Projects - What Are They & Previous Project Plants

[RosieC]

OK, new members often ask what the projects are all about, so I decided to combine a quick summary of what they are with an up to date list of all the projects. I'll keep the list up to date as we have more projects in the future.

So for those who don't know... what is a project?

Well back in 2006 (long before I joined OB) the idea was hatched for a group to choose a plant, to all buy that plant at around the same time and compare notes on how it grows and the conditions it's growing in.

The idea went from strength to strength and the last few years we've had a couple of projects a year, with lots of people taking part.

Some of the early projects were competitions but the more recent ones are just done for the fun. They can span the USA, Europe and Canada and even other parts of the world, with very different growing conditions. Rules for determining the plant to grow can vary from project to project, but usually there is a signup, a discussion of possible plants, a poll (or two) and then we buy and have fun comparing and growing our orchid

So, if you've not taken part in one keep an eye out for the next sign up (usually in the Spring or Early Summer).

And to see what we've done in the past, here are the previous projects with links to the threads where people are chatting about growing them.

Project 1 - Jun 2006 - Phal. lobbii
Project 2 - Aug 2006 - Angraecum scottianum
Project 3 - Spring 2007 - Paph. venustum
Project 4 - Summer 2007 -Aerangis luteoalba var rhodostica
Project 5 - Autumn 2007 - Laelia reginae
Project 6a - Spring 2008 - Sediera japonica
Project 6b - Spring 2008 - Neo falcata
Project 7 Cool -Autumn 2008 - Mystery - Res. dodsonii
Project 7 Int. -Autumn 2008 - Mystery - Asc. pumilum
Project 7 Warm -Autumn 2008 - Mystery - Cirr. tingabarium
Project 8 - Spring 2009 - Haraella retrocalla
Project 9 Cool - Summer 2009 - Coelogyne cristata
Project 9 Int. - Summer 2009 - Miltonia spectabilis
Project 9 Warm - Summer 2009 - Leptotes unicolor
Project 10 Cool - Spring 2010 - Dendrobium loddigesii
Project 10 Int. - Spring 2010 - Laelia ancep
Project 10 Warm - Spring 2010 - Rhynchostylis coelestis
Project 11 - Summer 2010 - Maxillaria tenuifolia
Project 12 - Spring 2011 - Gastrochilus japonicus
Project 13 - Summer 2011 - Trichoglottis brachiata
Project 14 - Spring 2012 - Sophronitis cernua
Project 15 - Spring 2013 - Flasks

[Call_Me_Bob]

great thread rosie! this will help in the future... i just looked at the first project, the thread wasnt more than 1 page! our recent ones are HUGE

[RosieC]

I know, I believe there were only a handful of people on the first one. I had to search to even find that thread as there wasn't a Projects sub-forum at that time so it wasn't here.

I found it quite interesting looking back at the old threads from before my time though which is one reason I decided to link them all here

[Call_Me_Bob]

i love creeping on old threads. haha! thanks again!

[Bud]

AH! so thats how a project works...I have three of the orchids on the past projects and I guess i am not qualified to join since I have had those for a while now...my Trichoglottis brachiata is 4 feet long with two babies sprouting in the middle of the plant...its bloomed this July four opened out of 7 buds...
whereas: the Gastrochilus japonicus is just barely 2 years old and its a challenge for me to grow it since I have not made it bloom this season ...hopefully it will flower before the year is over.

[keithrs]

So when's the next one?

[FairyInTheFlowers]

Originally Posted by keithrs

So when's the next one?

Well, there are usually two a year, sometimes three. From looking at the list, I can see that there has been times where there is one each in the spring, summer, and autumn (2007). I see there being two different ones in the same season (2008). I also see the three basic temperature requirements being done in the same season (2008, 2009, 2010). As for when there is a new one, I don't have a clue! I think we do need to set a standard, or some set of rules for making the members projects. I do like the idea of having a Cool, Int, and Warm Project at the same time each year, that way people don't have to be left out of Project if the Project Plant just won't work in their conditions. I also think we should do a Small, Medium, and Large division too, so that people don't get left out to to size restrictions! I know this would be a lot of work doing these two groups every year, but it sure would be HEAPS of fun, and lots of nice enablement! Goodness! Just thinking about it is making me all excited!

[Call_Me_Bob]

i think we went back to one project instead of three different temp classes, because of the economy and we wanted more people in the same project or soemthings.

thats not to say that whoever decided to organize the next one cant go back to that.

[RosieC]

In recent years we've only done the two dates in each year. For many people ordering in the autumn has problems with cold and shipping.

The temp classes were an interesting variation and it's really up to the person running it if they want to do that. Personally I didn't do it when I ran the one in the spring because I found there was less activity overall with people split more thinly across three projects. With one project and all participants getting the same plant there seemed to be much more activity with everyone's comments prompting other peoples comments. I found the split ones LESS fun because of the lower activity levels on each.

But that's just my thoughts and generally the exact details of rules are up to the person who volunteers to run it.

[glengary54]

So, I will repeat the burning question, when is the next one to start?