March 22-31 2005 mailing list messages

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From: aeranthes2
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: pots
Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2005 09:50

Luis I think it all depends on which type of Oncidium you have. Some of them can grow into quite large plants and would be perhaps to large for anything except a gian basket. If you have one of the smaller types it should be fine. You need to know what size it is likely to grow to eventually. My feeling is that, although I love terracotta pots, you would be making quite a bit of extra work for yourself and they do dry out much quicker than the plastic pots. I think your orchids would adapt to any type of container it depends on what you want and how much time you have to give to them. Best of luck whatever you decide. - Jean

From: L de Leon
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Potting/Basketing of Oncidiums.
Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2005 11:10

They‹re the bigger oncidiums, it‹s grown to fill 7 in pots. The label says
Dancing Lady and says nothing about the Latin surname. I think I just got a
unanimous verdict when I wasn‹t expecting one. Once the flowers fall off,
(and they are taking their time) they move house to the terra cottas.

Roger: these dancing ladies I pretty much see often but there are smaller
flower varieties as well. I live in Melbourne.

Jean: I choose to use limited space so I can‹t have thousands, just
›squeeze“ as much beauty from my few orchids so I don‹t mind the extra work.
That‹s why the crusade against the plastic pots.

Suzy: Thanks for the idea, I‹ll look for a suitable basket AND bark raft.
Maybe one of those tree ferns that has a hole like a pot.

Now, I also acquired this Brassia Brachiata that has become big and the
aerial roots have taken over the joint. On closer inspection, they look like
lots of keikis that have grown bigger than the parents. The grower said
these guys flower around December so I have another 9 months to live in
hope.

Question: Should I separate the keikis and tell them it is time to move out
of the family home? Or should I let them hang around and help out for the
flowering season. If your answer is ›it depends“, pls also tell me what YOU
would do. I can‹t make decisions so I‹ll just count the votes.

Last one: The new D. Kingianum has a flower spike. What do I do with the
watering, it is still late summer over here. More? Less? None?

MmmmŶ maybe it‹s time to learn how to use the digital camera I acquired a
year ago.

From: suzy
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] RE: Potting/Basketing of Oncidiums.
Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2005 19:10

I have a large oncidium 'Dancings dolls', bright yellow flowers. you might
find that shortly after flowering it produces another flower spike as a
bonus. I intend to plant mine with a mossy pole so it can scramble up it.
They are my favourite orchids, common but so pretty.

From: Theta Sigma
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] RE: Fwd: Recognize this?
Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2005 19:20

>It's a Miltoniopsis hybrid. Could be any one of maybe severaL hundred.
>
>[snip]
>

From: Esther Koh
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] RE: Potting/Basketing of Oncidiums.
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 10:55

Since we are on the subject of Oncidiums, I have a question too. I have an
equitant Oncidium which has been steadily losing its leaves since I brought
it home a couple of months ago. There were 3 flower spikes but only a few
flowers opened before the rest of the buds dropped off. The leaves slowly
turn brown and can be pulled off easily. The rest of the leaves are dull
green and sharply folded with some wrinkles. I am not sure if I should water
more frequently or not. It sits next to a window where it gets bright
indirect sunlight in the morning.

From: Esther Koh
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] RE: Potting/Basketing of Oncidiums.
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 10:55

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] RE: Potting/Basketing of Oncidiums.
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 18:00

The equitants are a lovely group , but they are pigs to grow .
They are bred from twig epiphytes - which means that they don't just grow on
trees, they grow on twigs , where there is - obviously - no room for
surrounding mosses etc to hold water. But they all come from the one side of
the West Indian (etc) islands, where the and breeze - every evening - comes
in from the sea, cooling the holiday makers on the beach - but up in the
mountains where the orchids are, the breeze grows cooler, and the humid air
condenses - and mist bathes the twigs. The plants get pretty well soaked
every night, and then dry off as the sun rises to be bone dry all day.
If you can replicate that , you will grow them to perfection.

tips ; use a net pot to allow most rapid drying of the compost.
Use a coarse compost to allow extra rapid drainage - despite the slender
roots.
hang the pot up if you possibly can , and water by spraying.

From: Sharon Williams
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Den. Bangkok Blue
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 18:05

Hello all: If anyone has Wildcatt, could you please check on the species contributions for this hybrid for me? I need to know how to take care of it. It is currently in spike at 3' tall and is in a 5" clay pot with fine bark mix on the top at least (don't know what is under that). Does it like to be pot bound or should I upsize the pot when it finishes blooming (new spike just starting from another growth I think (hope). I have it in a filtered large west window at present with humidity ranging from 40-55%, supplemental lights, and temp from 17 to 24 at present. Is this sufficient?

From: Sharon Williams
To: Orchid Talk Digest
Subject: Re: Den. Kingianum
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 18:10

Hi Luis: I am interested to see that you have a Kingianum that is in spike at the end of the summer. I just got one and it is putting out kiekies like mad. The previous owner did not know about the dry cool rest required, so I have put mine in a south window where it gets cool at night in hopes that a bloom might form. But I thought it was a spring bloomer. Should this give me hope??? I am watering it now as it is growing kiekies, but should I stop to try to induce blooms instead?
Thanks
Sharon

From: suzy
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] RE: Potting/Basketing of Oncidiums.
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 18:25

how often are you watering your oncidium, and is it near a radiator? Are you
providing humidity?

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Equitant Oncidium
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 19:50

Before I give any judgement on your plant, I would like to ask you how it is growing. Is it in a pot, or maybe it is fixed to a piece of cork bark. If it is fixed to a piece of bark, does it have a wad of moss between the roots and the plant.

I had several of them about thirty years ago..........I have as yet not bothered to have another try with them.

From: suzy
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Terracotta orchid pots
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 19:50

i want to obtain some terracotta orchid pots in the uk and i just wondered
if anyone knows where to buy them. I am a keen amateur, just starting out.
I have limited space, I live in a terraced house with a small backyard and
plants have to fight for space with motorbikes. I am also an artist so i
like my orchids to look pretty and plastic pots don't do it for me. When
they flower i photograph and paint them, but they are mostly out of season
now,

Also is everyone aware of the Cambridge Orchid Society Orchid fayre being
held in Chilford Hall, Cambridge on the 2nd and 3rd of April?

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Luis's questions.
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 20:00

Dendrobium Kingianum. If it has new growths from some months ago, and they are still growing then still water and feed it, until the canes stop growing, then through your winter just a spray/mist to keep the canes from shrivelling.

Brassia brachiata..........I don't recall having seen a plant that makes that many keikis, so maybe as you say it is about time that you got to grips with the digital camera. Send us the photo and then we can give judgement, ha ha.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Pots. Plastic versus terra cotta/clay.
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 20:05

Now then my dear Jean, you mentioned that although you love terra cotta pots, they do dry out much quicker than plastic pots. Now you know what an analytical mind I have and that I can be a bit of a friendly rascal, so I say to you..........you have got it all wrong.

A plastic pot never gets wet..........it does not absorb moisture, so, the clay pot which does absorb moisture stays moist much longer.

I dare say that you meant to say that the COMPOST in the clay pot dries out quicker than the compost in a plastic pot.

So what!!!!! I never water a COMPOST, I water/supply moisture to the roots. And an orchids root system will absorb enough moisture to keep it happy for many days, even in the height of summer.

From: Orchids
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Den. Bangkok Blue
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 00:35

As for growing I live in Australia and climate is different so over to
someone in your area.

From: Esther Koh
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Equitant Oncidium
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 02:45

My equitant Oncidium is in a clay pot with charcoal chips (about 1 to 2 cm
long) as the potting medium.
The daily temperature here varies from 22 to 33 degrees.

From: Esther Koh
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] RE: Potting/Basketing of Oncidiums.
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 02:55

Our climate is warm and humid (I live in Singapore) so I do not have a
radiator.

From: Esther Koh
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] RE: Potting/Basketing of Oncidiums.
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 03:00

Thanks for the information on equitant Oncidiums which I found very useful.
I'll start spraying my plant every night.

From: L de Leon
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Fwd: Den. Kingianum
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 05:55

I‹m the one supposed to be asking the questions :-) I just recently managed
to spell dendrobium correctly.

I just bought the thing from a club sale and did not occur to me to ask the
grower. I‹m pretty sure it is a spike. Wait ’til I get my hands on that
digital camera.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: terracotta orchid pots
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 09:25

You asked about Terracotta 'Orchid Pots'. If you mean the special type pots with round holes in them, then I have to tell you that there aint no so item these days. They stopped making them yonks ago.

I do know of a small pottery which still has a few of them, but you would have to win the lottery to afford them. The bloke lives in cuckoo land.

Your best bet is to go to one of your local Garden Centres and look at the hundreds of terracotta pots that they have on display. Then, if you want to drill holes in them, just go and do it. Or cut slots in the side of them.

Some of the Italian pots have a slightly thinner wall and so are easier to drill.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Equitants
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 09:25

I'm so pleased that you also agree that they can be a pig to grow, but of course they can be so rewarding.

Perhaps I will have another go at them. Any idea who has the best supply of them now?

From: aeranthes2
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: pots
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 10:15

Ha, ha, Rocky! I stand corrected! It was the compost, of course, which dries out - not the pot! I would always use them if I didn't have so many orchids but I do find that using plastic pots I can leave them a bit longer without watering and that is a bonus:)
The problem doesn't arise with the ones I have in hydroponics. - Jean

From: aeranthes2
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: orchid pots
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 10:20

Suzy, I bought some from Ray Creek a couple of years ago. I'm not sure if he still stocks them but his details are:
Ray Creek,
7 Jacklin Lane,
Luddidngton,
Scunthorpe,
Nth. Lincs
DN17 4RB
Tel. 01724/798445
Fax. 01724/798864

Often his message machine is on if you 'phone but he is very good at ringing back so it's worth a try. Jean

From: francis quesada pallares
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Strange request for help!
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 10:55

I have spent the best of two hours creating a
genealogicla family tree for one of my phalaenopsis
hybrids (the first one I bought!). It is huge! And
some of the original crosses date back to the
beginings of the 1900's.

Now, the difficult part. I'm trying to collect
pictures of all the crosses involved, so I can see how
the flower shape, colour and size has evolved throught
the crosses. I've got the pics for the species
involved and some of the primary hybrids created, but
the net does not provide much help with the rest of
the pics I need, so I thought that maybe someone in
the group might help with the rest of pics (specially
thinking of the long time growers out there).

The first few pics I'd love to get are Phal.
Elizabethae, Phal. Regnier, Phal. Alger, Phal. grand
Condé, Phal. Gilles gratiot, Phal. Versailles and
Phal. Yoshino.

This is only the begining of a very long project that
I have in mind for some of my orchids, so any help
collecting the pictures would be very appreciated.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Esther's Equitant.
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 17:15

Sounds pretty good growing conditions to me, especially as many of your people grow in charcoal.

So that's where you live, Singapore. Well, as I always say [ready to make a hasty retreat, only joking] you people do not grow orchids.........they grow by themselves. Wonderful climate for growing anything, as long as it likes warmth. I'm green with envy.

Is Francis still at Mandi Orchid Garden? Is the little Orchid Garden still going on Sentosa Island?

From: Ronald Newstead
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: CITES again...
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 20:55

I have never been to Costa Rica but I have lived in or traveled to all the
S. American countries and I would be very surprised if it is any different
from Thailand where it is complicated to get an official permit to export
orchids but there are well known markets where you can buy wild orchids
quite obviously just stripped from their host trees very recently - and
everyone knows where the interesting ones are going!

Gosh golly, now Orchid Talk is starting to sound yahooish with this
CITES blather, much like the OGD! I can't speak for the goings-on for
the WOC, or the port inspectors in the U.K., but outside of
armchair-ville. . .

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Equitants
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 23:40

I do remember Ted Lloyd - he used to grow them in net pots , hanging up - he
used panels of square mesh arranged at right angles to the wall of his
greenhouse - so he got an enormous amount into an small greenhouse - this
was somewhere near Basingstoke as I remember it.
Nowadays I don't know anyone with a good range at all - I think Ted
imported flasks from Florida - but they sometimes appear on Trade stands,
and sometimes I buy them. But they are not long lived orchids, even in the
wild I think.
Geoff

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Strange request for help!
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 23:40

Francis, you are a real optimist. Or maybe you don't know what you ask .
Some of those hybrids almost go back before the days of photography , and
all of them before 35mm slides and colour photography. And anyway , many of
them are f airly variable, and you would never know which one was used as
the parent.
But good luck to you.

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Equitant oncidiums
Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2005 18:20

I have six of these little beauties, of varying vintage. Two were from
Ratcliffes, several years ago, in tiny clay pots with a bit of tree fern
fibre. One was from Wubben (at a London show) on bark and the others were
also from Ratcliffes, potted in their standard medium mix, but more
recently - around two years ago.

Jack Wubben told me to 'grow it like cacti' and not to spray the plant,
just dunk it in tepid water once a week. Thinking I knew better, I hung it
up with the others in my greenhouse along with other mounted plants and
sprayed the lot every day. This year, that one and the ones in the clay
pots started to lose leaves at an alarming rate whereas the ones which are
potted in medium bark mix are romping away.

When I examined the sickly ones thoroughly they were very damp, even
several hours after spraying. The ones in bark, which don't get watered
very often, don't feel damp at all. I have re-potted those I can in the
bark mix and am hoping they will improve. The mounted one has been moved to
another area so that it doesn't get soaked frequently.

I would urge caution when spraying these plants, especially in a humid
atmosphere where they can't dry out. It probably works better for
windowsill growing. The trick, for me at least, seems to be keep the leaves
dry and only water the roots - and sparingly at that...

That is what works for me, in my growing conditions. It may not work for
anyone else :-)

From: Sharon Williams
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Dend. again
Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2005 20:15

Hi Les and others: Thanks for the breeding info for my Den. Bangkok Blue, but this gets me no further along to find out what species (?) of den it is. Sorry but I am not sure what the correct terminology would be, but what I am after is: is it a den. aggregatum, nobile, phalenopsis, antennatum...etc? (I think that that is the species isn't it?) How does one go about finding the species of a hybrid as in Den Spellbound?
Thanks for the help, I am a relative newby (just coming up on my 1 year anniversary -but have spent literally months in books and the net), but I haven't gotten the naming thing sorted out yet!! Now if the hybrid is of 2 differing species, which it often seems to be, how does one know which species culture the plant would need. For example; a hybrid of Den. aggregatum (needs dry rest) with a Den Phalaenopsis or discolor (which doesn't need the dry rest) -how do you know whether to rest it or not? This is SO confusing!! Then add on to that, the fact that what works in England or Florida might not work in Calgary, greenhouse vs house culture, lights and windows etc, and it is no wonder that newbie orchidphiles eye' glaze over!
Thanks for your patience!
Sharon

From: Orchids
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Article
Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2005 00:15

Whilst looking for anything on Sarconopsis i came across a posting you made
on the 11th June 2001 regarding onopsis you were talking about a booklet
that you had read also in the post you were at the time checking Botanical
Language and the subject got your grey cell working and things were Double
Dutch hope this enlighting you on the posting i am talking about.

Now do you remember the Booklet you were reading as i am trying to grow
Sarconopsis and would like to read anything on them to help me understand
all i can about these Orchids ( Sarcochilus x Phaleonopsis )

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Dend. again
Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2005 10:30

There are several species involved ; whilst D.phalaenopsis is the type , if
it was just D.phalaenopsis x D.phalaenoposis , it would be called
D.phalaenopsis !
The whole large genus ( about a thousand species) is divided into about 7
(?) different sections, , and usually breeding is within a single section.
Likewise, most plants in a single section are fairly closely related to one
another and want the same kind of treatment.
The Dendrobium book I recommend for further info is "Dendrobiums, an
introduction to the species in Cultivation , by Sybella Schelpe and Joyce
Stewart ( sceptical Roger who has never heard (?) of Joyce Stewart , please
note ). Its not heavy going , nor is it expensive - in fact any decent
OrchidSociety library should have a copy . about 120 pages, originally
published by Orchid Sundries when it was run by Norman Hayward, which is not
the case any more. But they might still have a copy .
Geoff

From: Orchids
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Dend. again
Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2005 11:30

Valley King ( Mildred Kazumura(1949)x Phalaenopsis)Also you have Hawaii in
there too which also has Phalaenopsis )

Calvin Morioka(1953)which has superbiens also there is undulatum(Discolor) I
believe it is a soft cane and a Australian warm growing orchid cross.

I would keep it a little on the dry side in winter the Hawaii and another
Oahu(442infantry) makes me believe it has some softcane in it also Not
knowing the Plant itself i honestly only guessing at the moment.If you try
and bring any of these up on the Internet it might give you a better idea
but they are pretty old breeding as you can see from the year i have
supplied.

Found Bangkok Blue Photo on www.orchidwire.com bring up Genera page then D
when page shows look for Dendrobium then click hybrid which will show where
to look then click on the site where picture is and it will bring up site
and look for your picture .

From: dr chong-yee khoo
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Dend. again
Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2005 12:20

Your hybrid will have predominantly phalaenanthe and spathulata parantage - so
treat it as either (in fact, the culture of these two lowland sections is likely
to be very similar).

From: Esther Koh
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Esther's Equitant.
Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2005 14:25

Yes, it is nice not to have to worry about greenhouses. I have a Brassavola
which I keep outside my apartment and today I saw a new spike forming. I'm
not sure if it is B. nodosa or Little Star. Its flowers don't seem to have
much fragrance.

As for orchid gardens in Singapore, I have only been visiting the one in the
Botanic Gardens. Sentosa has undergone several make-overs and I don't recall
seeing an orchid garden the last time I went there. I have been meaning to
drop in to the Mandai orchid garden but still have not gotten round to it
yet.

From: Esther Koh
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Equitant oncidiums
Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2005 16:20

I had another good look and mine and noticed that the leaves are turning
yellow and then brown from the bases. Looks to me like water trapped in the
bases of the leaves has not been drying out fast enough. I have attached a
photo to show the condition. The 'plantlet' on the left looks rather ill,
but the other 2 seem to be relatively OK. I wonder whether the sharply
folded leaves of these are normal. Should they be more open?

From: aeranthes2
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: hydroponics
Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2005 23:55

I'm not very methodical about these things Ron. If things are tending not to
do well I use hydroculture/hydroponics/semi-hydroculture - whatever the
correct technical name is. I am growing 4 sarcochilus plants, several
cattleyas, several phalaenopsis, odonts and oncids and several others that
I'll have to check on tomorrow. They all tend to do better for me than other
methods as I find the watering more accurate using this method. There is
either water and feed in the bottom of the container which I just have to
top up or I have them in sealed pots and feed with a quarter of the capacity
of the pot when they need watering which I determine by have seramis guages
and they turn from blue to red when my orchids need watering. My sarcos were
just about expiring but are now flourishing, about twice the size they were
and I have one in spike so I am well pleased. Mind you not everything in the
garden is lovely! I have lost one or two miltonia and oncids but on the
whole it works well. - Jean

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Equitant oncidiums
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2005 00:40

The 'plantlet' on the left looks exactly like the sickly bits on my plants,
so I agree with your diagnosis. I would hope our plants will recover
provided water is kept away from the base of the remaining healthy leaves.
The sharply folded leaves are characteristic of these plants :-)

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Sarconopsis.
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2005 09:50

When you mentioned June 11th 2001 I thought, "Christ, that's yonks ago". However, even though I could not remember anything, I thought that one place where there must surely be the information that you wanted was in one of my books, and sure enough I did find some information. Just hope that it is what you want.

The book is: Growing Orchids [Book Three] Vandas, Dendrobiums and others.........by our old friend [departed] J. N. Rentoul.

From:
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Digest 2005 Volume 34
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2005 13:20

hello everyone, just a quick question , hopefully someone will be able to give me good newsrather than what im expecting. i have a very healthy vanda who has got plenty of roots and is slowly producing a new leaf at the moment, the worry for me is that recently i have noticed on a couple of the mature leaves that the ends are splitting by about 2 - 4 cm, the leaves are not borwn or yellow but just look a bit odd. hopefully this is jsut normal. many thanks in advance, mike

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Equitants.
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2005 16:00

Thanks for the photograph of your Oncidium equitant. Nothing like 'seeing is believing'.

With problem plants I always like to sit down and give them a few days thought. They have very thin roots, so I would assume that they will not store much moisture, unlike the 'giant' roots of Phalaenopsis/Vanda's etc.

This tells me that they must have a constant supply of moisture, and only enough to satisfy them. Also I look at them and their buddies sat on a branch of a large tree, their buddies being Bromeliads, which also have thin wiry roots. The roots being thin and wiry will attach themselves to the bark of their host. Being thin and wiry I do not see them tolerating any 'compost' around their thin roots as this would harm them.

So, what's the answer. Maybe grow them on a piece of Cork Tree bark or something similar that will not decompose.

Looking at your photo I would ask; would any sprayed water be 'robbed' by the clay pot and the charcoal?

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Split ends
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2005 18:15

Split ends of the leaves on Vandas..........I have had this happen on some of mine some years ago, and although it may be due to some type of minor stress, nothing else happened to the plant, and it still flowered well.

From: Orchids
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Sarconopsis.
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2005 23:50

I'm trying to find out as much as i can to be able to look after them as
best as possible nowhere do you seem able to find out much about these
lovely Orchids ?

As for the post i was talking about while i was searching for Sarconopsis on
Google it came up under "Week 24 June 2001 Mail List Messages"

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: digital cameras and macro shots
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 09:50

Herewith a selection of the first frames from my new Ricoh Caplio . All are
full frame shots ( no trimming - although obviously I have cut them down
from the 2.5 thousand pixels wide to a mere 150 wide). I used the macro
facility for most of these - shoots as close as 1cm in froint of the lens
( at wide angle) or 13cm (at tele). Auto focus even at these distances - the
cross hairs on the LCD screen turn from red to green when the focus is set.
Lots of other facilities too - 5million pixels , 4.8:1` zoom ( from 28mm
equivalent up to 135 mm) etc. Under £300 - I bought it with rechgargeable
batteries, plus spare setc, plus charger, plus case, plus 1Gb card ( good
for 500 pictures at the largest file size) all for about £330.
ENC1 = a white daisy ( argyranthemum ?) in the garden - about 2 inch
diameter
ENC2 = exrtreme close up of the same
ENC3 = portion of a single flower of a zygopetalum
ENC4 = more or less a single flower of what I call Odontogloissum
bictoniense concolor ( I don't like the term album and argue that it is not
even botanically correct , although widely used. I am aware that this was
moved to a different genus - Lemboglossum ? - but I am also aware that it
has been moved again , and I can't remember what it is supposed to be know ;
but since it is intra-fertile with odontoglossums and oncidiums ... see
footnote !
ENC 5 = a hybrid oncidium - Ballet "Sundance" x antthrocus "Everglades"
6ENC 6 = Oerstediella ( I have forgotten this lttle chaps name - when I
first grew it , it was called andendrobium , then an Epidendrum , and so
on... flowers about 15mm high.

Footnote - I came across a very good quotation - "our categories run into
difficulties, when we try to apply species names to what is actually an
evolutionary continuum" (Janet Moore, "An introduction to the
invertebrates" ) . How ture this is - and even more so , when we apply genus
names, when we are talking oif orchids

From: aeranthes2
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: sacronops and vandas
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 11:40

Rocky you are a fount of knowledge! I found the sarconopsis extracts
fascinating. I don't have any unfortunately - just several sarconopsis but I
am now well prepared if I ever acquire one. Your deductions seem to make
sense and seem spot on.
Mike - I have Vandas and my oldest approx. 15 years old has flowered every
year. It has a few split ends but still flourishes so I think maybe it
happens sometimes - unless our other members have an explanation:) - Jean

From: aeranthes
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: sarconopsis
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 16:20

Les, I hadn't heard of these until recently so am wondering if it is a really new hybrid. From Rock'ys article I am assuming it is. Jean

From: James H
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: ondontoglossium
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 18:00

i bought a ondonto and a brassia recently, both have 1bulb and one new
growth, the brassia came to me with more roots and in better health
and seems to be growing quickly already the new growth has matured and
now has a psudobulb, on the other hand the ondonto has done very
little growing and there are no new roots as of yet, the older growth
is getting shrivled and the leaves are beginning to turn yellow,
if anyone knows of a way to promote this orchid to grow roots so it
can live i would appreciate it greatly.
the ondonto was labeled ODONTOGLOSSUM ODM. BICTONIENSE X ODA.!!!
AM/AOS! and can be seen at
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4352746598
they are both planted in the same medium, coarse bark spagnem and perlite.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: My Eriopsis.
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 19:50

For many years, since I saw an Eriopsis in bloom at Bournemouth, I have always wanted to grow and flower this orchid. I purchased one at the 'London Show' some many years ago..........it was not much of a plant, and like many it just died a slow death, not that it was ever considered to be alive by me!!!

Then last year, or was it the year before, I purchased a nice plant at the Newbury Orchid Fayre. This nice clean looking healthy plant did put up a new growth, maybe ten inches tall.

Last week I had a good look at it, felt the lower portion of the new growth and was not happy with the 'soft' feel of it. I slight tug and it came away from the base. Oh well..........so what do I do now??? Guess I will not disturb it and hope that a new growth will be seen in a few weeks from now.

Question is, to all of you the world over, is there any special culture for this seemingly awkward plant.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re-potting of bulbous orchids.
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 20:10

I have been deep in thought for the past few weeks, and it is all to do with the re-potting of bulbous orchids. Those that have a good storage system for the dry periods that they go through. In fact, to tell you the truth, it is not so much the re-potting, but the TIME OF RE-POTTING.

For many years I have always re-potted in the Spring here in the U.K. And I guess most orchid growers have done the same for many years.

Now I am thinking that I/we have been wrong..........and why do I feel that way? Well, I was doing some re-potting a few weeks ago, and one of the plants that I was re-potting came into my possession fully potted and looking quite good. BUT, I did not know what the compost was that was surrounding the roots. Come the Spring of this year, I tipped it out of its pot, and what did I find? A rather large quantity of dead and rotten roots. The whole system far too wet. Now this plant had sat the Winter through in this horrible compost, and with a considerable mass of dead/rotten/overly damp roots.

To cut a long story short, I now firmly believe that IF a plant NEEDS to be re-potted because it has outgrown its pot, then the time to do it is in our U.K. AUTUMN. Then, if there are any dead/rotten roots, and any other items that need to removed then do it then. Give the 'doctored' plant, with just good clean roots a clean pot and compost and let it stand all through the Winter. Maybe an occasional spray now and then.

At least the owner can rest peacefully KNOWING that the plant has only healthy material resting until Spring arrives, and then, when the new growth starts, there will be no need to check its growth by re-potting. And of course the plant will fell better.

When we consider how the massive bulb growers [daffodils, tulips, etc] carry out their business, I think we could learn a thing or two. At least think on similar lines.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re-potting Phalaenopsis.
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 20:25

I have just been looking at [again I think?] an item on the Internet about re-potting a Phalaenopsis.

I am sure that the members of this group would always give A.1. advice about re-potting, especially as I am sure it would come from many of us.

Mention is made about cutting the flower spike off as close to the plant as possible to prevent it rotting!!!! I am absolutory sure that they will always go straw colour and very hard and dry..........like what mine do!

Mention is made also about trimming the long aerial roots [Christ knows why] and do not put them into the compost as they will not function. Quote:
Any overly long aerial roots should be trimmed back as they will not function in the potting medium and may rot and kill the plant.

From: francis quesada pallares
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] My Eriopsis.
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 21:55

I usually use Jay's orchid encyclopaedia on the net,
but I also found a site with some more information in
eriopsis. The link is below:
http://www.factopia.com/gardening-vol1/eriopsis.htm

From: "Wood, Michael \(WG\)"
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: names ....
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 08:45

Can some of you learned orchid people tell me the difference between Cambria and Burrageara ??

I received a gift of a Cambria "Nelly Isler" a couple of years ago - ( it is flowering for the first time as we speak )
some books call it Cambria - some Burrageara ....... is there a difference ??
It is a beautiful colour of crimson !

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Sarconopsis.
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 08:50

I just remembered, in that 'attachment' I included with the Sarconopsis item it stated that the hybrid was made about 1963.

I guess that the Registrar, our good friend Julian Shaw could always provide the correct and interesting information.

Does seem as if you are not the only person who is interested in growing them here in the U.K.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: James orchid.
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 09:10

Your hybrid Odontoglossum, Odontoglossum bictoniense x Oda. The 'Oda' means that the second part of your orchid is a cross between an Odontoglossum and a Cochlioda.

If I owned your orchid, this is what I would do, especially as there are no new roots showing as yet.

Take it out of the compost that it is in. Remove every last piece of compost. Gently was it in tepid slightly soapy water. Inspect it very carefully. Remove/cut off, all dead roots, and remove old husks with tweezers, being VERY CAREFUL not to harm any 'eyes' at the base of the old bulb. When you are pleased with it, re-pot it. Put it in a pot just big enough for the next bulb or two. For a compost, use what you like best, but MAKE SURE that it is free from dust and small particles.

Make sure that the orchid is standing quite firm and then put it in a nice warmish, not too bright a spot.

Sometimes, with these type of crosses, the new growth will be several inches tall before the roots start to emerge.

From: dr chong-yee khoo
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] My Eriopsis.
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 14:05

I believe the Eriopsis from Bournemouth is owned by our Secretary, Ken Griffith.
It was displayed at Newbury a couple of years ago, and won an award. Ken has a
warm greenhouse, quite shaded.

I'll also email you his email address separately, so you can get in touch with
him to ask him more specific cultural questions.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Eriopsis.
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 14:10

I did look at the web page, but my brain turned off as soon as I saw the words 'Sphagnum moss' and 'Peat'. There is a sure death mixture if ever I heard of one.

Some books state that Eriopsis biloba is terrestrial???? If so, what type of terrain?

My plant has two pseudobulbs, two leaves to each bulb. The leaves are quite stiff.

Maybe my winter temperature of a minimum of 60 Fahrenheit was too warm and that if this plant grows well this year then next winter I will drop the temperature to 50 Fahrenheit.

From: dennis READ
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: terrestrial orchids
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 17:45

For Olga Caussade. On the way to Dijon we stayed for three nights at a hoel south of Tours. The woodlands of the grounds are covered in wild cyclamen. I think the lawns are also covered in young orchids. The owners said some had bloomed last year. I am sure they would like some advice to protect and multiply their collection. I know very little about terrestrials but maybe you know somebody near who could help. If you do please contact off line and I'll give you the name.
In passing I picked up a very good book on orchids in a chateau book shop -' Le Monde Fascinant des Orchidees' published by l'ami des jardins.
I'm enjoying brushing up my schoolboy french of 60yrs ago.
Regards

From: L de Leon
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: S/H Pots
Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 08:45

From: Orchids
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Sarconopsis.
Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 09:05

Hello Roger
If you find out anymore to do with Sarcnopsis i would be very interested and
if i find anything will let Jean know also

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] names ....
Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 09:20

The name Cambria properly applies to one specific orchid hybrid , which is
actually in a man-made genus ( a multi-generic hybrid) called Vuylstekeara .
Vuylstekearas are hybrids between Odontoglossum, Cochlioda and Miltonia .

The word "Cambria" is not a synonym for the word "orchid" although it has
been used as such by some Dutch nurserymen.

The name Burrageara applies to another man-made genus, this time any hybrid
using (only ) Odontoglossum, Cochlioda, Miltonia and Oncidium.

The name Nelly Isler ( on its own) is meaningless. - or rather , it is the
name of one member of the family of Josef Isler, a Swiss orchidist who made
a lot of hybrids in very many genera !

Burrageara Nelly Isler is indeed a brilliant red orchid , varying a little
between solid colour and streaky red , depending on culture ( I think it is
culture and not variation of one plant to another )

But there is also a Paph ( slipper orchid) called Nelly Isler - hence the
need to use the full name in order for your reader/listener to know what you
are talking about.

Explanation - partly based on my deductions. When mass-production of
orchids took off in Holland, it was being done by very good growers but who
were not particularly orchidists . That is, they could grow anything, and
grow most things very well, but did not know much about orchids. Also, since
they were growing for the house-plant trade and not for the orchid hobbyist
, they were not interested in providing botanically correct name labels on
the plants . They don't do it for African Violets or Dwarf Chrysanthemums,
why should they do anything different for orchids ? The first orchid to be
mass produced was in fact V.Cambria "Plush" which they had labelled
"Cambria" . When they moved onto other orchids, they "looked for another
Cambria" , and they put a label on which would tell the housewife what the
plant is like, in terms which she would understand - hence they started
calling all orchids Cambria. .

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Michael's 'Cambria'.
Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 10:00

As far as I know, and I hope that I am still absolutely correct..........there 'aint no such beast as a 'CAMBRIA'.

A Burrageara was named after a man of surname BURRAGE, and it is a very nice hybrid.

A 'Cambria' appears to be a name that the Dutch masters at hybridising took on board to promote their sales of pretty looking hybrid orchids, and I don't blame them.

Years ago, Keith Andrew from Plush in Dorset, and another person from the Sussex/Kent I think, got together and produced a cracker of a hybrid called Vulstekeara 'Cambria' 'Plush'.

My answer may not be correct in nomenclature, but at least it tells you all about it.

From: francis quesada pallares
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Identification of Burragueara
Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 11:20

I bought this two plants and both came labelled as
Burragueara Stefan Isler, however, as you can see, the
flowers look very different.

I have a suspition that one of them might be Burr.
Living Fire, but I'm not sure.

From: Esther Koh
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Equitants.
Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 11:50

Thanks for your suggestion. Cork bark is not readily available here, so the
substitute would I guess be tree-fern slab. Unfortunately, I had a bad
experience with growing oncidiums on tree-fern slabs - they shrivelled up
and died. I'm watering only the roots now and will try that option if I
don't see any improvement.

From: dr chong-yee khoo
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] names ....
Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 11:55

Burrageara is the accepted and official nothogeneneric name for the combination
Odontoglossum x Cochlioda x Miltonia x Oncidium.

The Dutch use the informal name "Cambria" for this combination - probably coming
from Vuylstekeara Cambria (Burrageara is Vuylstekeara crossed with Oncidium).

From: Ron Bower
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] James orchid.
Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 11:55

Rocky,
Your gentle "was" it made me smile for you did, I think mean does it. My phals that I put into pebbles, on your recommendation are doing well and certainly relieve the worry of over watering.The only downside is the weight. I keep mine in trays of up to 18 plants depending on the size of the plant. I lift the front trays off the bench to get to the rear ones. I'll have muscles like a wrestler quite shortly.Regards to all, Ronbow.

Your hybrid Odontoglossum, Odontoglossum bictoniense x Oda. The 'Oda' means that the second part of your orchid is a cross between an Odontoglossum and a Cochlioda.

If I owned your orchid, this is what I would do, especially as there are no new roots showing as yet.

Take it out of the compost that it is in. Remove every last piece of compost. Gently was it in tepid slightly soapy water...

From: aeranthes2
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: sarconopsis
Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 16:15

Thanks Rocky. Amazing they have been about all that time! I suppose it must take about 10 years for a new hybrid to come down the production line to the buying public. I must keep my eyes open at the Shows I am going to this year.
I have a new more powerful computer which has arrived today so will be spending the rest of the day and tomorrow getting it installed, connected and hopefully working with a certain amount of zip! If you never hear from me again you'll know something is wrong with it or I'm lost in cyberspace! - Jean

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Sarconopsis.
Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 21:45

I should be much obliged if someone could send me the sarconopsis link in
full ( again) .

Explanation ; my dearly beloved had some trouble finding an e-mail sent to
her today ( a corruption in her Outlook Express , producing the curious
result of every ISP and address I have ever used ( and copied to her lap-top
and system )all appearing in her list of accounts - but not the current ISP
!
And that is quite a list , from Global, AOL, BT, Tiscali, Bigfoot and a few
others over the past 8 or 9 years. And then when I re-added the correct one
and downloaded,plus some fancy work on the wireless connection to my own
machine, some 1200 e-mails started to appear on her screen - I had gone for
as cup of tea, and only stopped them after several hundred had appeared and
been deleted , including most of the sequence about Sarcopsis , and all of
todays messages however many there were...
Who'd have a computer ,(?) ....... bring back my carrier pigeons....

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Tree Fern slab.
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 08:20

Pleased to hear that you also do not like Tree-fern slab..........neither do I. It is nothing like the bark that is on a growing tree. It will hold far too much moisture, for far too long a period and will also allow mould to grow on it. Nasty!!! And when it is broken into small pieces to use as a potting medium..........just hold a couple of pieces in your hand and crush it. Dust and fine particles pour from it.

From: MARK GRIFFITHS
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Sarconopsis.
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 11:00

Geoff, the problem with carrier pigeons is that the ones from Microsoft are all virused.

Geoffrey Hands wrote:
Who'd have a computer ,(?) ....... bring back my carrier pigeons....

From: aeranthes
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: webpage
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 16:15

The url of the webpage that Eric gave was missing the final m of .htm - when the url comes up in your brower just add the m and click 'go' then you will access the page - Jean

From: aeranthes
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: sarconopsis
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 16:15

Thank you Les - I'd appreciate that and I'll let all members know if I come across any - Jean

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Tree Fern slab.
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 17:35

Dick Warren - who has an enormous experience of orchids in the wild , has said that no orchid is ever found growing on tree fern in the wild, and how curious it is that people grow orchids on it , in cultivation . ( Of course the same could be said about orchids never growing in pots in the wild - not in plastic pots, nor in Rogers ceramic pots with hand crafted holes ...)
Actually Dick is wrong - I have seen catasetums - not in flower - (?) on tree ferns in Venezuela in the Gran Sabana.
But if your plants do not like the tree fern you have, then don't use it.
Maybe the problem is that there are many different products sold as tree fern , which differ enormously ; from the very soft almost coir-like material , up to stuff you could use instead oif a wire-brush to scrub rust off a csting.-----
Geoff

From: Willem
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Dyna-Rok II or any similar diatomaceous earth
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 17:40

Can anybody tell me where to obtain Dyna-Rok II or any similar
diatomaceous earth hydroponic growth medium in the UK (preferably in
London)?

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