Black walnut mount .... Update

Has anyone used black walnut wood as a mount? The wood is very durable but a live tree has allelopathic qualities (suppresses other plant growth to minimize competition). I don't know if this quality translates into the wood for epiphytes. Any ideas?

 

I have a bunch of it and it is very durable. But you are correct, if there is a chance of a problem I won't use it. I would basically be sawing or splitting slabs from a large round so there would not be bark involved.

 

Stephen, thanks for the link. I always find these kinds of topics fascinating.

Marni, you are right. I will try it with something I have an abundance of and can afford to kill.

Thanks,

 

OK, on November 22 I mounted a small cutting of Epidendrum porpax to a piece of black walnut that I split off of the round. The little cutting is thriving and has roots attached to the black walnut wood. There is no bark on this mount. This is one trial with one species but it is doing fine. I will continue to use the black walnut wood based on this trial.

 

Hi, Tom. No I haven't tried any more plants yet although I have a few of the mounts ready to use. This plant is doing great and I just recently gave it to one of our newer Forum members. I didn't see any ill effects from the black walnut wood. Thanks for the reminder ... I need to use more of this.

 

Anna, the photos above should look familiar to you.

 

Here is a Gastrochilus japonicus that is on black walnut. It certainly doesn't affect the roots or growth. I have tried 3 species on this wood and have not seen a problem.