Spring 2011 Project - Plant Suggestions

[Daethen]

Ok, so far I like gastrochilus bellinus, dendrochiulm tenellum, trichopilia tortilis, and gastrochilus japonicus. Hope I spelled those right.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by flhiker

Just wanted to mention that IOSPE is not a real reliable source for growing conditions. It may be better to use Orchid Wiz. or the vendors info. One of my suggestion lean to the warm side and the other to the cool side but both can be grown in intermediate conditions. Alright there is my 2 cents for what its worth.

PS Thanks Rosie and Camille for doing the project. I feel like I'm on vacation.LOL
Any Idea on a time frame for this project?

I believe Camille was planning to check in Orchid Wiz as well as IOSPE as she has that and mentioned to me she could use it.

I had been thinking, based on one of your comments in a past project, that it might take 1.5 to 2 months to be ready for buying, but if everything seems to be going quicker than that we just take it as it goes.

We have a lot of participants already, I want to leave more time to give plenty of time for folks to join and also the suggestions are best left open a reasonable time to get as good a selection as possible and alow everyone who wants to suggest something to do so.

I'll let everyone know before I close suggestions and start the polls so that anyone who had something in mind but had not yet posted it has time to get those last ones in.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by flhiker

Just wanted to mention that IOSPE is not a real reliable source for growing conditions. It may be better to use Orchid Wiz. or the vendors info. One of my suggestion lean to the warm side and the other to the cool side but both can be grown in intermediate conditions. Alright there is my 2 cents for what its worth.

What I'm thinking to do it to look up the orchidwiz info and post it with what Paul researched on IOSPE. If, for some orchids, the 2 sources give really conflicting temp ranges then I suggest that we investigate those further (ie, vendor info or find threads from OB members who have it) before deciding to keep or cut from the list.

I have a lot of spare time on my hands in the morning (my experiments involve a lot of waiting around) and somehow ended up getting super involved in the project. Very happy to help Rosie!

Which 2 orchids did you suggest? Don't feel like rereading the thread to find out!

[Paul Mc]

Good to know about the IOSPE. I know I personally have seen some conflicting information from that and other sources (like vendors). However, I also have to wonder if they aren't accounting for climate change in the area of the world that the IOSPE says they are coming from.

Either way, still good to know about IOSPE. Thank you.

[camille1585]

Orchidwiz also has its issues. I think (but may be wrong) that much of the temperature/watering info is actually data from the natural habitat. It's possible that a plant may actually be able to adapt to a wider range of conditions than may be found in its habitat.

[Call_Me_Bob]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Orchidwiz also has its issues. I think (but may be wrong) that much of the temperature/watering info is actually data from the natural habitat. It's possible that a plant may actually be able to adapt to a wider range of conditions than may be found in its habitat.

That's very true. Orchids will adapt to many different habitats.


You can call me Bob

[flhiker]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Which 2 orchids did you suggest? Don't feel like rereading the thread to find out!

Bulbophyllum ovalifolium
Trichopilia tortilis

It's been my experience that people shy away from the project when orchids that are suggested lean one way or the other. they don't think they can grow them. So when IOSPE say a plant is warm grower and the vendor says intermediate. I trust the vendor more because well after all they are growing them. And have found that MOST vendors are honest

[Paul Mc]

Very interesting thoughts. However, I have noticed that a few of my "speciality" orchids the vendors (very reputable at that) had information that was a bit off. My assumption was that they could grow them under those conditions where they were located, but as I am very far away from them and in a more northern atmosphere that my conditions were a bit different.

Just an observation and a thought, I may be way off base. I'm a newbie to orchids, so I'm still learning.

[kavanaru]

just my two cents: the conditions a plant need to grow do not change depending whether you are in Ecuador or Norway! If the plant needs it warm and sunny, it will need it warm and sunny everywhere!

what can change is the interpretation of what the conditions is! What one can call "sunny" in Toronto, will not be sunny enough for a plants used to grow in full sun in the tropics!

The information on "growing conditions" given for a particular plant (IOSPE, Orchidwiz, Orchids Limited or the neighbor) are only references that are based on the habitat where the plant grows in the wild and the experience in culture, as a general rule.. However, most plants are very variable and can tolerate a "wide" range of temps/conditions in which they can grow (of course there is a small range which is optimal, and there are some plants which are less adaptable than others). E.g. Cattleya violacea is a warm grower, but it can be grown under intermediate conditions, BUT it will bloom a lot better under warm/hot conditions similar to those where it grows in the wild.

My experience is also that IOSPE is not very accurate for growing conditions and have a lot of mistakes (especially for plants not very common available). However, it is a great reference! Nevertheless, I would rather follow the information given by the vendor (if serious and have experience with this plant!)... e.g. if a vendor especialized in Paphios tells me I can grow Catasetum under X or Y conditions, I will rather check for a different source of information....

[flhiker]

Thanks Ramon, we have this discussion every project but for the new people and lurkers I thought it to be necessary to bring it to everyone's attention. You certainly did a better job explaining it then I did.