15 - 21 March 2007 mailing list messages

2007 Archived Messages

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From: P G Hieke
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Zelenkoa
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 14:45

The flowers are 25mm wide and 30mm high with a very light lemony scent.
The infloescence caries 49 flowers and they last for a very long time.
Kind regards
Peter from Bloubergstrand

From: Tina Stagg
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Dendrobium virginalis
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 14:50

I haven't forgotten the photos, Sharon but it's raining and dull so I will wait for a sunny spell.
Regards,
Tina

> Hi Tina: Wonderful den! Interesting looking greenhouse -could you post
> a photo of it from the outside and a couple more of the inside please?

From: Geoff Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Lean-to greenhouse
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 15:10

Go for polycarbonate − and if you can. go for triple-walled, which is about
18mm thick overall. Saves a lot of fuel in the winter, and saves a lot of
cooling fans in the summer. You can get aluminium glazing bars for this
material, if you intend a D-I-Y job, or specify it from a few ( very few)
suppliers of ready-made arrangements.

> Dear friends,
>
> as my orchid collection has grown far beyond my available space, I am
> considering building a small lean-to greenhouse (about 5x3 m). Can you gi
> ve
> me any advice about materials and facilities to be used/installed? I grow
> mainly Phalaenopsis, both hybrids and species, and a few Cattleyas.

From: Geoff Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] hi
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 15:25

hiThere is an Orchids of the West Indies which I used to have, I rather think by someone at Kew − unfortunatel;y it seems to be lost...
However, there is also at least one in the Cattleyas and their Relatives series which is very helpful, but you need a really good bookshop to browse in to discover which one, and currently I don't have access to info.
Geoff

> I'm off to Tobago shortly − any orchids I should look out for when I'm
> there ?? I can find very little on the web .

From: Silvio a Beccara
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Lean-to greenhouse
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 17:10

thanks for your advice: why does the triple wall polycarbonate help also in
the summer? I always thought that warming of the interior of the greenhouse
should be due to thermalisation of sunlight, which should be made worse
during warmer months by a thicker insulating material − am I wrong?

Do you have any suggestion as to the height of the roof, shape of the framing,
and ventilation? Maybe there is some plan on the list's site?

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Our British Orchids.
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 18:50

I have always thought that it is nice to know something of the orchids that grow in ones own country, and to pass on this information to others from far away places.

So I continue with three photos taken just this morning of the leaf rosettes of the 'Green-veined orchid', Orchis morio.

Growing in a large meadow with other plants, especially Plantain, they can be difficult to find.

Just in case some of you may think that one set of leaves have some markings on them, let me tell you that is just splashes of mud. The leaves are plain green.

From: Esther Koh
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Zelenkoa
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 22:25

>The flowers are 25mm wide and 30mm high with a very light lemony scent.
>The infloescence caries 49 flowers and they last for a very long time.

From: Geoff Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Lean-to greenhouse
Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2007 12:35

I am writing from experience in saying that it really works , and now I have
to think why it should !

I know that glass gets very hot in full sun , and even with shade cloth on,
the glass is still hot. So I suppose it will radiate heat inwardly ( which
is a different thing from the heating effect caused by the transmitted
rays). Whereas the polycarb stays cool on the inside, even when hot on the
outside. This does not seem to work on what is sold as "twin-wall" which is
only 5 mm or so thick overall − I guess the air gap is insufficient to
provide very much insulation. But with the triple wall, you get two good
air-gaps.

the way I once investigated the insulating values/costs/light reduction
figures, and did calculations for pay-back time, based on fuel costs at the
date , for the whole series of polycarb products. This was some years ago ,
and Tricia intended to keep them available on Orchid Talk web-site ,
although no doubt the costsings are out of date now, and anyway , once you
get beyond triple wall the light loss starts to get serious ( from memory,
you get 95% transmission with double wall, 87% with triple wall, 72% with
quad wall...) and furthermore the higher numbers are almost impossible to
buy unless you want a container load...
Geoff

> Geoff,
>
> thanks for your advice: why does the triple wall polycarbonate help also
> in the summer? I always thought that warming of the interior of the
> greenhouse should be due to thermalisation of sunlight, which should be
> made worse during warmer months by a thicker insulating material − am I
> wrong?

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Peter's Zelenkoa.
Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2007 08:25

I did like your photo of THAT ORCHID !!! I also liked the look of what I would call a typical amateur orchid growers greenhouse.

The flowers and the arching spike are wonderful. I will be doing a search around the European nurseries later today, on the Internet of course.

What smacked me in the face was the name change from Oncidium to that eastern European sounding name. Who made the name change and on what basis was the name formed?????

From: Silvio a Beccara
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Lean-to greenhouse
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2007 14:55

what you write makes sense to me, especially when thinking of a triple
polycarbonate wall, which is the one I am mostly interested. In particular, I
think the reduced light transmission must play a role in enhancing insulation
during the summer, too. BTW, I am not particularly worried about light loss,
since I would be growing mainly Phals, and I think the few Catts I have can
be left in the open during summer here in Italy.

Has your calculation been made available on the site by Tricia? I would
definitely like to see it, even if figures might have changed a bit, to have
a rough idea of the main costs and savings.

From: P G Hieke
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Peter's Zelenkoa.
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2007 15:20

Harry Zelenko is american, living in New York and very much involved with Oncidiums.
Kind regards
Peter

> What smacked me in the face was the name change from Oncidium to that
> eastern European sounding name. Who made the name change and on what
> basis was the name formed?????

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Where to buy and colour change.
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2007 16:30

My Sarcochilus 'Fitzhart' is now about its best and after twenty five years it still does so very well. So, I am thinking of buying one or two more of the many hybrids. Does anyone know of a European nursery that sells them please.

On to the Cattleya flowers. Both Andy and I have pieces of the same plant, and I did not expect this colour difference from my two pieces. Some months ago Andy showed us two photos of the difference in colour on another of his Cattleyas, and I for one was gobsmacked, even thought that he was pulling our legs, but, now it has happened with two of my plants..........'something in the air', as we say here in England!!!

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Lean-to greenhouse
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2007 16:40

Here is the link to the page you need -
http://orchid-talk.co.uk/docs/Glazing.html

I am sorry that the costs are in sterling but at least the dimensions are
metric! ( and of course sterling is metric too , 100p £1.

From: Russ and Jenny
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Cymbidium bud
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2007 18:15

I have a cymbidium − spring king 'showpiece' bought from Burnham Nurseries several weeks ago, it appears healthy and I have followed the staffs growing advice as well as looking for guidance in my orchid books. However, the bud has not opened, in fact there has been very little change since I've had it! (the leaves are slightly darker). It sits with all the others on my windowsill. Now, is this normal or is there something I can do to encourage it? Would appreciate any helpful tips.

From: Geoff Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Peter's Zelenkoa.
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2007 19:20

If my memory serves me right, Harry Zelenko was the guy who did (painted from life) all the illustrations in the encyclopaedia of Oncidiums − maybe a thousand or more...
Geoff

From: jan
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Lean-to greenhouse
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 05:20

Geoffrey Hands wrote:
>
> I am sorry that the costs are in sterling but at least the dimensions are
> metric21 ( and of course sterling is metric too , 100p3D UKP1.
>
Yes, because 1 pound 1/2 kilo....

From: S.abeccara
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Lean-to greenhouse
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 06:25

thank you very much for this link. I am used to working with different
units, so no problem...
Do you have an idea where 5-walled polycarbonate may be found in continental
Europe?
Cheers

From: francis quesada pallares
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Where to buy and colour change.
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 06:35

My Sarcochilus Fitzhart has flowered for the first
time for me... Only 11 flowers on the inflorescence,
but I'm over the moon!

Onto Cattleyas changing colours... I have a Potinara
Hoku Gem that I divided into two plants. The flowers
open with a dark orange/marron colour, and over the
weeks change to bright yellow with red markings. The
two plants are 'out of sinc' for a couple of weeks, so
it is quite interesting to have them side by side and
see how different they can be!

Also in flower Max. sophronitis, Den. nobile hybrid,
Epid. Ballerina, dracula felix and waiting on my Den.
fimbriatum var. oculatum with about 40 flowers on 4
inflorescences!

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Jenny's Cymbidium.
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 09:00

You tell us about THE bud ????? Is there only one ? I hope that you mean a flower spike with several buds on it, yes/no !

If it is a flower spike with several buds on it and they look O.K. as far as you can tell then just be patient. It is quite common for them to take a little longer than some other orchids to go from bud stage to opening into a nice flower.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Cymbidium bud
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 09:00

Cymbidiums do take quite a long to develop their buds. But what do you mean
by buds ? How tall (long) is the flower stem ? Are the buds standing out on
their stems away from the main stem ? etc. Can you provide a picture ? It
would make it easier to advise !

From: Laura Peppiatt
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Peter's Zelenkoa.
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 09:10

He is probably an American but with Ukrainian blood in his veins:).
Zelenko means Green by the way.
sorry could not help this remark

I am intrested in finding Neophinetia falcata. If anyone does know where
in UK and under wich name can I find it?

> Harry Zelenko is american, living in New York and very much
> involved with Oncidiums.

From: Laura Peppiatt
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Where to buy and colour change.
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 09:35

I have bought my first Sacrochilus Fitzgerald on London show this year
from Kopf Orchideen. They may have hybrids as well. I would probably
prefer to buy a hybrid because it should be easier to grow but I did not
know about Fitzhart before I just liked the plant.

Because Fitzgerald is a parent for Fizhart may I ask you about your
growing conditions? Is your plant fragrant?

From: Gordon Walker
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Peter's Zelenkoa.
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 09:40

> I am intrested in finding Neophinetia falcata. If anyone does know
> where in UK and under wich name can I find it?

From: "WOOD, Michael \(WG\)"
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Peter's Zelenkoa.
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 09:50

Neofinetia Falcata − available from Plested Orchids − no. 4 / 259 price is around #17.50 for a multi-growth near flowering size plant

From: Tina Stagg
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Laura's neophinetia
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 10:05

I think Peter White may have Neophinetia falcata. Contact him at Sales@orchidsbypeterwhite.co.uk

From: Ron Newstead
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Lean-to greenhouse
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 10:05

I agree but failed to find a supplier of greenhouses with triple-walled p.
so I had to settle for double instead.

> Go for polycarbonate − and if you can. go for triple-walled, which is about
> 18mm thick overall.

From: Ron Newstead
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: De-flasking
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 10:05

I brought back a couple of flasks from the International orchid show in
Miami. In the past my de-flasking results have been somewhat patchy so I
would welcome some advice.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Peter's Zelenkoa.
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 12:25

Not difficult to find , it's Neofinetia by the way . Laurence Hobbs often
has big clumps for a price such as £12 ( from memory). Try him first.

From: mojca klancic
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Where to buy and colour change.
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 12:50

I noticed, that the colour of cattleya flowers changes considerably with age. Could it be the case of your plant?

Greetings from Slovenia in snow. Last week we had 20 oC during the day, today 30 cm of snow.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Neofinetia falcata.
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 13:00

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Wanted !!!
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 13:05

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Lean-to greenhouse
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 13:50

Sorry Silvio , I wouldn't know where to find polycarbonate of any kind in
continental Europe.
What I would do here in UK is Google "buy polycarbonate in Dorset"...

As a matter of curiosity I just googled "buy polycarbonate sheets in Italy "
and got Results 1-10 of 67,100....

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Where to buy and colour change.
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 13:50

Well done Francis, your collection is really coming on.
And are you doing so well with Den. Fimbriatum without a greenhouse (still)
?

From: Dennis Read
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Neofinetia falcata
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 15:35

Laura , If you are in Europe you could try Ratcliffe Orchids or Plestead Orchids.
Regards from a sunny,freezing and windy Devon.

From: francis quesada pallares
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Peter's Zelenkoa.
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 15:45

I bought mine from Laurence Hobbs Orchids a couple of
years ago. The correct name (or at least the one I
know) is Neofinetia falcata.

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: For Dennis and Silvio
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 18:25

Sorry to be a nuisance but I see in recent messages you are both
(unintentionally, of course!) setting reply addresses in your mail. As has
been mentioned, this causes problems for the mailing list server so please
would you remove them?

From: Tina Stagg
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] De-flasking
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 18:30

Keep the unopened flask in the greenhouse where the plants will grow until
the leaves are very nearly bursting out of the flask. Open flask, preferably
in situ. Whatever you do, do not touch the roots − handle everything by the
leaves. Shake off some of the medium and rinse if necessary with boiled and
cooled water but don't be too fussy. I leave some of the medium attached so
that the plantlets take their little 'security blankets' with them to their
new homes.

There is no need for fungicide, bactericide, or any other fancy chemical.
The important thing is speed and careful handling.

Pot individually, in tiny pots, in seedling bark, rockwool, foam or
whatever. Stand all the pots in a seed tray on some clean, damp hortag.
Water very carefully from the top to pull the roots down into the compost.
Put in a propagator if necessary − cattleyas like it for a few months but
vandas seem to prefer fresh air.

Pot on regularly to keep them moving. I haven't done very many flasks but I
haven't had any failures − yet.

>I brought back a couple of flasks from the International orchid show in
> Miami. In the past my de-flasking results have been somewhat patchy so I
> would welcome some advice.

From: jan
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] De-flasking
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2007 06:30

I'm not sure if my way if the best, but it seems to be the best I've
been able to come up with so far − most of my plants have been bought in
flasks − at first because I was too poor, but now it's because I'm
greedy and want as many plants as I can get.

This is what I do: I use a pair of chopsticks to take the plants out
(tweezers would do just as well), this seems to be the easiest way to
avoid damaging them. Remove as much of the growth medium as possible to
avoid mould, but I am not too zealous, as it is easy to damage the
roots. My observations suggest that one of the most important things is
to avoid standing water; the plants are normally quite resistant to
drying out, but I have lost many to standing water. I used to pot them
in finely chopped bark, but it seems to retain water too well, so now I
use coconut fibre. Especially my phalaenopsis seem to like it − I hang
them upside down mounted on each their little wad of coconunt fibre made
from a pinch of fibre held together with a small cable binder (from
Maplin). It's not pretty, but it works. Then I place them in my fog
chamber − the contraptions I've made from cheap ultrasound misters.

1. Avoid excess humidity
2. Drench periodically with a spray or mist
3. Avoid temperature extremes

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Sarcochilus.
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2007 09:35

My Sarcochilus is growing in a clay pot, because a clay pot is firm and solid, and a clay pot will also "hold the damp" as one person said many years ago. The medium that the roots run around/on is rock chippings, and I buy them in see-through plastic bags at Garden Centres. The trade name is quite often, 'Cambrian Green'.

I have not re-potted it for years, and if and when I think it needs it then that means taking a hammer to the clay pot and breaking it. The roots which run all over the outside will hang on to the broken pieces..........then I would just drop the whole thing into a slightly bigger pot, pour some of the stone chippings into the void and that would be it for quite a few years more.

From: Laura Peppiatt
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Laura's neophinetia
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2007 09:45

I bought Angraecum Leonis from Plested but I did not ask for
Neophinetia. I have realised now that nurseries have more plants than
one can find in their catalogue.
I am after small and fragrant plants now.
I am going to Amsterdam in a couple of weeks and probably will visit
orchedeeen Wubben. Probably I will buy Neophinetia and some other plants
from them.

> I think Peter White may have Neophinetia falcata. Contact him at
> sales@orchidsbypeterwhite.co.uk

From: Laura Peppiatt
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Where to buy and colour change.
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2007 11:20

I am impressed with the longevity and beauty of your Fizhart. This is
what has attracted me to the orchids. I have started with niod phals
from a garden centres and supermarkets and some of them have proved to
be very enjoyable but now I would like to buy something small and grow
it in a specimen plant to show it my grandchildren in 25 years time! I
have not got any grand children yet but the time is flying:)

Is your Fizhart fragrant? I have red that Sacrochilus Fitzgerald that I
have just bought should be fragrant but I cannot smell anything!

From: jean Lewis
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Sarcochilius
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2007 15:50

You said you are looking for another sarcochilius I believe. Here is the url to a Nursery in Yorkshire which is advertising them on its website: http://www.easyorchids.co.uk/site/content/view/24/47/ I've had very good results with my four sarcos − three of which are in spike now − one with three spikes, one with two and the newest has one. One is without and I have a very young sarco coming on. When they are in flower I'll send a photo along for people to see. Jean

From: francis quesada pallares
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Where to buy and colour change.
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2007 16:45

Still living in a flat, so I shall pat myself on the
back I guess! Although I got too excited and counted
10 flowers too many on that Den. fimbriatum! Only 32
(snigger, snigger)... Oh! And I forgot to count the
many flowers on the about 8 inflorescences of my
Dendrochilum wenzelii! (Now I am showing off!).

> Well done Francis, your collection is really coming on. And are you doing
> so well with Den. Fimbriatum without a greenhouse (still) ?

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
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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

15—21 March