2008 mailing list messages

2008 Archived Messages

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From: John W Stanley
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] green algae − or cyanobacteria?
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

What's wrong with green algae then?
If it really is a green alga conditions can't be so bad. On the other hand, if it's a blue-green 'alga' which isn't an alga at all but a cyanobacterium then it is probably best got rid of.
Cyanobacteria, in my meagre experience, usually have a characteristic dank pong, are mostly filamentous and are noticeably bluer than true green algae.

Incidentally; apologies to OT friends for my recent non-participation. I seem to get spam like some get cyanobacteria and I have been limiting my output for a spell. Come to think of it, If anyone can cast a spell or lend me a magic wand I'd love to stuff it where Corporal Jonesy claims they (spammers) might not like it up 'em**
(** for non UK friends this is a reference to a catch-phrase from a UK BBC comedy 'Dad's Army' in which a veteran of wars gone by, Jonesy, likes to wave his old sword in a manner to strike terror into an equally veteran enemy).

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Hydroleca.
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

A Bristolian then..........people always confuse our New Forest dialect with people from the Bristol area !!!! I used to have two mates from Bristol when I did my National Service and others thought we all came from the same area.

It is so nice for me to know that someone else has moved away from bark for common sense reasons.

As to your soft water, well, oh dear excuse the pun, at least our water is drinkable !!!!!

Maybe I will put a mention on the Spreadsheet as to those who use an alternative to bark. Not necessarily all of their plants, but at least some of them.

From: Ron
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] green algae
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

> Nat, You need some Permanganate of Potash. Put some in your water
> butt and water your plants with it. The water should look a pale
> pink.

From: Ron Bower
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] green algae − or cyanobacteria?
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

John,
You should try Spam Fighter. There is a free and a paid for version. I use the free one and it is excellent. I get almost 100 per day, and only the odd one gets through.
Ronbow.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] green algae − or cyanobacteria?
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

. and unless you also are a veteran of wars gone-by − or alternatively a
collector of DVDs of ancient TV shows gone by − even this explanation may
not help much.

When I said Home Guard − to save us in the war − to my 5 year old
grand-daughter − she asked whether this was the war of the Roses , of which
she had heard − I was tempted to say yes − they are both vague
recollections from my youth, it seems .

From:
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] French translation.
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

Hi Rocky,
We are jazz fans and have some Sidney Bechet cd's but I am unable to find the translation for that word. Wondering if it was the name of a person.
Wirey hugs and love and xxx and licks from Janet, Bobby and Asta

From: gavin horne
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: phaleonopsis mariae alba?
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

High all, please find attached some piccy's of a phal mariae that has just flowered. I got it as a bonus plant from europe in a phaleonopsis order. As you can see it has flowered alba! I have checked the internet orchid speceis site:- the only reference to mariae alba directs to phaleonopsis pallens which on checking the botanical details and the attached photo this definately is not. Also i have checked various vendors sites with no reference to alba forms. Does anyone know or is able to confirm if this is something new or not.I eagerly await your responses!happy growingGavin

Hi Rocky can you scan those articles again they are appearin distorted and
unreadable.happy growing
Gavin

From: Mr G.Horne
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Nathaniels algae issue
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

Hi Nathaniel, i know your fed up with reading possible cures to your algae
issue! But, i grow a few plants hydroponically also, and i have a similar
problem with algae and blanket type weeds! I have just got of the phone
with a hydroponics retailer stating my problem; and he has suggested i use
a substance called "oxyplus". One of the main constituents of said product
is h3o ie extra active oxygen.and as you know one of the main causes of
algae etc is lack of oxygen,so i have ordered said product and will let
you know my results shortly.hope this helps,happy growing!
Gavin

From: Sue Brinsko
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Clay orchid pots.
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

Rocky, I've checked 2 out of 3 of the stores I may have seen the Italian
pots in... so far no Italian pots.I'll keep looking. As far as your
orchidlist spreadsheet : Sue Brinsko Wisconsin, USA one phal,
one dtps, one paph that still hasn't bloomed no "specialty" no
website TTYS Sue B

From: PG Hieke
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] ph and ph adjusting
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

Hi Gavin, have you checked the light levels? I think your plants get
too much light. How many lux have you around your plants? Give them a
bit more shade and the new leaves will be much greener. Epsom salts
and ph will not chnage the colour of the leaves. Also, the
yellow/pale green leaves will not change colour and become green
again. They stay that way. Only the new leaves will be greener if
there is less light.

> Hi Every one, i have a two part query that im hoping someone can
> help with!I have a very general orchid collection:- mainly
> paphs,dendrobiums,oncidiums,bulbo's,pleuro's, angrecoid's,acsda and
> phaleonopsis and many others.I have noticed that a lot of my plants
> are not as green as they could be i have given the yellower ones a
> dose of epsom salts and after thinking about it , i have decided
> all else is pretty good except possibly water quality;which is ph 7
> and comes from my ro unit.Can someone suggest a good ph that will
> accomodate my collection i understand that 5.5 − 6.5 is the ideal,
> i also understand that some plants are calceolus. The second part
> of my poser is, i have a ph meter and have aquired some ph down, i
> have diluted the ph down at the rate of two caps full to 1litre of
> water, can someone tell me how much i would need to add to 100
> litres of water(ph 7) to bring it down to say ph 6.5 as this would
> save me a lot of trial and error and be most helpful. many thanks!
> happy growing!

From: PG Hieke
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] green algae
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

Hi Nathaniel, you can safely use Potassium permanganate to kill the algae.
It will not affect your plants. The water should be light to medium pink
and within 2 − 3 weeks the algae are gone and the water becomes clear
again. Otherwise keep direct sunlight away from the water or the pots.
Kind regards
Peter from Bloubergstrand

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Non orchid question.
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Nathaniels algae issue
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Non orchid question.
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

Your comment backs up what Peter said. Yes New Orleans was of course 'New'
Orleans. I have been to the French Quarter and it is very nice.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] French translation.
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

From: David Martin
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] phaleonopsis mariae alba?
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

Gavin,
Looks like it is Phal inscriptiosinensis to me. There is a picture in "Phalaenopsis a monograph" by Eric A. Christenson.
David

From: David Martin
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Rocky
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

> Hi Rocky can you scan those articles again they are appearin distorted and
> unreadable.happy growing

From: John J. Rupp
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [!! SPAM] Re: [OrchidTalk] Clay orchid pots.
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

For clay pots try looking in crafts stores. Here in North America we
have a chain called Joann's Fabrics which sells fabrics by the yard and
craft items. I have found them to be a good source of clay pots. It
seems that people who are into crafty things like clay posts to use as a
base around which to build their stuff. They usually have clay pots in
stock up to 8 inches in diameter, and they are stamped "Italy" on the
bottom.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Good books.
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

Yes mate, there were some very good books all those years ago, unlike the 'All pretty photos and sod all else' that we see today. I have some old books that make such interesting READING, job to put them down sometimes.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Fred Johnson.
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

My next article on the growing of orchids in an inert medium comes from the Orchid Review Volume 75 No. 894 dated December 1967.

After I came upon this article many years ago, I did a bit of detective work and managed to find a phone number of Fred's right hand man. The actual Bird Garden had closed. Fred's colleague told me that his system really worked so well for him.

So, have a good read of Fred's article as I am sure many of you will find it very interesting.

From: Dennis Read
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] green algae
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

Potassium permanganate is available at most chemists but as it can be used to make bombs you may be questioned.
Dennis

From: Dennis Read
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Orchid Review
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

For those interested in the old fashioned hobby of reading, back copies of The Orchid Review are now offered through Burnhams web site back to 1947
Regards Dennis

From: Kenneth Bruyninckx
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] phaleonopsis mariae alba?
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

Not to temper your enthousiasm, but I would expect an 'alba' type flower to
be pure white, white with some green but certainly not with red.

As for the best references to check your Phalaenopsis, try the following
monographs/treatments:

From: John W Stanley
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Non orchid question. Re;translation from French . . .
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

Like many others of an English persuasion, I am pretty useless at French.
However, I looked up the relevant phrase and finished up at -
http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/bechet_sidney/albums.jhtml?albumId483750

where it becomes apparent that there is no error in the quotation.
I have amused myself chasing the word "Mossieu" and there are loads of
references to it, mostly implying confusion.

Hope this helps.
Will try my 4-in-1 Oxford dictionary in a while and see if that helps.
Cheers
John (must listen to the music sometime!)

From: John W Stanley
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Non orchid question. Re;translation from French . . . 2
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

Just had another quick browse; I suppose it couldn't be a slang word could
it.
Not entirely unknown in Trad Jazz and that could be why it isn't in
disctionaries.
Can't you find a very rude and vulgar Frenchman anywhere? (There aren't
any?. . . . . Oh.)
Cheers again
John

From: David Martin
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Hydroleca.
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

Hello Rocky,
It would be interesting to know who grows their plants in other types of compost. How about me starting the list?
I grow about 8 Phal species in pure sphagnum moss. They are wet all the time but are growing much bigger leaves.
I have 1 Vanda in stone chippings and Dyna-Rok, not so sure about that although it's still growing. Hasn't had long enough for me to form an opinion.
I have 20 mounted on cork bark, some with moss and some without.
The rest are in bark with a liberal dose of chopped up cork mixed in. That's wine corks!!!! My friends save them for me, and I sit watching TV in the evening, with a bowl on my lap, and a pair of secateurs, cutting up the corks. My reasoning is this, if they like growing on bark then they shouldn't object to growing in it.
Now then Rocky, how are you going to list that.
Here's a Lemboglossum growing on Oak bark (Quercus robur).
Cheers David.

From: Ron Bower
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] green algae
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

You can get Permanganate of Potash from your Chemist. You don't have put this in your water butt, but if you do you have to keep checking depending on the dilution from rainwater, you can add the Crystals to can or jug, just see that the water is only pale pink. The strength is not critical so long as you don't over do it.It would have to be quite strong, a very deep pink, almost purple infact, before you would harm the plants.

From: Ron Bower
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] green algae − or cyanobacteria?
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008

Geoff,
Blue Green Algae is bad.Had it in my trout fishing lakes during the last long hot summer, can't recall the year, 2000/2001 maybe! Any way, fishing had to cease for as it did not kill the fish, it could have been a bit iffy for humans had the eaten any,

From: Bill Haldane
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Radiator Heating for Greenhouses
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2008

I am building a new orchid house and am contemplating using standard central heating radiators for background heating levels supplemented by electric fan heaters on thermostats and timers to provide higher temperatures.
Does anyone have any experience or information on such a system? All answers will be appreciated.
Regards Bill Haldane

From: rudolf günnel
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] phaleonopsis mariae alba?
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2008

I must second Kenneth.
'alba' means in a taxonomical sense the missing of any pigmentation
therefore the flowers are pure white.
'albinum' or 'albino' means the missing of the red colouring pigment
therefore the flower colouration can be green, yellow or white.
The flower shown by you alas is neither of both.

From: PG Hieke
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] phaleonopsis mariae alba?
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2008

Hi Gavin,
The attached pic is definitely not a P. mariae. Both pics are the same.
It shows a yellow flower with red bars, which cannot be an alba form.
Phal. mariae f alba and Phal. pallens f. alba are one and the same. It
has been found once and is not in cultivation at this time, according to
Eric Christenson.
I believe that this plant is a hybrid and not a species.
Happy growing
Peter from Bloubergstrand

gavin horne wrote:
To: orchid talk
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Subject: [OrchidTalk] phaleonopsis mariae alba?

> High all, please find attached some piccy's of a phal mariae that has just > flowered.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Radiator Heating for Greenhouses
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2008

I have been using systems of this kind since my 2nd greenhouse- and I must
be up to number 17 or even more by now.

If you are running off your house boiler, you will realise that it is
probably programmed to switch off in the night ; not a good thing ! You can
change your pipework so as to take the boiler outlet water via two pipes -
one to your greenhouse system and leave the second one controlled by your
house programmer. Of course other ideas will occur, once you understand the
problem.

I have usually had a separate boiler , for various reasons ( distance from
the main dwelling house for example − running hot water pipes a hundred
yards down the garden to reach the greenhouse is an expensive way of heating
the neighbourhood ! )

Your boiler must vent externally ; never mind what idiots tell you about its
all CO2 , it will quickly be fatal if you don't do this.

After that, you have the usual choices of an air-reading stat ( needs to be
well shielded from sunlight, and preferably at leaf level ) or individual
radiator stats etc.

If you have a really good steamy humid house, rust will eventually be a
problem with radiators, but they do last a long time I find. My earliest
choices, when pennies where scarce − before my more opulent days as senior
partner − and before my second penury as a pensioner − used second hand
radiators bought cheaply from a plumber − or nowadays I suppose, collected
from the "recycling" section of the local tip − and even they often lasted 4
or 5 years. Modern new well painted ones seem to go on for ever.

The same can't be said for most electrical controls, which are not designed
for the temperature and humidity of the greenhouse. I find that the
Honeywell room stat I now use to control on/off lasts 18 months in the
greenhouse and then needs a replacement − fortunately they are not very
expensive.

Can't think of anything else relevant , but if you have any questions − just
ask

> I am building a new orchid house and am contemplating using standard central
> heating radiators for background heating levels supplemented by electric fan
> heaters on thermostats and timers to provide higher temperatures.

> Does anyone have any experience or information on such a system? All answers
> will be appreciated.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] phaleonopsis mariae alba?
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2008

What we used to call Odontoglossum bictoniense ( God only knows what it is
called now − it would still be Odontoglossum bictoniense if I still grew it
) came in a delightful form , a lovely apple green with white bits − always
sold as "alba"... and I could name a lot more too.

I take the terms alba and album to be merely versions of the same word ,
used according to the Latinate rules applied here, where usually all of the
words in the name have the same endings − Dendrobium herveyanum magnificum (
an imaginery example) not Dendrobium harveyana magnifica

I also take all of these alba, albinum etc words to mean ' its lost its red
colour' ut may still show brown, green,white see e.g. Vanda sanderiana alba
as a good example.

From: Mr G.Horne
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: new colour form?
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2008

David, i only have access to jays internet orchid species site, i have
looked up inscriptionensis and the petals are rounder and the lip looks
less bristled and redder. Are you able to scan your picture so i can
compare. As i still think this fits phal Mariae's botanical details the
best; but i am aware species do vary alot amongst there selves, hence the
request for your picture of phal inscriptionensis.Thanks for your input it
is most appreciated, i know now its not an alba, but could it be a new
mariae colour form?Another question do other speceis grow in the same
local as mariae that could naturally hybridise?Happy growing,
Gavin

> Gavin,
> Looks like it is Phal inscriptiosinensis to me. There is a picture in
> "Phalaenopsis a monograph" by Eric A. Christenson.
> David

From: jeff parkes
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Radiator Heating for Greenhouses
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2008

I have used domestic radiators for 25 years but have underbench fans ( actually two large 25 inch diameter units) pointing at the radiators... had no problems with rusting and great movement of warm air. If you want an extra burst of humidity in the winter just spray the radiator.
Jeff

From: David Martin
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Phal species
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2008

Hello,
Here are two pictures of Phal species out at the moment. Phalaenopsis hainanensis and Phalaenopsis sumatrana. The white orchid in the background is Aerangis fastuosa
David

From: David Martin
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: new colour form?
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2008

Gavin, I don't have the ability to scan the picture in my book, as it's very
small. It says, flowers white or pale yellow, greenish suffusion towards
tips with reddish, cinnamon banding. Lip, white with red banding. Also that
the flowers are variable in colour. There's not a lot known about this
species, or even if it's a variation of Phal sumatrana. I looked on Google
also, all the pictures are of white petals with brown banding, but the
picture in my book has a pronounced yellow grounding. Hope that's some help.
David

From: PG Hieke
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] phaleonopsis mariae alba?
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008

No, it is not Phal. inscriptiosinensis. Phal. inscriptiosinensis has very
fine intricate bands across sepals and petals. The Phal. in the picture
shows fewer bars across the sepals and petals. Also the lip in Phal.
inscriptiosinensis is white or yellow and not red. The shape of the lip
is also too wide.
It is also not Phal. fasciata or Phal. reichenbachiana. Both are yellow
with barring on the sepals and petals, but the lip is not so wide and
not red. It is definitely a hybrid.
An alba form should be anthocyanin-free. So, with other words, as
Kenneth, Rudolf and Geoff have said, without any red in the flower.
Furthermore, Phal. mariae is 'white' and not yellow with large bold
blotches of rose, amethyst or reddish brown.
After all has been said, it is still a nice flower, althoug without
a valid name.
Kind regards
Peter from Bloubergstrand

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Hydroleca.
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008

I have made an extra column on the Spreadsheet and just put the word 'Yes' against the name of anyone who experiments with alternative composts.

From: Ron Bower
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Radiator Heating for Greenhouses
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008

Hello Jeff,
In general I agree with Geoff's comments. I have an all glass Conservatory, actually a Greenhouse, but as its attached to the house I suppose it is a conservatory ( Daughter says sitting in the conservatory sounds better,) but I do not grow my Orchids in it, and its about 30 years old. It has 3 radiators, 2 are pressed steel and one is cast iron. They all came from a office building that I was renovating and are still in perfect condition. each one has a standard Radstatt, as you would use in the home, and there is a Thermostat that turns the pump on or off. Like most things pressed steel radiators vary in quality and price. Buy the best, they are the cheapest in the long run, you can afford, and I think you will have no regrets.I will attempt to attaché a picture.
Ronbow,

From: Mr G.Horne
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: nothing to do with orchids
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008

From: David Martin
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Hydroleca.
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008

Hello Rocky,
That's a good idea, otherwise it would become too complicated. I also grew a few plants in Rockwool at one time but no longer. Nothing wrong with it, but I had so many bags of different composts I stopped using it. By the way you have Tony Watkinson on the list twice.
Regards David.

> ...I have made an extra column on the Spreadsheet and just put the
> word 'Yes' against the name of anyone who experiments with
> alternative composts.

From: David Martin
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Orchid identification
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008

Hello Gavin,
Have you tried sending the picture of your orchid to the nursery you bought it from. It must have been mislabeled, so they should know what it is.
Regards David

From: Tony Watkinson
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Hydroleca.
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Ronbow's Conservatory
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008

Now that's what I call a Conservatory..........don't know about green algae, but I'm sure there are a lot of people who are green with envy.

Hi Peter,
I received the list in the post today Thanks.
Have you anything in spike or bud which I should consider flowering and pollinating? This stage of orchid growing I must admit I find more and more interesting as time passes.
Regards,
Gordon.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Couple of first time flowerings.
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008

I am very pleased with two of my latest 'Catts' to flower. 'Orchid Jungle' gave me quite a scare, as when the bud was developing it looked an insipid yellow colour, the type of colour that a wet beginning to rot type colour gets us going !!!!! But I guess it is the distinct two colours. Anyhow it sure made up for itself.

The Puppy Love is very pretty and now I await the new growths and look for better blooms next year.

For the last few days I have been giving my greenhouse a blitz. Its annual Spring clean. Every pot and the saucer it sits in has been scrubbed clean and the plant has been given the once over.

Having one large Dendrobium speciosum and many D. delicatums, plus a couple of 'Aussie whatever hybrids, this is the time when I normally put them all outdoors to battle the elements until shall we say October.

So my friends, tell me what temperatures these rascals can accept without any damage. And would you recommend that they go outside here in southern England. They have done so for many years, but I would like your comments.

From: gavin horne
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Orchid identification
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008

Hello David, i do not know where the plant came form as it was brought by some one in the middle.happy growing.
Gavin

> Hello Gavin, Have you tried sending the picture of your orchid to
> the nursery you bought it from. It must have been mislabeled, so
> they should know what it is.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: some piccys
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008

Chamaeangis hildebrandtii. Charming real miniature ; spikes up to 5 or 6
inches long − often shorter − but freely produced − 4 at present. Frequent
flowerer. Flowers quite small , a few mm only. Plant now settling nicely
into my conditions and starting three branch growths.

Cirrho roxburghii − the smallest one I know in the genus − the whole "daisy
head" only the size of a 5p coin. Grows well − now filling a 7 inch pan,
lots of spikes. But then these bulbos are mostly quite easy ( B.frostii is
an exception ! ) I also have B.eberhardtii with its first spike out and
another 12 or so visible − I'll wait until there are a few more before
showing that.

Epidendrums ; in years gone by we all grew reed-stems like E.radicans, E
O'brienianum and so forth- each growth a thin cane which flowered when it
reached the roof − 4ft − 6 ft − more. But went on flowering for month after
month, even year after year. Great , but rather impractical. Nowadays we
have meristems of miniature versions. Flowers almost as big, even brighter ,
but only 12 or 15 inches above the pot. This is one.

The Eulophoia is a favourite. Not doing as well as last year when it had 4
spikes, and even branched spikes, but I repotted it then , the first repot
for 5 or more years, took off some back bulbs, now have 3 plants.

Leptotes bicolr − seen here in a 4 inch pan . A vague cattleya relative I
think. Pets are about 2-3 cm long , so the flowers would be quite large if
flattened out. Tis too doing well, some new growths have as many as 4
flower. I've never seen as many before.

I also have a rather large number of different colour forms of phallys at
the moment, some of which may be unknown to those members who buy their
plants only in garden centres ; I'll post another message tomorrow if I have
time, with some of them.

From: Tony Watkinson
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Couple of first time flowerings.
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008

The funny thing is that this is the time that I put my Aussie Dens out in full sun too!! I guess this means that our winters are akin to your summers!!

Not quite. England's summers can be very humid which is just great for orchids (of most genera's). The summers where I am are hot and dry with low humidity (and no rain), but the winters are (relatively) humid and the temps are low. (Read 'low' as the low 20's to high teensC during the day, and from say 10C to 0C overnight, though 0C is very rare and for short duration)

The thing to remember about these orchids is that they are very forgiving and tough as old boots. If you don't believe me, feel the leaves on your Den speciosum. Like boot leather.

If I were living where you are, (God forbid!!) I would do as you have been doing with these Dens.

In their natural habitats, they take what is handed out to them by the elements. Did I say they were tough as old boots?

From: JIM MATEOSKY
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] some piccys
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008

Geoff,
Nice photos!
Your epi cat any Ideas on the parantage. This is one line of breeding that is of growing interest to me.
Thanks Jim

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Planning a New Orchid House
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008

1. Maximum bench width is 3 feet , or you can't reach the back without
knocking plants off the front ( unless you have arms like King Kong I
suppose ! )

2. Minimum path width is 2 ft 6 inches or you'll knock plants off when
you turn around − and if you don't, your visitors certainly will − in fact,
the wider the path, up to say a metre, the better in this respect.

3. This means that a single aisle greenhouse is very conveniently 9
feet wide − but if you are buying, you usually find that 8 foot is offered,
or maybe 8 ft 6" ( not ideal) or 10ft. However, the old Alton cedarwood
Amateur greenhouse, nominally 10 ft wide, was actually nearer 9ft inside at
bench level.

4. If you want to go wider, you need 2 aisles. The centre bench can
then be up to 6ft max, but probably 5ft is better. So you need 11ft width
for two side benches and a centre bench (max) plus two aisles , say 5ft
16ft.

5. In fact if you buy ready made designs, you can get 12ft or 12ft 6 -
but that is largely wasted space ; not wide enough for 2 aisles − perhaps
only of value as a bench type greenhouse ( all floor growing especially in
the earth, has quite different considerations , because you can walk between
plants and may not need aisles at all) if you anticipate many visitors, and
need room for people flow in both directions, passing one another.

6. Personally I have a 14'6 wide house giving me less than ideal
space utilisation, and perhaps about the minimum for a 2 aisle job ; its
14'6 because that is the width offered by the makes − the next size up is 18
ft ( I think) which is as wasteful as a 12ft − too wide for 2 aisles, not
wide enough for 3.

7. A totally different approach is what they do in the best pro houses
now. They have one aisle extending along the length and at one side, next to
an external wall, and another movable aisle extending across the width. They
fill the rest of the space with benches on rollers, all packed up together
like sardines, and then they move the benches to create an aisle across the
width , and when they want that aisle I a different place, they move the
benches again. This kind is much more space efficient if it is sufficiently
large. You would need to work it oiut empirically , starting with the sort
of size you want, to know.

8. Of course for giant greenhouses − the biggest I have been in
covered 14 acres in a single house − they don't even have a single aisle
anywhere. Virtually the whole floor was covered with benches, power driven
on conveyor systems allowing movement in any direction. Imagine covering a
table with playing cards . Then take out one card − that's the free space.
You can bring any other card to that same space by moving them all around.
Of course it takes a lot of money − as many (14) million euro to build that
particular one − maybe you are al little less ambitious ?..

9. Height . The answer is simple ; the higher the better. New pro
energy efficient houses are remarkably high. Why ? Enormous buffer
possibilities, so that the temperature remains constant when the sun goes in
and out again. They couple this with thermal screens pulled over the plants
to hold the warm air close to them at night.

10. My house is about 10ft from floor to roof ridge − the floor is sunk
below the ground for heat conservation and increased natural humidity. This
gioves me room for two layers of plants. Very natural − and also rather
cheaper to heat than a single layer of twice the area.

Ps 4 pics of my greenhouse − just snapped − attached. Sorry the interior is
not very clear , but in bright sunshine today the humidifiers are pumping
out water at gph ! Yu can only see one aisle, because the middle staging is
tyiered and in the view looking along one aisle, the other is hidden.

> I hope you won't mind me picking your brains a little as this will be only
> my fourth orchid house so I have a way to go before matching your total.

> Have you any thoughts on optimum house width and height? Similarly, have you
> settled on a bench height and width that would suit a general collection?

From: John J. Rupp
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] some piccys
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008

Great pics! The Chamaeangis is really interesting. Such regular
arrangement of flowers. The Epicat Black Comet looks so much like Epi
cochleata, but all "black", and more compact. That's got to be the "Epi"
part, but what is the "cat" part? These is now on my look for list.

I have so much trouble growing Leptotes. I have generally grown them in
pots. Can you give more details on your "4 inch pan", the growing
medium, light, etc.

Hi Roger and Goeff, very nice piccys!Geoff which species of Eulophia is that which you have photographed!Is it a epiphyte or terrestrial. I Dont do many terrestrials myself except pleione and ive got my first habenaria medusae in growth(hopefully piccys later in the year).But i would like to grow a few more species.Please find attached a piccy of my Paphiopedilum Lady Isabel x Prince Edward of York, i am pleased with this for a first flowering, and it seems a good mix of the two parent hybrids. I am never sure wether to despike a first flowering on a single growth and a 4inch lead, but im sure the plant would not produce it if it could not manage it?any comments welcome!enjoy!happy growing!Gavin

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] some piccys
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008

I have an idea that one parent is Epi cochleatum. But having acquired a few
other similar species, I now realise that not all cockle shell epis are
exactly that.

The other I don't know. I have been trying to check it out in Wildcatt ,
but I am having problems with Wildcatt at the moment , after reinstalling my
OS it won't run , and I have e-mailed Wildcatt for help.

Maybe Dennis will answer ( what is the parentage of Epicat Black Comet) and
if not, remind me in a couple of weeks, as I'm shortly off to Switzerland.
And I doubt I'll get it sorted before I go.

From: Ron Bower
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Ronbow's Conservatory
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008

Rocky,
I thank you for your kind comments regarding my conservatory. When I built it in 1971/2 I used to reply to my friends comments that I intended to retire and grow Orchids in it, although at that time I hardly knew a Orchid from a Lily and certainly had no intention of growing them, or retiring, and it was the event of someone giving me a Phalaenopsis, some eight years ago, that focussed my mind and so I decided to start a collection. It soon became apparent that my rather splendid conservatory was not the ideal place in which to grow Orchids in general and Phals in particular.It is 32 feet long, 12 feet wide, a bit over 7 feet at the eves and almost 22 feet at the peak and made of alluminia. It gets sun from early morning until early evening. It would cost an arm and a leg to heat to 70f. plus or to cool it.The metal structure means no pins, tacks or screws and it is far too difficult to cover with shading material inside or out.

Geoff's latest house looks splendid and must be ideal for any orchid enthusiast and I must say that I am tempted. But as I am well passed my sell by date, I will have to make do with my timber framed 16 x 8 foot greenhouse. I do however put my 3 Cymbidiums in it, in October. Talking of which, one of them, the one that had 3 spikes in December is growing another 2 spikes right now, they are about 6 inches and are a deep reddish brown and quite robust.

From: Peter Fowler
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] piccys
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008

Nice flowers Gavin. I have never grown any Paphs. when I was growing but have respect to people who can grow and flower them well. I could never get the plants to grow let alone flower. Have any member flowered Paph. sanderianum and have a photo? I have a print of a flowering plant that flowered at Edinburgh Botanical Gardens. Tried a few seedlings of it over the years but probably not warm enough conditions for it. Good 'old' Dick Warren got it on the map again and sold seedlings at reasonable prices.

From: francis quesada pallares
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] RE: Planning a New Orchid House
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008

Looking at the pictures of your greenhouse, I must say
it is rather like the TARDIS, it is bigger in the
inside! (Sorry, couldn't help myself) LOL!

It looks like a great greenhouse, and definitely a
design to keep in mind when I finally get a my own
house with space for somewhere to grow my orchis!

From: francis quesada pallares
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] some piccys
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008

I am green with envy at all those pictures and actual
plants of Eulphia guineensis that I have seen recently
in flower!

I have had a plant for as long as 3 or 4 years now. It
grows a new, massive underground bulb every year, but
I still have not seen a single flower on this plant. I
have now repotted it again. I grows in a mixture of
perlite, vermiculate and the terracota bits (can't
remember the name right now), with added orchid
compost (the ones you buy from the garden centers). It
has now been put onto a larger (7" pot), as the bulbs
where now pushing the old pot into a funny shape, so
it has now got more space to grow. It is placed in
front of a South facing window, so plenty of light. As
I say, it grows very well, but I still have not seen a
flower... Any advice, Geoff?

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] some piccys
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008

The other parent ( seed parent from what I read) is C.bowringiana ( E Black
Comet C bowringiana x E cochleatum) , per google search.

Why do I bother to subscribe to Wildcatt when google can find names ? I
suppose it's the parentage, and progeny searches too ah well, I'll keep
paying up I suppose.

> Geoff,
>
> Nice photos!
>
> Your epi cat any I deas on the parantage. This is one line of breeding that
> is of growin g interest to me.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] some piccys .. my leptotes culture
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008

My plant is in an ordinary plastic pot, with some Hydroleca ( "baked clay
pebbles") in the bottom half or so − as coarser drainage ( I have used this
in the past for hydroculture − plants standing permanently in
nutrient/water) and then Perlite above that, with some "horticultural grit"
( neutral pH) as a topping − apart from a few ferns etc which have
germinated there, and which are cut down with nail scissors rather than
trying to pull them out. The roots of the ferns are very fine , and will in
fact change the nature of the compost a little , but are entirely natural -
epiphytic ferns and orchids grow cheek-by-jowl on the same branch in the
wild, I find,...so maybe they like it .
Perhaps the main thing for success is that the plant has not been repotted
for some years − perhaps 5 or more. This is an advantage of Perlite, as it
does not break down, and I find that most plants are at their best when, in
the ordinary course of events using bark composts, I would have thought of
repotting them ! The general lesson, I wonder, is don't repot ? Of course
if compost has really gone sour that would be different, but then if it had,
the plant would not be looking good.
My plant hangs up with a lot of other stuff ( pics sent recently − see
message " planning a new orchid house") . In summer, from when we change the
clocks ( last week) there is 1 layer of 50% shade cloth on top of the bubble
pack insulation which is on the glass ; and I'll put a second layer on top
by the middle or end of May when our day length is getting towards 16-17
hours. This area where I live is ( from the Met Office long term records)
the sunniest part of UK.
One layer of shade comes off in early September ; I usually get up one day
in the first fortnight of that month , go outside and "feel" that Autumn
("Fall") is here. Somehow its cooler, fresher, and I know that although we
may get more warm weather − which we variously call "Indian Summer" , "St
Michaels Summer" etc etc − even as late as early November down here in
Dorset , the real heat has gone..that's when that first layer goes.
The second layer comes off when we put the clocks back to Greenwich Mean
Time ( one day, when UK gets with it, and enters the 21st century we'll stop
all this nonsense and keep our clocks the same all the year round, and it
won't be GMT − that's out of synch with our needs , but that's another story
).
The pics show mist from my Jaybird system at one end, and a pair of swamp
coolers at the other end , trying to maintain 60-70% humidity − but not
always successfully.

Ps − to add a local immediate weather report − a la Dennis − regards from a
thunderstormy Dorset , where − blast it − I have just been driven into the
house − I was spraying my roses against blackspot (fungal infection) when
the rain started − washing it all off. Now I have to wait until the leaves
are dry before I can go and start again...

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] piccys
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008

This Eulophia is a terrestrial. It needs heat when it grows, and it needs to
be in a dry place for maybe 6 months and not watered at all in the winter .
It is then annually deciduous. New growths sometimes arise as keikis on the
top of the old bulbs, in which case the bulb needs to be repotted lower- or
those short roots never make it to the compost and the growth does not
flourish. Treat it like a pleione from the equator − if you can imagine such
a thing.!

Up till last year it was in a mix of Perlite and grit and Hydroleca − see my
message about the leptotes sent a few minutes ago − last year it was
repotted into my standard compost.

Currently my standard compost ( if I don't use Perlite) is part of a large
batch (about 750 litres) I mixed up a few years ago when I designed
"formulated" for "Orchid Focus" (they used to put my name on the bags -
don't know whether they still do , we don't seem to be on speaking terms
since they sent me some kit to try out and review , and I ended up saying
that it was useless..) − I never sent them a bill for my last year as
Consultant , but since I made up all that compost from the pallet loads they
sent me for experimental purposes, I am not grumbling !

The recipe − from memory − is chunks of coconut fibre, plus horticultural
foam pieces, and there is some other organic stuff in − can't remember now
if it was peat lumps or bark pieces, and maybe some drainage − perlite or
similar − can't (won't) go out to look at a sample as it's raining cats and
dogs at the moment. and to be honest I think (1) the precise recipe of
compost ain't that important and (2) that I can tell whether a compost is
OK just by looking at it , and pouring it through my hands − although I
would want to know the sort of pH and EC readings I got after pouring
deionised water through it and letting it dry out, repeated a few times,
before I would be absolutely sure.

> Hi Roger and Goeff, very nice piccys!
> Geoff which species of Eulophia is that which you have photographed!Is it a
> epiphyte or terrestrial. I Dont do many terrestrials myself except pleione
> and ive got my first habenaria medusae in growth(hopefully piccys later in
> the year).But i would like to grow a few more species.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] some piccys
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008

Hard dry rest. Hard really means hard ! Let the yellow leaves fall off in
September/Oct/Nov and keep it really dry until you signs of green in April -
then it rushes in to flower before the new growth.Start watering very
carefully, then flood when the flowers go over...

> I am green with envy at all those pictures and actual
> plants of Eulphia guineensis that I have seen recently
> in flower!

> I have had a plant for as long as 3 or 4 years now. It
> grows a new, massive underground bulb every year, but
> I still have not seen a single flower on this plant.
> ... Any advice, Geoff?

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Phallys − look away now if you don't like them − 15 different here − in flower in my greenhouse now.
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008

Fifth pic; On the left a lovely example − you will find it on the Elsner
site if you want a name. The breeding here is different − texture like thick
wax paper, but rather fewer flowered, and medium size.

In the middle, my favourite − a doritis alba hbrid I suppose − currently 31
flowers and the odd bud or two on a single branched spiuke. I feel it will
do better . Perfect small flowers (5cm)

First-pic. Plants on the right and left out of the same pod − Roellke's
plants , I think. Name not known or forgotten.

In the middle, the classic Cast Iron Monarch breeding , large whites
-pendant spikes, 12 flowers at a time. They do better in southern cal − but
this is England. Still − you can't beat 'em, and they go well with anything.

Fourth pic − the one on the left is a poor pic − the plant is in the middle
of the centre bench, not easily accessible, and an untrained spike is at a
funny angle − in fact this pic is upside down from reality , so you don't
see the flower full-on. Its really a much better shape than appears here. In
the middle, one of the "dessert song" series from that LeCoufle relative in
Provence or somewhere like that I visited one ( rather vinous ) holiday many
years ago. On the right, one from a batch of seedlings I once bought from an
amateur who turned pro for a few months then disappeared ( she was in
Southern Cal too, I think).

On the left one of Elsners species − or nearly so. I the middle a rather
nice oddity − the only example − in the middle of a batch of quite different
ones at my garden centre, and on the right another Roellke plant − that
starts off with the mismatched petals, but they fad to be symmetrical -
particularly large flowered for a near yellow, this one.

Third pic. On the right Princess Minho AM/RHS, in the middle, one from one
of the old US nurseries I think Royston & something ? from a time when a pal
of mine visited US on business and always brought back a bagful of seedlings
to be shared out − happy pre-CITES days. On the left − more French breeding
- V & L in Paris I think − that shape, rather wider but less in North-South
direction, is a trademark.

From: gavin horne
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: species in my paph
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008

Hi Peter the species involved in the paph piccys you have seen are:- Lady IsabelRothschildianum x Stoneii, prince edward of york_ Rothschildianum x Sanderianum. SO the generalised make up of the plant is 1/2 rothschildianum,1/4 stoneii,1/4 sanderianum. I grew this one warm but occasionally down to 12C, i feed every 14 days in autumn-winter and water in between, and every 7 days in spring -summer with watering in between.I feed orchid focus at 400 ppm and use the grow formulae in spring-summer and flower formulae in autumn-winter.I put my plants into deeper shade for 4 weeks after flowering to give them a rest but feed at the same rate. I suppose the most interesting part is i grow all my paphs under hid sodium or hid sodium growlux (both 400w) on light movers and i tend to mimick the daylight hours outside rather than force my plants with unnatural hours of light! I set the distance of the lamps so the plant is receiving around 3000 foot candles of light, which can be a little bright for some, so good air movement is essential with this set up, and occasional feeds of magnesium and silicon to help keep them green and strong.I hope this helps and perhaps you might have a go at paphs again!Happy growing!
Gavin

From: francis quesada pallares
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] some piccys
Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008

My plant keeps its leaves througout the winter and it
is only now that the leaves of last year's growth are
begining to go yellow! There is now sign of new growth
breaking through the compost yet, although when I
repotted the plant last week I did see a new, fat eye
on last year's bulb, so it is begining to break it's
dormancy now.

I wonder if I have it out of sync by not giving it a
good, hard, dry rest as you suggest. I'll try to do
that this year and see what happens next year then.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] species in my paph
Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008

Hi Gavin, I find your account very interesting − it's the first time I have
heard a proper account of growing (orchids − or anything else) successfully
under light movers − which I take to mean lamps mounted on a track so that
they go back and forth and cover a much (?) larger area than could be
covered by static lamps. I have used them myself − static 400w HD growing
paphs − for some months or maybe even a year , some time ago , but not with
great success − it was a temporary expedient whilst a greenhouse was
negotiated with planners, and then built.

I would be very interested to know more . What is the growing area covered
by a single lamp in its travels ? How fast does it go − so many movements
per hour I suppose ? Do the plants get any light at all when the lamp has
moved on ( is this supplementary or the only light)?

When you say 3000fc how are you measuring ? You are not by any chance
confusing this with lux ? − 1 lux 11fc approx, as I remember it, and I
took readings from the leaves of paphs in the wild − concolor and bellatulum
specifically , and without finding my field note books, my recollection is
5-7000 lux- which would be some 20 times the figure you mention in fc ! On
the other hand if you are confusing, then you are using 60% of the figure I
got − and since my figures were merely snapshots , at particular moments on
particular days − not many different readings − that would be quite
understandable and maybe in broad agreement.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: FW: [OrchidTalk] species in my paph
Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008

Post script to my earlier message below ; I wonder if I have confused myself
here ? Have I got the cart before the horse − but if so, and if you really
are using fc, then instead of using a small fraction of the light I mention,
you are using a large multiple ! − it still doesn't make sense.

I then dug my luxmeter out, and went to take some readings from my plants ,
but found that since last used maybe 3 months ago, it has gone wrong − it
gives 666 as the reading on all three scales, all the time. I have had it
for years − took it to Thailand 7 years ago − and nothing lasts for ever.
Interestingly ( which led to the doubt in my mind) I shopped for a
replacement on google, and the one I have ordered reads from 200 to
200,000 lux or from 20- 200,000 fc − implying that 1 fc 10 lux (?)
approx. I know that the one is a reading from 1 square foot and the other 1
square meter, and about 11 sq ft in a sq meter. But use 10 as a convenient
round figure.

Then you are using 3000 fc (say) 30,000 lux . That is pretty bright ! The
highest I have ever seen is I think 76000 lux which is a reading I got from
pointing the sensor at the sun ( no glass or shade cloth between ) on a
bright day in June, UK . I can't believe that paphs want it half as bright
as that ?

I'll wait for my replacement to arrive when I get back from a short trip
away, and take some fresh readings, and maye I'll be able to read your
comments too at that time.

From: Kenneth Bruyninckx
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: old Orchid Reviews
Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008

For those looking to complete their set of the Orchid Review (or other
magazines like The Orchid World for instance) please have a look at
the following 2 sites:

http://www.orchidbooks.eu (my site offering duplicates from my books &
magazine collection :-) )

and at the recently updated offering of the Orchid Review at
Antiquariaat Kok in Holland: http://www.nvva.nl/kok/orchidee.htm

Kenneth Bruyninckx
Akerne Orchids
Laarsebeekdreef 4, B-2900 Schoten, Belgium
tel. +32 (0)3 651 40 36 fax +32 (0)3 653 06 76

· 11ème Biennale Intenationale d\'Orchidées, Ragnies, Belgium (30/4-4/5)
· Open Nursery Weekend, Schoten, Belgium (31/5-1/6)
· Peterborough International Orchid Show, Peterborough, UK (14-15/6)

From: gavin horne
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] species in my paph/lighting queries
Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008

Hi Geoff in answer to your queries, i use a six foot growing track, but you can add a foot to either end of that for growing as the lamp hangs centrally below the track stop. my actual growing area with one of my lamp set ups is 9' x 3'.in the extra shadier foot at one end i grow aerangis, oncidiums and bulbophyllums some mounted giving extra growing area with reasonable success.The light travels at the rate of 30seconds per lenghth with a 10 second stop on each end so you can give a little extra light to flowering plants etc if you wish.There is some peripheral light when the light has moved on due to the wide arch design of the shade and fitting(see growell hydroponics) i am having some success growing plants up level with the shade in the passing light so to speak.ie warmth tolerant Dracula,gongora, bulbos and masdevallia.Technically it is supplemental lighting but i grow in a ne facing window and only get sunlight in the late evening,to take my light measurments i use one of two things, i use a enviromental concepts plant light intensity meter which reads out infoot candles though i dont think it is extremely accurate (would like to know where to get a accurae meter for hid). the other method i use is to refer to the aos handbook "Growing under lights" Which show drawings of wattage and foot candle readings at set distances.I hope this answers some questions for you Geoff, please dont hesitate to ask if i can tell you anything else.Please come and see for yourself if the need arises.happy growing!
Gavin

From: Tony Watkinson
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Phallys − look away now if you don't like them − 15 different here − in flower in my greenhouse now.
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008

I wonder why I get no pictures from Geoff. This is the second time that it has happened. There are no attachments at all!! Any clues?

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Brassavola
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008

From a very wet and COOL Southern England. As Tony from 'Oz' said: If I were living where you are, (God forbid!!) We just love our climate Tony..........and we just love to moan about it!!!!!

Anyhow, on to my little piece of what I guess is a Brassavola hybrid of some sort. For the life of me I cannot remember where I got it. As you can see, it was just a small broken piece which I thought might throw a new growth from the bulb on the right.....but of course it ignored my thoughts and went the other way.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Catasetum incurvum.
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008

I could not resist taking some photos of one of my latest Catasetums that I purchased at the London Orchid Show which I bought [ore-ordered] from Peru Flora.

From: gavin horne
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: plant well being
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008

I have a question i hope someone will be able to answer for me once and for all. I talk in reference to paphs and probably most orchids,When a plant (a paph for instance) flowers on a single growth people often advise to despike it, as it will set the the plant back and do possible damage.Firstly to my mind the plant would not produce flowers if it was not fully capable and had the nutrient reserves and conditions to be able to. Secondly, once the flowers are fully developed and the stem fully extended surely there are no further demands on the plants reserves providing all the conditions that brought it into flower are maintained, would it be true to say that all that is really required is light to power the internal reactions to maintain turgidity in the phloem and xylem vessels? I hope one of are members can answer these points for me!happy growing!
Gavin

From: tony garthwaite
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] some piccys
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008

Dear Geoff and Tricia,
I cannot see any pictures on this one (26/04/2008
one dated 27/04/2008

From: Sjean
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Brassavola
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008

From: gavin horne
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Lighting
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008

I Change the hid sodium every 3 years or so, the hid sodium growlux every 6 months and standard growlux i change every 6-12 months depending on what they read on the light meter.hope that helps. happy growing!
Gavin

From: Alex Scott
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Phallys − look away now if you don't like them − 15 different here − in flower in my greenhouse now.
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008

Hello Tony − there is something different about the picture files. My Apple
Gmac wont read them, says ;Colour Sync' cant do it but my PC (Windows97)
has no problems.
Regards, Alex

> I wonder why I get no pictures from Geoff. This is the second time
> that it has happened. There are no attachments at all!! Any clues?

From: John J. Rupp
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Phallys − look away now if you don't like them − 15 different here − in flower in my greenhouse now.
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008

Tony,
I have the same problem. Geoff and I tried a few different things in
direct emails, but could not resolve the issue. Picture files are
indicated as being attached, but I cannot view them directly in the
email. I did find that by right clicking on an icon for a picture and
saving to a file on the computer, I could them call them up and view
them. Give it a try and see if it works for you.

From: Orchids
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Phallys − look away now if you don't like them − 15 different here − in flower in my greenhouse now.
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008

I live in Sydney and i don't get them either maybe they don't like Aussie s
Well at least Geoff and Rocky do ha ha.

From: Orchids
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Phallys − look away now if you don't like them − 15 different here − in flower in my greenhouse now.
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008

From: Tony Watkinson
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Phallys − look away now if you don't like them − 15 different here − in flower in my greenhouse now.
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008

> Tony Watkinson wrote:
>> I wonder why I get no pictures from Geoff. This is the second time that
>> it has happened. There are no attachments at all!! Any clues?
>> And they are Phallies so why would I look away?

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Brassavola
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008

I will now write a label, especially as it is so cool this morning and chucking it down again !!!!

From: N & T Burgess
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: My Bl Yellow Bird
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008

Rocky
This a picture of my plant Bl Yellow Bird, not quite as yours, but nearly.
Norma

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] My Bl Yellow Bird
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008

Thanks very much for sending the photo of your 'Yellow Bird'. I can see that mine is most probably from the same 'pod' so to speak, but think that mine missed out on the vibrant colour.

From: jns tropic
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] My Bl Yellow Bird
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008

I tell people that I have the smallest Yellow Birds in south Florida. They grow very fast here. The flower spike will have a second and third branch of blooms.

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2008 Archived Messages

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