Phaius tankervilleae

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by Rosiefuture

Yes, we are just about to go into Spring on September 1st. I just read on ISOPE that in Papua the smoked flowers of this orchid are used there for contraception!

Marion

wow! I wonder if that works ...

[gixrj18]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

well Marion is "down-under" so the seasons are reversed ...
So the nubbies may be new growth ...
I think these like to be pretty moist ...
IOSPE PHOTOS

Orchid,Orchids,Phals,Vandas,CLAN, Tropicals

Jasen - your's is gorgeous! bet it's even more spectacular in person!

My bad....I just noticed your location. So yours may bloom around November. Wow, springtime in September! I would say that sounds really strange to me, but it still feels like spring around here in September, so it's not much different. I think it just sounds funny to me. Then again, springtime in March probably sounds funny to you, huh?

[Rosiefuture]

Originally Posted by gixrj18

My bad....I just noticed your location. So yours may bloom around November. Wow, springtime in September! I would say that sounds really strange to me, but it still feels like spring around here in September, so it's not much different. I think it just sounds funny to me. Then again, springtime in March probably sounds funny to you, huh?

Hi Jasen, No it doesn't sound funny because I was raised in the UK, we moved to Oz 19 years ago. I still can't get used to having Christmas dinner on a day that is going to be around 100F! Thank goodness for Aircon!

Yes, it's sometimes confusing reading info on here when most of you are heading into autumn.

Marion

[gixrj18]

Originally Posted by Rosiefuture

Yes, we are just about to go into Spring on September 1st. I just read on ISOPE that in Papua the smoked flowers of this orchid are used there for contraception!

Marion

I don't really wonder if it works, as much as I wonder how this tradition was born. I can't even begin to imagine the circumstances leading up to smoking an orchid, and using it as contraceptive. Is this an "oral" contraceptive? Or was it somehow physically used? I could see maybe trying to eat it, but can't even imagine the other way....whatever it may be! I guess that gives a whole new meaning to promoting "safe gardening".

[Rosiefuture]

Btw, I took my Phaius out of it's pot, it has two good size bulbs which look reasonably healthy. I cut off some dead roots and cleaned them up a bit. It has new roots coming and I counted 5 new shoots developing. I've brought it indoors, repotted it and watered it. It's now in my orchid room in good light. Here's hoping it will finally do something after all these years.

Marion

[Rosiefuture]

Originally Posted by gixrj18

I don't really wonder if it works, as much as I wonder how this tradition was born. I can't even begin to imagine the circumstances leading up to smoking an orchid, and using it as contraceptive. Is this an "oral" contraceptive? Or was it somehow physically used? I could see maybe trying to eat it, but can't even imagine the other way....whatever it may be! I guess that gives a whole new meaning to promoting "safe gardening".

Yes, it does make you wonder if someone just suddenly thought "Maybe if I smoke the flowers of this orchid they will stop me getting pregnant!"

Also when they say smoked the flowers do they mean they smoked them like a joint............or did they smoke them like ham???

Marion

[gixrj18]

Originally Posted by Rosiefuture

Yes, it does make you wonder if someone just suddenly thought "Maybe if I smoke the flowers of this orchid they will stop me getting pregnant!"

Also when they say smoked the flowers do they mean they smoked them like a joint............or did they smoke them like ham???

Marion

....Or was it like the movie "American Pie" (for those of you that have seen it), and did someone get caught pleasing themself with a smoked orchid (probably part of someone's lunch)? Maybe they had to make up a good excuse on the fly......"Oh that! Uhhhhh, that's my new Trojan flower.....everybody's using them! It's the latest craze in contraception. It's like your not even wearing it!"

[Rosiefuture]