2006 mailing list messages

2006 Archived Messages

Click on the week you require.
To return to the main Archive index, click the button at the bottom of the page.
Links to all the Photos and other images accompanying the list messages can be found on the Images page.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Dendrobium speciosum.
Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2006 08:30

My plant of Dendrobium speciosum has just finished flowering on five spikes. I am very pleased with this plant that I have had now for the best part of thirty years.

Question is, why are this years flowers almost white, when years ago they were more yellow. Maybe Max, Les, or other 'Oz' friends can tell me.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: flower color variability
Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2006 09:55

I have observed that a Dendrobium kingianum which I bought as var.alba,
invariably flowered piunk , untiol I gave it a really cold rest − then it
became alba again.
So temperature affects flower color in at least some dendrobiums.

From: aeranthes2
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: colour
Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2006 11:50

Roger I had a cactus that did this and contacted Wisely to ask if they new
why. Apparently if the plant is a hybrid and the colour is different from
the parent it will revert to the original colour if the temperature is not
right. I had a yellow flowered plant that needed to be kept at a higher temp
than most of its kind and when I didn't give it what it required it became a
pink! Jean

From: Orchids
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Dendrobium speciosum.
Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2006 21:20

Here where i live i find the Temperature has a lot to do with the changing
of colour same happen here i moved my plant and it flowered lighter also
could have something to do with the parents this time may have leant toward
the lighter parent.

Here in Australia they grow on Cliff faces and in the open So sunlight they
get a lot of.

Are all the flowers White or most of Them? and has the Temp and sunlight
been different.

You say you like it anyway well enjoy it seems to be happy as five spikes is
good.

From: Max Redman
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Dendrobium speciosum.
Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2006 22:50

Hi Rocky,
A bit slow in answering but I also think that there may be some correlation between temperature and the colour of your speciosum.
I have several different clones which and there is quite a difference in their colour range. They go from pure white to a fairly deep yellow but there have been times when the colour has lightened considerably.
It is obviously a very happy plant if you are able to flower it with five spikes.
The main thing is to give it plenty of high light and of course, talk to it very kindly!!
Cheers Mate
Max.

From: Sharon Williams
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: fusarium cattleya fungus
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 19:30

Hi all. I have an Encyclia cochleata and a BLC that are in s/h and both are
showing symptoms of 'fusarium cattleya' fungus. The BLC has smaller, purple
new growths, which have stalled their growth since January. I did repot it
and found a bad root, so cut it off and repotted, so that is probably how
the wilt entered the plant. Need to be more careful about sterilizing tools
I guess
. The cochleata is a huge plant that just started getting black back
bulbs. I cut them off as soon as the black was visible and was astonished to
find they were black all the way through. This progress was extremely rapid,
one week they were nice and green and the next they were black -getting
black from the inside out. All cut rhizomes were healthy looking with no
black streaking. Today I noticed another back bulb which was yellowing from
the top down (different than the previous bad bulbs as they didn't yellow or
show any other sign of problems before turning black). I cut it off and saw
the black 'thread' going into the rhizome. I tried to get to healthy tissue
but could not because of the plant size and bulb congestion. I researched it
on the web and it said that wet conditions favour the spread. I was able to
get a healthy 3 bulb division, but had to do a lot of damage to do so. I
soaked both pieces in Physan. I am afraid that I will have to butcher the
plant to get any other divisions from it. Many bulbs are putting out new
eyes, but without roots yet so this is a really bad time to mess with it,
but with the rapidity of the spread, I have no option. It has three huge
plump
new psbulbs that are just coming into spike, so I am devastated about this!

I was just wondering if you have had any experience with this and could
offer some advice.
Thanks for your time
Sharon Williams

From: francis quesada pallares
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Oooops! I did it again!
Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2006 08:00

Anyone went to the openng of the orchid show in London
yesterday? I was going to go today, but my partner
pointed out that going last night gave us the chance
to go another day for free.

We went with the intention of only buying some hardy
orchid's mix, and checking out how to best pot some of
the hardy varieties. As you know, I have been banned
from buying anymore tropicals due to lack of space
now, and have turned to buying pleiones and also, last
week, a cypripedium flavum (for under a tener!). I got
my mix, asked for advice, and then started looking at
what there was on show... And managed to get my
partner to agree to buying a Psychopsis papilio x
Kalihii 'green valley' in spike and also a Den.
fimbriatum var. oculatum with three emerging spikes!

I'll be going back on Sunday to see what's left and
possibly pick up some more bargains!

From: denis king
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Fw: south windowsill
Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2006 10:10

I am not an orchid owner other than a few Pleiones. Can any one recommend
a small orchid that I can grow on a south facing double glazed window and
supply source. Thanks

From: aeranthes2
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: orchids
Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2006 10:25

Francis! Consider yourself one of us!lol I know the feeling only too well.
Sadly I couldn't get to London this year and I miss it greatly. It doesn't
stop me buying locally though! Where there is a will there is a way. Good
luck with your new orchids and may they thrive for many years.
Sharon could it possibly be overwatering? Not sure where you are but what
seems a normal amount of watering would be too much I think in the winter
and may have caused the problem. Jean

From: jan
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Fw: south windowsill
Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2006 07:25

I'm so sure about small − how small do you want them? I grow all mine on
the windowsill, most of them facing south − some of them I shade with a
thin curtain (about like a white sheet).

One of the most successful so far is Dendrobium nobile, which I have in
a southfacing window without shade − it's in bark, hanging in a basket,
and every spring it is covered in sweetsmelling, white flowers with
yellow and purple markings. It seems to grow no matter what.

Another one that I have brought up from seedlings bought from Equatorial
Plants in Devon is Cattleya intermedia; they are going to flower for the
first time in a month's time. The seem to thrive very well under the
same conditions as the Dendrobium.

Finally, Eria coronaria as well as Paphiopedilum spp. seem to be very
easy too; if I can grow them on my windowsill, anyone can.

I'll post photos when they flower. As for where to buy − I can recommend
my own humble self, as I will have to say goodbye to them this year,
when I move to China. Where do you live, approximately? I'm in Slough
(-ish), so if it not too far, I might drive the plants out to any buyers
- I wouldn't want to trust them to the Royal Mail. Alternatively contact
Equatorial Plants; I don't remember the address, I always look them up
on the net.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: London Show ... and some orchid gossip
Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2006 11:25

Quite a good show I thought, I bought quite a bit − have to start potting
them up now.

But I thought I'd report a few bits of news/gossip/chat I heard , round and
about.

Ray Bilton has sold up − Orchid Answers are no more. Opinions are divided as
to whether there is a new orchid owner , or the greenhouses will be used for
some other purpose ( as I remember it , they were leased anyway...) . Ray is
, by accounts, not a well man.

Ratcliffes are returning from Florida ( I had this direct from Paul some
weeks ago , and chatted with him in London) . He has the horrendous task of
bringing all the breeding plants back , in fact bringing back everything he
can get CITES for − but it will be the end of the year by the time it
happens. Mary is not too well − I expect her problems are well known
without me airing them.

Everglades have gone in USA − which makes me very sad − all that expertise
in breeding my favourite group of orchids ( the warm growing oncids -
Miltassias, Odontocidiums, Burragears etc ) − all lost. Other famous USA
names are closing too − who can compete with Taiwanese nurseries receiving
subsidies from USA (! − for political reasons ) and also from their own
government (for economic reasons) ?.

UK CITES charges have gone up to £20 ( this year , £25 next year ) per
genus, however few plants are included in the licence. Want to import 1
Vanda, 1 Ascocenda, 1 Mokara, 1 Christieara ? You might well call them 4
Vanda hybrids, but that will be £80 for your CITES.... Best go to Belgium,
you will import them all for 20Euros ( £14) in permits, and then bring them
home free of duty ....
This is not to blame CITES as such , it is John Prescotts department − DEFRA
or whatever its called now − they are the ones setting these charges.

Newbury − its successor. Anyone feel like putting up two grand for the
guarantee ? You never have to find the money unless the show goes broke -
so I am told − then the show can take place at Swindon, later this year.
Contact Don Smallman if you fee you can help . Trish may have his e-mail
address − so have I if I can find it...

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Sharon's troubles.
Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2006 15:55

I think that someone, somewhere, once said, "A trouble shared is a trouble halved", or something like that. To that end I would like you to share the sort of problem that you have with some of us.

I am sure that we have all at some time or other experienced what you are going through. So just shrug your shoulders and carry on as normal.

'Fusarium wilt/fungus' whatever it is called. I would not know it even it was staring me in the face. And many years ago I did buy the American Orchid Society booklet on ailments. If I looked at the so called ailments on the leaves of my orchids I would not know what they represented. That goes for all of the other ailments.

Red spider mite..........yes. Scale..........yes. Mealy bug..........yes. Black leaves on Zygos..........yes, but I'm dammed if I know what causes it.

As to sterilising the blade when we make a cut..........I never do any more. Imagine someone makes the cut, then they sterilise the blade immediately, then they answer their mobile phone, or sneeze, or just put the blade on the bench for a minute or two. That's when it lies there collecting all sorts of air borne nasties. It's all right to sterilise when in a sterile condition, but just carry on as normal.

From: Ron Bower
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Francis Visit to London Show.
Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2006 17:10

Hello Francis,
I wish I had your problem.I should be so lucky. I dearly would like to visit the London Orchid shows, any of them, but the thought of travelling, by any means, at my age from the North East, (Newcastle) is just too daunting to ever think about. In my younger days I attended all sorts of shows in London, several in a year as well as just business trips ect. The Motor show was a must, as was the Catering Exhibition for I needed to be aware of the latest equipment ect, and on a annual basis was the Ideal Homes exhibition for the same reason. I also used to attend Chelsee Flower Show as I was able to obtain tickets to the preview day.There was also the Boat Show and a few others.
Younge and fit as I was, every visit was always exhausting just walking around the exhibits which were vast, and in those days there was not the huge crowds there is now. I would not now even think of attending the Chelsee Flower Show which seems to me to have gotten totally out of hand. The journey in the early 50's & 60's was by car or train and necessitated over night hotel stay and I must say that in those times London was quite exciting. Well, compared to other parts of Britain.

At the events I mention I generally did not buy any thing that I could carry away, order things to be sent maybe, but not take away.
Even were I to be unwise enough to make the journey these days, I cannot imagine what to do with them, if having bought several in flower plants, how do you get them, intact, though the crowds and to your hotel then back home by what ever means of transport! Quite frankly I cannot see how.

I do visit local shows, one in Darlington next week end for example, and that is bad enough. In the days I describe the car journey would take about 5 to 6 hours or less and you could park almost any where, and I have parked out side Harrods whilst shopping there. Oh those happy days!

But seriously, how would I go on, were I to visit a London Orchid show and purchase say a dozen plus, in flower, Plal plants. Frankly I can't see a way for me, now a elderly gentleman, well elderly anyway, to do it.

From:
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Is this Cattleya maxima?
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2006 00:10

I need help in confirming the identity of the cattleya I received about 1.5
years ago and is illustrated in the attached pictures. It was labeled as
Cattleya maxima 'Peru'. The seller said that it was collected in Peru and that
while he and others thought that it greatly resembled C. maxima, they did not
think it was maxima. The pseudobulbs are about 10 inches high and the flowers 7
inches across. It is most pleasantly fragrant and is a nice light pink with the
entire labellum being much lighter in color, almost white.

While C. maxima does have many variations, my plant seems to have some
significant deviations. Mine does not have the definite yellow stripe in the
lip, nor the deep red veining in the lip which are characteristic of maxima. My
plant also has a very ruffled edge to the lip with small hairy projections, not
seen on any maxima. The petals and sepals are always extended fully outward
with none of the usual bending forward as seen in maxima.

I previously posted a request for identity on the Orchid Guide listserv and
received the following comments.

"Your photos impress me as being a Maxima, but somewhat different than mine, of
which I have many. Those from Peru, should be much darker, as those from
southern Ecuador. This one is similar in coloration to the types found near
Guayaquil (that is: lighter). The frill is quite normal, and pleasing. The
yellow stripe is different than the ones I have, but still not totally unusual.
What your's lacks altogether is the definite purple striping radiating out from
the throat to the edges. The size of the bloom is quite normal, matching those
of mine. Also the fragrance. My guess is that this is certainly a Maxima, but a
little different than normal." from Richard in USA

"I saw the pictures and ... is not a Cattleya maxima specie. Maeby is cross
with C. maxima (but I don't think that)." from Erica in Peru

The pictures included here were taken last September and October, and
another lead is blooming now with one flower. I can see more buds still
developing in other sheaths to bloom in perhaps another 2 months. It doesn't
seem to have any particular blooming season. There are also several new
growths: one about 10", one about 5 inches and one about 1.5 inches.

Any further suggestions on the identity of this plant will be greatly appreciated.

From: Sharon Williams
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Sharon's troubles.
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2006 03:45

Hi Rocky: Thank you so much for your words of support. It does help to know I am not the only one these things happen to. There is so much to learn, and then of course one has to tweak things for their own conditions, which means you have to figure it out for yourself anyway. But a good direction is always a big help.
The funny thing about the BLC which I thought had this fusarium wilt due to the red growths (not under an extremely light condition)- I decided to cut one of the purple growths to see what the centre looked like, assuming that it would be black inside like the cochleata bulbs were. To my surprise it was just fine inside. I unpotted it and realized that the oldest branching root that had gone down into the bottom of the s/h pot had rotted (because I think I traumatized it on the last repotting) and the 3 2" long new roots just hadn't gotten into the damp part of the media yet. It looked desiccated because it wasn't getting any water!! I repotted it into bark which should be more uniformly moist after watering rather than the s/h which was only wet at the bottom. I must remember that with s/h you have to mist the new roots until they are long enough to get to the damp medium. I have several other potinaras which have roots going right into the s/h reservoir and are extremely healthy, so I know they can take it. Live and learn I guess. I think the cochleata got the rot from trying to keep the new roots on climbing psbulbs misted. Go figure- damned if you do, damned it you don't!
I am having a lot of successes this winter and spring which I believe is due to all this great help (and my 400w HPS light!).
Cheers
Sharon

From: denis king
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Fw: south windowsill
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2006 09:15

Thank you Jan and for your offer.
Unfortunately I live quite away Bury St Edmunds Suffolk. When do you
leave for China as I might be able to get a lift later on as I am not very
mobile and don't own a car?
My window is not suitable for a hanging basket and I have a 6" sill but
could use a trolley. I will contact Equatorial but I believe they are in
Durhan now.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Regards Denis

From: francis quesada pallares
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Sharon's troubles.
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2006 11:10

I thought you said the growths were black, not
purple/reddish... Whenever I have an orchid growth,
stem or leaves turning red is usually because of high
light levels... Not much to worry about if the orchid
can take it (most cattleyas and thick leaved orchids
can take a lot of light), but at the first sign of
leaf damage I remove the orchid to a less brighter
position.

At the moment, my Rhyncolaelia digbyiana is mostly
purple, with only the sides of the leaves not facing
the window showing a healthy green colour. Other
plants that I grow in very bright light are my
dendrobiums (which do not turn red), and a couple of
Epidendrum radicans (which are mostly purple at the
moment, but with very healthy, thick, leathery leaves
that just keep on coming from the top of the stems).

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Rogers ideas...
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2006 13:15

I may make myself unpopular , but I think someone has to lift their head
above the parapet and shout "rubbish" when Roger goes rabbiting on about
never sterilising....

Leaving a pair of scissors on the bench may result in them becoming
contaminated by air-borne nasties − true − but then if infections are
air-borne, your plants are at risk whether you own a pair of scissors or
not.

For that matter , few orchid problems are water borne . If you disagree, do
you always water by watering can or hose ? If like most of us ( ? ) most of
the time, you water with a bucket and hand − dip the plants ( which
by-the-by I have been doing for about 45 years without − so-far -
transmitting anything to all my orchids) then are you not worried about
this ?

The really dreadful nasties − the viruses − have to get into the plant
cells. An insect which sucks sap, and then moves on to another plant , can
transfer virus . But the simple fact − obvious to anyone who uses their
eyes, is that by-and-large, sap-sucking insects don't go walk-about. Once
they have found a host they stay put. Why else do you find a nearly dead
plant covered with scale ? If they were wise enough to move on, nearly
dead-plants would be scale free ? Is it not so ?

But a pair of scissors or a knife, that slices through plant cells, gets
coated with the sap. Then you cut another plant , and bingo . You have
transferred sap from one plant to another.

In my orchid life I have binned/burnt a lot of virused plants . I have also
compost-heaped others which never did anything very much, and wondered if it
was virus. I can't , hand-on-heart , say that I always sterilise − but I
know I am doing wrong and my wallet will reap the reward !

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Sharon's problems
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2006 13:25

The regrettable fact is that the whole world carries the seeds of its own
destruction about with it. Die in the desert , remote from any microbe, and
your body will still rot .

Every greenhouse or growing area contains all the microbes , fungi etc − but
kept at bay by immune systems possessed by healthy organisms. But when there
is a cultural problem, of whatever source, then immune systems are weakened
, and the poised enemies jump in and take advantage.
Very regrettably this means that when things go wrong there is no easy
answer − ( like , just sluice the plants in 1% Physan) . What you have to
do is raise your game.
How does your culture fall short of the ideal ? Are your day and night
temperatures, and your diurnnal difference correct ? What about your
air-movement ?
You know about the pH and Ec of your nutrient ( if you don't , there's a
starting point ! ) , but what's it like inside the pots ? Have you done an
exit poll on them recently ? And light levels. Are your lux up to standard
? Put all those right, and your problems (?) − what problems you'll say
.....

From: jns tropic
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Is this Cattleya maxima?
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2006 14:10

Your flower is absolutely beautiful, but not a maxima.
It looks like a primary hybrid, maybe a Bc. Your
healthy plant's two flowers would be pointing to a
Brassovola parent. My maxiams normally bloom with 8
to 10 flowers per spike.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: John's Cattleya.
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2006 14:30

First of all a bit of humour..........must you show us your superb specimen, when here in the U.K. we have not seen hardly any sunshine for weeks.

That is an orchid that anyone would wish to own, and you are growing it superbly.

John, I do not know exactly what it is, but I will continue looking. Another point that maybe you would consider is, do you think that Laelia comes in to your thoughts???

From: dennis READ
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Growing conditions
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2006 19:35

I've been away for two weeks on an orchid tour of Ecuador with Ecuagenera. Only one word can describe it − FABULOUS.
But I have returned very confused. I've seen Phragmipediums growing in desert conditions, shade and wet roots and full sun and wet roots. Trichocentrums growing with cactus. Lycastes / Idas in full sun and full shade and pseudo bulbs covered in moss and rotting wood. Epidendrums and Sobralias growing like weeds everywhere.
Cattleyas and catasetums in full sun, little water except cloud dew.
It now seems to me that we have to establish a regime to suit our own conditions but wet leaves and bulbs must dry out fast with good air movement.
What I do know is I have seen better blooms in nature than many of us can achieve in our green houses.
For those who wish to see orchids 'au naturel ' I defunitley reccomend Ecuador.
Regards

From: Erica
To: Orchid Talk list
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Is this Cattleya maxima?
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2006 22:25

Hi John:
It is not mine.My C. maxima (specie) is pure,this is an hibrid.I am sending my species(only 3).Regards
Erica , Perú

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

2006 Archived Messages

March 15—21