February 2007 mailing list messages

2007 Archived Messages

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From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Paphiopedilums.
Date: Thu, 08 Feb 2007 09:10

After looking at the root structure of a Pahpiopedilum through a microscope, many years ago, it has always bugged me to know why people use the bark chippings from pine and fir trees as the main ingredient of the potting medium.

So I would like to ask all of you who grow Paphs to tell me exactly what you use.

I am very interested to possibly find a medium that is constructed of one hundred percent non rotting, non decomposing material, that works very well.

I have heard that some people use rockwool cubes, but to me it would need something else in the pot to keep the plant firmly in place.

From: Roy Lee
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Paphiopedilums.
Date: Thu, 08 Feb 2007 11:35

Rocky, if you browse through some of the Japanese growers web sites you will find that many use between 5 & 7 different Volcanic rock chips for their Paphs, some use a little bark as well. It would be good to try this only we cant get this variety locally. ( lucky to get any at all )
I am testing the baked clay balls used in Hydroponics. I have had a Phrag growing in this material for 12 months now and the pot sits in a tray of water about 10mm deep. The plant is a 120 mm swat pot. The roots appear fine and the plant, although small when planted, is growing as well as all of my other plants in bark given the relative size difference.
I will be trying a Paph in it this year. If it works as well as for the Paph as it appears to be for the Phrag I will try more, the DOWN side is the cost of the baked clay balls.
Roy

From: Roy Lee
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Another plant for ID check
Date: Thu, 08 Feb 2007 11:55

Hi all, attached is a Cattleya that I purchased many years ago as C.loddigesii.
I believe it have been a third or forth outcross seedling. The flower is about 100mm ( 4 inches ) in diameter but I haven't actually measured it.
It has had 4 flowers on the spike but lately only the three.
Its in flower now.

From: P G Hieke
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Paphiopedilums.
Date: Thu, 08 Feb 2007 18:20

Hi Rocky,
I use 50% NZ sphagnum moss and 50% polystyrene beads for all my
Paphs.
Regards
Peter from Bloubergstrand

> After looking at the root structure of a Pahpiopedilum through a
> microscope, many years ago, it has always bugged me to know why people
> use the bark chippings from pine and fir trees as the main ingredient
> of the potting medium.

> So I would like to ask all of you who grow Paphs to tell me exactly
> what you use.

> I am very interested to possibly find a medium that is constructed of
> one hundred percent non rotting, non decomposing material, that works
> very well.

> I have heard that some people use rockwool cubes, but to me it would
> need something else in the pot to keep the plant firmly in place.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Paphiopedilums.
Date: Thu, 08 Feb 2007 20:45

Paphs do grow epiphytically , as we;; as lithophytically and terrestrially !
So there is nothing un-natural in placing them in contact with bits of
trees.
I have/do also grow them in Perlite, or in ’Leca , in hydroculture or not ,
as the fancy takes me. And I also made trials in the mix now sold as Orchid
Focus, when I was developing it , and they grew OK in that too , it includes
coconut husk chunks and foam too.

From: Gordon Walker
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Paphiopedilums.
Date: Fri, 09 Feb 2007 08:15

Does this not confirm that orchids will grow in/on anything provided there
is sufficient food, light and temperature?
Gordon.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Roy's plant.
Date: Fri, 09 Feb 2007 16:55

I feel that your Cattleya Loddigesii is not a true species but is most probably a hybrid. I say this because all the photos of Cattleya Loddigesii have the column covered by the slightly overlapping edges of the lip, whereas your plant shows the column fully exposed. Your plant sure is a cracker and I am sure that someone will come up with a hybrid name as I am sure I have seen it several times.

Thanks for the information on the Paph mediums from Japan which I will endeavour to have a look at later.

Baked clay balls..........I don't see why they should cost so much?? Have you thought of trying some rock pieces that you can get locally around the Sydney area? Maybe you could try a few different types and let us know how they do.

P.S. I don't mind your cricket team beating the s**t out of our side [except for today's match] but when I look at the cloudless sunny sky it makes me full of envy.

From: James H
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Paphiopedilums.
Date: Fri, 09 Feb 2007 18:40

mine are all in fir bark charcol and spagnum moss and this is the only way i
could get them to grow, i tried the same non organic medium that i use on my
other orchids (aquarium soiless medium dont know the brand) and all the ones
i tried did very poorly and some died,
i get very good results with fir bark but i do have to repot every 1.5-2years.
James

From: Ron Newstead
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: RHS Cardiff Spring Show
Date: Fri, 09 Feb 2007 20:25

From: Roy Lee
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Roy's plant.
Date: Sat, 10 Feb 2007 01:20

Rocky, as far as I can say, the baked clay balls available here are imported. Thats why the expense. To get rock from the Sydney area to us might be even more expensive. There is some local crushed rock that I will try this year.
I think the Catt may be a hybrid but I found a website that shows many C.loddigesii flowers from outcross seedlings and some do expose the column as much or more than mine. Will wait and see.
Cricket, your mob came here with the wrong attitude and got what they deserved. My mob seemed to have lost the plot last night but I think the selectors are changing players around to see who will go to the world cup. I think Sundays ( here ) match will be a totally different affair ( hopefully ).
The one thing that hirts the current team ( A ) is loosing. I think you will find the inclusion of the better bowlers for Sydney.
Roy.

From: Tina Stagg
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Identification
Date: Sat, 10 Feb 2007 22:20

Has anybody heard of dendrobium sutapense, or something similar? I can't find it in IPNI or RHS.

From: jns tropic
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: It's getting blue
Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2007 02:05

This Sobralia was given to me as a blue Sobralia and
one of the only blue ones. The first to bloom was
bright pink, but as the weather cools it gets closer
to blue. The color changes can be seen on my site.
http://togofcoralgables.com/Sobralia.aspx

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Tina's orchid.
Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2007 12:10

If you use Google as your search people then just punch in: Dendrobium sutapense.....and up she comes.

From: Roy Lee
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: New Paph
Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2007 13:15
Source: mail.paphiopedilum-orchids@yahoogroups.com

Hi all, had this new Paph open recently and I thought itwould make an interesting discussion point.
The cross is P. Orchilla 'Chilton' x P. Goultenianum.
I reckon if I used another standard Maudiae type Paph or 'sukhakulii' or type on it, could produce some interesting results.
Then again, if I use it with a good red complex hybrid paph, I might get some champions there. Its not uncommon for there to be a 'maudiae' type paph in the parentage of some of our classic complex paphs.

From: jns tropic
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Phragmipedium kovachii
Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2007 15:55

I was surprised to see this Phrag in a Swiss site.
The flower comes up about 66% down the line in movie.
Can people in the EU grow Phragmipedium kovachii?

http://www.dailymotion.com/visited/search/orchids/video/xf98x_orchids-coco-jambo

From: Tina Stagg
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Identification
Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2007 16:15

Thank you everybody. I think we will agree on sutEpense. That's why I couldn't find it − E not A. I should have thought of that − I tried every other possibility.

From: Silvio a Beccara
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Phragmipedium kovachii
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:55

sure, flasks were offered (legally) by Manolo Arias at EOC last year. They
were EUR 150 for 5 plantlets, if I recall correctly.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: FW: [OrchidTalk] Identification (this is a forwarding to List , of the message I sent (?) directt to Tina, which others may fi
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:10

Yes − its in Jay Pfhal's magnificent encyclopaedia , which I couldn't do
without. Anyone who says "hear hear" − have YOU sent a donation yet ? It's
easy via PenPal, and $10 from everyone would keep it getting better and
better...

Looks a bit like D.bellatulum − apparently comes from Doi Sutep − have been
there, didn't see it...but then it blooms in late winter ( I read) and I
went there in late summer.

For those who don't know the encyclopaedia , go to
www.orchidspecies.com/indexde.htm

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: e-mail problems
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:10

Tina, I am having problems with my e-mail − messages not getting through
etc., and I am trying to pin down where the problem lies.

Your message sent to Orchid Talk ( List ) 10th February − time shown on my
screen as 22.24 , asked about dendrobium sutapense.

I replied on 11th February at 8.34 − and I had simply clicked on "reply"
thinking it would go to Orchid Talk ( for all in the group to read). Tricia
says it never arrived.

I should be very glad if you could let me know if you did receive it- it
would help me straighten out the problem.

From: Tina Stagg
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] e-mail problems
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 10:45

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Paph mix.
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 17:20

I am interested to learn more about the polystyrene beads. Please tell me more about them. Size structure etc.

I am just thinking about pieces of polystyrene slab that we have here and that when a piece breaks off, then tiny balls/granules tend to become detached.

The other point that I am interested in is this, does the mix hold the plant firmly and do the roots run about to all parts of the pot.

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Paph mix.
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 22:30

I would be extremely interested in knowing how to get Paph roots to run
about to all parts of the pot!

From: Barbara Larimer
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Grange Orchid
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 02:35

Found this item. I thought our friends from the UK might be interested in
solving this mystery and enjoying dinner for their trouble at Graythwaite
Manor, Grange.

I am always impressed by the ability of listmembers to identify orchids.
Any thoughts on this one?

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Grange Orchid
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 13:10

> Found this item. I thought our friends from the UK might be interested in
> solving this mystery and enjoying dinner for their trouble at Graythwaite
> Manor, Grange.

> I am always impressed by the ability of listmembers to identify orchids.
> Any thoughts on this one?

That's easy − its a cymbidium hybrid. And impossible ( with the size of
picture) to be more specific . Even when they say "we've never seen anything
like it" − if it were say Ray Bilton saying that, it would be significant ,
but I assume that Mr and Mrs Duncan are not cymbidium breeders, would they
know any one hybrid from another ?
I could guess from the lip that there is a particular parent which is
significant , and with time spent on one of the programs could narrow it
down to a few hundred or maybe even only 40 or 50 hybrids, but someone
actually breeding might be able to be much more specific and say
"probably..." . But it needs that level of expertise.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: e-mail...
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 13:20

I have been having problems with mail I thought I was sending to List not
coming back to me from List.
It seems that the difficulty is not that I am doing anything wrong , or that
there is any problem with mail handling by Tricia − it is simply that some
of us − mention no names − send messages to List in a way which will cause
replies to be sent to them personally, rather than through List. To
over-ride this, it is necessary that I − we − stop being lazy and clicking
on "reply" and instead enter "List" as the address for the message.

On a different note, slightly off-message ? I am planning to switch my OS to
Vista, and try to avoid using Outlook from Office2003 ( or indeed any other
version such as the rather expensive Office 2007 ) for my e-mail . I had
been planning to use an open-source (freebie) programme -Eudora − which I
have installed for the purpose , but found it more "picky" than I had
thought , which may be due to some internal problem with my machine − since
when I went back to Outlook, that wouldn't send. In the course of a session
with Virgin ( my ISP/broadband supplier ) we discovered that Outlook Express
worked perfectly for me − which is what I'm using now, and I learnt that
VISTA has a new programme called Windows Mailer − which I shall probabl;y
try.
I have similar word-processing/database calculating programmes and a PIM −
all open-source -lined up as well as part of the "escape from Outlook" plan.

From: Roy Lee
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Paph mix.
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 13:25

A quick note on using polystyrene in potting mixes. Make sure that it is of, or from FOOD GRADE poly ONLY.
If its not, the poly is toxic to your plants and will burn off the roots &/or prevent new ones forming. So dont go out and chop up the fruit or broccoli box from the Green Grocers.
This has been the down fall of many including me. I managed to correct the problem before it was too late.

From: LEONARD HANDLEY
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Overheated leaves
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 15:25

I grow a few orchids under a 400 watt high pressure sodium lamp, having no greenhouse. I've noticed that several Cattleya/ Laelia plants now have very stiff/rigid leaves and I presume this has resulted from my placing them too close to the lamp in an attempt to give them as much light as possible.
The leaves do not have any obvious burn marks and are a fairly uniform dark green.
I am concerned in case the "cooking" might have permanently damaged the leaves and/or interfered with their ability to photosynthesise. If so is there any remedial action I can take ?
Helpful comments would be appreciated.
Len Handley

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: e-mail...
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 17:40

On 13 Feb, in article ,
Geoffrey Hands wrote:
> I have been having problems with mail I thought I was sending to List not
> coming back to me from List. It seems that the difficulty is not that I
> am doing anything wrong , or that there is any problem with mail
> handling by Tricia − it is simply that some of us − mention no names -
> send messages to List in a way which will cause replies to be sent to
> them personally, rather than through List. To over-ride this, it is
> necessary that I − we − stop being lazy and clicking on "reply" and
> instead enter "List" as the address for the message.

Geoff's problem has actually solved a mystery. It appears that one or two
subscribers are setting a personal "Reply-To:" when posting messages to the
list. This means that when someone clicks on "Reply" they unwittingly send
their message only to the original poster, not the list.

Several times people have asked why a particular message has not been
broadcast and I have confirmed that it never arrived here. The mailing list
server cannot override an existing "Reply-To:" so please would everyone
ensure that they have not set one when posting to the list.

From: Barbara Larimer
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Grange Orchid
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 18:10

Geoff, You should contact them and claim the dinner! I am sure you are
correct about them being novices. It sounds as though it may be the only
orchid they own. Just a little gimmick for their establishment I think.

We in the middle of a huge snow storm here today, dumping 6 or more inches
of snow and then the ice will start later. All the schools closed.
Airports are not functioning. What a mess, albeit a beautiful mess.

My husband is in Birmingham for two weeks.. seems the weather is fine enough
in your part of the globe. Just my luck!!

From: Tina Stagg
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: email
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 18:50

Sorry if I have been causing confusion by 'replying'. As list@ etc pops up in the recipient slot I thought it was OK.

Why don't you like Outlook Express. Geoff? I never have any problems with it and never have any spam either.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Overheated leaves
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 19:05

would think that if they are a good dark green there is no problem − on the contrary, In the past I used sun lamps (400watt) and got them too close, and leaves turned beetroot colopur − before going yellow and dropping off.
Geoff

> I grow a few orchids under a 400 watt high pressure sodium lamp....
d. Len Handley

From: ron newstead
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Trade mark, copyright or watermark
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 21:30

Hi Jordan!
I am already in Florida writing to you on a friend's computer.
I seem to have come away from Bath without your street address. Could you
please send it to me?
Please reply to my gmail address or, preferably, to my friend's addres which
is
papaporter@tampabay.rr.com
Looking forward to seeing you
Ron

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Grange Orchid
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 22:55

On 13 Feb, in article
,
Barbara Larimer wrote:
> Geoff, You should contact them and claim the dinner! I am sure you are
> correct about them being novices. It sounds as though it may be the only
> orchid they own. Just a little gimmick for their establishment I think.

When I read the article I thought they are going to be inundated with
callers saying 'It's a Cymbidium' when clearly they know it is. According
to the article they have about 30 orchids and say this one has double
thickness stem and double thickness flowers.

I think you are right about it being a gimmick − they can say 'Thanks, we
have established it is a Cymbidium, but please have a brochure for your
trouble'. Or am I just an old cynic?

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Grange Orchid
Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2007 10:35

From: Roy Lee
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re; potting mix additives
Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2007 12:25

I'm not sure if my previous note on this subject got through so I'll send it again.
Polystyrene.
Huge note of caution. Do not use the average polystyrene such as packing, fruit & vege boxes etc. The poly from these is TOXIC to your plants. It will burn the roots of your plants and prevent new ones forming.
This from experience, although I found out quick enough to rectify the problem before it went too far.
The ONLY poly to use is FOOD GRADE poly such as in drinking cup, take away foods or certified granules.
Roy

From: Tina Stagg
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Grange Orchid
Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2007 18:45

I'm practicing replying − is this OK? It will probably reply to person and
to list, but that is the best I can do.
Tina

From: Sylvain VAN DER WALDE
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re; potting mix additives
Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2007 19:55

> I'm not sure if my previous note on this subject got through so I'll send
> it again.

> Polystyrene.
> Huge note of caution. Do not use the average polystyrene such as packing,
> fruit & vege boxes etc. The poly from these is TOXIC to your plants. It
> will burn the roots of your plants and prevent new ones forming.
> This from experience, although I found out quick enough to rectify the
> problem before it went too far.
> The ONLY poly to use is FOOD GRADE poly such as in drinking cup, take
> away foods or certified granules.

I've been using polystyrene pellets a long time. Actually, some orchid
nurseries use them.
But I will take mine out at the earliest opportunity, acting on your advice.
I only have a few orchids left, but hope to get some more in the near
future.

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Grange Orchid
Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2007 22:15

On 14 Feb, in article ,
Tina Stagg wrote:
> I'm practicing replying − is this OK? It will probably reply to person
> and to list, but that is the best I can do.

Thanks for trying, Tina. The Reply-To: line is still there, unfortunately.
Perhaps someone else using the same version of Outlook Express e.g. Rocky
could advise us what settings he uses, as his mails don't contain that
line. I realise that if you are using a 'work' computer you may not have
permission to change the settings, of course.

After any salary raise, you will have less money at the end of the month than you did before.

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	22-29
March	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31	April	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-30
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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

2007 Archived Messages

February 8—14