July 2008 mailing list messages

2008 Archived Messages

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From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: David's Encyclia microbulbon.
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2008

Your latest photo of your plant growing happily with roots fixed to the piece of Cork bark has rekindled my quest to buy some of those hard bulbed Encyclias.

If any Members, especially European members know where I can buy such plants.........."Answers on a Postcard" as they say, please.

One other point David, as you are so successful at growing on Cork bark, and looking at that Encyclia, have you ever tried growing some of them, and also some of the rupicolous orchids on a piece of nice rock, same size roughly, as the piece of Cork bark ???

I will try to remember to show you an image of my Dendrobium speciosum growing on a piece of rock.....slide to digital camera, to computer. Time and tide wait for...............

From: David Martin
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Emailing: Schoenorchis fragrans (2), Schoenorchis fragrans
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2008

Hello Esher,
I have been looking at your photo's again, now my granddaughter has gone back home. It look as if our plants are different species. I will ask around to see if I can find out any information. There are 10 Schoenorchis species but I can't find out much detail.
David

Esther Koh wrote RE: [OrchidTalk] Emailing: Schoenorchis fragrans (2), Schoenorchis fragrans

> http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f359/rockhop/IMG_5372b.jpg
> http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f359/rockhop/IMG_5358b.jpg

From: David Martin
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] David's Encyclia microbulbon.
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2008

Evening Rodge,
I bought my Encyclia from someone at the OSGB, so that's no help.
I haven't tried growing on rock but one of my Phal species,"Phal lowii" grows on limestone, or epiphytically. This is one plant I find difficult to flower. I had six spikes last year, but the tip of the spike seems to dry up when about 6 inches long. I flowered it once about four years ago but not since. It was mounted bare rooted on cork bark, but I have smothered it in sphagnum this year to try and keep it moist. If that doesn't work I might look for a nice piece of limestone to try it on.
David

> Your latest photo of your plant growing happily with roots fixed
> to the piece of Cork bark has rekindled my quest to buy some of
> those hard bulbed Encyclias.

> If any Members, especially European members know where I can buy
> such plants.........."Answers on a Postcard" as they say, please.

> One other point David, as you are so successful at growing on
> Cork bark, and looking at that Encyclia, have you ever tried
> growing some of them, and also some of the rupicolous orchids on
> a piece of nice rock, same size roughly, as the piece of Cork
> bark ???

From: Andy
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Little and Large 2
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2008

I am really impressed by the growth of the "large" − such lovely unblemished foliage and no tip die-back! How do you do it?

> This is another Little and Large picture.The little is Coel.
> prolifera ( I think) as this is it's last given name and the
> large is Coel. mooreana 'Westonbirt'. The C. prolifera flower
> spike continues flowering each year for at least 4 years.
> Unfortunately the flower is only 0.8 cm wide but a perfect
> coelogyne in shape and a fine yellow. Coel. mooreana is possibly
> the largest specie coelogyne and has the Westonbirt name.

From: geoff hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Little and Large 2
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008

Coelogyne − like their near-ish relatives Pleione, seem particularly prone
to leaf-tip burn which is often ( and in my opinion, correctly) said to be
due to "excessive" use of fertiliser. "Excessive" merely means more than
the plant can handle. When I lived in an area with tap water showing an EC
of 700 , that water with nothing added was sufficient to give severe
leaf-tip scorch. When I switched to using Reverse Osmosis "cleaned" water,
and adding fertilisers to bring the EC back to 300, I had no problem in
keeping clean leaves.

Maybe its plicate leaved orchids which are sensitive this way ? (Thunias
and Phaius are a bit similar in this respect of being easily scorched )
Maybe because they have such a strong vein system leading to the tip, unlike
say cattleya leaves ?

From: Dennis Read
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Little and Large 2
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008

Andy, All my Coelogynes are grown the same. Fed twice a week with Tomorite at 4oo ms and on the third week twice with water. Most have no tip burn but those with seem to be in the warmer house. This is in the cool house.
At last the sun is shining. Dennis

> I am really impressed by the growth of the "large" − such lovely
> unblemished foliage and no tip die-back! How do you do it?

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Leaf tip burn.
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008

I have often heard and read much about the so called, 'Leaf-tip burn', and I have never looked into it very much at all. Looking at all of my plants in the greenhouse I can see none of this.

Geoff told us about the scientific approach i.e. E.C. which I think means Electro Conductivity, correct me if I am wrong. And then the Reverse Osmosis, is that a pass on a rugby field ????

Getting down to the nitty gritty..........if the plant, the leaf, takes up the over heavy fertiliser, and it creeps up through the roots shall we say, up through the bulbs and stem and leaves, then why after all of this time is it only the leaf end that shows this 'burn' ?????

Surely some other part of the plant would show symptoms long before it got to the leaf end.

From: Dennis Read
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Little and Large 2
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008

Two problems had bugged me for years − leaf tip burn and crinkled leaves. Since I have upped the humidity and air movement both seem to be receding. None of my Miltonias have had crinkled leaves this year and leaf tip burn on the newer growths is non existant. Only one Anguloa growth had a crinkled leaf. All the more confusing as it was one of two growths on the same plant.But if growing orchids was simple or easy I would give it up.
Regards from a warmer Devon. Dennis

From: geoff hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Leaf tip burn.
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008

If the motorway is blocked and cars keep ravelling along it, there will be
the dickens of a pile of motor-cars at the blocked end , but anyone looking
over a motorway bridge a few miles back will say that traffic is flowing
freely.

Of course some people don't understand analogies, and will ask what this has
to do with the question; those who do may nod their heads and say, ah I
see....

> Getting down to the nitty gritty..........if the plant, the leaf, takes up
> the over heavy fertiliser, and it creeps up through the roots shall we say,
> up through the bulbs and stem and leaves, then why after all of this time is
> it only the leaf end that shows this 'burn' ?????

> Surely some other part of the plant would show symptoms long before it got
> to the leaf end.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Bargain buys.
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008

I just happened to be strolling around the town of Romsey today and I noticed some orchids on 'display', well, actually stood out on the pavement with the other produce..........this was a 'Fruit and Veg' shop.

I had seen orchids there before, but as these were just a few pence short of £4.00, yes, £3.98 I grabbed a couple. Now that's what I call a bargain, especially if it encourages beginners.

Can't remember the names, but I feel sure that some of you will help me to write a label for them.

I was chatting to the manager of one of their other shops on the outskirts of Southampton later in the day where there were similar orchids for sale, and I remarked that it was nice to see orchids at this price, and he stated that 'Sainsbury's just a hundred feet away were so much dearer, and that they often stood there until all the flowers dropped.

These two shops do a roaring trade with their 'Fruit & Veg' and their orchids and are very much on the ball.

Just had a look at the B.O.G.A. website..........still no list of Traders..........supposed to have been there on July 1st. Still no reply to my E-mail to one David Stead asking about this !!!!! They, unlike the Fruit & Veg shop are not on the ball.

From: John J. Rupp
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [?? Probable Spam] [OrchidTalk] Bargain buys.
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008

Your plants could both be Colmanara Wildcat. The 001 photo looks just
like one I have currently blooming and has a label of Colmanara Wildcat
'NN'. The 002 photo is rather blurred, but looks very much like
Colmanara Wildcat 'Bobcat'.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Crinkled leaves.....Leaf tip burn.
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008

The crinkled leaf syndrome !!!!! I was particularly pleased to hear what you said about it as it was on the same plant. I have mentioned it before, but seeing the crinkled leaf on some garden plants, i.e. the Gladiolus type plants, makes me believe that perhaps we will never quite know for sure what causes it.

Geoff mentions the traffic hold up..........but as far as I can see it is all flowing nicely. There is nothing stopping it from falling off the leaf end. Work that one out Geoff.

Thanks for the names. Yes, I agree that image number 1 is Colmanara Wildcat, but I do not think the other one is a 'Wildcat'. I have the name thrashing around in my head, but I can't get it at the moment.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Catasetum.
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008

Two images of a Catasetum. I have always been fascinated by the pollination method of this Genus of orchids, and in this instance I have always asked myself this question. If an insect is crawling around the edge of the 'crater' to see what is on offer, and it brushes up against on of the two 'triggers' that fire the pollinia, what chance is there that the pollinia actually hits the 'target', and in the correct place???

Yes, I have asked this question before, but it's 'Mother Natures' superb construction of so many items that makes it all so enjoyable.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Critter Patrol.
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2008

Having had just about no problems with 'Critters' for many weeks, I was on patrol yesterday when I noticed some tiny critters on a plant that has no name but looks to be a hybrid of the Odontoglossum/Brassia type thing.

I was having a damned good look at it and then I peeled away the bracts from around the base of the 'stem'. Sure enough there they were. They have been sprayed with a 'Bug Killer', so I hope all will be well.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Damned 'Critters' !!!
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2008

I'm not very happy..........have a look at what some critter has done to the buds on this plant.

As Dennis said a few days ago: But if growing orchids was simple or easy I would give it up.

Well, when you see this sort of damage it does make you utter a few swear words, but then, that's life. At least of the twelve buds there, I have only damage to four of them.

Critters.....lovely word that one, but on that morning I called them )(*&^^$££"&^%+)+*&(&^$$%)*(&)*U(M*W$*(&$")*()_*&^)

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Root regeneration.
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2008

As my 'Subject' says: Root regeneration. I have always been amazed that when an orchid root has its tip damaged/broken/eaten, whatever, it very often sends out MANY side roots, which in all truth seems to overdo it. If for example the original root was ten inches long before the end was damaged, the total length of the new roots would be three times as long, AT LEAST.

Now some plants always behave themselves by growing as we humans would like them to grow, but of course 'Mother Nature' never intended plants to as we would wish them to do.

This leads me on to a couple of my plants. One of them puts out new roots, which then start to dive down into the pot, hugging the shape of my stone chippings as they go. Doing what 'I ordered it do do'.

Then on to the next one. This plant puts out its new roots, but do they want to dive down, do they hell !!! They just run over the surface, as quick as hell to seemingly get over the edge of the pot. SO, as an experiment, I have cut off the end of two of the roots to see if they will send out new roots just back from the severed end.

It does interest me as to why these two plants send out their roots in such a different manner ??? Maybe it is because in their natural habitat they grow differently.

From: Janet Fabricant
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk]
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2008

Hi Tricia,
Thanks so much for your help. I am now back.
Wirey hugs and love and xxx and licks from Janet, Bobby and Asta

From: Paul Johnson
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Critter Patrol.
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2008

Hello Big Rog'r,
Congratulations! You can be the proud uncle of a nice clutch of. . .,
yes, that's right. . . Mealybugs!!!

Bad thing about mealies is that they are sneaky and will crawl around
to all of your plants quickly.

Good thing about mealies is that they are easily killed with just
about every pesticide and household chemical known safe for orchids.

Another bad thing about mealies is that it will take a little
persistence on your part to spray everything down at least a couple of
times, preferably three times, over the next several weeks. When you
do be sure to drizzle your control chemical into the potting medium,
or repot the worst infested plants because these cute little buggers
will crawl down into loose media such as bark or coconut chips.

Another good thing about mealies is that they are just so dang cute
when you look at them under magnification! Those long slender tails,
sexy antennae, a little smiley face when you roll them over to tickle
their bellies.

A third good thing. . ., they squish in a very satisfactory manner!
If you get a fat adult full of eggs. . ., oh, the pop! : )

> Hi all,
>
> Having had just about no problems with 'Critters' for many weeks, I
> was on patrol yesterday when I noticed some tiny critters on a plant
> that has no name but looks to be a hybrid of the Odontoglossum/
> Brassia type thing.
>
> I was having a damned good look at it and then I peeled away the
> bracts from around the base of the 'stem'. Sure enough there they
> were. They have been sprayed with a 'Bug Killer', so I hope all
> will be well.
>
> The critters look like a small type aphid.

From: Paul Johnson
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk]Damned 'Critters' !!!
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2008

In this case, you have some that chews. If you were around here I
would say it was grasshoppers or crickets. For you, maybe mice,
voles, cockroaches, or practical jokers. If it were slugs or snails
there would usually be tell-tale traces of slime, which I do not see.

> Mornin' all,
>
> I'm not very happy..........have a look at what some critter has
> done to the buds on this plant...

From: Esther Koh
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Emailing: Schoenorchis fragrans (2), Schoenorchis fragrans
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2008

Thanks for the effort. I look forward to hearing from the experts regarding the identity of my Schoenorchis

David Martin wrote Re: [OrchidTalk] Emailing: Schoenorchis fragrans (2), Schoenorchis fragrans

> Hello Esther, I have been looking at your photo's again, now my
> granddaughter has gone back home. It look as if our plants are
> different species. I will ask around to see if I can find out any
> information. There are 10 Schoenorchis species but I can't find
> out much detail. David

From: David Martin
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Emailing: Schoenorchis fragrans (2), Schoenorchis fragrans
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2008

Hello Esther
It looks as if your orchid is Schoenorchis pachycris, try looking at www.orchidspecies.com/schoenorchis.htm
Regards
David

From: David Martin
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Emailing: Encyclia mariae, Encyclia mariae (2)
Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2008

Hello everyone,
Here's a photo I took today. Hung it in Clematis montana for a
background.
David

From: jns tropic
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Emailing: Encyclia mariae, Encyclia mariae (2)
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008

When I grew mariae it was an Epidendrum, but it was hard to grow. It never looked as good as your pictures. And then when our winters got warmer the mariae just died. At least I can grow a half mariae. The flower in in this months page: http://togofcoralgables.com/FlowersofJuly08.aspx

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

15—21 July