February 2008 mailing list messages

2008 Archived Messages

Click on the week you require.
To return to the main Archive index, click the button at the bottom of the page.
Links to all the Photos and other images accompanying the list messages can be found on the Images page.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Emailing: FEB 2008
Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2008

From: JIM MATEOSKY
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] I thought this was a heck of a photo
Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2008

Intersting, can you share the lux values you found with us? When you do not have a meter it is more of a mystery or a black art tying o guess how many lux I have, in this part of the greenhouse, in shade, full sun, morning, evning........

These plants grow in Nicaragua where it routinly reaches 42c in the shade! Do you get temps like that? and dy like the sahara!

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: MAM Horticulture website
Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2008

Malcolm Moodie wrote on 19th to say he now has a website for MAM
Horticulture and asked me to put a link on the Sundries Retailers page
http://www.orchid-talk.co.uk/links/sundries.html which I have done. His
site is http://www.mamhorticulture.co.uk − a good selection of sundries
including Physan.

Hello Rocky − here is a pic of my cattleya backbulb growing in its
pot of stones and broken pots. And for a colourful treat my laelia
cinnabarosa − a cross between cinnabarina and tenebrosa i believe.
Alex

From: jean Lewis
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: new website
Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2008

I've just heard from Malcolm Moodie that they now have a website. I've had a look and it's great for some orchid sundries − his url is below − Jean
http://www.mamhorticulture.co.uk

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Alex's items.
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2008

A very nice Laelia hybrid, and I am sure that it is one that we would all like to own.

Good luck with the Cattleya back-bulb. At least when the new roots emerge they will not be deterred by any nasty compost.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Who and where.
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2008

As the Club has so many members from all parts of the planet, I for one often, no.....sometimes, forget where that person comes from.

Then, hopefully, after a while I will immediately be able to link a persons name with the town/area where they live.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Memory Lane.
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2008

I have started to make up my list of names that fit to places, and I have constructed it in Microsoft Excel.

I would think that most of you will be able to open it, so hopefully those of you that are not on my list might like to enter your name and where on this planet you live.

Of course this information will be so useful when we all have that nagging question to ask about a certain plant, especially if we can relate a person to that area.

So, for instance, if you need some information about the Wild Orchids of the U.K., especially those that grow in the south of England, you can key in such information against my name.

From: JIM MATEOSKY
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Stone growing
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2008

Here (in Costa Rica) "la moda" is to grow Cats on old (the old and gnarlier the better) clay roof tiles. I like it a lot. It brings up some interesting points. Media. clay tiles are the opposite of spagmum moss. but in the wild you see plants on trees and rocks covered in moss! The things we do to try to imatate mother nature.

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Who and where.
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2008

> As the Club has so many members from all parts of the planet, I for one
> often, no.....sometimes, forget where that person comes from.

> Then, hopefully, after a while I will immediately be able to link a
> persons name with the town/area where they live.

It sounds like a good idea. Once again I shall point out that I am NOT
'Boss', that is Alan's nickname. He was known as 'Boss' long before I met
him so I can't be 'Boss'. I am usually known as 'Her Indoors'.

From:
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Memory Lane. Excel sheet
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2008

When I tried to open the Excel file I got the following message:
"Orchid Club Talk.xls cannot be accessed. The file may be corrupted, located on a server that is not responding or read-only."
Janet Fabricant in Boynton Beach, Florida, USA
Wirey hugs and love and xxx and licks from Janet, Bobby and Asta

From: PG Hieke
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Memory Lane.
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2008

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] I thought this was a heck of a photo
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2008

I have found one of my notebooks from a visit to north Thailand some years
ago; I got 36ooo lux , August , early afternoon, thin cloud cover, as the
likely light value on Vanda coerulea ( 'likely' because I didn't/ couldn't
actually get up to the plant and hold the meter in the exact spot. This was
growing on a deciduous tree with no leaves at the time.

I got 5-7000 on the leaves of Paph concolor growing in light shade , a small
clump of bushes/small trees , on the ground , at various times in the middle
of the day, usually similar weather , this was the rainy season, but most of
these measurements when not actually raining.

I got figures below one hundred in very deep shade, ground level on
Calanthe triplicata , and as low as 43 lux on a jewel orchid ( can't
remember the genus, species was definitely roxburghii , on an unsuccessful
journey trying to find a pink variety of Habenaria rhodocheila ( we covered
about 3 miles in as many hours ,through very difficult terrain, scrambling
up near vertical banks holding on to tree roots, and sliding down on the
other side and landing in streams , and then gave up and took as long to get
back , it was supposed to be a mere ½ hour stroll to the spot in question ,
I expect we were not on the right 'path' or on any path ! Shan't do that
again I think , I'm getting a bit old for such adventures.

In my greenhouse I have to wait till dusk or crawl under the bench to get
figures below a few hundred , but when I put my jewel orchids down there,
the growth rate took off like a moon rocket.

I have had a maximum (ever) figure of 76000 in my garden ( open garden, not
inside a glasshouse) , mid summer, clear air, brilliant sunshine, mid day,
mid-year.

My winter dreary day indoor (greenhouse) darkest side, readings at bench
level are down to 2ooo or below.

You asked if we get43 . Not outside , 30 would be high for us, but our
weather alternates between two typoes as UK is on the bordewr between
getting continental weather , very cold bright winters, and very hot summers
, and Atlantic systems , when it is never very cold nor very hot, usually
cloudy, and often damp.

But we must grow most orchids in greenhouses ( glasshouses) and it is all
too easy to get temperatures higher than 43, if not properly ventilated,.
shaded, and humidified . We do try to keep our grpowing benches below 25 ,
but I guess most of us regularly get 30 or so fpr some part of the day for
several months of the year.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Who and Where.
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2008

I must admit, that I would have bet a few quid that the Microsoft 'Spreadsheet' that I have started, would have been able to be opened...no trouble.

Having sent 'Spreadsheets' to family and friends, I am still at a loss as to why they cannot be 'seen' opened.

And thanks go to Mark Crosby for giving me his details. I will reply tomorrow Mark, just off to our 'Monthly Fix', which is, listening to an evening of some of the best Traditional Jazz in the South of England.

From: Alex Scott
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Stone growing
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2008

The catt. is a big blowsy pink hybrid called 'Irene Holguin'. I dont have a
greenhouse and my house is too dry to grow anything mounted though I
occasionally try different things so everything is potted in bark and
sphagnum. Pots are not really natural but as you say we have to imitate
mother nature.
Regards, Alex

> Alex,
>
> Nice photo, what was the name of that cat.
>
> Here (in Costa Rica) "la moda" is to grow Cats on old (the old and gnarlier the better) clay roof tiles. I like it a lot. It brings up some interesting points. Media. clay tiles are the opposite of spagmum moss. but in the wild you see plants on trees and rocks covered in moss! The things we do to try to imatate mother nature.
>
> Jim
>

From: Max Redman
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Memory Lane. Excel sheet
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2008

I also got the same message but after a couple of minutes it came up and said that microsoft had repaired some errors but that there may still be some problems. It appeared to be OK and I was able to correct my address with no problem.
Max.

From: Esther Koh
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Phalaenopsis modesta
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2008

Here's another photo:
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f359/rockhop/IMG_6189b.jpg

> Fabulous orchid Esther. I'd like to see a photo of whole plant with the styrofoam slab.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Who and where.
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2008

Pleased to hear that my list is a good idea, and I have just added a couple of more columns to it. They are headed 'Grows' meaning that under this heading the orchids that person mainly grows would be listed. Then the other column is headed 'Speciality', and here will be listed the type of orchids that person specialises in. Under Geoff's name this would Paphiopedilums.

I am sure that when this list gets going that it will provide our 'Club' with a great deal of information and generate a lot of help.

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Who and Where.
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2008

Hi Roger, I have never been able to understand why I can read some
Microsoft files when Microsoft users can't. Your spreadsheet opened here
with no trouble.

From: Paul Johnson
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: OrchidTalk rumbles
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2008

As with Tricia, the file opened for me without difficulty. In fact, I
did not have to "open" it to see the contents with the preview
function in the new operating system [from Apple]. Though, unless my
glasses need cleaning or I need more coffee this morning, Roger, I see
that I am listed twice.

> On 23 Feb, in article ,
> Roger Grier wrote:
>
>> Trad fans, Rugby fans, Cricket fans and Orchid fans are very similar.

Otherwise, rugby fans cause rumbles at games, orchid fans cause
rumbles at shows. But, cricket fans? : )

From: JIM MATEOSKY
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] I thought this was a heck of a photo
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2008

Thanks, that helps,and makes it more confusing. It is very challange to try to simulate mother nature, I have 4 different shade cloths 30-80%, The sunny days I have places where it there is too much sun and the cloudy days too much shade. Sometimes I feel I am way off and other times it seems like being in the middle is A OK.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2008
Subject: RE: [OrchidTalk] I thought this was a heck of a photo

I have found one of my notebooks from a visit to north Thailand some years ago; I got 36ooo lux , August , early afternoon, thin cloud cover, as the likely light value on Vanda coerulea ( 'likely' because I didn't/ couldn't actually get up to the plant and hold the meter in the exact spot. This was growing on a deciduous tree with no leaves at the time...

From: Dennis Read
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Who and Where.
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2008

Rocky,Tricia, I seem to have missed out on th Spread Sheet thread. Would you please send it to me so that I know what is going on.
Water butts are filling well today in Devon. Regards Dennis

From: JIM MATEOSKY
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: The colors of Cattleya Guatemalensis
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2008

Ah how the colors of Cattleya Guatemalensis can be different from plant to plant, Laelia Puparata has a lot of variations as well, "You all" know other orchids with these wide color variations?

From: jns tropic
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: A picture in the email
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2008

If the picture is in the internet it will upload to an email (this skinneri is on my site ww.togofcoralgables.com). But if it is just on my desktop it must be sent as an attach.
Now the question is which is the easier to open. I am trying to make it quicker for people that have slower computers.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Information Speadsheet.
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2008

As to why some of you cannot, and some of you can access the FILE I am not sure, but as Tricia says, she is also puzzled. Perhaps some of you do not have Microsoft Excel loaded.

From: jns tropic
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] A picture in the email
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2008

In the last three days I have sent the group three jpg pictures and the first two worked for me. But today the picture opened and within 2 seconds it vanished. Then I looked at the others and they had vanished. MSN must be mad at me.

From: PG Hieke
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Stone growing
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008

The attached picture shows a Catt. growing on a roof tile. I took this picture
at the 19 WOC in Miami.
Regards
Peter from Bloubergstrand

> Here (in Costa Rica) "la moda" is to grow Cats on old (the old and
> gnarlier the better) clay roof tiles.

From: Gordon Walker
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Information Speadsheet.
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Who and Where.
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008

As it is still very early days..........Paul, you are now just in there once, must be my eyes !!! Or lack of coffee !!!

I have put it together for one reason, and that is, so that when we have a particular question to ask, we can have a look at the Spreadsheet and ask a specific person or persons who specialise in that plants growing. And of course the question should always be asked via the 'Club'. That way we all benefit.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Tropic's Cattleya
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008

Now that sure is one very nice Cattleya hybrid. Those type of flower shapes always look good and the colour is terrific.

When I first saw the photo I immediately thought of C. Walkeriana..........any comments?

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Orchids on roof tiles.
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008

Nice interesting story and talking point. I have a few photos in books showing just what you described.

First of all, when orchid seed floats about in the air, the 'target' which may be a branch of a tree is not very big, maybe a foot across, when you put it into perspective along with the space in a rainforest. Look at the area in square feet that a roof offers and you can see the vast difference.

So, the seed floats down and lands on a roof. Great, nice and firm, a very good foothold/foundation for the seed to germinate and grow on. PLENTY of run off of rainwater. It does not require much else.

As to the moss, well that's a sore point with me as I have very strong thoughts on MOSS.

Here in Europe I hate it when I see orchid sellers vending plants which have been tied to pieces of bark/tree fern and the like with a great pad/wad of moss between the plants rhizome and the bark. In nature this does not happen. The orchids roots are fastened directly to, and hold on extremely well to the face of the host tree. Then, moss in many various forms WILL GROW on SOME of the tress, around and sometimes over the roots. But in this case the moss is not between the roots and their host.

For everyone, P.S. Please update the 'Who and Where' spreadsheet with your own comments if you would like to.

From: francis quesada pallares
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Information Speadsheet.
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008

I think the problem for opening the attachment must
reside on whether the computer from which the document
is open has got excel or not as software.

A quick question, I opened the document, but I am not
sure what to do with my information... Do I just put
the information on it, save it and resend it to you?

From:
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Information Speadsheet.
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008

Hi Rocky,
I have no idea how I was able to open the file today when I couldn't last week but goes the computer. Anyway, I have added my name and location to the list. Now I hope you will be able to open the attached list.
Wirey hugs and love and xxx and licks from Janet, Bobby and Asta

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Jim's Cattleya Guatamalensis.
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008

I can never get too excited about 'alba' forms as I always recollect my late friend saying.....all of the other colours are missing.

Even the yellow one does not get me that excited, but the normal one, ah yes, that's for me.

The photo of the yellow one.....left hand side.....I see a couple of clay pots with I think some pre-drilled holes/slots, and what interests me more is to see the green growth around the lower portion of the pot. Excellent.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Problems in opening files....
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008

To my friends in the photographic world, and in the horticultural world,
especially in Colour Circle 3 , and in Orchid-Talk

I made a word document in the usual way , and sent it as an attachment ;
Some recipients can view it, others not.

I also tried attaching one of my picture files − same answer if not always
the same recipients ( i.e. some may have the word problem, others the
picture problem, others perhaps both ; and certainly many have neither.

I use Windows Vista Business or Ultimate OS, Office 2007 word processing
(Word 12.0), and Photoshop picture processing (CS3).

So I tried sending them to myself. No problem . So its not my sending
mechanism.

Next I sent them to my wife − she has XP- Pro and an older Office. For
pictures she has the Windows picture viewer.

On her machine, I got the message "This message has been created by a later
version of Office. Do you wish to download the compatibility pack for
conversion of Word, Excel (Roger please note !) etc. I did, and then 5
minutes later, when I opened the message there was a short delay and a
message saying "Windows is converting." and then, there it was.

Then I dug out an older laptop ( I don't pass them on − the hard drive with
some security stuff on can be accessed by the PC -wise , and anyway they are
worth nothing second-hand) running Windows 98 − remember it ? ( Some people
still run it I suppose, although not supported by Windows now (see below).
My message would not open − no explanation. My picture could not be seen -
the icon appeared then when I clicked on it, it disappeared..

Not supported, means that the error message and solution will not appear
automatically ( I guess ). But could still be searched for on the MS
web-site.

For those having difficulties I think it must be worth doing ( unless you
intend an upgrade to your system ) since increasingly this is going to
happen. Anyone buying a new machine − as many people do every 3-4 years − is
going to have the newer software and their messages etc will be unreadable
to those with older systems and software.

From: JIM MATEOSKY
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Orchids on roof tiles.
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008

I couldn't agree more! The roots need to be attache to the "host" stick, branch, bark, roof tile... Then if moss wants to grow on top it is a different deal. Here to there are a lot of Orchids tied to branches with moss und the roots, i.e. stolen from the forrest.....

From: Sjean
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Phalaenopsis modesta
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008

Thank you Esther. I was pleased to see the styrofoam has turned a brownish gray so it doesn't stand out as glaringly white.

> Here's another photo:
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f359/rockhop/IMG_6189b.jpg

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Information Speadsheet.
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008

For the moment it may be better for you to give me your information and I
will then add it to the list.

I'm not sure about the 'Spreadsheet' being on the Orchid Talk
website.........better we ask 'H. I'.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Spreadsheet latest
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008

And it does work.....as Janet from Boynton Beach, Florida has proven, many thanks Janet.

Pete von Bloubergstrand, Peter, do you have Microsoft Excel installed??? Can you see the Spreadsheet??? If so mate, can you please either key in your own items or send them to me.

One item that may make some of you smile is the eternal computer 'problems' that get us sitting in front of the screen for maybe half an hour or so, not knowing why the bloody hell it will not do as asked.

In the Spreadsheet that I was working on, you will see that the names are in the first column. So good so far.

Then of course I will put them all in alphabetical order by just highlighting that COLUMN and clicking on the A-Z Icon. Why the hell don't they all go in that order????? Tried it several times.

Then the brain being packed with seventy years of information went down a not often used track.....aha!!! Now I remember.....not every name was hard up against the left hand side, just four names had a space first........but not that easy to see.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Growing and Flowering.
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008

Nice to hear that your Paphs grow and multiply, but why do they not flower????? Maybe not enough light, but I am sure some of our Paph growers may answer your question.

As to using broken pieces of clay pot.....just make them about the same size as large bark pieces. No problem.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Cattleya on roof tile at the WOC.
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008

1. If it was my plant, I would have grown it on the other side so to speak. That way it would imitate the top of a branch.

3. I expected to see roots all over the place. [It would appear that this plant had not been there for that long.]

It is sure nice though to have this type of photo to let people see. Digital cameras....best thing since sliced bread.

From: jns tropic
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Tropic's Cattleya
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008

Rocky my Cattleya is not a hybrid, it's a specie, all be it an FCC. Sad to say it's not even a Cattleya, it's a Gua. as in Guarianthe skinneri 'Hettie Jacobs' FCC/AOS
Gooaah, doesn't that just ring in your mind. I'm pleased that you got the picture. Last evening it didn't open on my email but early this morning today it worked but it doesn't open now in the afternoon.

From: Alex Scott
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Information Speadsheet.
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008

I take it that you have to do the updating so put me down as a house and
window sill grower please.
Alex

> Hi to you all,
>
> I have deleted the PHONE column from the list as it is hardly worth it.

From: Jean-Claude GEORGE
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Spreadsheet latest
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008

Hi Roger,
very good idea indeed, no problem for us either, you can update with Elisabeth George, France, south-east asian species, main interest Coelogyne ...
Elisabeth

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Tropic's Cattleya
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008

> Rocky my Cattleya is not a hybrid, it's a specie, all be it an FCC. Sad to
> say it's not even a Cattleya, it's a Gua. as in Guarianthe skinneri 'Hettie
> Jacobs' FCC/AOS
> Gooaah, doesn't that just ring in your mind. I'm pleased that you got the
> picture. Last evening it didn't open on my email but early this morning
> today it worked but it doesn't open now in the afternoon.

From: GEORGE GARTHWAITE
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Spreadsheet latest
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008

However, regards from a very miserable Kent this morning, though I understand Lincolnshire is basking in glorious sunshine!

From: Roy Lee
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Spreadsheet latest
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008

Roger, minor adjustment required to spreadsheet. I'm not in Sydney.
Should be, Fyans Creek, Victoria.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: What's in a name?
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008

Looking out of my window I might think that I was also in Florida.....sun, blue sky, but the temperature lacks a bit !!!

So I looked up Guarianthe and I found out that it had been re-named by some person or persons who must have used the PHYLOGENETIC theory.

So, on to the Phylogenetic explanation. In 'Wikipedia', it would seem to me, after a quick read that this system is applied to prehistory and manly mammals etc. No mention of plants.

All very interesting and it adds more information to my already full to the brim brain.

End of story is, that I will still call it Cattleya Skinneri, as it always has been. Is it not the National flower of..........Guatemala??? Just tell the people about the name change *&^^$%$*&)_()_&^$$%$£"^$£"*)_

Maybe I missed something, but could you please send a photo of the orchid on the styrofoam so that I can see it in 'Orchid Talk'.

Rocky I have the digest so it does't come as often as individual mail. I must have missed the url for your folder − could you let me have it please. I do have Microsoft Excel so it should open. I like to try it and see if it does.

Good photo Esther thanks − you have a really good strong plant there by the look of things. − Jean

From: Esther Koh
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Phalaenopsis modesta
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008

Yes it is a good way of recycling styrofoam. It was already growing on styrofoam when I bought it.

> Thank you Esther. I was pleased to see the styrofoam has turned a
> brownish gray so it doesn't stand out as glaringly white. What an
> interesting idea. If I run across any styrofoam slabs I'll save them.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Moss under the roots.
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008

I expect you have already noticed my error that I made when I referred to 'Tropics' Cattleya Skinneri being the National Flower of Guatemala..........it is of course the National Flower of Costa Rica.

I believe that this is done by the commercial sellers who do not maybe have as much time as some of us, so that when they water, the moss soaks up masses of water and the plant does not need to watered so often. BIG MISTAKE.....it stays too wet too long. An orchid root will take up what it wants, and then it keeps/stores that water for a long time.

Jim, what do the people of Costa Rica think about the name change of Cattleya Skinneri ???

From: francis quesada pallares
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Information Speadsheet.
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] What's in a name?
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008

Wikipedia has been declared the most unreliable source of information ion
the world. Don't rely on it !

From: Silvio a Beccara
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Unknown orchid...
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008

I've been given this little plant, but the owner wouldn't know exactly what it
is. He said he thought it could be a Dendrobium, but I doubt it. It looks
more like an Oncidium to me: could you help me identify it?
I am attaching two pictures.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Who & Where Spreadsheet.
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008

The 'Spreadsheet' is here attached as per normal, so when you open it, you can if you wish put in your own details, or just send them to me.

The 'Who and Where' is coming along nicely and is still in its infancy, so I am open to suggestions etc. Maybe it should be re-named 'Who, Where and What'.

At least I am sure that we can all see that in the future, questions may be able to put to certain Members who actually grow the plant that the question refers to. What you might call 'Putting someone in the Frame' so to speak, but it will help so much.

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Who & Where Spreadsheet.
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008

> The 'Spreadsheet' is here attached as per normal, so when you open it,
> you can if you wish put in your own details, or just send them to me.

Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons?

From: Kenneth Bruyninckx
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Unknown orchid...
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008

It is a Dendrobium, but you'll have to wait until it flowers to find out the
species name.

From: JIM MATEOSKY
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Moss under the roots. & Onc bracteatum?
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008

with regards to: what do the people of Costa Rica think about the name change of Cattleya Skinneri ???

Most people do not know they call it "guaria morado", the orchid afficinados kind of like it. Interesting note most "tico" families have a least one large "clump" of Cat Skinneri growing in ther gardin. Ticos in general are very good at growing orchids, as opposed to most americans, mst ticos have a stahopia wardii "torito", an oncidium "bracteatum" not sure the exact name but it is very yellow with long "sprays of flowers" 2 meters long, "lluvia de oro", and a couple phals. Here is a photo of one of mine it is kind of hard to tell what is what as tehre are Sooooo many flowers.

From: jns tropic
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Who & Where Spreadsheet.
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008

From: jns tropic
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] What's in a name?
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008

I have been told that the natives in Guatemala and there neighbors always called the skinneri a gurai or something like that. I notice that many young and newbes use the new names. At my age I'm putting you on if I use the new names. Cattleya skinneri sounds very nice to me. I have 3 pots of Cattleya skinneri 'Hettie Jacobs' FCC/AOS in bloom and that's just the start of the skinneri season.

From: francis quesada pallares
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Who & Where Spreadsheet.
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008

Just an ammendment to my record, Quesada-Pallares is
my surname, and as it is hyphonated (is that the right
spelling?), Quesada should go in before Pallares.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Emailing: FEB 2008
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008

That is a fine phally bench , looks as though you are using white plastic
lining to your greenhouse, or is that a back wall of a lean-to ? I know
phallys will grow well in subdued lighting.

Do you remember Woodstock Orchids ? Rather a 'know-it-all' chap who appeared
on the UK traders list for a few years , specialised in phallys. I went and
saw him several times to collect plants. He was at one time growing two tier
, with what a recall as a a two foot gap between the lower shelves and the
upper ones. He reckoned that the growth rate down below was up to ¾ the
rate of the top tier as long as the shelves were not too wide , in other
words were getting light from the sides , and he was playing about with
supplementry lighting to try and get it equal , but was arguing out the
relative costs of heating another greenhouse -v- the lighting cost.

> Herewith one of the 2 pictures of my Phals. The other one will not attaché
> to the email so I will send it separately. Rocky asked how my plants were
> doing after the winter, I thought I would show him, better than telling him.
> The picts are not intended as works of art or phographic prowess, just a
> snapshot, no tripod ect.

> I have about 160 plants, each time I count the number is different. I have
> only grown under lights and frankly I don't know what they would be like at
> this time of the year if grown without them. It would certainly be less
> expensive.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Who & Where Spreadsheet.
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008

There are constituents in citrus fruits ( not just the acid) which are very
effective as cleaning agents ; in fact they have been used in various drain
cleaning ( industrial) materials for years , but they don't shout about it,
'cos it hardly helps to sell the products, and industrially, products are
not chosen from tv advertising...

Just one largely useless ( to you and me !) piece of information picked up
in my working life which I choose to share with you today !

> Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid made
> with real lemons?

From: Bill Haldane
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Spreadsheet latest
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Spreadsheet.
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008

Francis, I've updated your information thank you.
Paul, and yours thanks.
'Tropic', thanks for the idea of the Websites. Can you please give me your details.
Have had to make the font slightly smaller to accommodate all of the information, so hope it still is acceptable.
Jean, did you manage to access it?

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Jim's Oncidium.
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008

You sure know how to break someone's heart.....what a spike of glorious flowers. That sure is one orchid to be proud of and talk about.

And I am so pleased to see the leaf ends in the very bottom front of your photo that have the end markings on them. Newcomers to our wonderful and diverse hobby may be shocked to see them and start thinking about all kinds of problems...virus markings...this and that...but of course the markings are just natural.

Jim, one final thing, why do the native Costa Rican people call themselves 'Ticos' ??? I have had a look here and there, but I cannot find a correct answer.

From: PG Hieke
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Information Speadsheet.
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008

Hi Rocky,
The list is working now. It opens by itself when I call it up.
I added my name to the list.
Regards
Peter from Bloubergstrand

From: PG Hieke
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] The colors of Cattleya Guatemalensis
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008

Hi Jim,
Your pictures are beautiful, but a pain to download. Could you please
make them smaller, to about 800 x 600?
Thank you.
Peter from Bloubergstrand

From: Silvio a Beccara
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Unknown orchid...
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008

thank you, I thought it could be a species from the Aporum section, but you're
definitely right... I hope it will bloom sometime!

> Hello Silvio,
>
> It is a Dendrobium, but you'll have to wait until it flowers to find out
> the species name.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Spreadsheet latest
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008

Do I detect from your Missing details that you may also be in the age group when we tend to forget things !!!!!

From: JIM MATEOSKY
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Jim's Oncidium.
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008

Ticos why: first, latin language speaking people like creating sayings and even speaking with a melodic rythmic manor. In spanish you place an ito or ita on the end of the noun to make it diminutive. for instance chica (girl) is chiquita (little girl). Coasta ricans go crazy with this and everthing is ito-ized....and when you really go crazy with this you say chiquitica pron: chi -qui -ti -ca (little bitty girl) so − costa rica tica, costa rican girl. Slang is really big here plays on words or words with second meanings. another example is mata (plant) matica (litlle plant) matetica (little bity plant), they say this while holding a monster plant in there hand with a smile on their face. (please don't hold me to the spellings) as I can barely spell in english ;-)

I attached a better example of the "little purple flower" in the background, I wish I could take credit for these. These plants belong to is a neighbor of mine. He probaly has 1000+ plants of the "holy cow" size.

> Hello Jim,
>
> You sure know how to break someone's heart.....what a spike of glorious
> flowers. That sure is one orchid to be proud of and talk about.
>
> What are the purple coloured flowers in the background?
>
> Jim, one final thing, why do the native Costa Rican people call
> themselves 'Ticos' ??? I have had a look here and there, but I cannot
> find a correct answer.

From: Alex Scott
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Spreadsheet.
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008

Hello Rocky − you have probably given yourself a job for life filling in the
spreadsheet! you may find it useful keeping track of ones you enter and
ones that members send you if you enter the date of last entry on the first
line in the second column ( if you put it in the first column the alpha sort
of surnames will get confused)
Regards, Alex

From: francis quesada pallares
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Jim's Oncidium.
Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Information Spreadsheet.
Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008

I am pleased to hear that the 'Information Spreadsheet' opened up O.K. And thanks for keying in your details.

Alex, thanks for the informative help, but to tell you the truth I find it better if I use my method which is:

I key in peoples details as they send them to me, just added to the bottom of the list, then, when I want to put everything into alphabetical order, I do this:

Left click on the small box immediately above the number 1 [It's the box with nothing in it] This highlights the whole sheet. Then just click on the A-Z descending.........bingo, it's done.

From: Bill Haldane
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Information Speadsheet.
Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008

Hi Rocky!
Not so much a memory problem as a mastering the technology problem. Hope this time is successful!
REgards Bill

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Spanish-English-English-Spanish.
Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008

Francis has said it for me...in Spanish...and it's not that difficult to 'read' as I was thinking on the same lines.

Yes, I am sure we are all envious and I would even go so far as to say...'Bloody Hell...you sure know how to spoil my day', ha, ha.

Jim, were the photos taken very recently? I ask this question as the ground looks quite dry, and it leads me on to talk about how much water people give to their plants at the wrong time of the year..........and yes, I am at fault here as well. In fact I think that many of us do this. Maybe other members will own up!!!!!

The rainfall figures in inches, that I have for Costa Rica [San Jose] go like this:

January 0.6
February 0.2
March 0.8
April 1.8
May 9.0
June 9.5
July 8.3
August 9.5
September 12.0
October 11.8
November 5.7
December 1.6

So there we are, many of our orchids do need a period of rest when just a MISTING or overhead SPRAY will keep them perfectly happy.

From: PG Hieke
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Cattleya on roof tile at the WOC.
Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008

Hi Rocky,
See my comments in between your questions.
Kind regards
Peter from Bloubergstrand

> 1. If it was my plant, I would have grown it on the other side so to
> speak. That way it would imitate the top of a branch.

It could, but I have seen many plants in the wild growing in hollows. So, anything is possible.

> 2. Do I see sphagnum moss in there????
Defenitely not. I checked the original (large) picture and there is nothing, just the roots of the plant.

> 3. I expected to see roots all over the place. [It would appear that this
> plant had not been there for that long.]
I agree on that. It looks like the plant was taken from a container and placed there as it was.
That's right, the plant was not for long on that tile.
I took the picture, because I found this a good idea. The clay tile will hold some moisture, but it will never become too wet, even that it is planted in the inside of the curve.

It is sure nice though to have this type of photo to let people see. Digital cameras....best thing since sliced bread.

From: jean Lewis
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: spreadsheet
Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008

Rocky as Tricia said we don't get attachments with the digest so would you be able to send it to my Yahoo email as they allow attachments there whereas the lycos one doesn't. If you are able to do that then my email address there is

aeranthes@yahoo.com − thanks − Jean If anyone is interest the Home Page of my orchid site has changed and is now:

From: JIM MATEOSKY
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Spanish-English-English-Spanish. resting periods
Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008

The photos were taken last week. As far as rainfall this country has many many different "rainfall zones", but the one you picked looks preety good, it is dry dry dry here, where I live we get dew most nights but some areas don't een get much dew. My advice to the Cat skineri, ( and the other plants from this climate ) NO NO NO water, if someone doesn't believe me show them these pictures and ask them if they can grow them better? This is not me taking credit for these babys they are all natual, no fertilizer, only Rain and Sun.

People here cheerish the rain but not when the Cat Skinneris are blooming all over the country as the rain drastically shortens the life of the flowers.

Further to the point of "a resting period" The lack of water or resumption of water triggers the bloom season no rest period no trigger. I will try to post some flowers in june july when the rain starts and other flowers begin showing off.

As far as rain and ticos go here is another ticoism: this time of year is called Verano (summer), when the rain starts it is Inverano (winter) those are our 2 seasons. We are 10 degrees north of the equator, so summer should be in June -Aug not Nov-May.

From: Esther Koh
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Photo.
Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008

If you can't see it, your web-browser is most probably set to block access to photobucket.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Spreadsheet.
Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008

Bill, your E-mail came through with all sorts of squiggles etc. so maybe it will be best if you E-mail me with your details.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Photo.
Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008

Even though I managed to see the photo via Google, not all of the photo came up.

From: Dennis Read
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Spreadsheet.
Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008

Roger, My main orchids are Lycastineae and Restrepia. I aam learning how not to kill Maxillaria but I am skilled at killing Paphs and Phrags. Regards Dennis

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Shows
Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008

Apparently it is from 11:00 to 16:30 and is at Portchester Community
School, White Hart Lane, Portchester PO16 9BD
--

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: That photo.
Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008

Tricia, thanks so much for forwarding the photo so that I could have a good look at it.

Esther, it sure is well grown pant, and I am so delighted to see the flower colours on the sepals and petals. Such a different pattern than some of the others.

Tell me, you call it 'Styrofoam' is that the correct spelling??? Is it the same as our 'Polystyrene'???

I have entered your details thanks. Now for my memory test.....was it you that told of your days at the Newbury 'Rain Forest' ??? If so I can see why you and other members like Restrepias.

At the old Wylde Court nursery when Terry and Eddie were there I first set eyes on Restrepia antennafera. Wow, that was some flower. Maybe I ought to start with just that one, so, where would I best try for it?

As to your non success with Paphs, well, until just a few months ago I would have been your fellow passenger in the 'Boat'.

Three buckets of Vermiculite. [Must read up on it again, as it sure has some excellent properties]
Two buckets of rough peaty compost. [I use one that is produced in the Bournemouth area under the name of 'Roffys'.
Two buckets of grit. [About the size of a match head or bigger]

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Spreadsheet.... killing orchids,
Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008

Ho − if we are going to have a competition about who can kill the most
orchids, I have a few years start on most here !

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: new thread ... growing cymbidiums out of doors in Southern England, Summer-time...
Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008

I'm thinking of growing Cymbidiums ( again − first collection of awarded
standards disposed of some 35 years ago − 2nd collection of miniatures − as
we used to call them − disposed of perhaps 5 or 10 years ago, maybe longer ;
I trained my memory to forget orchids no longer in my collection for any
reason , many years ago !

I can't change over, just like that ( snap of fingers) because my rather
numerous plants are all accustomed more or less to my present temperatures,
although a good many could be accustomed to lower ones − e.g. my paphs (
20% or maybe more) which will do better if I get back below 15 as the
minimum − I have just recently reset to 1515 ( from 17/19 night/day ).

A division in my greenhouse is pretty well impossible because of its
construction ( Hartley Botanic − the kind which is sort of semi-circular in
construction, with side and centre benches, and all the arches are complex
girders.)

However, there is a natural wastage of plants as well know − although not
all admit − plants which fall by the wayside , and for a year or so I have
bought very little , so I am beginning to see some space.

I think modern cyms will probably grow well with a winter temp of 12 . But
will they grow higher ? ( anyone with experience over more than 5 minutes -
please contribute) but I think will not flower (well) if the night summer
temperature never drops below 15.

So I am wondering about putting plants outside for the summer. Experiences
will be appreciated ? Something I have never done ( Ray Bilton used to laugh
at the idea, and he knew about growing cymbidiums if anyone did with his
endless Chelsea Gold medals.

From: Geoffrey Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Shows
Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008

Thanks Tricia − confirms what I eventually found from another source − the
Wessex web-site and also on BOC web-site gives a dud e-mail address....
Some muvvers do ave em !

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Cymbidiums.
Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008

Your idea of putting your Cymbidiums outside is correct. Just think of where they come from, the sunlight, and the temperature. I have corresponded a lot with a few chaps from Australia who grow Cymbidiums. Masses of information.

When I used to grow a few Cymbids, I always stood them outside in the sunniest position that I had in my garden.

As to what Ray Bilton said:
So I am wondering about putting plants outside for the summer. Experiences will be appreciated ? Something I have never done ( Ray Bilton used to laugh at the idea, and he knew about growing cymbidiums if anyone did with his endless Chelsea Gold medals.

Ray Bilton is not on my Xmas list, and even though awards were obtained, there are more than one way to skin a rabbit.

MONTH	DATE	DATE	DATE	DATE	MONTH	DATE	DATE	DATE	DATE
January	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31	February	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-29
March	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31	April	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-30
May	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31	June	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-30
July	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31	August	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31
September	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-30	October	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31
November	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-30	December	1-7	8-14	15-21	22-31

2008 Archived Messages

February 22—29