Haraella retrocalla (Project 8 - Spring 2009)

[mclyle]

OK, Please pardon my confusion here. I am fairly new to the Board. What exactly is the new project plant selection? Is there a particular orchid we have to grow and get to bloom? Please explain. Thanks, McLyle

[mclyle]

I am trying to figure out where to go to so I can ask a question (post a new thread?)...Does anyone have a picture of an Epicat. Hatillo "Pinta" ? I have the label, but don't know which pot it came out of! Thanks ahead of time for anyone's help! McLyle

[Blueszz]

Originally Posted by mclyle

OK, Please pardon my confusion here. I am fairly new to the Board. What exactly is the new project plant selection? Is there a particular orchid we have to grow and get to bloom? Please explain. Thanks, McLyle

Hello McLyle,
I'm a first timer participant on a project but I can tell you it's fun to be part of it! This project started a while ago and what I've understood that it's too late to join - but ofcoarse you always can get this little orchid Haraella retrocalla (Haraella odorata).
The first question was who wanted to be part of the project. Then we selected several plants that had to meet several criteria (size, climate). Chat sessions were used to get a list of orchids that were final candidates.
One challange is that the project plant must be available for all project members. If Im right we have participants in U.S.A. , Canada, Europe and Australia (about 54 members!).
The last step is that we could vote for our favorite plant.
With the current project we can share culture all over the world to find out what the plant needs to thrive.

Nicole

[flhiker]

Maybe it's time to start the Summer O9 project (Hint ,hint)

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by flhiker

Maybe it's time to start the Summer O9 project (Hint ,hint)

Does that mean you're volunteering to organize it?

[flhiker]

I'd be up for that but since we had a hard time finding available plants for all on the last project, maybe we should think of a different twist to this one. I'll post a new thread later.

[Don Perusse]

Let's not be so quick with another project plant. There seems to be quite a few who have had flowers but mainly because they were already in spike or bud. I bet the majority of the 60+ participants have had neither spike nor bloom.....I for one. I've seen some of the blooms but not all that many cultural notes from the various parts of the world. Just my two

Don

[Blueszz]

Originally Posted by Don Perusse

I've seen some of the blooms but not all that many cultural notes from the various parts of the world. Just my two

Don

That's so true Don. Sometimes I wonder how many people really got the Haraella as always the same people seem to update the progress and tell about the way they culture it.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining that it's an obligation to share the findings on OB but I hoped for more cultural notes.
A new project might distract us from the Spring project...

Nicole

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Don Perusse

Let's not be so quick with another project plant. There seems to be quite a few who have had flowers but mainly because they were already in spike or bud. I bet the majority of the 60+ participants have had neither spike nor bloom.....I for one. I've seen some of the blooms but not all that many cultural notes from the various parts of the world. Just my two

Don

Keep in mind that this new project won't start for a while yet. Right now we need to figure out how to do it this time, then there's always a delay between the call for participants and the beginning of it. And last year we had the spring project (sedirea) the Neo project and the mystery project all within a few months of each other. That was fun!

[quiltergal]

Sorry I've been a bit recalcitrant about reporting the progress of Smelly Ellie. She is making good progress on the 2 spikes she developed about a month after I got her. They grew really slowly at first. I turned another pot upside down and perched her up closer to the lights and closer to the window. So she's getting as much light as I can give her. That seemed to really perk her up. She promptly kicked out a new leaf and roots, and the spikes started growing faster too. I water about every other day. I'll try and find some time this weekend to update her picture.