Chola wood for mounting orchids

[Geek_it]

Has anyone tried mounting orchids on chola wood?

 

[Ozpaph]

What is it? Expensive compared to natural cork.

 

[eds]

It's the skeleton of a type of cactus (Cylindriopuntia). It's used a fair bit in aquaria. It's especially used with freshwater shrimp as it is soft and they can pick it apart so I'm not sure how long it would last as a mount but it should certainly hold some water so could be useful for mounting an orchid in a low humidity environment!

 

[Linus_Cello]

My guess is moapani wood (also common in the freshwater aquarium hobby) would last longer than chola).

 

[tomp]

It works very well for mounting. The mounts are attractive. The roots rap around and weave into the hollow core. The wood skeleton is quite hard and seems to hold up well. It comes in all sorts of sizes including very small for miniatures. I’ll post a photo on Monday

 

[Ozpaph]

thanks.

 

[cnycharles]

I’d seen some small pieces here and there near my mother in the desert

 

[tomp]

As promised pix of a barkeria mounted on chola. Roots love the stuff

 

[Geek_it]

As promised pix of a barkeria mounted on chola. Roots love the stuffView attachment 24387View attachment 24388

Whats your watering schedule for chola mounted?

 

[tomp]

Chola mounts (as with most mounts) tend to dry quickly so it is pretty hard to overwater. Having said that, for me, two factors govern. Relative humidity in the location (mine tends high) and plant requirements. That barkeria and other similar types get water maybe 3x per week. If temps high I could water every day if need be.
I like to mount plants because the roots get lots of air and as we know ITS ALL ABOUT THE ROOTS.

 

[NYEric]

Chola is good but I thought it was illegal like tree fern.