Orchid Sunday

[jkofferdahl]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

Like Salixx, I made a good haul this week: three plants from H&R and four from Lowe's. There's a couple I have never even heard of. Lots of new buds and roots and a few spikes, so that part of me is happy.

Carol, I read this and remembered something I'd meant to ramble on about in my earlier post. Last August I bought six fairly small Phal. equestris seedlings; two "plain" (sounds like a doughnut), two alba, and two blue. I decided to experiment with these and so planted each into 3-inch plastic baskets using sphagnum. Yeah, dreaded sphagnum. I left about 1/2 inch of open space beneath the moss in each pot. At the time, each plant had acceptable roots, though nothing special. With the good air movement where they grow, the sphagnum dries out completely in 36-48 hours. Nine months after potting each plant has doubled in size, and three of the six (sold as 12-18 months from blooming size) have spikes with one of those three started a second spike which now surprisingly appears to have decided to become a keiki. What's most impressive to me, though, has been the root development of these plants. Roots are everywhere. In abundance. Like velamin-skinned worms. Big, thick roots have all but filled the bottom of the pots, with others coming out through the basket holes and over the tops of the pots, plenty of green tips everywhere. Honestly, I've never seen such vigor from seedlings before. I'm not saying that I've found a magical method, but I AM saying that all seedlings I buy henceforth will be potted in this manner (and several others which are still seedlings either have been or will soon be).

One complaint: They've done so well that they've outgrown the 3" baskets in just 9 months.

[estación seca]

How tightly did you pack the sphagnum?

[jkofferdahl]

Originally Posted by estación seca

How tightly did you pack the sphagnum?

Not very. I'll take some pics tomorrow.

[bil]

I may rant about sphagnum, but I use more sphag than bark!
(Big phals excepted)

Moss is a fabulous substance, but IMO only if it has the chance to dry out reasonably quickly. Put it into a pot, and you risk long term dampness, and with that, rot.

[Dollythehun]

I've been using more of it too, and chopping it with fir bark for the waterhogs. So far so good.

[jkofferdahl]

I said I'd post some pics of the sphagnum potting I use. When the plant in the pics was first potted in this, 8 or 9 months ago, it had 3 less leaves and the adequate root system was small enough to easily fit inside of the pot. Almost as soon as it was repotted it sprouted a new leaf and roots began to develop. This plant now has a spike which is just developing roots and a second spike which has decided to become a keiki. In several places you'll also see where a mouse has chewed the growth tips off of slightly older roots (I think the mice are now better controlled). In this first pic you can see the space I left beneath the medium for even more air circulation, and which, when I did the potting, was absolutely empty of roots:


Here you can see how the roots are also pouring over the rim of the pot as well as the base of the developing spike:


Lastly, more roots pouring over the rim of the pot and also the spike which has gone keiki on me:

[Dollythehun]

Looks like an octopus! Nice roots!!!

[jkofferdahl]

Yeah. When people generalize and say sphagnum kills roots....

[jkofferdahl]

4.16.17: Easter Sunday. A Happy Orchid Sunday to all, and a Happy Easter to all who celebrate. This week I've been fortunate to attend both a Passover Seder and an Easter observation.

When Spring hits in Georgia it explodes. In a week's time, it seems, we go from nights in the low 30s to nights in the low 60s. I've been able to leave windows open a lot more again and this allows my orchids to enjoy the natural humidity, which usually is up in the 70% area or higher. A side benefit of this weather is windows being open, and that allows me to hear neighborhood children playing. When I step into my back yard the air smells like living.

I've taken a new step in the mouse wars here. I've been keeping my dogs away from my plant room, mostly because Rocket is so energetic that I'm afraid of his becoming the bull in my china shop. This week, though, a mouse ate the spike from one Phal bellina and knocked over the other, and I kind of blew up. I don't have a cat, but Rocket is almost as focused in his own way. For four straight nights he's stayed in the area of the house where the plant room is, guarding. For four straight nights I've seen no sign of the mice - no overturned plants, no nibbled leaves, no damaged flowers, and no chocolate sprinkles.

I'm mostly a Phal Phreak, and would guess that 75% of the orchids I grow are Phals, while a number more are Phalaenopsis-like. Another genus I've always grown, though, has been Neofenetia. Only recently have I learned that the species falcata has an amazing number of varietals which are fascinating. I have a peloric in bloom now which is beautiful. Also in my mini area, my Encyclia garciana appears to have somehow been pollenated. Three out of four of my Zygostates alleniana are in full bloom now, while the fourth has one or two spikes. One of my Haraella odorata has bloomed a first bud on one spike with a second soon to open on another, while a second plant has a spike nearing bloom. I really adore these tiny plants, like a micro-Phalaenopsis until you see the flower's lip. On the larger table, a Phal sanderiana now has two open flowers on a branching inflorescence full of buds. In the kitchen grow window, my mature Phal parishii has flowers on two spikes. A third spike appears to be blasting for some reason, while a fourth is developing. Most of my P cornu-cervi live in the kitchen window. One, a peloric alba seedling, is spiking, while the mature plants are all in spike. The P equestrii seedings are also still excelling, with another now throwing a spike. Something exciting seems always to be happening among my orchids.

Not that the dogs aren't also exciting! Sully is exciting because he's so utterly dedicated and loyal to me. Cassius is exciting because he's the most loving and sweet animal I know. And Rocket's exciting because, like a rocket, he's never more than a second away from exploding.

So, on with the day. I wish you all happy growing!

-John

[jkofferdahl]

4.23.17: Happy Orchid Sunday! Here in Georgia it's relatively cool, and rainy. The plants love the humidity!

It's been a slow week down here, which, I think, is good. This was the first week in over a month that I've had a simple, M-F workweek! It was odd in a way because I'd gotten used to having an extra day during the week to handle orchid things. A real positive has occurred this week, about which I'm delighted. A young man who was a close friend of one of my sons stopped in at the end of last week. He was a great kid and good friend to Max but, sadly, managed to get himself into a bit of trouble. My family lost touch with him. We chatted a bit last week, and he promised to come back on Wednesday and take me to dinner, which he did. This afternoon he stopped by with a couple of pizzas from the restaurant he now manages, saying, "here's lunch".

I'm quite excited because the first flower (in my care) of my Psychopsis Kalihi fma. Alba is opening, and so far looks delightful. When I bought the plant it was in spike and had a just-faded blossom and so I can't take credit for the growth, but I can still be happy about it. I'll post a pic when the flower fully opens. Most of my Phal equestrii are in full production now. One has been in bloom for over a year, but I also have six seedlings, four of which are in spike/bud. The two Neos in bloom are still looking and smelling delicious. All in all, there are a lot of happy plants here right now.

I saw my cardiologist this week for an bi-annual check. He must have been happy with things, as he removed me from one of the medications I've been on for two years. It's amazing how much motivation one can get from a visit to a cardiologist!

Enough of my drivel. I wish you all a wonderful Orchid Sunday, and happy growing!