May 8- 14 2005 mailing list messages

2005 Archived Messages

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From: aeranthes
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: hardy orchids
Date: Sun, 08 May 2005 09:20

Thank you for the wonderful photos Rocky. You did a good job there. I especially liked the one of the lawnmowers! Thank you for the write up on your visit to the New Forest.
Erica - your English is good - completely understandable and how wonderful to have your own laboratory.
Geoff - very interesting info on bark! I would'nt have dreamed there could be such a difference in the various trees! Jean

From: Jon Loose
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] RE: new facts about bark.
Date: Sun, 08 May 2005 10:50

That is REALLY interesting given the sense of wonder that isolated tropical
orchid-covered trees give to people. I'm guessing that it could partly
explain why a tree can be covered in orchids and the trees surrounding it
more or less bare of them. I wonder if there is some mechanism whereby the
tree "donates" nutrients in some symbiotic way or whether it is more
passive?

From: Ron Newstead
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] RE: new facts about bark.
Date: Sun, 08 May 2005 11:55

Did you find out anything about the nutrient properties of the bark of
the cork tree - which after all is a type of oak - because I have a
plentiful supply of that available from a friendly cork grower.
Cheers
Ron

From: francis quesada pallares
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Ludisia discolor
Date: Sun, 08 May 2005 12:55

My Ludisia discolor has grown lots of new growths,
which are growing tall and nicely, although the stems
are thinner than the three original stems it came
with.

The leaves are growing nicely as well, but they seem
to curl a lot, instead of opening flat and nice, as
they are always seen in garden centres and such.

Is it a cultural problem of mine, or do they do
something to the leaves whilst growing so they don't
curl up so much?

The plant looks healthy, although I'd rather have
thicker stems and flatter leaves.

PS Rocky, the pics of the early Purple and the
Green-winged orchids were absolutely fantastic. Thanks!

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] RE: new facts about bark.
Date: Sun, 08 May 2005 19:15

The next time I'm out with the group I'll ask , but I expect that the
expertise is in UK plants.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] RE:S hows
Date: Sun, 08 May 2005 19:20

I see there is to be a BOC COngfress at Weston Super Mare at the end of
Se[tember next year . The Orchid Review says 29thj-31st September , anmd I
think means 28th Sept - Oct 1st.

For those interested - I am doing other things - the London Show this year
is 17-18 September , and the next European Congress at Padua ( conveniently
near for Venice at the time of the Carnival ( oh how I wish I could be there
with my camera.) is 19-22nd Feb next.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: FW: [OrchidTalk] RE:S hows
Date: Sun, 08 May 2005 19:25

Sorry about the garbled message jusat sent - I am experimenting with a new
spell-checker , and when I clicked to use it, the message got sent instead .
Here is what I intended to say...

I see there is to be a BOC Congress at Weston-Super-Mare at the end of
September next year . The Orchid Review says 29th-31st September , and I
think means 28th Sept - Oct 1st.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Bark.
Date: Sun, 08 May 2005 20:10

Just why the hell do you use the chipped bark from pine and fir trees ? And before you fly off the handle, think about it for a long time and think deeply.

From: Dr Chong-Yee Khoo
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] FW: RE:S hows
Date: Mon, 09 May 2005 09:35

Confusingly, the organisers have been advertising both sets of dates (and are still doing so, e.g., in the Orchid Review), but I have a copy of an email from Dr Stefano Millilo (chair) confirming that the actual dates are 19-22. The website says so too.

"Geoffrey Hands" wrote:
__________
the next European Congress at Padua ( conveniently near for Venice at the time of the Carnival ( oh how I wish I could be there with my camera#8230;) is 19-22nd Feb next.

From: Jon Loose
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Bark.
Date: Mon, 09 May 2005 09:40

Just why the hell do you use the chipped bark from pine and fir trees ? And
before you fly off the handle, think about it for a long time and think
deeply.

From: dr chong-yee khoo
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Error in Message About EOC
Date: Mon, 09 May 2005 14:00

..my message should have read "...I have a copy of an email from Dr Stefano
Millilo (chair) confirming that the actual dateas are 15-19.".

From: dennis READ
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Devon Orchid Society
Date: Mon, 09 May 2005 14:45

Here are three pictures taken at the Devon O.S. show at Exmouth last saturday. Overall dos7, Devon O S dos6, Cornwall OS dos5.
All had a great time.
Regards Dennis

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Buying orchids.
Date: Mon, 09 May 2005 15:40

I remembered that Andy told of how he purchased orchids from an Italian supplier, so I thought I would give them a try. I have been entirely satisfied. Excellent service and packing. The plants were first class, and as I always de-pot them on arrival and pot them into my stone chippings I was delighted at the state of the roots. Not a dead root or rotten root to be found. I will be buying from them again.

About two weeks previous I had been wading through a few websites and I came upon 'Regal Orchids' up Scotland. I purchased a few plants from them. Packing was not that good. One of the plants which had a new growth about seven inches long was not packed as carefully as other plants. The new growth was broken when I unpacked it, so I took a photo with my 'digi' and sent an E-mail.........that was over a week ago........nothin' heard of as yet !!!!! I will not be buying from them again.

From: Jon Loose
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Ludisia discolor
Date: Mon, 09 May 2005 15:40

Tall sounds slightly wrong - maybe too little light, too much (or very
little) nitrogen? Mine has always done well on a bright east facing window
sill in normal houseplant compost. I'm not sure about the curling though.

From:
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Buying orchids.
Date: Mon, 09 May 2005 17:35

I must disagree with you I purchased a plant from regal orchids in scotland
, and I was completely satisfied

From: aeranthes
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: catalogue
Date: Mon, 09 May 2005 18:35

Thanks for the info Rocky. Do they have a website with on-line list and purchasing facility. If so could you let us have the url please?
Wonderful photos of the Devon Show Dennis. Thanks for sending them around.
Jean

From: Ron Bower
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Buying orchids.
Date: Mon, 09 May 2005 22:00

Hello Rocky, I would appreciate the address for the Italian grower please. Regards and trouble free growing to all members. Ronbow.

From: Dr Chong-Yee Khoo
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: ...worse than his bite
Date: Tue, 10 May 2005 08:45

>Geoff's interesting article on 'Bark'.
>
>Reminds me from time to time, to ask most of you growers this question.
>
>Just why the hell do you use the chipped bark from pine and fir trees ? And before you fly off the handle, think about it for a long time and think deeply.
>
>Rocky.

I would have thought that these are good enough reasons for at least giving the stuff a try!

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Regal Orchids.
Date: Tue, 10 May 2005 10:10

Regarding my comments about Regal Orchids. I purchased, I think it was six plants from them. Five of them were very good, and were packed/wrapped as I would expect. The same way that orchids have been packed for years. But one of them, which was the one with a seven inch long nice new growth was not wrapped at all, hence the broken new growth when I unpacked them. I also noticed that the end of the broken growth was quite dry which would point to it being broken for some time, maybe since packing. So, I took a digital photo [attachment] and E-mailed Justin. That was many days ago, and as yet I have had no reply whatsoever.

Being half a Scot myself, I do not throw my money away and I expect the same service that I would supply if I were in business.

From: francis quesada pallares
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] RE: Ludisia discolor
Date: Tue, 10 May 2005 11:00

Thanks for the advice. I reckon then the problem is
too little light (that would make the stems grow
taller to achieve the right amount of light, I guess).
I don't feed this plant at all, so I wouldn't think
too much nitrogen is the cause.

You see, I have always been told that this plant grows
in very dark areas beneath all the trees in the Jungle
soil. I'll try and move it to a lighter spot and see
what happens then.

--- Jon Loose escribió:
> Hi Francis
>
> Tall sounds slightly wrong - maybe too little light,
> too much (or very
> little) nitrogen? Mine has always done well on a
> bright east facing window
> sill in normal houseplant compost. I'm not sure
> about the curling though.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Italian Nursery.
Date: Tue, 10 May 2005 11:45

The Italian Orchid Nursery that I mentioned does have an excellent website which is: www.nardottoecapello.it

The person who returned my E-mail and who was then my contact was Gianluca Capello.

The transfer of money from my bank account to theirs was very good. Just a visit to my bank to sit down with one of the girls and go through the forms. Quite easy, as they know what is required. It cost about £10, which is very much less than other types of money transfers for which some banks charge the earth. Oh yes, the nursery E-mailed me with all of the necessary documentation, figures, numbers etc.

From: John Dennis
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Name Please
Date: Tue, 10 May 2005 12:00

Can anyone please put a name to the attached cymbidium I believe it is a hybrid maybe one of the parents is a trayanum. any suggestion would be appreciated.

From: Andy Mckeown
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Buying orchids.
Date: Tue, 10 May 2005 18:05

I am glad you liked Nardotte - I have bought several shipments from them and never a dodgy plant among them. I met Gianluca at Dijon where I picked up a consignment from them and they couldn't have been nicer. I too will continue to buy from them - I just want them to get a whole new stock range now!

For the record I have also bought from Orchids and More in Germany. I would not recommend them - the plants were much more expensive and not so good quality. I have also used Grossraschener in Germany. They are more expensive and two of the six plants I bought from them had no roots - like you I repot immediately. Again I will not be buying from them again. I must say not answering e mails from dissatisfied customers is just bad business - I have complained twice to Wubben and got no reply - they get no re-order!

From: Jon Loose
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Italian Nursery.
Date: Tue, 10 May 2005 18:05

They say ›Our plants are blooming during the year“ „ is that ANGRAECUM SESQUIPEDALE is amazing.

From: mhashley
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Humidity
Date: Tue, 10 May 2005 19:30

I would like some advice..... I have a small green house ( 6x8 ) and am
growing Odontoglossums, Zygopetalum and Dendrobium. I heat it to 10 C min.
The Humidity Control is non existant ( apart from damping down ) and I am
looking into getting a Humidifying System,- Humidistat and Spray Nozzles
etc.

Has anyone any experience of these? Are they worth getting? Or are there any alternatives?

From: aeranthes
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: nursery
Date: Tue, 10 May 2005 19:35

Thanks for the url Rocky. They certainly have some wonderful orchids and I may well be tempted when I get home. We are off to Italy next Sunday! Nowhere near Liguria though. Jean

From:
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Regal Orchids.
Date: Tue, 10 May 2005 19:40

regal orchids sent me miltaia aztec two long spikes both perfect when
unwrapped no damage.

like your self I am part scots I have two brothers and twin sisters all
living in stirling

From: Ron Bower
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Zygos
Date: Tue, 10 May 2005 21:00

Jean, Further to your enquiry re the Zygos and further to my reply. On examining my plant this morning I see that there are several, 5 or 6 flower spikes showing. I have not had the plant long enough (2 years) to consider myself particularly knowledgeable with the species but I think that flowering again so soon ( last December/Jan) to be rather unusual. The plant has increased in size and looks very robust and healthy. The growing conditions and position are as I described to you. I hope that your plant has improved. Ronbow.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Italian nursery.
Date: Wed, 11 May 2005 10:25

The plants that I received from them all look capable of blooming within a year, but as this was my first shipment from them I think that Andy would be a better qualified member to ask. What say you Andy?

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Humidity.
Date: Wed, 11 May 2005 10:30

I am sure that you will get masses of information from our members about what to do re you humidity question.

At the moment I have my orchids standing on capillary matting, the walls of the greenhouses [two of them] have polystyrene sheeting up to the eaves, and the roof has good quality fleece inside. Plenty of light gets through.

I keep the capillary matting damp, and I spray the top of the pots at least once a day in the hot weather. The floor also gets a liberal damping. I don't bother hardly at all about humidity during the late morning through to early evening. I try to follow 'Mother Nature'.

If you don't want to spend money, then maybe you can think what might help your type of situation. Oh yes! None of my windows open.

From: aeranthes
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: humidity
Date: Wed, 11 May 2005 10:45

Helen, it depends where you live. If you are in U.K. then have a look at the Hozelock system. I use it as it is simple tubing that goes around the floor of the greenhouse and you get a supply of little nozzles that you pierce into the tubing at intervals. It then has to be connected via tubing to a tap somewhere and a preferably a timer, mainly for if you are away from home. Mine works very well and as I'm going away on Sunday for 2 weeks. I placed all my hanging baskets down so that they are hanging from the staging and they all get watered automatically by this system. You can choose the daily interval and the length of time that the system stays on. If you don't want this type of system there are humdifiers that you can buy which send out a cloud of cold 'steam'. I bought one over the Internet from Jaybird in U.S.A. It is very good but I did have to pay alot of money in import tax. This is there url: http://www.jaybird-mfg.com/ If you are in UK I suggest you visit http://www.google.co.uk and type in a search for 'humidifiers uk' . Good luck with it - Jean

From: Ron Newstead
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Wild Purple orchids
Date: Wed, 11 May 2005 12:30

I cannot trace the name of the member who kindly offered to send me
photographs. He asked me to let him know the size required.
The answer is 6ins. by 4.
I am returning to Portugal on Friday morning and, once I have freed my
mailbox from all the Spam that has cluttered it up, shall be free to
receive emails there.
Regards
Ron

Now I call that real success Ron! Congrations! I don't think I'll ever see the day when I have 5 flower spikes on a Zygo but that is something to aim for! Both of my plants are looking much better. One has 3 new growths and the other two. A couple are well advanced so I am hoping for flower spikes at sometime this year. I'll be sure to let you know when the happy day arrives!! Maybe photos as well. Jean

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: My Orchid Suppliers List.
Date: Thu, 12 May 2005 17:20

My list that I made out showing all of the Orchid Suppliers that I could get information on was just for the U.K. However, having read Andy's favourable comments about the 'Italian Nursery' and also being very pleased with them, I decided to rename my list. It is now called simply, 'Orchid Suppliers'.

I have begun to fill in the 'Comments' section, with comments that some of our members made and I hope that this list of mine will be helpful to all.

If any member wishes to use my list, update it, or do with it as they want, then just E-mail me direct and I will send it to you.

Hopefully I will receive the list back at certain times, updated with information and comments.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] humidity
Date: Fri, 13 May 2005 06:20

Import tax ; I bought the Jaybird 400 complete with hygrostat ( you set the
required humidity „ I am using 75% for the summer „ and the fan comes on
automatically to blow wet mist along the house, when it falls below. The tax
was , I think about £80 . Of course it throws fine droplets of water out of
the tips of the hollow blades.

Maybe I said before ? Jaybird were very helpful. They have a very simple
wiring system for the hygrostat , they call it a ›piggy-ºck“ plug and
socket. Basically if you buy the fan alone it has a plug on the lead, and if
you buy the hygrostat it also has a plug but the plug includes a socket. So
you plug the hygrostat into the mains, and the fan into the hygrostat.

The problem was that they were all US plugs ( two thin flat pins and one fat
round pin. I explained to them that I couldn‹t get adapter sockets here ,
and asked how to rewire, and they said it would be quite complex ( the
hygrostat is I think a 5 wire system) . So they redesigned their system so
as to supply an extra lead with the US socket on one end, and ready for me
to put a 13A plug on the other end, so that I could use their pre-wired
leads, and tell me that all their export stuff will be done like that now ;
no charge, and all sent by airmail. That‹s what I call service.

Thanks Geoff for the info on your Jaybird. I've 'saved' the letter to my 'to keep' file as I may contact them at sometime and see if I can attach a similar socket to my Jaybird as anything I can get to work automatically suits me very well these days!
Thanks Roger for the offer of the list. I have written to you asking for it.
I'm away on holiday in Italy from Sunday 15th until 29th so I'll catch up with your comments when I get back. Caio! Jean

From: Andy Mckeown
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Italian nursery.
Date: Fri, 13 May 2005 11:15

The plants I have had are all blooming size. They have usually included some in spike in each order that I have made. The only ones that have not flowered within a year for me ( not many) have been due to my needing to modify my culture technique. I am selling this nursery so well I might need to put in another order for myself now! I think I need to build another orchid house....

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

2005 Archived Messages

May 8-14

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