I mount them both ways. Once cured, the epoxy appears to be inert. So far the plants grow the same regardless. When I ship the mounted plants out, I tell the buyer that he can mount them either way. I may have the plant(s) mounted on the epoxy surface or on the natural wood surface, and it is easy to just reverse the mount. Some people want the beautiful wood to show and some prefer to have that surface against their wall or whatever the mount hangs on .Ken