TOC March Meeting Refresh • Learning About Mounting w/ Accent Orchids

TOC March Meeting Full House

The Tampa Orchid Club's March meeting filled 55 seats with orchid enthusiasts in attendance! We enjoyed a generous potluck lunch, with a special thanks to Luke and Rachael for providing the delicious barbecue as part of our new policy—TOC now supplies the main protein, while members bring sides and desserts. *Friendly Reminder: if you contribute to the potluck, you’ll receive a free raffle ticket!

Bloom Table Display

The bloom table was a beautiful showcase of spring’s orchids on full display.

Our scheduled program featured a wonderful demonstration from Ruth and Brett from Accent Orchids located in St. Petersburg. They shared many mounting techniques and ideas for all to try at home with their plants. After the demonstration Ruth and Brett generously gave TOC some gorgeous mounted orchids for us to add to the Annual Auction that was hosted this past Saturday, March 29th. (Auction overview and info coming soon!)

Mounting Methods Recap

Incase you missed the meeting or needed a refresher on Ruth's presentation, below is a detailed review from the program. We hope you find it resourceful. Enjoy!

01.

You can go to Lowe's and buy a pack of 50 cedar shingles and some zip ties.  Cut a plastic basket in half, mark the places to drill holes on a shingle to tie down the half basket, drill the holes and tie down the basket.  Line the basket with some screen (screen patches for sale at Lowe's for $13 a roll), then add some coconut fiber to keep in smaller media pieces.  Place your orchid, like a Maxillaria tenuifolia, directly against the shingle, and fill in with small bark, perhaps mixed with sponge rock.  Tie down the orchid with a twist tie fitted through drilled holes to secure. ***REMEMBER TO PUT THE TAG ON!***

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02.

For a tall Dendrobium or a Vanilla orchid, drill a hole with a 1/2" tile and glass drill bit through the middle of a large clay saucer, upside down.  Screw a nut onto a threaded rod, adding plumber's tape for secure fit.  Place a washer over the nut, then push the rod up through the hole, leaving the washer and the nut at the short end of the rod under the inverted saucer. Drill 4 drain hole in the sides of a 8" clay pot,  Place another washer down the long end of the rod:  WASHER, POT, WASHER, SAUCER. Place some small rocks in the bottom of the pot about 1" deep. To plant a Vanilla, place moss poles to the top of the rod. (about 3 feet).  Take off bottom 3 leaves from the Vanilla vine, and place in pot.  Attach to rod with twist ties.  Add bark with perlite and sponge rock, and pack tight. Do not place in direct sun.  Vanilla will grow sideways to whatever support it finds.  Water every day.  

03.

You can also mount Phals, Bulbos, or a Schom-Cats, like Rio's Little Treasure, on a vertical saucer or a flat saucer.  Drill holes and secure with zip ties. Add a hanger.

04.

Cut 2 Trex Decking pieces into 8" x 20" boards.  Put plastic AC filter material in the middle, and fasten together.  Secure an orchid to the board with twist ties.

05.

Phals and Den. anosmum mount well on cork. If you secure Phal with roots upside down it  prevents core rot.  (that is how they grow in the wild).

06.

The correct term for the Japanese art of creating moss balls for plants is "kokedama," although you will see it spelled "Cokadama" as well.  Kokedama is a form of Japanese garden art, tied to the practice of bonsai, where a moss ball supports and displays a plant. Ruth showed us how moss is wrapped around wire shaped as a ball with an opening.  You can pack coco chunks around the insides, then pack media into one side. Add an orchid and press tightly to media.  Pack with more media.  Water twice a week all summer, once a week in winter.  

Orchids do well mounted, so get busy!

(Just note, the above instructions are a recap from the Tampa Orchid Club's March program. We suggest looking up these methods online or calling Accent Orchids in case any part of the program recap was not captured accurately.)