My Hausermann's purchases

[Dollythehun]

American Express is smiling.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

Thanks, Roberta! I've never seen a yellow one and they were all in spike.

Post photo when it blooms!

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

American Express is smiling.

Kind of like when I visit Andy's Orchids... there is this vortex sucking the money out of my bank account and depositing it in Andy's cash register. I understand completely.

[camille1585]

Nice haul! You obviously had a very nice time there. I'm curious to hear how you do with the Promenea, I've never done well with those and always lose them to rot no matter how careful I am. I'm slightly jealous about how many you got though. I wanted more during my shopping trip yesterday (got 4 and really wanted 3 others) but my boyfriend was with me and often reminding me how much I was spending and how full my shelves already are.
He has some learning to do: 1) Don't talk about money to an orchid addict, they prefer to hand over their credit card without knowing the total amount. 2) Shelf space is a technicality, there is always room for more.

Originally Posted by Roberta

Nice haul! I especially love Phal stuartiana - var nobilis is yellow form, has neat spotting in the throat and on the lip, potentially too. Surprised there isn't more mottling on the leaf, maybe with a bit more light and maturity it will develop (or maybe not so prominent in that form) But 'way cool.

I saw the var. nobilis form when I was visiting a nursery yesterday, and none of them had much mottling. I think it's the standard form which is mottled.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by camille1585

I'm curious to hear how you do with the Promenea, I've never done well with those and always lose them to rot no matter how careful I am.

You're not alone, Camille. I have tried Promenea several times without success.

[Dollythehun]

Originally Posted by Paul

You're not alone, Camille. I have tried Promenea several times without success.

Ok, you two. What have you tried? When I looked it up, it appeared to require cattlaya care. Chime in here, please.

I did have a nice time. My friend really needed to get out. I really didn't need more plants.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

Ok, you two. What have you tried? When I looked it up, it appeared to require cattlaya care. Chime in here, please.

I did have a nice time. My friend really needed to get out. I really didn't need more plants.

I tried Promenaea Limelight, and another hybrid twice prior to that one. The first two quickly rotted and died, so I researched culture better for the 3rd. The most important tips I found were to to soak rather than pour water through top (water trapped in growths = rot) and water early in the day. Use a moisture retentive mix. Phal level or slightly brighter light, humidity on the high side but with lots of air movement. It STILL rotted. Something is still lacking in my culture, but I don't know what.

[SundayGardener]

Originally Posted by camille1585

...
He has some learning to do: 1) Don't talk about money to an orchid addict, they prefer to hand over their credit card without knowing the total amount. 2) Shelf space is a technicality, there is always room for more....

Learning can make it worse: "I thought you weren't going to get one of those, you don't have the proper growing conditions." "You said you wanted a dendrobium, that's not a dendrobium!" "When the last one rotted you got really mad and said never again, put it back!"

What they really need is a back room equipped with a huge wide screen TV, some soothing refreshments, cushy seating and other enticements for the orchid-weary tagalongs.

[Dollythehun]

Oh, like for shoe shopping!

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by SundayGardener

Learning can make it worse: "I thought you weren't going to get one of those, you don't have the proper growing conditions." "You said you wanted a dendrobium, that's not a dendrobium!" "When the last one rotted you got really mad and said never again, put it back!"

What they really need is a back room equipped with a huge wide screen TV, some soothing refreshments, cushy seating and other enticements for the orchid-weary tagalongs.

Since it was their openhouse weekend there was seating (hard benches), warm drinks, but the only thing to watch was the large and impressive orchid display in front of the refreshment area. All this located in the dark, warm and humid backroom which houses the heating system... I don't think tagalongs would be satisfied with this arrangement!