New mini Phal Find (no flowers); Odd Presentation!

[JMNYC]

Hi.

Returned from dinner, found teeny new gift from the porter who picks up the trash before my door.

Sorry, flowers long gone. Immediately obvious it had been seriously underwatered (FAR better than over): the crinkled leaves spoke that.

Clearly not a baby, but a mini: skinny, dried spike from it's first bloom.

But, never in my life have I ever seen anything like its presentation! It was in its original, soft, fragile clear plastic with raised Chinese characters; that was inside a glazed cache pot with no drainage; the skinny dried spike was clipped to a tiny wooden clothespin thingy with round attachment saying "Baby Love." What?????

Incredibly, while the moss was bone dry and hard as a rock....when I wetted the moss fully and teased all of it off the roots....all the roots were healthy! I potted it in good NZ moss in slotted clay, burying the aerial roots, and snapped a single side hanger onto it and now its hanging in its new place among my other Phals....and will have a very happy life.

Has anyone ever seen anything like this crazy thing before? Is it some kinda gift for say a baby shower?

[Optimist]

Could have been a Mothers day present to a GF. Or maybe a baby-mamma. Squee! I see a new little root showing. I am sure it is a cute little pink thing. Just a guess!

[JMNYC]

Originally Posted by Optimist

Could have been a Mothers day present to a GF. Or maybe a baby-mamma. Squee! I see a new little root showing. I am sure it is a cute little pink thing. Just a guess!

What a smart postulation!!!! Given how offended I was the the whole puerile presentation of a fine living being (forget the usual neglect)....I never would have gotten that....but did think maybe baby Shower.

As you can see, it is now potted properly .....yes, as always, I buried the aerial roots; I think you see the top of one. When its poor leaves hydrate some after being sickeningly deprived of water (tho they may never fully, they often do not), it will stop struggling and start relaxing getting happy and devote its energy to GROWING. Which, it sure deserves!

You know, when I saw the embossed Chinese characters on the outside of its original soft container (wish I could read Mandarin), I first thought, OMG, the Chinese must think Americans must have lame and puerile taste, how INSULTING! I then realized, well someone BOUGHT this poor thing! So....alas, the Chinese are right.

[Optimist]

It is most likely from Taiwan. Nice people and beautiful country. Considering these orchids are doomed to death after their lovely blooms have fallen, and that a small group of dedicated people believe they can be saved, and are willing to risk it all... Now that this is starting to sound like the tease to a Bruckheimer film.

[JMNYC]

Originally Posted by Optimist

It is most likely from Taiwan. Nice people and beautiful country. Considering these orchids are doomed to death after their lovely blooms have fallen, and that a small group of dedicated people believe they can be saved, and are willing to risk it all... Now that this is starting to sound like the tease to a Bruckheimer film.

Good reference! Among my many serious passions: film. in my vast DVD library, I have items from the silent era to last week!

Re being moved to help, save living creatures of ALL SPECIES (cept for some insects, of course, kidding, but I am human), I have always felt that empathy generated blind, happy proclivity is hardwired by default....tho clearly, many humans are estranged from it.

For me, it's the Journey wherein we find the goodies; the journey is not some impediment to some goal. Even our plants are not here to service on our sad little agendas! We are here to find happiness and a sense of privilege in augmenting theirs.

I mean it. I always say, it's not where we go, it's where we are coming from.

BUT....re Phals from Taiwan (prodigious commercial orchid growing facilities there) ....I read on the net, many from there are virused!

[Optimist]

The purile presentation was some low paid clerk or assistant manager trying to sell a few flowers. The anthropologist would value that baby button over the fact of the plant. What clicked to make that guy or mom or son but that plant for his beloved? How did she feel when she got it? There have been several noobies here who have joined because they are heart broken that their orchid has died, or looked dead. Lots of people get a pot of crysanhemums in the fall, not knowing many are perennials, hardy, and can be replanted. I agree it is a basic not being connected to the earth problem.

[JMNYC]

Addenda:

I am convinced inter species communication is also part of our engineered capacities. Connecting with other living beings.

Re growing, harvesting, farming...The Machiguenga Indians at the foot of the Andes in Peru, for many thousands of years were illiterate, and so know not thing one about science formally....and yet they were (perhaps still are, not sure) fully connected to the reality of all other life forms.

When they would harvest their crops, i.e., tubers, they would honor those tubers by singing to them, asking them to please release their hold on the earth.

Absolutely fascinating people.

Our version of science, without the blessing of empathy....can foster pernicious abuse.

Please see Spirits of the Rain Forest, a mezmerizing, transporting, luminous documentary centering on these people. For anyone even remotely open, it will change you.

Spirits of the Rainforest (TV Movie 1994) - IMDb

---------- Post added at 08:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:12 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Optimist

The purile presentation was some low paid clerk or assistant manager trying to sell a few flowers. The anthropologist would value that baby button over the fact of the plant. What clicked to make that guy or mom or son but that plant for his beloved? How did she feel when she got it? There have been several noobies here who have joined because they are heart broken that their orchid has died, or looked dead. Lots of people get a pot of crysanhemums in the fall, not knowing many are perennials, hardy, and can be replanted. I agree it is a basic not being connected to the earth problem.

I cherish that you GET IT. I will never, EVER get used to how many humans don't. and then, wonder why they CAN'T FIND JOY IN THE MOMENT are not happy or nothing is ever enough.

Along with my orchids, I grow around 30 houseplants. All of them are specimen sized....those which can be divided, I divide sometimes every year, I have to. Not once in my life have I ever bought a houseplant. Orchids, yes, houseplants, no.

Each and every one, I found almost dead in the trash of this building. Learning to grow things is a privilege...all learning is. And for me the gardening is a big part of the privilege. Again, not some means to some end.....the process of growing thing in and of itself is a great, humbling joy.

I have also learned during this privileged journey how resilient living beings are.

[Optimist]

I get it. My dad was a plant saver. He wandered around the neighborhood and picked up any stray green thing in need of a home. They came from the curb, from the trash. He was rather nonchalant in their care. A splash of water with some miricle grow in it. The strangest he brought home was some kind of carrion plant. It was awesome when it bloomed. Stank. But awesome.

[JMNYC]

Originally Posted by Optimist

I get it. My dad was a plant saver. He wandered around the neighborhood and picked up any stray green thing in need of a home. They came from the curb, from the trash. He was rather nonchalant in their care. A splash of water with some miricle grow in it. The strangest he brought home was some kind of carrion plant. It was awesome when it bloomed. Stank. But awesome.

O! I luv that it stank and he kept it anyway! Not sure if I am as evolved as he! Also bet it's stank served a very important purpose in nature.

I think our attitude toward all other living beings....certainly including plants, speaks volumes.

I think no being is meant to be simply some pawn in the agenda of any other living being. Including humans.
Real acts of caring are apolitical.

YOU would love Spirits of the Rain Forest!!!!

[JMNYC]

Update!

I am thrilled to report, as expected, the rescued from disgusting and puerile and struggling new mini is already coming back to health! Its leaves are already more turgid, esp the new one.

Those that come my way which were underwatered, even to the extent this was....I can always save. The only ones I sometimes can't, are those which were overwatered. Every part of all of it is a precious learning experience.