the orchid board is dead

[jcec1]

[QUOTE=AnonYMouse;827290] Besides, the Europeans need alternatives. Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe most can't get the same stuff.[COLOR="Silver"]

Imidacloprid is no longer available, which was a fantastic systemic. There is concern that it causes bee death, which is a pity when it is needed for indoor collections where no bees would be affected, but, obviously it could not be licensed for indoor use only.

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by jcec1

Imidacloprid is no longer available, which was a fantastic systemic. There is concern that it causes bee death, which is a pity when it is needed for indoor collections where no bees would be affected, but, obviously it could not be licensed for indoor use only.

Since England is not under EU jurisdiction, maybe laws are different but I can buy an evolution called thiacloprid.

Also, in EU, one can't buy a large array of chemicals (ex, acaricides) without a proper license issued by the state. And to get that license a training is needed.
So, in our case here in the EU, biological warfare aginst pests is almost a must.
I've seen a lot of threads discussing the use of such products (including me) and never noticed a deletion in any of my posts.

[jkofferdahl]

Back to the original topic, it seems that at least some of us are unhappy with the Board's speed, and possibly the missing Administration. I do agree with the idea that boards such as this one are in a decline, as I think anyone who uses such boards has likely observed. However, my personal inclination is to believe that this particular board fits a rather unique niche. Were the Administrators to deign visit the Orchid Board and experience the issues for themselves, and if those of us who still care (especially those of us paying each month to keep the OB running) were to let Administration know of our concerns, then perhaps they might actually look into the issues and take care of them. I believe that if the OB was less of an experience in patience-testing and endurance and more of a functional, properly operational Board, it would be even more vibrant and informative than it is now.

[Leafmite]

Plants sort of go in cycles of popularity, with different plants popular at certain times and houseplant ownership ebbing and waning.

I do worry about Marty (whether he is alright) and wish we had someone again in control of the board and acting as a caretaker. Like others, I worry about the board's future.

As for the deletion of posts, I am surprised that happened. Many have argued over organic vs pesticides without issue. It is a good conversation to have.

For organic gardening vs. pesticides, I kind of like this chart:

Grow Smart, Grow Safe - Product Charts

I also read the 'toxicity sheets' that are provided by Universities and various government agencies (both foreign and US). These can usually be found by careful googling.

I just bought Neem oil as Logees recommended it. It is said to be safe to use indoors on my citrus where many other products are not.

[Joseia]

The slowness of the board can be very frustrating. Some days are better than others. Over the past few months, there were many times that I gave up trying to read anything here because of the constant hanging. I hope the owner is alright and can find the time to fix the problems here. As a total newb 4 years ago, I killed quite a few orchids and would probably have given up if not for the great advice I received here. OB has been a wonderful resource and the vast majority of the users have been wonderfully helpful. It would be a real shame to see it die. If I knew that updates and upgrades would actually be done, I would be happy to become a paid supporter.

[FairyInTheFlowers]

There's a couple things that come into play here.

First, dealing directly with the board, there does seem to be an eerie lack of higher administration lately. When I cleared all my cookies, my log in information was wiped from all my devices (Google Chrome on laptop, phone, and tablet), and for some reason, every password I tried and that I've used in my life that I remember didn't work. Neither did any of the several email accounts that I remember using and having access to. I sent an email to the Admins, but had no response. I was locked out of my account for a week or so, and it wasn't until I tried my tablet again that I could log in and change my still unknown password thanks to it keeping it as a cookie. So yeah, I don't know where the forum owner has gone too, and it seems that the Admins with higher power are also a little absent.

Also, the forum response time. I don't know what it is, but it's almost like the forum server regularly hits a "wall" where everything stops loading properly. You can do zip until it finds a way around that wall. I don't know why, but it is honestly something I've never seen before, and I've seen a lot of internet.

Second is a change in how people use the internet. Orchid Board is not easy to use on the phone. Quite a lot of forums now use Tapatalk to make mobile browsing more easy, but I do not think it is available for OB. Plus, you have people moving to more mobile friendly applications, such as Facebook Groups, Instagram, Pintrest, and Tumblr. Because, to be totally honest, for the amount of effort it take to get a photo onto a forum post, it takes a quarter of the effort to share to my Instagram. As of now, the only thing forums as a whole offer is a more communal discussion (other apps are more restrictive in who is your "friend") and better organised discussion, making things easier to find and save. Even now, other mobile maps are making it easier to save and later access posts.

Edit: Another thing to keep in mind is the time of year. I can imagine a lot of people are busy with the holiday season, school finals (my case), or even both. Plus, there will be seasonal ebb and flow, as there are some times of the year when not a lot of orchids are growing or flowering.

[orchidsarefun]

OB is on tapatalk, using it right now to post.
To me it's all about participation and we see a lack of it throughout Society - most noticeably in the USA election - not just in online forums. I don't know the root cause but hey let me blame the educational system as that's a safe bet !

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[estación seca]

Most people don't want an explanation. They want a one-sentence answer that will tell them how to grow any orchid perfectly anywhere in the world, with no effort. Facebook is great for this kind of seeker.

[flexdc]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Most people don't want an explanation. They want a one-sentence answer that will tell them how to grow any orchid perfectly anywhere in the world, with no effort. Facebook is great for this kind of seeker.

I whole heartedly agree with you. How many times have I heard "I water it once a week and it never flowers for me"


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[Ray]

If one thinks a forum is inadequate, I often ask myself is that individual is doing much to change it.....