January 15-21 2005 mailing list messages

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From: aeranthes2
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: calendar
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2005 09:55

Good Morning Ron, I was the person who sent the url of the calendar I have made. It has been updated to 2005. Glad you liked it. I've printed one off and it's quite pretty although I used my best orchid photos last year but it does the job well enough. This is the url for the calendar: http://www.geocities.com/aeranthes/calendarindex.htm

on a completely different subject here is the url of an interesting place too - it has the new photos of Titan:

From: Brenda Beale BB
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Ascosenda
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2005 11:00

Hi Geoff
I liked your "Yellow Glory" very much, I started growing a few Ascocentum species and have bought a few hybrids finding them very rewarding, also they are quite long lasting. I keep a look out for them now.
Brenda

From: Brenda Beale BB
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Hybrids
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2005 11:25

Hi All
Quite a few years ago Ken & I raised orchids from seed, mainly Cattleyas as I collected Cattleya species as my special liking. Along the way I also acquired a few hybrids and made a few crosses with both these and the speicies. Here are some that have bloomed just recently.

.B.L.c Ewart MacDonald x B.L.c Iroquois Trail registered= B.L.c Dersingham
Thought I'd put our village on the orchid map.

.S.L.c Brenda Beale x S.c Luton Charm registered= Sabine Prysiaznik Beale
For my daughter-in-law who died very tragically two years ago.

Those in the system I am just waiting for conformation that the names have been accepted.

From: francis quesada pallares
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Den Victoria-Reginae x Bullenianum
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2005 14:10

Last week I bought a division of this particular
hybrid from Laurence Hobbs, at a very reasonable
price.

I have had this plant before, but managed to kill it
in less than a year! I asked Laurence about how to
best look after it. He keeps it in the centre of his
warm greenhouse, together with the cattleyas and it
seems to do ok for him.

I was looking on the internet for cultural advice on
it, and just found out that one of the parents is
warm, whilst the other is cool growing!

I really like the flowers on this small Den. and I'd
hate to lose it again due to not knowing best.

From: aeranthes2
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: hybrids
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2005 19:05

What beautiful orchids Brenda and what lovely phtographs. How very satisfying it must be to create such fine hybrids. Congratulations:) - Jean

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Ascocenda's
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2005 20:20

About thirteen years ago I purchased an Ascocenda from Carter & Holmes in Carolina, USA.

It was named Ascocenda Summer Delight 'Susan', and boy oh boy, did it do well for me. Bloomed every year, sometimes less than a year, until it suddenly stopped.

Thing is, it now still grows but is a shadow of its former self. It appears to have grown leaner and does not appear to look like the original plant. Question is, regarding many of our garden and greenhouse plants, has it perhaps tended to lean towards one of its parents?

Maybe I will 'bake' it this summer along with the hard leaved Dendrobes and see what happens.

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: hybrids
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2005 22:15

In article ,
on 15 Jan, aeranthes2 wrote:
> What beautiful orchids Brenda and what lovely phtographs. How very
> satisfying it must be to create such fine hybrids. Congratulations:) -
> Jean

Indeed, they are lovely photos but why were two of them so huge? Needless
to say, several ISPs returned the message as it exceeded the limit. Hotmail
has the wonderful habit of sometimes returning the whole message for each
of it's customers,so I get upwards of eight returns just from them. I'm
awfully glad I'm on broadband...

From: jns tropic
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Ascocenda's
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2005 00:40

I would suggest two possible reasons. One, the plant
has reached its own normal end. Not all orchids are
programed to live forever, some have a life span. I
had two large beds of semi-terete Vandas. One was a
red clone and one was a blue clone. Both were started
from compot size. Both grew well and flowered well.
But when the blue ones got to about 5 feet tall they
started to die off. Even if I took top cuttings they
died. After 6 years they were all gone. I ask a
local grower about them and he knew the problem and
said that they were short lived. The red ones are now
about 35 years old.
The second is a possible virus load. Here in south
Florida we grow most of our plants in the open and
thrips are a fact of life. Along with other sucking
insects are plants will pick up a virus or two. After
a while some plants will lose vigor due to a virus
load. Many times it will not show any virus effect
except a lack of vigor. This happens to my
Spathoglottis and once an Ascocenda. Back in the 60's
I had a small flowered semi-terete Ascocends that was
in constant bloom for two or three years. Then it
stopped blooming but still grew very well. I trashed
the plant. I would recommend getting rid of the
nonproductive plant. No plant in my collection is
holy.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Ascocenda.
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2005 10:30

Mornin' 'JNS-Tropic' and where do you live in 'Sunny Florida' having visited there a few times.

I will give it one more season and then as you suggest.....out it goes, or I could always give it to one of our Orchid Society members. Who no doubt would bring it back the next year in full bloom.

From: aeranthes2
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: photos
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2005 11:20

I have Broadband too Tricia so have no problems with downloading large files but if our members have a modem they seem to take for ever. I'm dealing with photos frequently so if anyone isn't sure how to reduce them in size and to make them smaller without losing quality I'm happy to let you know what I do. I have 3 programs for resizing photos so you do need to have some kind of photographic software to do this satisfactorily. Jean

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Phot sizes.
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2005 12:05

Regarding photo sizes. I have just learnt another valuable piece of information regarding photo sizes.

Now we all know how HUGE the amount of information that there is imbedded on our computers, but just this morning I learnt something new.

I was going to rjr@bobscomp.com: a couple of photos to someone, and he suggested that my photos should be 550 pixels wide!!!!!!!!!

This of course was something that I had never experienced before, so I went into CorelDraw which I use and asked about 'Size'.

Of course it said do this then that etc. But what surprised me was the fact that there were several measurements, for example:

Inches millimetres picas points centimetres pixels ciceros and didots. Most of which were completely new to me.

Thing is, if we all have the opportunity to resize our photos/pictures, then why do we not all keep to a stated size.

And Tricia, if you have suggested this before and I have missed the boat.........blame it on my scatter brained character.

From: Brenda Beale BB
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Ascosenda
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2005 14:10

I can't comment on your problem as it hasn't happened to me (yet) mine all are doing well and get a little better each year, especially the species Ascocentrums, I had seven spikes on A.miniatum last year . Hope one of the group can advise.
Brenda

From: "WOOD, Michael (WG)"
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Ascocenda's
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2005 08:40

It's possibly this "global dimming" problem that was highlighted on a TV
programme at the weekend ??

From: P G Hieke
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Ascocenda
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2005 14:35

Hi Rocky,
Maybe I will 'bake' it this summer along with the hard leaved Dendrobes and see
what happens.

If you have enough light then it will be fine. Ascocendas should have 30 000 -
40 000 Lux
light to grow and flower well.
Any plant that has too little light will grow taller. It tries to get nearer to
the light.
Any plant that has too much light will grow shorter. It tries to hide from the
light.

From: aeranthes2
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: ascodendas
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2005 14:45

Rocky I had a non orchid plant that reverted from having yellow flowers to
the pink flowers of one parent!! Apparently in that case it was I hadn't
kept the temperature high enough. I'm not suggesting it is the temp in your
case as it did so well for years but it just shows that any slight change
could make a difference in a plant's growth habit. - Jean

phal StationeryI have noticed that the roots on my Vanda's get green (alga)
and then start to decline, should I be using an algaecide on my Vanda roots?

I water them every day, and they grow new roots and flower regularly
Robert J. Richter

From: "WOOD, Michael (WG)"
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Dendrobium Falcorostrum
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2005 16:35

Help ! can anyone help with growing info for the above ? I think it's of
Australian in origin ..... my plant just seems to be sitting there ......
although it does look healthy ! there's been little or no movement for over
a year .....

I have it on my sittingroom windowsill .... sitting on clay pellets in water
.... it's a N.E. facing window so gets decent light but no midday sun ......
temp is around 23 deg during the day ....... 18 deg at night .......

the growing medium is loose bark .... and I water once a week with
fertiliser every second water .....

From: Ann
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Dendrobium Falcorostrum
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2005 10:15

Hi Michael
Hope this is some help to you ?
Difficulties are sometimes experienced with Cultivation.
Fresh air,Lots of water, Medium Shade,also cool humid atmosphere
does not like high temperatures and westerly winds at low elevations Pref
ers
to be hung in an exposed, but shady, position( it needs room to
breathe ) Needs slightly richer mix than most Australian dendrobiums if
grown on slab frequent weak fertilizing no need to withhold water during
winter months new growth starts late spring early summer
Minimum winter temperature of approximately 0deg C
This comes from notes in Dendrobium Orchids of Australia and are for
Australian condition Hope it help someway.I grow them in a green house te=
mp
up to 40 C and down to Zero and have had no trouble in the Southern
Highlands Sydney Australia.
Les.

From: Roy Lee
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Dendrobium Falcorostrum
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2005 11:05

Michael, your Den falcorostrum is an Australian
Native.
This plant grows best for most people here 'outside'
It will grow in warm conditions but actually requires
a long cold snap in winter for it to flower at its
best. Some falcs' are not the best of growers or
flowers at the best of times. I would not sit t on
that water tray you have, doesn't like wet feet. Some
falcs will go into a no-growth state at times, it can
be correct by changing growing temps/areas. A repot
can help as well. The plant likes plenty of light
without burning as well. Hold off the feed till growth
appears, keep on the dry side of moist in the mix,
again till growth starts.
ROY

From: dennis READ
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Dendrobium Falcorostrum
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2005 11:20

Micheal, I grew mine in a greenhouse that went down to below 10c (50F) in winter and it grew and flowered profusely.
I believe it is Austrlian and grows at about 3000 feet on the sides of mountains in a lot of light. Isuggest yours is too hot and not enough light.Regards

From: francis quesada pallares
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Should I repot now or should I wait?
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2005 21:00

Last April I bought an oncidium, after the flowers had
died, it gave me a new growth, but it was never
repotted. Now a new spile is growing on that growth,
and I can already see a tiny new growth bulging on the
side of it. The new roots (all from last year's
growth) are between one inch and an inch and a half.
The top layer of compost looks very tatty and surely
it could do with new compost. But should I wait until
spring or can I repot now with no negative
consequences to the spike?

I'd be glad with any advice, as my last repotting
experience ended up with a totally dead dendrobium
(wrong time to repot).

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Phot sizes.
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2005 22:25

> Regarding photo sizes. I have just learnt another valuable piece of
> information regarding photo sizes.

> Now we all know how HUGE the amount of information that there is imbedded
> on our computers, but just this morning I learnt something new.

> I was going to rjr@bobscomp.com: a couple of photos to someone, and he suggested
> that my photos should be 550 pixels wide!!!!!!!!!

> This of course was something that I had never experienced before, so I
> went into CorelDraw which I use and asked about 'Size'.

> Of course it said do this then that etc. But what surprised me was the
> fact that there were several measurements, for example:

> Inches millimetres picas points centimetres pixels ciceros and
> didots. Most of which were completely new to me.

> Thing is, if we all have the opportunity to resize our photos/pictures,
> then why do we not all keep to a stated size.

> And Tricia, if you have suggested this before and I have missed the
> boat.........blame it on my scatter brained character.

I have in the past suggested 400 pixels wide and 72 dpi, which I think is
best if you are sending more than one photo. Up to 600 pixels wide is fine
for just one.

To make it more certain that everyone will see your photos it helps to
break it down to one per message instead of sending several in one hit
because some ISPs and some subscribers set a limit on the size of
individual messages.

From: geoffrey hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] British Wild Orchids.
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2005 22:40

I have only looked for theem when actually in flower , and am surprised
to see that they are growing so early. They are presumably deciduous?
BTW as a fellow New Forester ( opposite edge to you Roger ) I would be
interested to have a map reference ?
Geoff
On 14 Jan 2005, at 13:15, Roger Grier wrote:

> Had a trip out into the New Forest this afternoon. Quite cold and
> overcast, but very rewarding.
>
> Found many Bee Orchids, and also many Autumn Ladies Tresses.
>
> At one location, found them within a few feet of each other.
>
> What do you think? Any questions?
>
> Rocky.

From: geoffrey hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: and another thing...(lost link to WOC dealers). Broadband recommendations.
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2005 22:40

If anyone wants a recommendation for a Broadband supplier , I use
UKOnline.co.uk. Tech support on an 0845 number is 24 hours a day. And
the wireless router supplied with the package failed late on Saturday ,
and a replacement arrived today (Tuesday) afternoon by courier - no
charge of course. I think that is first class.
Geoff

From: geoffrey hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Hybrids
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 00:55

How nice to hear from you Brenda. Am I right in thinking that Ken used
to do that wonderful "raising orchids from seed" talk ? I can still
laugh when I think of it - his timing was superb , absolutely in the
Morcombe ( of Morcombe and Wise) class. I hope he still flourishes, and
if so please pass him my great regards.
Geoff
On 15 Jan 2005, at 06:27, Brenda Beale BB wrote:

> Hi All
> Quite a few years ago Ken & I raised orchids from seed, mainly
> Cattleyas as I collected Cattleya species as my special liking. Along
> the way I also acquired a few hybrids and made a few crosses with both
> these and the speicies. Here are some that have bloomed just recently.
>

From: geoffrey hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Den Victoria-Reginae x Bullenianum
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 01:05

An interesting question , then, How warm is warm ? it is unusual for me
to ask for advice - am more usually giving it ( hope its good advice -
I try to keep quiet if I know nothing , but 40 years of being a
professional advisor bring an almost automatic - pavlovian - response
of opening my mouth when asked...)....( and making a mental note
...start a charging sheet " to advising as requested...£.....but that
was in the days when I worked...)

I ask since my new heating system is being installed next week, and
according to theory I shall be able to dial in what I want . Since I am
growing paphs, phals, cattleyas , warm growing oncidiniae hybrids,
should I set 17, 18,20 ? and what increase for day temperatures - 5 ?

From: geoffrey hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Ascocenda's
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 01:15

I do not think that the plant can have changed ; its genes are fairly
constant. What has changed is any or more than one of three things. 1.
Culture. 2 The compost - even if its the same compost , that may have
changed in the interval. 3. The plant had got older.

Aging is rarely considered with orchids, but it happens. Consider
phallys - the flower quality changes dramatically as they pass a
certain point , and the flower number too.

If you look at plants in the wild, there are some species where you
NEVER see an old plant . You never see a large specimen , and other
species where you never see a young plant , only plants where you find
"few" plants, but all are giant specimens - e.g. one Eria I saw in
Thailand , where the average size of a plant was 10 feet across with
maybe thousands , certainly hundreds, of flowering growths . But
elsewhere , Phal.mannii ( or a closely similar one ) I never saw more
than a single growth of 4 or 5 leaves.

> Hi Brenda and Geoff, and anyone else who grows Ascendas.
>
> As we are on the subject of Ascocendas, here is my question.
>
> About thirteen years ago I purchased an Ascocenda from Carter & Holmes
> in Carolina, USA.
>
> It was named Ascocenda Summer Delight 'Susan', and boy oh boy, did it
> do well for me. Bloomed every year, sometimes less than a year, until
> it suddenly stopped.
>
> Now I did ask this question some months ago but did not get much
> information.
>
> Thing is, it now still grows but is a shadow of its former self. It
> appears to have grown leaner and does not appear to look like the
> original plant. Question is, regarding many of our garden and
> greenhouse plants, has it perhaps tended to lean towards one of its
> parents?
>
> For the last couple of years it has tended to grow taller and leaner.
>
> Maybe I will 'bake' it this summer along with the hard leaved
> Dendrobes and see what happens.
>
> Any comments would be interesting to read.
>
> Rocky.

From: geoffrey hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Ascocenda's
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 01:20

We all go to flower shows, see things we like, and say " I haven't got
room for it".

Follow this advice , and your collection will be far better, and you
always have room for a newcomer.
Geoff

From: "WOOD, Michael (WG)"
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Dendrobium Falcorostrum
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 08:50

i suspect my conditions are too warm ..... and not enough air flow ......
don't worry - the water tray is for humidity ! no wet feet there .....
i will try moving it to my cool room where there is certainly more airflow
and night temps fall to just above zero .......

From: "WOOD, Michael (WG)"
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Dendrobium Falcorostrum
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 10:35

From: aeranthes2
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Alex Koo
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 10:45

I've just been looking at the photographs of Alex again Chong-Yee! He is such a lovely baby no wonder you all look so happy! It was a real treat to be able to see so many lovely photographs of him and I do agree with others who have said that he looks very much like you! I hadn't realized that on getting to the last thumbprint on the first page and viewing Alex I could then click the arrow at the top and see many more! This will be a wonderful record of his progress. In case anyone hasn't seen the newest member of the Koo family then have a look here: http://www.alexkhoo.com/ - Congrats again Chong-Yee and Irene. Jean

From: dennis READ
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Den Victoria-Reginae x Bullenianum
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 13:20

This is like teaching Grandpa to suck eggs but I think one of the best books written on growing orchids at home is by Rebbeca Tyson Northern (just deceased). Her ranges were Cool-50/55, Intermediate-55/60, Warm-60/65 as a min. winter night temperature with a rise of 10 degrees in the day. (10/13, 13/15, 15/18C). If you setyour stat at the mid point you will be able to locate warmer and cooler areas in your greenhouse. regards

From: geoffrey hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Fwd: Vanda's
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 13:30

Algaecide on live plants sounds a bit too drastic for me ! Surely its
not unnatural for algae to grow on roots ?
Geoff

Robert J. Richter wrote:
> phal StationeryI have noticed that the roots on my Vanda's get green
> (alga) and then start to decline, should I be using an algaecide on my
> Vanda roots?
>
> I water them every day, and they grow new roots and flower regularly
> Robert J. Richter

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Francis, Oncidium
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 14:40

I would re-pot your Oncidium as soon as you like. I would recommend that you sieve whatever compost you choose to use to get rid of any dust and very small particles. You could even fill the pot up to half way with broken pieces of clay flower pot. Then use your compost to fill the top half.

If your Oncidium is one of those that grows a new bulb a little higher than the last one, then just sink the back bulb a little. With a good open compost the last bulb should not rot, in fact, being a little deeper in the compost it may send up a new shoot/growth, and as the compost is good and clean it will make its way to the surface. Before long you will have two plants.

Try to keep the base of the newest bulb just level, or just above the rim of the pot. Then it will not be buried in the compost as we sometimes see.

From: Olga Caussade
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] and another thing...(lost link to WOC dealers). Broadband recommendations.
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 14:50

Very important please, Saigon Orchids could not obtain Cites from Viet-Nam's gouvernement, so he will not be present at the WOC.

From: Brenda Beale BB
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Ken
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 14:50

Hi Geoff,
Yes it is the same Ken, we no longer run the seedling business but we did enjoy raising from seed, I will pass your message on to him.
Brenda

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Wild Orchids.
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 15:50

I must say that I had a chuckle at your remark about a 'Fellow New Forester'.....now listen here mush!

Geoff, when you ask about them growing so early, they actually start growing their new set of leaves in our Autumn and then just sit there all through the Winter. There are about six species that do that. In our neck of the woods you can expect to find:- Early Spider Orchid. Green Veined Orchid. Autumn Ladies Tresses. Bee Orchid. Pyramidal Orchid. Man Orchid. Lizard Orchid. Late Spider.

I have slides of them all in their 'Winter Plumage', and when they are in bloom their leaves are either completely gone or almost gone.

There is someone who tells of the Bee Orchid in flower, and tells the observer to look at the frost damaged leaves........what a complete 'Plonker'. Wrong information is no help whatsoever to people who enjoy this wonderful hobby of studying the British Wild Orchids. The leaves are not frost damaged, they are just on their last legs.

One other item that I do not agree with and has been checked by myself and my good friend from Frome in Somerset is the 'theory' that as all other members of the Genus Ophrys grow a new set of leaves in the Autumn, so also does the Fly Orchid.......but it don't. The Fly Orchid leaves come up through the soil in the Spring, same as other orchids.

As to map references Geoff, being an old New Forest 'Mush', they aint much use when trying to tell someone whereto find this and that. Better I give you some landmarks, or better still a map. I am sure you will know how to get there, but if not let me know.

In that one 'area' the following orchids can be found: Autumn Ladies Tresses, Bee, Early Marsh, Common Marsh, Common Spotted, Heath Spotted, A Helleborine, Lesser Butterfly. Plus some crazy/super/mindboggling hybrids.

From: P G Hieke
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] and another thing...(lost link to WOC dealers). Broadband recommendations.
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 18:15

From: Beccy Holmes
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Bletilla
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 18:20

I have finally splashed out on "Orchids for Everyone" which was recommended
to me several years ago. However, I was disappointed to find that my new
babies:

aren't mentioned. Please could anyone tell me if they require similar
conditions to anything else?

From: John Stanley
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Phot sizes.
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 02:40

Hi Folks and especially Roger,
Regarding the perennial photo-sizing for email issue;
It is a bit difficult to lay down any guidelines regarding the sizing of
images for emails because some systems can cope with more information at a
gulp than is the case with others. However, in spite of the various
parameters, probably the best guide is pixel numbers.

A file of a given pixel size can be reduced in linear dimensions
(inches/cms) without affecting the amount of info (size) conveyed if simply
done with the magnifier icon. However, sizing by pixels will limit the
amount of info sent (and hence the real file size as far as the computer is
concerned). Sizing by linear dimension will often assume a given number of
pixels per inch/cm but why complicate the issue?

If there is a guide at all, simply try reducing a COPY of your file to the
minimum at which the detail in the image can still be seen. Bearing in mind
that most files are sent to be viewed on a computer monitor ( and not
printed to a great size), it is seldom necessary to have images greater than
800X600 pixels and often, a lesser resolution (say 600X400) is adequate.
Similarly, the file size can be reduced by lowering the number of colours
used but that is trickier.

I have previously recommended Irfanview (which is freeware and freely
downloadable) but the chances are that if you have a digital comera or a
scanner and can send emailed photos then you are likely to have a program to
reduce the size ( CorelDraw, Adobe Photoshop, PaintShopPro etc).

A simple way to discover the size is to RIGHT-CLICK on the file name and
then LEFT CLICK on the bottom line labelled PROPERTIES. Look at the file
size which will be given in Kilobytes or Megabytes. You can perform this
simple check on files you receive at a normal email pace (files that are too
big take 'forever' to download). Using these as a guide, check the file
sizes of pictures you might intend to send out. Note also that programs
often give you the option of sizing as a percetage of the original size and
there is usually a check-box labelled 'aspect ratio' so that if you reduce
the width then the height will automatically adjust in proportion.

Provided you experiment on a copy of any precious file/photo, then it
doesn't matter if you learn by errors. There's no real mystery about the
process but then it is easy to say that if one gets a little familiar with
it.

Lastly; it may be helpful to 'play' about discovering the size(s) of images
commonly shown on the web. Right click on 'em and check their properties.
You may be amazed at how good some very low resolution (small pixel count)
files look! On the other hand, when acquiring a digital camera, a modest
number of pixels (3 million up=3 megapixels up) will allow you to crop parts
of images and/or print to a significant size without revealing the blocky
squares that are the pixels.

Hope this helps. Snag is that it's the old story; what you (think you) know
is easy but what you don't know is difficult and confusing.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Bletilla's.
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 13:35

All are normally grown as cool to cold, meaning that often people grow them outdoors in the ground with their alpines. I dare say that in areas where there are severe frost then they grow them in pots stood in a cold frame for the winter.

Mine are in pots, top third of the bulb/corm is above the surface. The pots stand outdoors at the side of the greenhouse, between it and a six foot high wall. Gives a bit of shelter, but in Southern England I doubt it is needed.

Compost. Quite a wide variety of composts are used from garden soil to more open mixes.

It is advised in most books that they do not like being disturbed too much. So if you are growing them in pots, then choose a fairly large pot for them, and if they get too big for the pot, just lift the whole mass out and drop into a larger one.

From: jns tropic
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Phot sizes.
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 14:50

A new photo editor is Googles Picasa. It is free and can be downloaded at: www.picasa.com . I have Photoshop CS and Corel Draw Graphics Suite 11 and both are expensive. I use GIMP 2 on both linux and windows, it's free. Today I down loaded Picasa and it shows a lot of promise. When I,m worried about the file size I usually make my jepg 350 pixels across.

From: francis quesada pallares
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Francis, Oncidium
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 16:55

From: edeckert
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Bamboo Orchid
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 17:50

I have been 'lurking' out there for some time now and just got up the nerve
to make my first post. I must say that I have enjoyed following the
various threads. I live in North Carolina (USA) and keep a few orchids on
the lowest level of my house, in a window facing to the south and east.
Temperatures in the room tend to stay cool, about 60f night to 75f day.

I do have a question. I recently purchased a pair of "bulbs" for Bamboo
Orchids. As far as I can tell, they are alive, and still in their plastic
bag packaging. It sounds like they are terrestrial orchids and need a
light soil. I thought about getting some good compost and mixing it with
potting soil, along with perhaps some additional perlite or vermiculite.
Good choice? Instructions accompanying the bulbs are not the best, but it
sounds like I plant the bulb so that the residual stalk is just about all
that is above surface. I imagine that all new growth will come up from the
bulb and that the old stalk is dead.

Hopefully someone has experience with these orchids, and has some helpful
hints that they can offer.

From: geoffrey hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: and another thing...(lost link to WOC dealers). Broadband recommendations.
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 22:00

From: geoffrey hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Phot sizes.
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 22:15

If your browser screen is 800 x 600 ( to check go to Settings, Display,
appearance ) and if your usual e-mailer is set so that the tool bars
and message occupy half your screen, then a picture measuring no more
than 300 pixels high and no more than 800 pixels wide can be shown in
entirety without your computer having to do any clever tricks - which
take time
And the pic will be handled fairly easily by any old browser and e-mail
system.
Remember that even if you have a 19 inch screen set to 1200 x 1024 and
a broadband connection , not all members will be so lucky , and we
ought to be thinking of them.too,

Incidentally for my lectures with a digital projector , I make all pics
a max of 1024 wide and 768 deep - which is the dimensions of the screen
of the lap-top I use to control the projector, and save in JPG with a
degree of compression which reduces each file to a max of 100kb. And
they look good on a 6 foot screen - as I think some of you can
testify.You do not need a large file for any purpose except making
large paper prints or double page spreads in fine art books . Those of
you who have seen my orchid book may be interested to know that some of
the pics were made with a 3 Mpx digicam , and others were from 76 Mb
drum scans from excellent 35mm slides - and if you pick out which is
which , I'll bet you get some wrong.

From: geoffrey hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Wild Orchids.
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 22:25

Hi Roger. How interesting. I think this is quite different from the
habit on the high cotswolds ( 1000 feet for example) which are that
much colder
As to map references, only today I heard about a Natural History
Society very local - at Ringwood,- 5 miles away - which I shall be
joining next week , so I expect to be able to tap into some even more
local knowledge .
regards.
ps do you have to live here a 100 years before you can call yourself a
local ?
Geoff

From: geoffrey hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Bletilla
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 22:30

I used to grow all three in a cold house heated only to exclude frost -
where I also grew some alpine types like pleione. They seemed to
thrive.
I think the reason they are not discussed is that they may not like the
kind of conditions which most subtropical orchids like - they are
nearer alpines .
And alpinists and Orchidists do not often mix ! ( I was a rare
exception perhaps) . Even so , when I had to cut down to a single
greenhouse, I elected a warm/intermediate one : not a cold one.
Geoff

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Slide scanners etc.
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 09:20

Nice to hear that you are going to join the Ringwood Natural History Group. I'm sure they must have a mass of information.

As to a time scale for being called a local, well, your estimation of 100 years!!! I'm not that old mush, ha, ha. Anyhow I am absolutely sure that you and your wife will soon know how lucky you are to live in this area.

Your information regarding the photo sizing is very useful thanks, but I do have one question.

I have hundreds of slides, and some of them I want to 'convert' 'store' on to my computer, then maybe on to a CD etc. I do have a very nice scanner but I do not want to buy another scanner. I have been told that I can buy a slide copier that will 'fix' to my digital Canon PowerShot A 20 with the necessary rings/tubes etc. It costs about £70. Now being a son of a Scotsman that makes me shudder and one of my friends is trying to make up one himself.

If you do not want to bore our members to death, then you can always rjr@bobscomp.com: me direct.

From: John Stanley
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Phot sizes and making Geoff rich.
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 09:30

Hi Geoff,
Your simplification is fine for those who aren't nervous about setting
screen size etc., but in my experience there are some very capable folks who
are quite nervous at the prospect of digging deep (as they see it) into the
settings of their computer. I suspect the problems with image file sizes are
to do with those of our group who are very capable orchid growers but who
may be hanging on by their finger nails when it comes to their PC. However,
I agree with what you suggest but suspect that anyone happy about resetting
their screen size will be all too aware of file sizes and resolution -
that's the Catch-22!

Another topic; can you give us all the details of your book? Collectively we
might make you a very small percentage of a million on the royalties.

From: MARK GRIFFITHS
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Bletilla
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 10:00

Hi, I'm also one of the rare breed having come from the alpine world. B.striata will grow outside or in a pot, very easy. B.ochracea grew well but was less keen to flower. If I remember the "rules" for growing them..which of course might be totally wrong..is that they prefer alkaline loam based mixes, don't like to be repotted and when you do you repot just before they flower (bizarre!).

From: Jon Loose
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Bamboo Orchid
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 10:50

Origin: Extends from India throughout Asia and across the Pacific Islands
to Java. Found in Hawaii.

It should be treated as intermediate to warm. Easy to grow, it is quite
invasive in some climates and is banned from import to Arizona.

A. graminifolia is a large terrestrial plant with erect stems that are
1.5-2.5 cm tall and up to 1.5 cm in diameter. The leaves are borne in two
ranks and are narrowly oblong and grass-like, 12-30 cm long and 1.6-2.5 cm
across.

The simple, terminal inflorescence may be branched and is 15-30 cm long. The
large cattleya-like flowers are purple-red, flesh-coloured or white and are
up to 10 cm across. The lip is darker than the sepals and petals, often
veined darker purple and has a yellow to orange-yellow patch at the base.

The short-lived, scented flowers last for about 3 days and there are usually
several open at a time.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Bamboo orchid.
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 11:40

First of all can we please establish exactly which orchid you have, and then we can give you as much help as possible.

I have some very good cultivation instructions in some of my books, so just let us know.

From: Mike Creswell
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Identify ??
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 12:15

From: Thomas Hillson
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Slide scanners etc.
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 16:15

Do a Google Search for slide copiers, you will
find lots of them varying from a few Dollars to
several Hundred. It depends on the features you
want, and the type of digital camera you have.
These all work to do a good job of converting a
slide to digital.

To do an excellent job you need to invest in a
slide scanner, even an inexpensive slide scanner
is better than one of these devices.

I have tried it both ways and I have a slide
scanner. I still take slides and negatives and
want to digitize them. I have not gone 100%
digital yet. I have spent to much of my life
based in a film world.

From: aeranthes2
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Bletilla Striata
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 16:15

I have had these orchids for many years in our front rockery and they grow and flower each year. They are sheltered by other surrounding plants and a wall at the back. The temp drops below freezing at times but not that far below and it causes no problems with the orchids. I don't have the other mentioned so have no experience of them. Jean

From: francis quesada pallares
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Identify ??
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 17:05

It is very similar (if not identical) to mine. but it
could be some other Dendrobium. I'm sure someone will
come up with an answer.

From: Ron Bower
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Phot sizes and making Geoff rich.
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 19:20

Yes indeed and I am one of them. I only have to look at my PC to upset it. I
have a 9 years old Mac 5500 and it never even flickers, as the saying
goes.Never had a fault or required service. My PC is a top of the range
Sony. 2 years old and nothing but trouble. The service man is a frequent
visitor. It's cost me a arm & a leg! I am going to buy one of the new Mini
Macs I have infact ordered it.
What a incredible picture from Mike.Did that Yellow and red flowered plant
which to me looks like a Dendrobnium but I am not very knowlegible in that
field. Did it actually grow and flower in that glass container, in water? I
await with baited breath for the learned members comments....... I have
already contributed to Geoff's wealth, and very good it is, the book I mean.
Some cracking pictures. Can any one recommend a good PH metre and a supplier
in the UK.? Ronbow

> Hi Geoff,
> Your simplification is fine for those who aren't nervous about setting
> screen size etc., but in my experience there are some very capable folks
> who are quite nervous at the prospect of digging deep (as they see it)
> into the settings of their computer....

From: geoffrey hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Slide scanners etc.
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 22:10

I think it may be of some interest to others . Slide copying by using
the camera to take a close-up of the slide is an old technique , and in
the days of celluloid film the problem was that some ( usually much)
degradation occurred . The colours were untrue, and the contrast was
awful ( too high).

In theory at least , given the adjustments so easily made on the
computer, it ought to work much better with a digital camera.. I have
not tried it

I once went on a course at Nikon and got to handle their scanner -
which at that time sold for much more than I wanted to pay , but learnt
about adjusting gamma etc . Then I bought a much cheaper Minolta
scanner ( a slide scanner mind you , not a print scanner with a
so-called adaptor ) but which allowed gamma adjustment amongst other
factors ; and that is what I use to produce quite good digital images
from my old slides.
The very high volume drum scans are of course done professionally and
can be got for about 50 pence each - if sufficient are wanted - buy
probably £10 or more if you only want one slide scanned.
Geoff

From: geoffrey hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Phot sizes and making Geoff rich.
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 22:15

A Beginners Guide to Orchids published 2003 by D & S Books Ltd ., ISBN
1-856058-31-X ( The US edition is identical but with a different
publishers name and a different ISBN.

The Handbook of Digital Photography published by Silverdale Books 2004.
ISBN 1-856058-36-0

If in difficulty e-mail enquiries@dsbooks.fsnet.co.uk ( for both) on
d - I would like to encourage them to ask for a second edition ,
revised by the author for a further free (!) ..........and if still
in difficulty ask me

BTW I had never realised before that the ISBN number might be the
publisher and or author first - since both bare the same here !

To: geoffrey hands
From: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Identify ??
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 22:20

It is a dendrobium hybrid , and many different names could apply.
Geoff
On 21 Jan 2005, at 07:18, Mike Creswell wrote:

MONTH	DATE	DATE	DATE	DATE	MONTH	DATE	DATE	DATE	DATE
January	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31	February	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-28
March	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31	April	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-30
May	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31	June	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-30
July	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31	August	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31
September	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-30	October	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31
November	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-30	December	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31