Your ideas for the next summer plant project

[Franco24]

It's been rough for me these past couple of weeks with personal issues and trying to get my proper licensing to sell orchids ... so i haven't been able to participate in the S. cernua project (even though I did get a plant). I'd love to start another one and be able to participate in the whole process.

I personally am a big oddball orchid lover. Everything from psychopsis, to draculas, and to ghost orchids. So my vote would have to be something different and unique. I'd be more than happy to compile a list of things if anyone would like me to?

[camille1585]

I also liked the idea of a genus specific project, where we pick a genus, select candidate species, and then vote. But that again brings up the issue of too many US participants for just 1 plant....
But to go as far as specifying the growing style would not work. Being worldwide projects everyone has different conditions so picking one medium or mounting would be disasterous for people who don't have the conditions for it.

I also like the idea of flasks, but I think availability across all regions is going to be an issue. Otherwise we just do a seedling project.

Now the other issue to deal with is those annoying Canadians! Orchids are tough enough to find up there as it is, but Paramount (the one most often used for projects) is moving this summer so I don't think we can count on them as vendor...

[Rowangreen]

Here's a thought... would it be possible to get them located in one source, then work with a local seller in each region to get them imported? It might be possible for them to do that as part of normal imports? It seems to me a lot of the European sellers often get stock from South Amercans, anyone else know common movements? If we have ones between the States, Europe and Canada then we might be able to get some flasks distributed that way?

[camille1585]

Yes it could be possible I suppose, but you'd have to plan well, well in advance, and it would a headache to arrange. I like the flask idea, but it seems like a lot more work to organize than a normal project, and normal projects are already a hell of a lot of work... Then there's the issue of having one person paying for/receiving flasks, and then trusting that other participants will pay him/her when seedlings are divided among us.

[Rowangreen]

Further to what I said above... for example if we found something we liked on the Eucuagenera site, we could get it brought in at one of the shows they visit: they have a massive stock list and visit shows all over the world. I know their plants are bare root, but they do flasks too...

Here's their show attendance: they are in all three regions later this year...

Upcoming shows 2012 -

[Rowangreen]

Sorry, cross posted, not ignoring you Camille! Got to go work now...

[FairyInTheFlowers]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Now the other issue to deal with is those annoying Canadians! Orchids are tough enough to find up there as it is, but Paramount (the one most often used for projects) is moving this summer so I don't think we can count on them as vendor...

Haha!!! There is still Cloud's (which I prefer over Paramount), and they usually have a large selection of plants, though most are smaller sized. Though we do have a more limited selection of orchids up here, I would never be able to leave Canada!

[nenella]

Camille Great Idea! & THANKYOU for putting yourself forward to organise this again.

Projects are my ONLY excuse to buy orchids so a Summer project is a cool idea to me as I get the excuse to order a couple TC's as well.

I believe that the best is to choose an Intermediate temp growing plant so that it fits in with most peoples growing conditions...

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by TheBlazingAugust

Haha!!! There is still Cloud's (which I prefer over Paramount), and they usually have a large selection of plants, though most are smaller sized. Though we do have a more limited selection of orchids up here, I would never be able to leave Canada!

Which is why we often use Paramount, most of their plants are blooming size! A shame because Cloud's has a very nice selection of species, and in the last project they had many that were in the initial suggestion list, but the plants were too small. Not to mention that I find Paramount's customer service to be extremely poor...

[Leafmite]

Maybe picking an entire grouping would make it easier. For example: any aerangis, any compact cattleya (of certain ancestry?) any neo, or any Japanese cymbidium, etc. The problem I noticed when trying to find suggestion plants was that sometimes this aerangis or that angraecum could be found in Canada or Europe but no where else. Yet, one could find a similar aerangis and angraecum in the other two places. My suggestion/vote for a summer project orchid is anything fragrant, fun, and that blooms more than once a year. I don't mind flask plants (not an entire flask!) or seedlings, actually, but we should keep in mind how fast the particular orchid takes to mature (angraecum sesquipidale might not be a great choice...I think I only have eight more years until mine reaches blooming size). Orchids that grow profusely (and there are many) or bloom frequently/fragrantly are more rewarding for me. I realize that I just cannot bring an orchid into my care that has no appeal for me. I try to remember the existence of the soph but the interest factor is escaping me (please little plant, do SOMETHING!).

Thanks Camille for volunteering! You did a great job with the last project.