2008 mailing list messages

2008 Archived Messages

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From: Dennis Read
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] What critter ????
Date: Sat, 08 Mar 2008

One word − mouse. I have loaded 'break back' traps set now after the same happened to me . See back about 8 weeks ago for my submission. Regards from water but filled Devon. Dennis

From: John J. Rupp
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] What critter ????
Date: Sat, 08 Mar 2008

I had a similar experience last year with a Blc Dan O'Neil It had a
nice spike with 7 buds. When they were about to open, they disappeared
- neatly trimmed off, leaving no trace of anything. I don't see any
sign of any damage on the leaves of your plants, and I would rule out
insects and slugs. I think you might be having, like I did, a little
larger, more mobile critter − like a mouse.

In my situation, I had seen no prior evidence of any mice, but I set out
traps and bait. The bait disappeared, and traps were successful. Got
'em! I believe I removed eight mice from society over several weeks. I
should have saved the pelts and made a coat.

From: francis quesada pallares
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] The London Orchid Show.
Date: Sat, 08 Mar 2008

I am likely to be there pretty much Friday, Saturday
and Sunday, so I'll see you there if I remember to get
by the OSGB stand at 2 pm!

> Hi to you of you that will be going to the London
> Orchid Show this year. On either the Saturday, or
> the Sunday.
>
> Some of us have proposed that if we would like to
> meet up with 'Members' of our Orchid Chat Club, that
> we meet at:
>
> The O.S.G.B. stand at 2pm.

Well now gents, we have had mice in our garden for a couple of years now. They used to eat the peanuts in the bird feeder, and also plunder the items in the bird box. I thought that they nested in a thick fir tree that grows in our garden. Some of them were found dead on our lawn from time to time.

Then I saw their droppings in my workshop, but have not seen them for some time.

I am still very interested in what such a small item would have for the mouse, and do they smell whatever is there???

P.S. The attachments are images I took of 'Our' mouse in the garden. The trap that I hope to buy is one of those which catches the critter alive, then I will take it to the copse by the stream and let it go.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] What critter ????
Date: Sun, 09 Mar 2008

Dennis said... Regards from water but filled Devon (sic) ( he meant water
butt )..

We can look forward to a lot of that it seems. I have just been looking up
weather forecasts on a very interesting site
(http://www.accuweather.com/ukie/index-forecast.asp?postalcodeBH23%207NZ )
, (although you will need to change the post code for your own local
forecast ) which talks about the after-effects of La Nina , wet,wet wet..

Also a most interesting comment from that site , from a meteorologist, not
an environmentalist/lobbyist. why do glaciers retreat ? Nothing to do with
global warming , its all about snow. Less snow/dryer period, glaciers
retreat , More snow/wetter period , glaciers build...this particular chap
links it to the La Noina cycle , saying just look at the history, what
happened before.

All a digression , but it seems we won't have to worry about empty rain
butts, if the man is right.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] What critter ????
Date: Sun, 09 Mar 2008

I believe this is one thing cats do quite well − look after mice. You could
try keeping one in your greenhouse ? No ?
Geoff

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Mouse.
Date: Sun, 09 Mar 2008

If you go trapping, you will need bait. I once did a small mammals course at
a Field Study centre and we trapped nightly ( special traps which did not
harm the beasties we caught, so that we could weigh them, identify them, sex
them etc., and then release.) I remember that cheese was quite useless for
mice, shrews etc despite popular repute. Chocolate, or chocolate spread on
bread was the most popular, but some species were quite keen on a nice ripe
Cox.

Hi Janet,
This is what I get when I send the message to you.
Regards
Peter
----- Original Message -----

From: "Mail Delivery System"
To:
Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2008
Subject: Mail delivery failed: returning message to sender

> This message was created automatically by mail delivery software.
>
> A message that you sent could not be delivered to one or more of its
> recipients. This is a permanent error. The following address(es) failed:
>
>
> SMTP error from remote mail server after initial connection:
> host gateway-f2.isp.att.net [207.115.11.16]: 550-196.41.6.142 blocked by
> ldap:ourblmx,dcbellsouth,dcnet
> 550 Error − Blocked for abuse. See http://www.att.net/bls_rbl/ for information.
>
> ------ This is a copy of the message, including all the headers. ------
>
> Return-path:
> Received: from [196.208.89.230] (helohome1)
> by mx09.vox.co.za with esmtpa (Exim 4.69 (FreeBSD))
> (envelope-from )
> id 1JY1YG-00060C-BC
> for ; Sat, 08 Mar 2008
> Message-ID:
> From: "PG Hieke"
> To: "Janet Fabricant"
> References:
>
> Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] WOC
> Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2008
> MIME-Version: 1.0
> Content-Type: text/plain;
> format=flowed;
> charset="iso-8859-1";
> reply-typeresponse
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
> X-Priority: 3
> X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
> X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.2180
> x-mimeole: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2180
> X-Original-Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] WOC
>
> Hi Janet,
> Yes we are safely back home. We enjoyed the WOC very much.

From: Dennis Read
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Mouse.
Date: Sun, 09 Mar 2008

Rocky, Mice enjoy the growing pollen and the sugar that is exuded while growing. The first time I set traps I also caught a Blue Tit a very small bird in the UK.
Regards Dennis

> I am still very interested in what such a small item would have for the
> mouse, and do they smell whatever is there???

From: Dennis Read
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Mouse.
Date: Sun, 09 Mar 2008

Bacon rind fixes to the prongs and is difficult to pull off. As for but or butt both are well wet. Regards Dennis

> If you go trapping, you will need bait. I once did a small mammals course
> at a Field Study centre and we trapped nightly ( special traps which did
> not harm the beasties we caught, so that we could weigh them, identify
> them, sex them etc., and then release) I remember that cheese was quite
> useless for mice, shrews etc despite popular repute. Chocolate, or
> chocolate spread on bread was the most popular, but some species were
> quite keen on a nice ripe Cox.

From: Tony Watkinson
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Mouse.
Date: Sun, 09 Mar 2008

Isn't that the guy in the boat that keeps saying "Stroke, stroke, stroke,
troke, troke, (ad infinitem)?

From: Dennis Read
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Coelogynes
Date: Sun, 09 Mar 2008

Here are two of my Coelogyne now in flower. The first is Coel. Unchained Melody. A good flower about 7.5 x 7.5 cms. It was bought as C. mossiae var. Majus from L&R Orchids in New Zealand. The second is Coel. Intermedia, or at least that is what I bought it as. It's flower size is 4.5 x 5.5 cms. So Paul and Elizabeth − what do you think.
I used to grow a lot of Coelogyne but after having been advised that 6 were in correctly named I have passed on that Genus. I still have a few but I no longer buy them.
Regards Dennis. ( I suppose we should be battening down the hatches for the forecast storm)

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Mouse.
Date: Sun, 09 Mar 2008

That's what tames the mousies you know ? stroke, stroke, stroke, and then
when they are happy ( not before), change your forefinger for a big hammer..

From: jean Lewis
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: London Show
Date: Sun, 09 Mar 2008

Hi Rocky et al. I'll be at the London Show on Sunday will look out at 2.0p.m. to see who is there. Cheers − Jean

From:
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Coelogynes
Date: Sun, 09 Mar 2008

Hi Dennis,
Your Coel. Unchained Melody is just gorgeous. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.
Janet Fabricant
Wirey hugs and love and xxx and licks from Janet, Bobby and Asta

From: Paul Johnson
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Coelogynes
Date: Sun, 09 Mar 2008

Dennis,
Both of your plants are variations upon what would now be called Coel.
Unchained Melody. The form with the pale yellow markings on the lip
are what was formerly referred to as C. granulosa, and is the color
form obtained when C. cristata var. lemoniana is used as the pod
parent with C. flaccida the pollen parent. Information at hand is not
clear as to what happens if the reciprocal is made. The darker form
of Unchained Melody, with the yellow-orange throat and distinct vein
streaking on the lateral lobes, is apparently the old Coel.
Intermedia. But, there are pale color forms pictured on Internet
sites that use the name Coel. "Intermedia magnifica", and pale orange
forms called Coel. Intermedia. Whether these are innate variations
from various crosses of color forms of C. cristata and C. flaccida or
not remains an open question. I am still awaiting replies from David
Banks on his experiments with these, but patience is necessary as he
is still under recovery from open heart surgery only three weeks ago.

I should also note that the relative width and depth of the sinuses or
emarginations at the base of the epichile are highly variable, too.

Indeed, it is disappointing to find plants misnamed. It is easy to
blame the nurseryman, but since most of his/her plants were obtained
elsewhere, the retailer is in the middle on such things. Just this
winter I bloomed a number of plants that were misnamed, including ones
from `reputable' nurseries. It is the nurseries and suppliers that
deliberately sell misnamed plants that deserved the so-called `cowboy
diplomacy' response [a.k.a., the `Clint Eastwood' revenge]! : )

From: John J. Rupp
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Coelogynes − need help
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2008

After seeing all the photos of absolutely beautiful Coelogynes, most
recently from Dennis, I determined that I must request help in how to
grow and blom Coelogynes. I obtained a Coelogyne cristata in 1980 and
it first bloomed in Dec-Jan 2005-06 and again in 2006-07. It did not
bloom this year. The pot contains perhaps 50 pseudobulbs in a rambling
mound. Over the years I have tried to follow all the various advice I
could get − keep dry in winter, lots of light, low light, etc, etc.

There seem to be a number of successful Corlogyne growers in the club,
so can you help me? What is your successful culture − growing medium,
watering routine, light, temperature, fertilizer, dividing, etc?

The best suggestion might even be to just put it outside, (We currently
have a temperature of 5F, after -11 F last night, and about 2 feet of
snow on the ground.), let nature take its course and start over with a
Coel. Unchained Melody. I have considered that thought, but having it
flower after 25 years for two years in a row, I thought I may finally be
on to something. Now I am not sure.

--
Dr. John J. Rupp
Emeritus Professor of Chemistry
St. Lawrence University
Canton, NY 13617

From: Dennis Read
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Coelogynes − need help
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2008

John, At this time of year in the northern hemisphere C. cristata should be in bud. All my Coelogyne are soaked 4 times a day frm March to October and fed with fertiliser once a week. In november they are kept damp to stop the bulbs from shrivelling. Plenty of light at all times.
I have sold on all my C. cristata's but one − a magnificent alba form . It is now in bud but I will post a picture when it opens.
I think Coelogynes are a fine orchid but I am fed up with far eastern growers selling wrong species.
Don't give up. Drench it during summer

"John J. Rupp" wrote:
After seeing all the photos of absolutely beautiful Coelogynes, most
recently from Dennis, I determined that I must request help in how to
grow and blom Coelogynes. I obtained a Coelogyne cristata in 1980 and
it first bloomed in Dec-Jan 2005-06 and again in 2006-07. It did not
bloom this year. The pot contains perhaps 50 pseudobulbs in a rambling
mound. Over the years I have tried to follow all the various advice I
could get − keep dry in winter, lots of light, low light, etc, etc.

--
Dr. John J. Rupp
Emeritus Professor of Chemistry
St. Lawrence University
Canton, NY 13617

From: francis quesada pallares
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Coelogynes − need help
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2008

I have only had mine for two years, and have not seen even a bigger
bulb than last year... Does that mean that I will have to wait
another 23 years before enjoying my first Coelogyne flowers? ;-)

> After seeing all the photos of absolutely beautiful Coelogynes,
> most recently from Dennis, I determined that I must request help in
> how to grow and blom Coelogynes. I obtained a Coelogyne cristata
> in 1980 and it first bloomed in Dec-Jan 2005-06 and again in
> 2006-07. It did not bloom this year. The pot contains perhaps 50
> pseudobulbs in a rambling mound. Over the years I have tried to
> follow all the various advice I could get − keep dry in winter,
> lots of light, low light, etc, etc.

From: Alex Scott
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Coelogynes − need help
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2008

Have you tried coelogyne ochracea? small flowers but a great scent and
flowers more readily in my experience. I had a cristata for 5 years which
didnt flower and an 'intermedia' which flowered regularly till it was too
big for my window sill and was swapped. My conclusion is that cristata is
one of the more difficult ones to flower though it grows easily.
Regards, Alex

> After seeing all the photos of absolutely beautiful Coelogynes, most
> recently from Dennis, I determined that I must request help in how to grow
> and blom Coelogynes.

From: Dennis Read
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Coelogyne -size
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2008

Francis, Within reason size does not matter. Attached is a pic of my Coel. Cristata var Alba. I kept a bulb when I sold the main plant about 4 years ago and it has flowered the last two years. I kept it as the alba form is not common as well as this clone has fine upstanding spikes. You can get an idea of the size of the bulbs by the tape in the plant.
I suggest you stop watering and give it a lot of light. I find that if it is too warm (over 55F or 12C) it hinders flowering.
Hatches still battened down and butts overflowing. Regards Dennis

From: PG Hieke
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] WOC
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2008

Hi Janet,
yes, we enjoyed Key West very much it is worthwile to go there. I always thought
that it was a windswept beach with some fishermens huts at the end of USA.
I was pleasantly surprised that it is a lifely town with lots to see. I knew that
Ernest Hemingway lived there from time to time, but I did'nt know that you
have to queue to get into it. Some people are put off to go, because of the
long drive over some islands and 42 bridges which takes about 3 hours.
So, don't hesitate, just select a weekend and go.
Kind regards
Peter and Hedwig

> Hi Peter,
> Thanks so much for forwarding your letter to me via Orchidtalk. I will try
> to get in touch with Bellsouth and see what happened.
> So happy to hear that you enjoyed the WOC. We did, too, though we did not
> have to go very far to get there. Sounds like you got a chance to see quite
> a bit of Florida as long as you were here. We went to Fairchild Garden last
> week to see an orchid show. Had never been there. Love Chihuly so we
> really enjoyed ourselves. Did you like Key West? Bobby has never been
> there so I've been thinking of taking him down there for a weekend.
> Glad to hear that you enjoyed your Caribbean cruise. I didn't know that
> ships leaving from here were permitted to go to Haiti. I've never been
> there.
> Hedwig is so fortunate to still have her mom. 101 is quite an age. Hope she
> is faring well.
> I can't tell you how happy I was to meet the two of you. It almost seemed
> fated when Hedwig came over to the desk where I was volunteering and saw my
> name on a badge.
> Looking forward to seeing you again.
> Fond regards to both of you,
> Janet

From: PG Hieke
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] WOC
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2008

From: francis quesada pallares
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Coelogyne -size
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2008

that looks like a realy nice, free flowering plant, if
the spike is anything to go by!

I won a Coe. cristata var alba at my orchid group's
auction this month... I can't believe I got a plant
which might be twice as big as yours for the
incredible price of £1!!!

I wasn't even sure that I wanted to keep it, I just
thought if I get the auction started for the plant,
someone else will bid on it... But nobody did... I was
going to sell it on, but now, I will consider keeping
it!

Just a question, I have heard that many clones of
cristata do not flower at all... How could you know if
your plant is one of those clones or you are just not
providing the right conditions?

I live in a flat, and I think I might just be giving
the wrong conditions. How yould you encourage such a
plant in a flat to produce some flowers?

From: Dennis Read
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Coelogyne cristata
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2008

Francis, Look for the coolest room. As I said most non-flowering cristatas are kept too warm and not given enough water in the summer.
Regards Dennis

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Coelogynes − need help
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2008

There was a piece in the last Orchid Review about how Coelogyne cristata (
and maybe others) grow in the wild.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: C.skinneri- and others − again
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2008

Jim − you were talking about how dry the plants are , when resting. I took
that on board and have been digesting it ; probably my catts are not dry
enough in the winter , for example because I grow a lot of stuff in the roof
above them, and when watered or sprayed, things below get splashed. I'm
still thinking what to do about that.

But my question is this ; when you say C skinneri etc is dry − what about
the humidity ? Is that very low ? or is it just nothing much gets to the
roots ?

From: Paul Johnson
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Coelogyne cristata
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2008

Dennis is quite right. In my situations, C. cristata, and other
Himalayan species and their hybrids (e.g., Unchained Melody), are well
watered and fertilized during the summer, in a moisture retaining but
well draining mix (I like coconut husk chunks with charcoal & perlite;
sometimes with broken sphagnum added), high light year-round, good
ventilation, and significant temperature drop in autumn. I move them
outside for the summer (I grow for interest, not shows!); those in
hangers are up with the laeliines. They experience the autumn cool-
down with the Cymbidium, but come inside before frosts. Although I
keep them cool, 50's-60's F through the winter, it seems that a
protracted cool-down period stimulates more growth & flowering than
does continuous cool. If I do not see inflorescence development
starting by mid-December then there will be no or few flowers that
season. The plants continue to be regularly watered until the
inflorescence starts, then only a bit of carefully applied water if
they actually start to get dry; it seems best to always keep them damp
to moist. In general, roots of Coelogyne species should not
experience extended, regular, or extreme drying; high humidity is just
not enough. To paraphrase an old saying: happy roots make happy
flowers.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Sarcochilis Fitzhart
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2008

This is my plant just about at its best. Still just a few flowers to open, but of course the first to open are already beginning to fall.

Knowing how I grow just about all of my epiphytes in a non decomposing medium, such as rock pieces, broken clay flower pot pieces etc. you may like to know what I grow my Sarcochilus in?????

Trouble is, that it has been in that pot for so long, that I have forgotten. Maybe broken pieces of pot, maybe stones???

Can't even see what's in there as the roots are over the edge and crawling all over the place.

Oh well, at least it can stay there for a few more years without me worrying about the compost decomposing etc.

From: nancy
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Sarcochilis Fitzhart
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2008

~~~~~~~~~~~
"It isn't enough for your heart to break
because everybody's heart is broken now."
------Allen Ginsberg

From: JIM MATEOSKY
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] C.skinneri- and others − again
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2008

The humidity ranges from high (nights with clouds) rigth now pre clouds it is 75% to medium low, low (30%) in the day time when the sun is out. I have the same problem, hanging things above and smaller plants in plastic pots below, we certainly have killed a few of the plants below with the "drips". Cat Skinneri grows well here but I do not believe it is native this high up.

That is the deal, humidity, and dew, slabs, clay pots, plastic pots.
Her is another, light, temperature.
I think there should be a diagram of these relationship , chart, or a circle, showing the relationships things that you can substitute (sometimes only slightly). I wish I was able to create one, maybe there are some orchid knowledgeable artists out there. For example the amount of water you give a cattleya on a slab is much difference than the same cat in a plastic pot.

Another example, many many "experts" come to my greenhouse, I live at 5000 ft (1500M) I get stuck in the clouds for at least a few hours a day, so when the clouds are in my greenhouse it seems much colder than the thermometer says. These experts almost always say you need to close off an area completely with plastic to raise the temperatures, (the experts all live in a warmer(slightly) climate. Yet my 1000+ cats are very very healthy and happy, flower at regular intervals, nice roots, nice leaf color. My answer to these experts is the plants are in a slightly higher light, nice breeze, well drained media or on slabs, I do not need it hotter.

To back get to answering your question, I have been paying more attention to dew since we last talked (emailed) about this.
The plants that do really well, are not watered per sea. They are dry but there is some humidity, some dew, these plants do a little better than the plants that live where Brassavola nodosa thrives, there it is even drier, and for a longer period of time. I also found out that my worker waters these slightly when I am not around (I was kind of PO'd to here this, but the plant is happy). So I think the answer is: Try to give them a dry period of several months in the winter time, have them in loose well well drained media ( I prefer slabs, vanda baskets, wire baskets, and small logs or medium size branches. Hold back fertilizer.

> Jim , you were talking about how dry the plants are , when resting. I
> took that on board and have been digesting it ; probably my catts are
> not dry enough in the winter , for example because I grow a lot of
> stuff in the roof above them, and when watered or sprayed, things
> below get splashed. I'm still thinking what to do about that.
>
> But my question is this ; when you say C skinneri etc is dry , what
> about the humidity ? Is that very low ? or is it just nothing much
> gets to the roots ?

From: Roy Lee
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Sarcochilis Fitzhart
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2008

Excellent job Roger, could just about make Honorary Aussie growing a plant like that.

From: PG Hieke
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Mail to Janet Fabricant
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2008

Hi Janet,
another 2 mails have been returned with the message
550 Error − Blocked for abuse.
I don't know what that means. Only bellsouth.net can explain that.
Kind regards
Peter

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Pat on the back for Tricia.
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2008

I have been trawling through the Internet; still looking for some information on how different people grow Eriopsis biloba.

Not much success as yet, but one thing that has shown up, is this the fact that Tricia [H.I.] has used the straight forward no nonsense 'Outlook Express' for us all to use and say this and that.

Having seen some of the other 'Forums' and their many different formats, I am glad that Tricia has stuck to her guns.

For Christ's sake.....some of them are so bad, so full of photos of kids, dogs and whatever, that it is often difficult to see what one is looking for. Not that I very hardly ever do, because they are so disastrous.

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Pat on the back for Tricia.
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2008

Thanks for the compliment Roger, but I don't quite understand what
you mean about Outlook Express unless you are referring to the fact
that this list is email only − any email client may be used.

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
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

2008 Archived Messages

March 8—14