Since relocating to Florida, I'm going to give mounting a try with a few orchids which I think will do well growing that way.

I've had this Aeranthes Grandiose growing happily in a pot for about 6 years. About a year ago it suffered crown rot and I lost the main plant. It forms basal offshoots and they survived and flowered about 6 months ago.

I repotted approx 2 years ago and moved it to an 8" pot. It grows in sphag with some tree fern. This is a plant which doesn't like its roots messed around with.

I unpotted and was surprised at the large root ball. New roots mingled with old but nothing looking bad. I wasn't sure if I should cut the root ball to fit the mount. So I tied the entire mess to the mount and stuck a mesh bag to hold it with ties.

Before it makes any new roots, would it have been better to cut the root ball back? I don't want to kill this plant...its been through a rough year!

Jane

Aeranthes in old pot
{{gwi:144058}}

Tied to mount
{{gwi:158857}}

{{gwi:158859}}

You can see the brown, dead older crown. I didn't remove it as the offshoots have rooted into it.

Jane