Orchids are beautiful tropical flowers that can last for years or even decades with proper care. If you have a species that naturally grows on trees, then mounting it may enrich and extend its life as well as provide a dynamic aesthetic for displaying it. Below is a guide on mounting and how you can do it at home.

What Are the Benefits of Mounting?

Mounting refers to securing a plant to a mounting surface, like a large slab of cypress bark, so the roots attach to it. It’s an alternative to growing epiphytic houseplants in pots, which may not be ideal environments for them. Orchid species that naturally grow on trees are prime candidates for mounting, as it mimics their natural environment.

Mounting can contribute to longer life spans. It’s unlikely the specimen will need to be moved to a different mounting media, preventing the growth disruption and stress of transplanting. They also have a lower chance of being overwatered. If you have pets, mounting allows you to display the plants somewhere your pets cannot reach or disturb them.

How Can It Be Done At Home?

The first step is deciding which media to use for mounting. Bark slabs made from cork or cypress are durable and provide a textured, niched surface that encourages healthy root systems. Tree fern plaques or totems offer a moisture-rich and soft base to grow on.

Once you have a slab, install any hardware or string for it to hang from, then soak it in warm water for two to three hours. The water will evaporate from the slab over time, creating the humid environment orchids need to thrive. 

Remove your orchid from its current pot and gently brush the potting media off its root system, then wrap and pack the roots in sphagnum moss to create a root ball. The moss helps the specimen avoid stress from being moved to a different environment.

Use floral wire, bread ties, fishing line, or another non-biodegradable item to secure the root ball to the mounting slab, then hang it where desired. After a while, the moss will begin to fall away, revealing roots that have attached to the mount.

Are you interested in mounting orchids? Akatsuka Orchid Gardens in Volcano, HI, will have the advice and supplies you need. Since 1974, their family-owned business has supplied high-quality houseplants and hybrids to Hawaii and the mainland. They also offer tours of their gardens with over 500 blooms, which come with a free plant and discounts. View their varieties online, and call (808) 967-8234 to place an order.