I bin a norty boy.

[bil]

Ah well, it's my birthday this month so I will justify it like that.
There as a garden centre near us, and I had been pestering them to buy a few new types of orchid in. All the rest do phals almost exclusively. I had rescued some hard canes from another grower, but I wanted some other colours. So, they said they would try, but their choices were down to 'mixed dendrobiums' and they put in an order.
Yesterday I got a call, and they let me go in their storehouse and rummage thru before they were even unpacked, and so I went a little mad.

I know hard canes aren't big league, but boy do their flowers last a long time. Plus, they are a whole lot tougher than phals!

[MattWoelfsen]

Bil, these are lovely plants! I have not seen this kind of potting, do you have them staked so that they do not uproot themselves?

Your display/presentation is visually pleasing! Congratulations.

[bil]

Originally Posted by MattWoelfsen

Bil, these are lovely plants! I have not seen this kind of potting, do you have them staked so that they do not uproot themselves?

Your display/presentation is visually pleasing! Congratulations.

Thank you very much. Well, it is slightly experimental. The pots are made from two (almost) cylindrical pots. The bottom of a 35CM diameter pot spot welded with a hot wire to the top of a 30cm. It gives me a nice wide pot with none of the depth that would guarantee root rot. There are a couple of extra holes bored in the base with the hot rod, and the orchid is tied down with soft rubber coated wire. Then I fill the pot with large chunks of bark, topped off with fine.
Several of the plants then had a slight wobble issue, so I put a flat rock on each one to keep them still until the roots grow well.
It does make them look slightly arranged. Eventually as new shoots arise, the rocks will have to go. I am hoping for several years growth before repotting.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Lucky you, so many new flowers. Do they last longer than phal's do?

[Raqsharqi]

Bil, where are you in Spain? I'm looking at your setup and wondering how you get by without an additional shade cloth. It looks terrific!

[bil]

Originally Posted by No-Pro-mwa

Lucky you, so many new flowers. Do they last longer than phal's do?

TBH, I don't know. I never really observed the ones I have before, plus they were in flower when I bought them. The hard canes I had last year tho, they flowered well after I had them, and the flowers persisted for 5 months. They started end Oct, and two still have most of their flowers tho they are starting to drop. so, 5 1/2 months.

Do phals last that long?

---------- Post added at 10:40 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:37 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Raqsharqi

Bil, where are you in Spain? I'm looking at your setup and wondering how you get by without an additional shade cloth. It looks terrific!

Thank you. I do have a layer of 50% over the top of the greenhouse. The greenhouse is geared for the bighter light orchids, so it's a problem with the phals. They come in in the autumn, no worries, but by the time the nights are warm enough for them to stay out in the spring, they are at real risk of cooking and scorching in the greenhouse.

[Raqsharqi]

I have the same problem, Bil. I keep chasing the light around! My area is too small for what I'm trying to do. I have panels like yours that are supposed to cut the sun by at least 50%, but it isn't enough. I thought perhaps you were up north where the sun just isn't as intense.

[bil]

Originally Posted by Raqsharqi

I have the same problem, Bil. I keep chasing the light around! My area is too small for what I'm trying to do. I have panels like yours that are supposed to cut the sun by at least 50%, but it isn't enough. I thought perhaps you were up north where the sun just isn't as intense.

No, I'm down south in the Cadiz region, where it gets pretty hot and bright. This is my first year with the greenhouse, so I'm learning and experimenting.

[No-Pro-mwa]

[QUOTE=bil;745062]TBH, I don't know. I never really observed the ones I have before, plus they were in flower when I bought them. The hard canes I had last year tho, they flowered well after I had them, and the flowers persisted for 5 months. They started end Oct, and two still have most of their flowers tho they are starting to drop. so, 5 1/2 months.

Do phals last that long?[COLOR="Silver"]

No, I don't think I have ever had one last that long. That's pretty good I may have to have some of these. I do like long lasting blooms.

[Raqsharqi]

I'll be heading out your way next week. We'll be in Tarifa. Yes, you have the same kind of brutal sun we have! And this is my first year with a greenhouse too! It went up in October, and finding the right location for the phals in the winter (and now the summer, since we'll be leaving the 'chids behind during our trip) has been a real challenge.