OakHill. Great plants, great service, great value..... Side story...I ordered a Bulb. phalaenopsis on a mount for $12.00. Now I didn't expect much at that price and these get to be several feet long leaves. I had to chuckle when I took it out of the wrapping. It was a cute small seedling that will be several years before I can "enjoy" the fragrance of rotting meat in my greenhouse. Even stinky monsters start out as tiny babies! Ok...back on topic now. They seem to use grape wood for many of their mounts. Most of the mounted stuff I've bought from OakHill has been smaller stuff and the grape vine is no bigger than my little finger around. So now to my questions.... If you use grape vine for mounts should you let it age/dry for a while? I have lots of wild stuff killing the trees and could get some nice pieces to use but I know it oozes sap for a while when you cut fresh grape. What other native hardwoods make good mounts? I have an oak branch with a Phal equestris that I mounted the keikis on about 3 or 4 years ago that seems to be doing well. Occassionally, I get a shelf mushroom forming on the end and just break them off. I know dogwood is very hard and when I prune, difficult to cut. Has anyone tried dogwood for a mount? Lilac and Crepe Myrtle both are also really tough to cut when I prune. I would think they would do well. Any growers of mounted plants want to weigh in on this topic? Good Growing, Gene |
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