Unpopular Orchid Opinions

[Jeff214]

Originally Posted by isurus79

My wife hates all orchid smells

Is it because of your beautiful but "interesting" smelling amethsytoglossa??

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Jeff214

Is it because of your beautiful but "interesting" smelling amethsytoglossa??

Ha! When we would walk into an orchid show when we lived in Hawaii, she would immediately get an allergic reaction to all the smells. It always seemed odd to me since orchids don't emit pollen into the air, but apparently you can be allergic to the fragrance as well. So now she might sniff an orchid occasionally, but she usually doesn't like the scent and gets watery eyes.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Ha! When we would walk into an orchid show when we lived in Hawaii, she would immediately get an allergic reaction to all the smells. It always seemed odd to me since orchids don't emit pollen into the air, but apparently you can be allergic to the fragrance as well. So now she might sniff an orchid occasionally, but she usually doesn't like the scent and gets watery eyes.

Fragrance IS a particle. Very tiny, chemical particles, but particles nonetheless.

[Jeff214]

I watched your video Stephen, and I must say I'm also baffled by people wearing gloves to repot plants. Then again, I work in a lab and I'm baffled by some people not wearing gloves when handling toxic materials...

My possibly unpopular opinion...

- I don't particularly understand what constitutes as a "good" cattleya. I prefer the floppy floofy curly blooms of many species... The round, overlapping blooms (of hybrids and line bred species) just look unnatural and odd to me. I saw the modern, round purpuratas from Brazil and I was a bit taken a back! While it's matter of preference, I hate to see the loss of more "traditional" look in collections, especially among species that are or near extinct.

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by Jeff214

I watched your video Stephen, and I must say I'm also baffled by people wearing gloves to repot plants. Then again, I work in a lab and I'm baffled by some people not wearing gloves when handling toxic materials...

My possibly unpopular opinion...

- I don't particularly understand what constitutes as a "good" cattleya. I prefer the floppy floofy curly blooms of many species... The round, overlapping blooms (of hybrids and line bred species) just look unnatural and odd to me. I saw the modern, round purpuratas from Brazil and I was a bit taken a back! While it's matter of preference, I hate to see the loss of more "traditional" look in collections, especially among species that are or near extinct.

A species which is extinct is beyond worrying about.

[Ray]

I occasionally were gloves when repotting IF:

• I have an open wound on my hand and am handling sphagnum, avoiding fungal infections, or
• I am prepping LECA for use, to avoid the dust getting on me, or
• I am using rock wool, as I don’t want the glass fibers stabbing me.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Jeff214

I watched your video Stephen, and I must say I'm also baffled by people wearing gloves to repot plants. Then again, I work in a lab and I'm baffled by some people not wearing gloves when handling toxic materials...

My possibly unpopular opinion...

- I don't particularly understand what constitutes as a "good" cattleya. I prefer the floppy floofy curly blooms of many species... The round, overlapping blooms (of hybrids and line bred species) just look unnatural and odd to me. I saw the modern, round purpuratas from Brazil and I was a bit taken a back! While it's matter of preference, I hate to see the loss of more "traditional" look in collections, especially among species that are or near extinct.

Yes, I also miss some of the more wild looking Cattleyas. One that comes to mind is purpurata breeding, which is removing the pinched sepals and petals while opening the tubular lip.

Originally Posted by Subrosa

A species which is extinct is beyond worrying about.

What does this mean?

Originally Posted by Ray

I occasionally were gloves when repotting IF:

• I have an open wound on my hand and am handling sphagnum, avoiding fungal infections, or
• I am prepping LECA for use, to avoid the dust getting on me, or
• I am using rock wool, as I don’t want the glass fibers stabbing me.

I keep hearing about fungal infections from spag. What is the fungus and who is getting it? I've use spag in some capacity for 30 years and haven't ever gotten an infection.

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Yes, I also miss some of the more wild looking Cattleyas. One that comes to mind is purpurata breeding, which is removing the pinched sepals and petals while opening the tubular lip.

What does this mean?


I keep hearing about fungal infections from spag. What is the fungus and who is getting it? I've use spag in some capacity for 30 years and haven't ever gotten an infection.

I'm curious about infections too, since Sphagnum has been used very successfully as a wound dressing for a very long time.

[estación seca]

...or contamination of even minor skin wounds by infected hay and sphagnum moss.(826–830)

I don't have free access to any of these publications. They do list references. The publications might be available in a nearby university library.

I don't know how common this is in North America. I was taught sporotrichosis is a well-known disease often inoculated by rose thorn punctures. I've had tens of thousands of rose thorn punctures and never had an issue. Maybe that's because my ambient humidity is low.

[isurus79]

Very interesting! Sounds very rare! Maybe it’s why I’ve never gotten it?