Re: Mounting Platyceriums

 Hi Julia

The middle of the pot will have no roots at all.  Their roots, like
almost all plants, love the warmth and moisture on the outer edges and
only grow there.

Just push your fingers into the bottom and pull the roots apart with two
hands.  Care full not to damage the bud and fronds.

Keith

Redman, Julia wrote:

  Hey thanks Keith.
  
  I had a superbum once that I mounted on a large Styrofoam plaque with
  sphagnum (an idea I probably got from you some time ago), but it
  languished and croaked.  I don't know if maybe it just didn't get enough
  moisture in my apartment.  I put mine in a whole I made in the plaque.
  Having never seen a freshly mounted platycerium, I didn't know where the
  root ball wet-silly as that sounds.
  
  I'm working with another superbum now, currently growing in a 4 inch
  pot.  (I'd like to not kill this one.)  The root mass seems pretty
  dense.  Can you really just pull it apart or do you cut it?  
  
  I live in a house now, and have access to a very moist basement where I
  grow orchids under artificial light and a nice screened in porch (for
  summer growing only here in MD).
  
  Thanks,
  
  Julia

  -----Original Message-----
  From:   owner-ferns@hort.net   [  o*@hort.net  ] On Behalf Of
  Keith Rogers
  Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2004 9:10 AM
  To:   ferns@hort.net  Subject: Re: [ferns] Mounting Platyceriums
  
  Hi Julia
  
  With tiny say 2 inch pots leave them as they are, but with larger the 
  roots need spreading . 
  
  I generally break the mass from the bottom apart in two, you will find 
  the roots only grow around the outside of the pot and the middle is full
  
  of mix which can be discarded this lessens the depth a bit.
  
  Then pack sphagnum in under and around the roots.  I Use P. bifurcatum 
  shield to cover the sphagnum before tying.  You can use bird netting or 
  stockings as well.
  
  You will need to water them often in the warmer weather, try to tilt 
  them so to make watering easier into the back.
  
  Keith Rogers
  Mannum South Australia
  
  Keith's Fern Page on   www.lm.net.au/~kerogers/  
  Supporting the Fern Society of South Australia on  www.chariot.net.au/~saufern/  
  Redman, Julia wrote:

    Hi everyone,

    When mounting young staghorn ferns, previously grown in a pot, how do
    you handle the dense mass of roots?  That is, do you break it apart,
    trim it, or just try to smash it onto the mount?  Also, can anyone
    provide tips for acclimating the plants to their mounts, keeping in

  mind

    I do not have a greenhouse?

    Thanks much,
    
    Julia
    
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