Quick answer: To mount a plant, clean its roots, wrap them in a thin pad of damp sphagnum moss, and press the plant against cork bark or wood. Secure it with fishing line, soft plant ties or a dab of cured aquarium-safe silicone or cyanoacrylate gel. Keep the mount damp and in the right light, and within 4–8 weeks the roots will grip the surface by themselves.
Which plants can be mounted?
| Plant group | Examples | Best mount |
|---|---|---|
| Bromeliads | Neoregelia, mini Guzmania | Cork pockets, branch forks |
| Air plants | Tillandsia | High, dry, ventilated branches |
| Orchids | Pleurothallis, Restrepia, mini Phalaenopsis | Cork flats and branches |
| Ferns | Rabbit's Foot, Lemmaphyllum, mini Java fern | Cork backgrounds, driftwood at waterline |
| Trailing plants | Peperomia, Ficus pumila, Marcgravia | Cork backgrounds and tubes |
| Aquatic epiphytes | Anubias, Java fern, Bucephalandra | Driftwood in water or splash zones |
| Moss | Sheet moss, sphagnum, frog moss | Cork, stone and wood surfaces |
Best surfaces for mounting
- Cork bark is the gold standard. Deep texture, water retention and rot resistance make it the easiest surface for roots to grip. Use flats, tubes, branches or full backgrounds.
- Spiderwood and driftwood are excellent for bromeliads and Tillandsia in branch forks, and for aquatic epiphytes. Smooth sections are harder for roots to grip.
- Mopani and grapewood are good for air plants and drier-zone plants.
- Stone like feather rock is porous and holds moss and small creepers well.
Mounting methods compared
| Method | Pros | Cons | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fishing line (clear monofilament) | Invisible, safe, removable | Fiddly to tie | Most plants; orchids and bromeliads |
| Cotton thread | Rots away by itself once roots attach | May break before roots grip | Moss, small ferns |
| Silicone (100%, cured) | Strong, permanent | Needs a dry surface; curing time | Bromeliads, Tillandsia, moss on backgrounds |
| Cyanoacrylate gel (superglue) | Instant bond, works on damp surfaces | Can damage tissue if overused | Anubias, Bucephalandra, moss, small ferns |
| Plant clips and pins | Quick, reusable | Visible until removed | Pinning vines against cork |
| Stainless steel or plastic-coated wire | Holds heavy plants | Must avoid copper and galvanised wire | Large bromeliads |
Never use copper wire. Copper is toxic to amphibians, invertebrates and many plants.
Step-by-step mounting
- Choose the spot. Match the plant's light and moisture needs. High and bright suits Tillandsia and colourful bromeliads. Mid-level and humid suits orchids and ferns. Near misters suits moisture lovers.
- Clean the plant. Remove potting medium, trim dead roots and rinse off pests.
- Add a moisture pad. Wrap the roots in a thin layer of damp live sphagnum or rehydrated dry sphagnum. Skip this for Tillandsia, which rot in wet moss.
- Position and secure. Hold the plant against the mount and wrap fishing line around both several times, or apply a small amount of silicone or glue to the mount and press the plant's base into it.
- Angle it correctly. Bromeliad cups should stay upright. Orchids and Phalaenopsis should angle so water drains away from the crown.
- Keep it damp. Mist the mount daily until roots attach. In Canadian winters, mounts near screen vents dry faster, so check them often.
- Remove ties later. Once roots grip, typically after 4–8 weeks, snip off the fishing line.
Mounting moss on cork and wood
- Thin, flat sheet moss attaches fastest. Spread it over the surface in small pieces.
- Hold it in place with cotton thread, fishing line or dots of glue.
- Keep it consistently moist with soft water. See how to keep moss green.
Mounting aquatic epiphytes on driftwood
Java fern, Anubias and Bucephalandra grow from rhizomes that rot if buried. Tie or glue the rhizome to Malaysian driftwood or mopani either underwater or in the splash zone of a paludarium. Superglue gel is the go-to here because it sets on damp wood. See paludarium build guide.
Creating planting pockets
For plants that need a little soil, such as peperomia, small ferns and begonias, create pockets in cork backgrounds. Silicone a half-round or a curved piece of cork horizontally to form a cup. Line it with sphagnum and fill it with a small amount of Canadian-made Jurassic ABG Terrarium Mix from Jurassic Reptile Products. See building a cork background.
Troubleshooting mounts
- Plant drying out: move it closer to misters, add a thin sphagnum pad, or reduce ventilation slightly.
- Base rotting: too much moss holding water. Use less sphagnum and improve airflow.
- Roots won't attach: the plant is moving. Re-tie it more firmly, and keep the surface damp.
- Plant falls off after ties are cut: you removed them too soon. Re-secure it and wait longer.
FAQ
Is superglue safe in a vivarium?
Cyanoacrylate glue is widely used by aquarists and vivarium builders once cured. Use small amounts.
Can I mount pothos on cork?
Pothos usually grows from the soil and climbs, but cuttings pinned against damp cork will root into it.
What's the easiest plant to mount for beginners?
A mini Neoregelia bromeliad or a creeping peperomia on a cork flat.