2005 mailing list messages

2005 Archived Messages

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From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Miltonia spectabilis var. ( or cv) Moreliana
Date: Mon, 15 Aug 2005 13:40

Herewith two pictures showing the flowers currently out . I have too many of
these plants and have some for disposable - and or divisions . If interested
e-mail me on my old orchids@waitrose address to avoid cluttering up Orchid
Talk.

No 1. is a sub cross between two AM clones - "Royalty" and "Elizabeth" and
has the darker flowers. The size this year is about 13cm ( just over 5
inches) from top to toe - there is a succession of these flowers from each
bud - sometimes several out at once.

No.2 is an un-named clone from a seed raising by J & L of Connecticut , with
very slightly smaller flowers - about 12cm.

Both will flower larger - the rather green leaves here suggest they have not
had all the sun they can take.

From: suzanne sadler
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Miltonia spectabilis Â var. ( or cv) Moreliana
Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2005 17:00

I would be interested in either variety, both are beautiful. Let me know if you have any left.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: CITES.
Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2005 20:40

Very recently I downloaded the CITES document, and I was very pleased to see the remark about 'Artificially propagated plants' being exempt from the CITES business. All that was required was 'A permit'. A permit for or to what may I ask?

Thing is, I do still believe that free trade between countries regarding orchids is far from being equal. This has to stop.

As I have shown before, I can have plants sent to me from Italy with absolutely no problem whatsoever, but if I try to have EXACTLY THE SAME PLANTS sent from another country the rules change???!!!

Hopefully one of our Australian members can tell me where to contact any interested people in their country. And that goes for Canada as well, as I believe they have a big problem.

From: Ron Newstead
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Cork
Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2005 23:40

I have just managed to retrieve some of the 273 emails which have
accumulated in my Portuguese email box

Among them was one asking about who had introduced the subject of cork. It
was I - or me if you prefer.

You can write to me if you wish or you can email the owner himself - Ewan
Rankin (pacocork@mail.telepac.pt).

From: Jean Lewis
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: cities
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 08:10

Well done Rocky! It would be wonderful if things become sensible for once! My sister-in-law brought a flask back from Australia without any problems but my local friend had her's confiscated at Heath Row on the way back from Australia - she is our treasurer and explained that flasks were exempt but they took it anyway and it was going to be destroyed. I wrote to theier office in Bristol and was sent a leaflet (lost now) which expained that and for a while I carried it about whenever I went abroad in case anyone tried to confiscate my orchids but as I only travel to Europe I have never had a problem. Another friend taught in China for a while and was given a 100 year old Bonsai as a leaving present by a Chinese friend. Her journey home was via America where they took it from her saying it would be destroyed. I know we have to be careful but really! It was so heartbreaking for her. Jean

From: Jon Loose
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] CITES.
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 09:05

I think someone already explained that we are in the EU along with Italy so
we are one "country" as far as CITES goes. Movement between the two is
therefore not as restricted - only from a plant health perspective which is
Defra's remit.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Hawkinsara.
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 11:00

Hawkinsara Hunabu Red Dawn 'Limrick' Is a cross of Ctna. Keith Roth x SLC. Raja's Ruby.

The flower is a lovely velvet dark red. I did try to correct the image to let you see exactly what it looks like, but I did not succeed. It's a very warm day, too much light and whatever.

The real reason for my sending the photo is to say that the cross gives this plant quite a long spike, five inches, but it is very narrow, so the two blooms are very 'floppy'. Maybe next year if and when the plant grows fatter and stronger, the spike will be strong enough to hold the flowers upright.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Import from Thailand.
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 15:20

I looked at the web site of Cyberplants.co.uk some weeks ago, and then I contacted Matt Crowle who is now resident in Thailand/Malaysia by E-mail.

After thinking that maybe the customs had nabbed them, or even worse, Kew Gardens, I was very happy today when they arrived by parcel post.

You can see from the postmark that they left Thailand on August 1st, so why it took so long I do not know. The plants were packed first class, and there was even the nice earthy moist smell when I opened the parcel. Plants were excellent.

One item of thought though. Perhaps I will try to contact the Customs to see if I can give them some help and information regarding CITES and orchids. So, if any of you know of a friend or whatever who is a customs official then perhaps you can give me a contact E-mail address. If we put ourselves in a customs officer's position then no doubt we would see how annoyed they must also be at the confusion and controversy when trying to be sure what is and what is not governed by CITES. Only yesterday I looked at several web sites about the importing of orchids....................................total confusion, and there in front of my eyes was as I have said before, the words telling that artificially propagated orchids are exempt.

From:
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] RE: Summertime
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 23:00

I am talking about heat pumps which what we have in our refrigerators to
transfer the heat from inside the refrigerator to the outside. All that happens
in reversible machines is that the system can be turned round so that in winter
it takes heat from the external air and transfers it to the inside.
Much more economical than creating heat by means of incandescent wiring
Ron

> You have lost me Ron „ air-con to me, is usually a switch in my car which is
> there for parsimonious individuals to turn off so as to get an extra mile
> per gallon , but which I leave on always, with the stat set to my preferred
> 21 deg. C.

From:
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Summertime
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 23:05

They are the compressor type, just like the system that you have in normal
refrigerators except that you can turn the system round, to take the heat from
the outside and put it inside.
Ron

> Is it an evaporative cooling or mechanical cooling type? I thought the DIY
> models worked on evaporative cooling which wouldn't work so well in a
> greenhouse?
> I have also been thinking along these lines, as I grow Nepenthes pitcher
> plants which need a sharp temperature drop at night, but I tought I needed
> a unit with a temperature exhaust to outside, which are all rather
> expensive. .
> Very interested to know how you get on.
>

From: P G Hieke
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Hawkinsara.
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2005 08:35

Hi Rocky, get IrfanView and you will have no problems to adjust the colour
of your pictures and it costs nothing, can be downloaded free.
I attach your modified picture for you to see.
Regards
Peter from Bloubergstrand

Hawkinsara Hunabu Red Dawn 'Limrick' Is a cross of Ctna. Keith Roth x SLC. Raja's Ruby.

The flower is a lovely velvet dark red. I did try to correct the image to let you see exactly what it looks like, but I did not succeed. It's a very warm day, too much light and whatever.

From: Ron Bower
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] RE: Summertime
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2005 12:05

Heatpumps.
I gave this some thought and did, and had some research done when I was
preparing to build my house in 1969. The idea was and is most attractive
but the cost was prohibitive and the payback time relative to the utility
costs at that time was in the infinitive region. The present cost of fuel
ect certainly make the principle look maybe worth while, but the
installation and capital costs would have soared and would I think still not
be cost effective.
It maybe that putting your deepfreeze alongside your orchid house and
ducting the heat output amongst the plants might seem a good idea but I
don't think I could fancy having to nip outside every time I needed some ice
cubes or a frozen dinner. I don't recall the reason why this matter got the
attention of Geoffrey, but I can't imagine that a heat pump was high upon
his or any one else's wish list, but with things the way they are, you never
can tell, maybe domestic heat pumps might be the next "In Thing,"
Ronbow.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Name this plant please.
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2005 17:15

Sorry to ask you all again to try to put a name to my Cattleya type plant, but I suffered a Hard Drive crash some time ago, and I have mislaid the name that you suggested.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Zygos etc.
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2005 20:50

From: Ron Bower
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Mealy Bugs.
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2005 22:00

Hello All,
Today, I visited a nationally known Garden Centre who sell orchids. I was aghast to see that many of them were lifting with Woolly Aphids. Horrified I asked for the manager who couldn't be found. I then left a message with a member of staff to be passed to the manager.
I had a infestation just after starting with orchids when I only had a few and almost ceased to continue. I would not like to have them now that I have 150 or so.
I have the feeling that no action will be taken by the management who seem to be some what lax and as there was about 100 or so I cannot see them being destroyed.I was able to point them out to 2 ladies who thanked me and did not buy.
The thoughts of those plants getting out to and amongst many unsuspecting, maybe beginners to orchids, really disturbs me and I have thought of little else since I left the place in the late afternoon. I would be grateful to have the views of our members A.S.A.P. as to what if any action I should or could take. Is it an offence to distribute plants so infected?
Ronbow.

From: Anguel Iordanov
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Nun Orchid
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2005 22:40

I bought one two years ago and whilst the plant is still alive it doesn't
look as half as good when I bought it.

Could you please advice me on how to look after this orchid, best
conditions, watering, medium, etc.

From: aeranthes
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: aphids and orchid nursery
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2005 08:15

Thank you Rocky! Yes I'm eating my heart out!lol What wonderful orchids. I'm going back to have a long, long look later. Thanks for sending the url. Ron B I have had two orchids from reputable Orchid Nurseries with plenty of mealy bugs! I was not at all pleased! I find that our very large local B & Q keep watering their orchids which are then standing in their ceramic pot half full of water! I tipped out water from at least ten plants last week and it's the second time I have done that and the second time I've called someone over to point out that in next to no time they will lose all their stock! They seemed grateful each time but I doubt they will take much notice. I had been tempted to buy one in order to try and save it but I thought it would be a losing battle. Jean

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Zygos etc.
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2005 10:45

They ( milo etc) have two or three Zygonias I would like, but at $50 a
throw plus the likelihood of import duty , air-mail parcel post cost , and
VAT on the grand total , that could take them nearer 50 pounds each ,and I
would expect that if I only want to order three divisions they will want to
charge for the CITES and Phyto at their end „ why not „ it takes their time
and money too ( most US nurseries charge $50 for that )

And then DEFRA here will want their fee for the UK import permitsŶso a lot
of hassle, a lot of bother , an element of risk if the paperwork is not
perfect, and plants costing maybe £60 each by the time I get them,,,,,

milobaliadelaideorchids are not for me , there are easier and cheaper ways
of getting what I want .

Mind you , looking at their paph divisions, my collection must be worth a
good 5 figures in pounds by their valuations, ( I nearly said six, but
quick mental arithmetic says 5 ) „ I wish I could get 200 dollars for a
division of a reasonably nice paph complex „ I usually find that no-one is
interested if I ask 25% of that price !

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Hawkinsara.
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2005 11:50

Thanks for the information, but I will stick with my 'Corel' graphics programme.

From: Andy Mckeown
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Import from Thailand.
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2005 13:20

Nice looking plants... I ordered some from the same and mine got confiscated by customs - I guess it's the luck of the draw ...

Anyway here's whats giving me a lot of pleasure in the orchid house at the moment

I looked at the web site of Cyberplants.co.uk some weeks ago, and then I contacted Matt Crowle who is now resident in Thailand/Malaysia by E-mail.

After thinking that maybe the customs had nabbed them, or even worse, Kew Gardens, I was very happy today when they arrived by parcel post.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Import from Thailand.
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2005 17:00

From: dennis READ
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Nun Orchid
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2005 20:00

DislaimerI presume you are talking about Phaius tankervilleae. I grow mine warm with plenty of light. They are grown in John Innes No.3 potting compostwith 25% perlite added. They are fed each week with half strength Tomorite. I am waiting for the spikes to show. Regards

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Mealy Bug/
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2005 20:05

Mealy bug sure is a problem pest these days, but I have found that 'Provado' is just about the best.

As to whether it is illegal to sell them in such a state I do not know, but, if it ever went to a court of law, it would be very difficult to prove if the seller new of the infestation, bearing in mind that they would state that they never saw them.

If anyone has just one or two plants that are infected with mealy bug, them take a little time to pick the little blighters off with a fine toothpick or similar object..........task 80% done, then spray the plant.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Nun's orchid.
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2005 20:10

Nun's orchid on your web browser I think you will be delighted with the information that is there.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Orchid imports.
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2005 20:20

Yes Andy, I think I am lucky that the package came through O.K. This was in fact a slight testing of the waters, and there is a motive at the back of my mind.

Our mutual friend from Italy, Gianluca, will most certainly get more orders from me in the months to come. No hassle, no paperwork, no problem, and no complaints. Peter Fowler, did you get any plants Peter?

Geoff, I take heed of what you have said although I will listen to what the man says when I get a reply.

If I took a two week holiday in Adelaide Australia and came home with three new pair of shoes, a couple of pairs of trousers, and several shirts, then I would walk through the 'Green Channel'.

If I brought home six of those lovely hybrids, grown in their nursery, bare root, to be grown in my greenhouse, what then??? What say you?

This is where the so called CITES people, and we both know who we are talking about, shoot themselves in the foot.

From: Ron Bower
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Mealy Bug/
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2005 22:30

Hello All, I called again today to the GC and am pleased to say that the plants had been cleaned up. Not a Mealy to be seen. Nor was the manager, but give him his due, he had acted. Ronbow

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Orchid imports.
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2005 22:40

BOS programme appears with the membership card , available next month ; I'll
try and let you know when I get it.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Nun Orchid
Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2005 08:25

I think (?) you are right , and the "nun orchid" is P.tankervilliae , but I
do wonder why ?

(When the question was first asked , I scratched my head and thought , maybe
the nun orchid is an Angloa , and I know nothing about them, so I'll keep
quiet - but now I realise I was thinking about the cradle orchid ; this is a
good example of why we should use the proper names unless we absolutely
don't know them ; if you had not answered, and if the question had been put
in terms of Phaius I would have been happy to advise).

And the only thing I would add , is that these plants with thin pleated
leaves ( technically "plicate" ) are martyrs to sap-sucking insects which
seem to spread from eggs in the compost , so do check the leaves very
carefully , both sides, quite frequently . I have recently had a lot of soft
scale coming in through the ventilators , it seems from the local Pick-Your
Own fruit farm. I have been examining every leaf of some genera every month
and wiping with meths, then spraying with Provado . I have them clean again,
but I expect more before the colder weather stops it, so must keep vigilant.

I presume you are talking about Phaius tankervilleae. I grow mine warm with
plenty of light. They are grown in John Innes No.3 potting compostwith 25%
perlite added. They are fed each week with half strength Tomorite. I am
waiting for the spikes to show. Regards

From: Jon Loose
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Orchid imports.
Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2005 10:30

Personally I don't believe your common or garden customs officer could tell
the difference between Paph vietnamense (as one example of tens of thousands
of rare orchid species) and Paph 'Miller's daughter' especially without
flowers (yes I know we probably could). I still think that if we had a body
here which organized imports through recognized growers/dealers, we could
make a workable system without threatening wild populations. We all know
about the stripping of wild populations that went on before CITES and in a
few cases still continues when unscrupulous dealers find a way round it. I
also believe that as orchid lovers we should be supporting the principles of
CITES (though some things might be improved) and as importantly supporting
the preservation of habitat _wherever_ it is needed. We in the Europe and
the US have been just as bad in the past over habitat destruction and still
we are building on and ploughing roads through orchid-rich, rare habitats.

Enough. I will be buying from EC suppliers except at shows when we have
sellers from elsewhere.

From: Anguel Iordanov
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Nun Orchid
Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2005 13:50

Thanks for the advise. I had mine inside since I bought it and it was doing
OK but not as good as it should have. Three weeks ago I took it out in the
garden hoping that it will improve as I absolutely love the plant. It is on
a full sun all day. Do you think this is a problem? Of course almost all the
leaves have burned from the sun but there are two new coming slowly and I am
hoping that it will be OK?

If you don't mind I will send you a pic of the plant so you can have a look
and let me know what do you think I should do?

From: Anguel Iordanov
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [Bulk] [OrchidTalk] Nun's orchid.
Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2005 13:50

I did that already but was hoping to get an advice from someone who actually
grows these magnificent plants in this country (UK).

Like I had an advice of how to look after Vandas indoors from this German
guys sometimes ago and they are doing superb now.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Catasetum.
Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2005 14:00

Andy said something about how our orchids in bloom give us lift when they are in bloom, well, my Catasetum appendiculatum x Joao Stivalli has done me proud again, and I always have been a fan of Catasetums because of their wonderful system of pollination and their floral parts.

From: Andy Mckeown
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Catasetum.
Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2005 19:05

From: aeranthes
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: photos
Date: Sun, 21 Aug 2005 08:30

Thank you everyone who has sent around wonderful photos of their orchids. They have all been first class and I enjoy seeing them as it keeps prodding me to do better! Jean

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Catasetum.
Date: Sun, 21 Aug 2005 08:50

What have you been drinking or smoking??? Even your spell checker must have had a drop, ha, ha.

I should be receiving another parcel from Gianluca next week, so will tell you what I think when the orchids arrive.

Andy said something about how our orchids in bloom give us lift when they are in bloom, well, my Catasetum appendiculatum x Joao Stivalli...

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: photos
Date: Sun, 21 Aug 2005 09:25

Absolutely, Jean. Also, it has illustrated what I was told some time ago
that no image will look the same on all screens. For instance Rocky's
Hawkinsara pic looked very good here (vibrant colours) but Peter's altered
version looked rather pale and watery in comparison.

Some gamma correction as mentioned by Chong-Yee can be a good idea, but no
point in going overboard :-)

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Epidendrum Parkinsonianum.
Date: Sun, 21 Aug 2005 20:30

Look at the two attachments, and you can see that two tiny young offshoots have appeared high up on the rhizome just where it leaves the wire basket.

From: Ron Bower
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Hawkinsara.
Date: Sun, 21 Aug 2005 21:25

Rocky, On my screen the picture of your Hawkinsara is a super deep ruby red. The one that had been doctored up was an insipid red. Ronbow.

Roger Grier wrote:
To: Orchid Club
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2005 11:00 AM
Subject: [OrchidTalk] Hawkinsara.

Hawkinsara Hunabu Red Dawn 'Limrick' Is a cross of Ctna. Keith Roth x SLC. Raja's Ruby.

The flower is a lovely velvet dark red. I did try to correct the image to let you see exactly what it looks like, but I did not succeed. It's a very warm day, too much light and whatever.

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

August 15—21