2008 mailing list messages

2008 Archived Messages

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From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] C.skinneri- and others − again
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2008

Our growing season is just about starting for these seasonal things, so
plenty of time to try and work out a new regime come the autumn.

> The humidity ranges from high (nights with clouds) rigth now pre clouds it
> is 75% to medium low, low (30%) in the day time w hen 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 th e plants below with the
> "drips". Cat Skinneri grows well here but I d o not believe it is native
> this high up...

I went up to the RHS Orchid Show yesterday with Bill. We met up with Roger at the OSGB stand and had a good chat.
Whether it is me being a jaded, grumpy o-- s-- but I was not impressed. To me it seemed a very tired attempt. There were no spectacular displays − no Foxdale Stanhopeasand Lycaste, no Butterfield Pliones, no LeClouffe spectacal and no ascocendra or Vanda from USA ( I've forgotten his name)
As I said − maybe it is me as I have not been for 5 or 6 years but in my mind the show used to be more spectacular.
Regards Dennis

From: JIM MATEOSKY
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] C.skinneri- and resting period
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2008

Last year I bought someones collection of 100+ Dendobiums mostly softcane Nobile types, I had never really grown them before so I put them here and there and everywhere to see what will happen, then proceeded to read to see where I should have put them (I tend to learn the hard way).

So the plants I put way up high out of the range of the sprinklers are flowering nicely, the ones I put where the get lots of water are growing nicely lots of keikis, a couple flowered. Interestingly enough some of these Dendrobiums have a similar resting period os the Cat Skineri, and respond accordingly with lots of flowers when they are permitted to rest, I didn't take note on how much time they take to bud when the resting period is started.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: The London Orchid Show.
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2008

Had a very interesting and enjoyable day at the London Orchid Show on Saturday. Met a couple of our stalwart chaps.....Bill Haldane and Dennis Read. We had a damned good chat and enjoyed then free sauna while we stood there !!!!!

Yes, it was that warm. Eventually, someone thought about opening the side doors to let in some cool refreshing air. Obviously not one of the R.H.S. people as they are on another planet.

Carrying on from what Dennis has posted, I also thought that the show was not what one would have expected.

Now I have not been for some years.....when BOTH halls were used, so I can tell the difference, like Dennis.

If you OBSERVED the layout and presentation of some of the exhibits, you would notice lots of spaces.

As my wife commented, Flower Arranging.....no definitely not. It's all, about ORCHIDS, especially buying them, taking notes etc, and etc again.

It was nice to see the 'Dealers' doing a roaring trade, after all it's their bread and butter.

What was very bad indeed was once again the lack of chairs, benches, for people to sit on and rest their legs. ESPECIALLY THE INVALID PEOPLE, and those with walking problems. The stairs, where I also sat were always in use as there was no other places to sit. R.H.S. MAKE NOTE.

I would guess that normally, many people would start and do the 'Outer Circle' first, then walk around the 'Inner Circle', and then the other sellers arranged not too cleverly on the side wall. I feel that the arrangement of the 'stalls' could have been so much better.

From what I hear, the 'Peterborough Show' is so much better. Maybe I will give it a try this year.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] RHS Show
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2008

We are getting old Dennis, and nothing is as good as it was in the oid days,
by definition

Personally I went , sorry I didn't meet up with you folks, but dearly
beloved accompanied me , and we met up with Ron (Newstead) and wife, and a
table was booked for 1pm at a rather nice hostelry I have discovered so a
2pm meet was not on the cards. As I was saying , when I interrupted myself
, my views on the show ; very crowded , only one hall . But it would have
rattled about in both halls. A problem having no solution I fear. Some very
expensive plants ; it's a long time since I have been asked £50, £60 even
£75 for plants I enquired about- I didn't buy any , to the slight surprise
of the vendors. But I collected the cattleyas and Brazilian species I had
pre-ordered , 22 good plants, none available this side of the pond except
this way − cost me £140 . I also bought cattleyas ( FS) , Cycnoches and
others, also FS , from a couple of Taiwan stands, averaging £15 each.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] The London Orchid Show.
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2008

Come on Roger − no chairs ? The balcony or whatever you call it at one end
of the hall, up the stairs ( at the entry end) is all chairs ! Always has
been, always will be, they tell me.

I'm as fast as anyone to lambaste the RHS , but it needs a genuine grievance; this is not !

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] The London Orchid Show.
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2008

O.K. then Geoff, if there were as you state.....possibly second hand knowledge.....so many chairs, then why were people sitting on the stairs. Answer, because there were far too few chairs.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Catasetums.
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2008

The plants in the images, growing naturally, all grow those upright seemingly stiff roots. BUT, they do not as far as I know, do this when grown in a pot. And I wonder why?

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: London Orchid Show.
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2008

I did order some plants from 'Peru-Flora' and I am very pleased with them. One thing that I did like was that we had agreed the price some weeks before, and true to their word, there was no hidden extras.

I had a good look at the two Chinese dealers, were they both from Taiwan??? I know that one was. Their name is 'Kendolie Agri-Tech. Ltd.

I bought a couple of Catts from them, and what I liked about their plants was that they were bare root, in a net bag, AND THE EYES/NEW GROWTHS COULD BE CLEARLY SEEN.

Unlike the other crowd who had the base of their plants very firmly imbedded in a small pot of moss. Couldn't see a damn thing !!!!

From: jean Lewis
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: sarcochilius
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2008

Hi Rocky I feel quite certain your sarco is a splendid speciment but I didn't get the photo of course as I have the digest and they are not attached to it. A drawback of the digest but it saves my sanity with not having so many emails arrive as with the many many others I get daily it would be the straw that breaks......etc. I'm wondering if anyone knows where I could get any other sarcochilius other than s.hartmanii and s.fitzgeraldii. I tried just about everyone at the London Show and although there were one or two good ones there they were ones I already have. Now the Australian Nursery doesn't send anyone it's so difficult to get any other kind and there are some beauties about. − Jean

From: tony garthwaite
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] The London Orchid Show.
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2008

Well, I'm sorry to have missed "the meeting" on Saturday, but travelling
down from 'Europe's Food Town' (Great Grimsby) my wife and I decided
that we could not make the venue in time, so we went to the British
Museum for a couple of hours on the Saturday afternoon and then to the
Show on Sunday.
I was interested to read the comments by Geoff, Roger and Dennis,
comparing this year with 'years-gone-by'.
I've only been to 'The Halls' once before. My mother took me there in
1956 at Easter.......I can't remember much about it! So....I have
nothing to compare with....consequently I enjoyed what was on offer!

Points noted for a subsequent visit were...
1: Take the car and park for free close to the entrance on Sunday
morning. (!) ...(It's cheaper than NCP somewhere outside the "Polution
Zone")
2: Arrive early (to beat the crowds!)
3: Pre-order (like Geoff).
4: Work out how to spend more money than my wife is aware of !!!!!
5: Enjoy what is there!

Anyway, we (self and wife) are stimulated to improve our collection. We
picked up some useful tips which we now need to put into practice!

Roger does have a point about seating if you are going around with a
Zimmer.... up the stairs to the seating! But.....difficult to see how to
overcome the problem with the number of visitors around the stands.

"It'll be certainly a lot cheaper to go to Peterborough" says my wife.
(Only 80 miles!) We will certainly make the effort after reading last
year's comments!

Oh, by the way, yesterday was freezing in London and blowing a hoolie,
so the Hall was nice and warm!!!

From: Ron
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: humidifier systems
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2008

The Flojet pump, model 210 − 232, has stopped working and I am having
difficuilty in getting it repaired or finding a replacement. Can anyone make
any heplful suggestions?

From: JIM MATEOSKY
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Catasetums.
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008

IMHO, -> Water. availability of water. Last week we talked about Cat Skinneri and dry seasons (rest period), Catesetums, ( like Brassavola nodosa ), live in a harsher environment, Hotter dryer in the dry season and much more rain in the rainey season, plenty of light as well. It is hard to appriciate how dry the dry season is, when you see the 2 incesh of dust on the roads it really makes an impression. low humidity as well.

In pots we can control the water (& food) much much more so it doesn't need or want to go searching for water. Ont the down side it is much easier for the novice grower to over water and kill these "pointy little buggers". I think these type of plants are much much more suited to growing on a slab or a branch. The addional air the the roots get in the wild also keep the roots dryier, and thus less problems with fungus ( my largest killer of orchids).

From: JIM MATEOSKY
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Catasetums.
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008

From: LEONARD HANDLEY
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] The London Orchid Show.
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008

There were indeed many chairs at the top of the steps: some people find it difficult to climb several steps, especially if there's no close handrail, so a short sit-down on the steps may suit them better, There was quite a large cafetaria area, with chairs, accessible by lift as well as by steps.
Len Handley

From: Esther Koh
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Catasetums.
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008

From: francis quesada pallares
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] humidifier systems
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008

Not sure how much water you need to pump with you
humidifier, but I have been using a water pump to keep
my Pleurothallidinae plants in two terrariums. I use a
pump designed by the company lucky lizard. And the
pump is actually called mist rain.

It doesn't cost a fortune, and the pump is quite ok.
However, if you want to use it in a greenhouse, I am
not sure it would be much help to you!

From: Dennis Read
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Catasetum roots
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008

Roger, I have seen this before on an Oncidium that was hidden by other plants and missed the waterings and feedings. It shot up roots into the humid atmosphere to survive − I assume. I think they are called 'adventitious roots' if that is the way you spell it.
regards Dennis

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Catasetums.
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008

The photos were taken at the Mayan Indian ruins of Kohunlich,
Quintana Roo, Costa Maya, Mexico.

I must admit that you can't beat actually standing next to an orchid
that grows naturally and taking in all of the information that is
there in front of you. And then passing it on to other orchid
growers.

It's a pity that this did not happen all those years ago, when just
about nothing came back from the adventures of the so called, ORCHID
COLLECTORS.

P.S.S. Thanks for the information on the Catasetums. It backs up
what I read in my 'Weather Book' of Central and South America. I
still say that MANY people water a retentive compost far too much.
Happily I am not in that group.

From: rudolf günnel
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Catasetums.
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008

Of course they do and to prove it I attach one photo of my Catasetum
fimbriatum. I think you asked this question some time ago already and I'm
pretty sure I sent this photo once already either via Orchid Talk or to your
private email address.
Hey mate, you've got to give your gray cells more food, they are starving
since you lost weight and you are thin that you can hide yourself behind a
broomstick!! :-) :-) I hope you understand my kidding!
In the wild these upright roots help the plant to collect/catch food from
rain water running down the tree trunks. Obviously they don't need these
utilities in captivity in a green house because they get enough food.
Contrary to expectations my Catasetum evolves these roots although I grow it
in pure hydroculture with plenty of food/fertilizer in the solution during
the growing season.
I attach another photo of the flowering plant to give you an impression of
its vigour and its strange and fantastic flowers.

> Calling all Catasetum fans,
>
> What I would lo know is this:
>
> The plants in the images, growing naturally, all grow those upright
> seemingly stiff roots. BUT, they do not as far as I know, do this when grown
> in a pot. And I wonder why?

From: Nathaniel Green
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] London show and Brassolaelicattleya
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2008

I came back from the London Show as a newbie and this first time I had been
I thought it was ok and I enjoyed the displays, I thought one or two were a
bit poor. As for chairs I almost missed them it was not until I was about to
leave did I notice them hidden away up the steps − So Rocky more signs and
sitting lower down would be useful.

My serious questions I have come back with it that I bought a lovely
Brassolaelicattleya Beauty Girl 'kova' − I have now been reading up on it
and found it likes warm temps and "Heavy" watering I water most of my
orchids weekly − will it during its growing season need more watering than
this?

Now my second questions that's more quizzical than serious is what days is
better to go on; Friday/Saturday to get first picks of the best orchids or
Sunday to get the selection of the display plants and more chance of a few
more bargins?

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] London show and Brassolaelicattleya
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2008

The London Orchid Show was held in the Lawrence Hall of the RHS (aka "the
New Hall"). The layout, including the chairs on the "balcony" has been
exactly the same as long as I can remember − I went to my first show there
almost 50 years ago, one of the RHS fortnightly Westminster Shows which they
had in those days for 11 months of the year. And if I'd only got a tenner
for every show I have been to since, it would pay my fuel bill for a year or
two...

Of course in those far off days, the nanny state had not been invented ; if
you wanted to sit down you went and looked for a chair, or asked an
attendant, or went to the information desk and asked if there was any
possibility. Maybe you even went to the bar and sat down with a pint and a
friend whilst you put the world to rights. You didn't expect nursey to
follow you around telling you that you need a rest and here's a wheelchair.

Nowadays, you go around with your eyes shut, ( and your mouth too − in terms
of asking for help ) ; you just go home and whinge on the internet instead.

I think I really prefer the world of 50 years ago . Can anyone point me to a
time machine ?

Ps , Nathaniel − the answer to your second question goes like this ; go on
Friday ( preview, costs extra, but you get a glass of wine ) and you may
find that you can see the plant you want, but the stand is not manned and
you can't buy it ; officially it is only a preview, not a pre-buy.
Leave it to Sunday afternoon, and sometimes − like the last BOC event which
was badly − correction − not advertised at all − and the plants are being
given away ( almost); but with my luck, what I would find is that there was
nothing worth buying ; all the best stuff and interesting stuff had gone
long ago.
This year I went on Saturday ; got into the hall 30 minutes after opening. I
got to Peruflora 30 minutes later and bought the last of a Cycnoches species
I dearly wanted − got home and found the bulb was rotten and I'll not see
the flowers although the buds have already started... two other things shown
on their stand were sold out completely.
Some things, you just can't win.

From: jean Lewis
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: London Show
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2008

Thank you for the photo Rocky. What wonderful Sarcochilius! You must be very pleased with them. You ask what we thought of the London Show. As always I was very glad to have been able to get there again. Rather disappointed no one from here was around on the Sunday − or not that I could see anyway. My first reaction was that it wasn't quite as good as previously but then perhaps it was after going across to the other Hall and finding it closed. I felt there were not quite so many people as usual from abroad but overall it was still a good display as my many photos illustrate. Jean

From: sheila bicknell
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] humidifier systems
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2008

Ron, Have you tried Simply Control ?, they did stock Flojet Pumps.. Regards, Sheila

> The Flojet pump, model 210 − 232, has stopped working and I am
> having difficuilty in getting it repaired or finding a
> replacement. Can anyone make any heplful suggestions? Ron

From:
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Orchid shows
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2008

Hi Nat,
This is Janet in Boynton Beach, Florida. In the US the true collectors try
to attend the shows as early as possible. Actually, as a member of the
society who is hosting the show, we are able to purchase even before the
show opens as we help the growers unload their wares. If one is interested
in a plant in a display that an owner is willing to sell I guess you would
have to come back on Sunday, after the show, to pick it up. As far as
bargains on Sunday go, some of the growers will reduce prices so as not to
have to return the plants to the nursery. Others will not. Hope this has
been helpful to you.
Wirey hugs and love and xxx and licks from Janet, Bobby and Asta

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: BLC.Beauty Girl 'Kova'
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2008

I bought a very similar BLC to yours, but what I am interested in is this; did the one that you bought come BARE ROOT IN A PLASTIC NET BAG? Or maybe you bought one from the other Chinese people that came with the roots and the bottom of the bulbs in a tightly compacted wad of moss?

If so, I hope that you can clearly see the new eyes that will grow and form a new bulb which will flower hopefully within twelve months or much less.

If it were my plant, I would choose a clay pot, because they 'breath' and they are heavy so that they will not topple over. As to what YOU might like to use as a suitable 'compost'. If you choose to use bark then please do yourself a favour and use ONLY large pieces of good hard bark. NOTHING ELSE incorporated in it. And that's it. If you want to try some other medium then just give me a shout.

Place the plant with the oldest end of the rhizome back against the pot side, with the rhizome at pot level or just below the rim, and then as you hold it in one hand pour/place the bark in. Tap it down, and that's it mate. You may of course wont to add a stake if the plant seems to wobble.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Catasetum roots.
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2008

I am not so sure about those roots and the stance that they take up. They are quite a few inches/centimetres from the trunk of the tree, so would not catch any water running down the bark.

Also, my brain asks me this question. Are they so designed to stop any 'critters' form maybe getting at the soft young flower spikes?????

From: Dennis Read
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Coelogyne cristata 'Alba'
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2008

As promised earlier here is the Coel. cristata 'Alba' plant and close up. The bloom was 8mm wide and 11mm deep. When it is grown in a basket it makes a specimum plant but the flower is not as spectacular as when grown in a pot or tray and fed regularly during the growing season.
Regards Dennis

From: Dennis Read
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Pleione formosana 'Alba'
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2008

This again is a spectacular flower. It is 12mm wide and considering it is very cool growing it gives Coelogynes a run for their money. It is a pity that the cross with Coelogyne seems so elusive.
Regards Dennis

Sorry. I am really back in the inch and feet age . But I try to be with it and screw up. For mm please read cm. Dennis

From: Ron Bower
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] London Show
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2008

Jean,
Your mail as well as a thank you to Rock's Sarcochilius, indicates an attachment as ATT00203 TXT 865 Bytes which when opened shows either a black Labrador dog looking at a plastic Duck in a bath, a advert for O2 or a series of pictures of various bodies, i.e. Bird with a dogs head or a camel with a lions head ect.. I wonder if you can inform of what the attachment should show.

> Thank you for the photo Rocky. What wonderful Sarcochilius! You
> must be very pleased with them. You ask what we thought of the
> London Show...

From: Theta
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] London Show
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2008

Ron − interesting. The e-mail I received from jean does not show any
attachments or pictures. -mark-

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2008 Archived Messages

March 15—21