July 22 - 31 2009 mailing list messages

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From: Geoff Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Part 3 and last of my present set of pics and comments.
Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:55

Hi Jim,
I'm writing this sitting in the middle of the English Channel on a car ferry , in some thick fog, waiting for it to clear before we can dock back home − we've been in France for a couple of weeks touring around − getting to know my new auto'. Visited a lot of gardens in Brittany , bought a few things ( Plumbago capensis, Pandorea jasminoides etc )- not often obtainable in Uk as they are not hardy for most folk , but living a bare mile from the sea on the south coast I stand a better chance than most./ No orchids − but then I am expecting some seedlings to be in the post to me this week from Germany...
Can't actually send any mail from here, but will post when I get home − hopefully in a few hours ( it's just 30 minutes from the ferry to my front door ).
So a fuller reply about my photograpy then.
Geoff

JIM MATEOSKY wrote Re: [OrchidTalk] Part 3 and last of my present set of pics and comments.

> All your picts are excellent my favorite is:
> 157-Myrmecopilia-thompsoniae.jpg

From: Geoff Hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] My seedling Dend
Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:10

Must be the biggest spectabile hybrid I have ever seen, and maybe the nicest too !
Geoff

> This the first flowering of one of the two seedling Den. Adora
> Nishii ( alexandrae x spectabile) I bought a few years ago. The
> flower when flattened out a bit measures 4 inches (100mm) in
> diameter. The colors in the pic are almost perfect to actual
> flower also.

From: N & T Burgess
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Promised Images
Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:25

Roger
Looks very like Phalaenopsis Classic, I know you like names for your plants.
Norma

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Promised Images
Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:35

After a look on the Internet I can see why you gave me the prompt as it sure does look like it.

From: geoff hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: that Swiss orchid site...
Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:00

How very curious Tricia ! The URL you gave didn't work for me , but the
original one ( which didn't work for you) did work for me...

Not that I have done any more than bookmark it, as my list of things to do
tomorrow ( ha ha ! ) is so long that it's now a list of lists...

From: Roy Lee
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] My seedling Dend
Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 04:20

Thanks Geoff, the size is interesting and being the first I've seen of this type of Dend hybrids crossing, I was surprised. Maybe with a few more flowers on the spike (4 now) it will reduce. The other seedling is a much bigger plant in cane length so a comparison could be made there ( when it decides to flower) It probably is one of the nicest as it doesn't contort as much as other dends.

From: Dennis Read
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Unrequired pollination
Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:50

During the last downpour this bee took shelter in my orchid house. Here it is fully sated and asleep with pollen on its back.
Hoping for some summer. Regards

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Bee and pollinia.
Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:55

A wonderful image of the Bee and the pollinia. You were very lucky that the Bee was knackered as they are as the saying goes.....'As busy as a Bee', and to get a good shot of one is not easy.

The position of the pollinia on the Bee's back, and the relevant position of an orchid flowers stigmatic surface brings up a wonderful talking point.

Weather.................it might just be the driest August and September on record.....it might be!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From: geoff hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: for Jim, who once asked....
Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:25

I looked up the metadata for the image you were asking about ( Myrmecopilia
thompsonae).

It was taken with my old Nikon SLR ( a D70S) with an even older Nikon lens -
their 60mm micro ( close-up lens) on. The setting was PProgramme (
automatic) using a very wide aperture − to throw he background out-of-focus
- actually f3.3 . The speed was 1/500 − using the camera in-built flash, and
the ISO equivalent 200 − which is the lowest setting on this camera.

The file-format was Camera Raw ( so that all adjustments − if any- are made
by me, not by a stupid camera which doesn't know what I like ). In practice
in this case, I used the basic operations ; open/adjust levels to set the
black and white points, crop, adjust size to the one I want − I actually set
the height to 900 pixel and let the width happen ; then smart-sharpen with
settings to remove Gaussian blur , Save for web − which converts to jpg
format, select compression ratio so as to give a file size not over 250 ,
and finally save; actually all this is routine and takes much longer to
write than actually do.

From: JIM MATEOSKY
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] for Jim, who once asked....
Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:45

wow, I really like the effects. I try to use natural light but often find my self in lo light conditions in the forret and do some cursing while I am fighting with my under powered flash.

From: Dennis Read
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Bee and pollinia.
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:45

Roger, You cannot see the column on the orchid but on checkiny the flower I could see the anther cap had gone as had the pollin so I assume the pooenia on the bee was from L. Andrew.
As far as the weather I am now sure that the promise of a hot summer was a political spin to take our minds of the recesson − I am also beginning the think that the coverage of swine flu is either the Media having no news or the politicians diverting us away from the expenses fiasco − or am I suffering from paranoia (?)
At least I can forget it all amongst my orchids.
Regards

From: geoff hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Thunias grow amazingly well in plain sphagnum moss...
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 09:15

Came to pot up those thunia stem prop's that I showed a month ago, as they
were pushing up against the transparent lid on the propagation case. Some
five or six inches high. I am amazed at this rate of growth − it's better
than I get in my "terrestrial mix" with complete canes supporting the new
growth instead of just a six inch bit !

I shall use plain sphag' for all my Thunias next year. Here is a picture -
it is a six inch plant label you can see in the background.

From: geoff hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: cattleya scale
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 09:20

This is because my cattleyas − at present my pride and joy − overhauled at
least once per week − are pretty clean , but I find new scale on them , or
at least on a few plants, every time I handle them ( usually on whatever is
just making up a new bulb or pushing a lush green growth at high speed -
full of vitamins, no doubt , which the creatures can sense). Nothing else in
the greenhouse suffers − cattleyas are their preferred plant it seems. No
doubt there are a few lurking on rhizomes out of sight which can pop up when
my back is turned, and the warm weather ( and my greenhouse conditions)
certainly seem to encourage them to breed and spread.

I'm loath to use chemicals at all − I remember being told by Kenneth ( or
maybe his Dad) that they were not keen on chemicals, because there is always
some residue − and if it turns the greenhouse into a dangerous place for
bugs its not a good place to spend my time in − it is not so good for me
too... ( or words to that effect). So normally I just remove the pests and
wipe plant parts with my standard mix of alcohol and water ( meths/water
50/50). But with something so persistent as this, maybe I'll make an
exception... maybe...

From: Dennis Read
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] cattleya scale
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:55

I used Provado for the five years up to last year and I will use it again this year and now is the time I spray. I wait for a cloudy day − not much of a wait this year − then give a thorough wetting. I always use a mask and goggles just to be on the safe side and my dentist gives me a disposable type. This is very effective for about 4 months. As windows and doors are open the orchids are a good target and by september it seems to be less effective and the few that get in I spray with Meths diluted with water 50/50 and after an hour wash it off.
To me Provado in aerosol fprm is very useful for a small outbreak.
Any thing chemical that kills is poison so I don't drink it.
Regards

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Provado.
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:30

From: Paul Johnson
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] cattleya scale
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 18:55

Geoff,
Provado is a commercial formulation of imidachloprid. The best
objective evaluation site for pesticides is ExToxNet, at http://extoxnet.orst.edu/
. This is their page on imidachloprid: http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/imidaclo.htm
. Of the various labels for the chemical the only mention of a
specific scale species that I found is for San Jose scale which is a
pest on fruit trees. However, all of the imidacloprid formulations
are labeled for various sucking insects closely related to scale, and
if scale is mentioned it is done so in a general manner.

I have not used the Provado formulation but have used others of
imidachloprid. If you have the Boisduval scale, which is the most
common scale species on laeliine and oncidiine orchids (their natural
hosts), this chemical works just fine. I find that most people that
claim problems are not closely following a spray schedule that will
adequately bring the species under control, or elimination. It can
also be phytotoxic if applied under higher temps, mid-day sun, etc.

Unfortunately, Boisduval scale is something that really needs to be
chased after on a persistent basis is order to eliminate it from a
collection, and this requires the use of insecticides. Alcohol, oils
(e.g. neem), and other methods are good for cleaning-up small
infestations, killing immatures, and removing dead females with eggs,
but typically are not useful for elimination of a well-established
infestation.

It sounds like you are successful in keeping the infestation at a
light level, so if you choose to use an insecticide and follow a rigid
spray schedule for the first few applications, I would expect that you
would deal a nasty blow to the critters, if not eliminate them.
Spraying during the summer when their life cycles are shortened is the
best time, and you can better ventilate the greenhouse, too.

From: Brenda Beale
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] cattleya scale
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 2009 21:05

Hello Geoff
I have used Provado on my cattleyas as a spray and found it most effective.

From: Dennis Read
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Provado
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 2009 08:40

One further point concerning Provado − On decidous orchids such as my Lycastineae it does leave a spotting on the leaves but it has no effect on Cattleya or Coelogyne or similarly leaved plants.
Regards

From: Dennis Read
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Insecticides
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 2009 12:30

Thought some of our younger members would like to see what has been used as insectides.
Regards

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Paphiopedilum potting ingredients !!!
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 10:05

A couple of days ago, I bought a Paph for just £4.00 which I thought was a bargain, especially as it was completely dry, meaning no rotting roots, and the plant had two excellent new growths.

Mostly large pieces of pine/fir bark, some light weight 'pumice' type rock which of course may be manufactured. And last but not least the broken pieces of the shells of Palm nuts.

I am guessing when I say three parts bark, two parts shell fragments and one part of the 'pumice'.

The 'pumice' reminds me of what Fennel's of Homestead in Florida used to use. They called it 'E-Z' Pot and Grow. Of course we English speaking people would not straightaway understand what they meant as we say.....Zed.....they say Zee, hence Easy Zee.

After cleaning the plant I potted it using the 'pumice' and my rock chippings. I will keep you posted.

From: Andy
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] cattleya scale
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:50

I'd take care when using provado or any imidacloprid product. I don't normally use any sprays but very occasionally I have used it for scale on individual plants without any problems − it's mostly phals that seem to atttract them in my orchidhouse. However having had repeated infestations in a few plants I decided to do the whole collection a few months ago. When I went into the orchidhouse after spraying I began to find breathing difficult and that night I had a severe asthma attack requiring a visit to casuality. I had never had this before and needless to say I won't be doing that again!

From: geoff hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] cattleya scale
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:40

Anyone interested might try this link -
http://nathist.sdstate.edu/orchids/pests/scales.htm − I have not checked to
see if it still works − I printed it off and keep it at the bottom of my
in-tray.

I do recall something about the pH of the water used to mix with Provado
being relevant − but did not recall anything about solar radiation ; so I
intend to try and find the Provado website and take advice ; the current
growths are so good ( (I will show you pics as plants flower...) that I'd
sooner carry on the present regime than risk any trace of damage.

I guess that my scale is soft scale − Bois-duval ? flattish circular
spots, creamy brown in colour . The horrifying thing is that even when
cleaned off after being present for less than a week ( i.e. since the last
overhaul, a week ago) there is often an indentation in the leaf indicating a
permanent mark.

From: geoff hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] cattleya scale- Provado update
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:40

It seems that it (Provado) is now an " new improved formulation" based on
thiacloprid. Bayer have nothing to say about pH, and all they say about
sunlight is don't spray in "strong sunlight" and − best do it early morning
or evening.

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Name that PLant.
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:10

I recently purchased the Oncidium for just £5. Quite a bargain as it has three flower spikes, and of course that wonderful Vanilla/Chocolate fragrance.

I just wanted to hear from of few of you to agree that it is .....Oncidium Sharry Baby 'Sweet Fragrance'.

The other image is of a new purchase and although it was labelled 'Cattleya', I feel sure that it is an EpiCattleya......but do any of you recognise it, and can you suggest a name please.

From: geoff hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Off message, but another gardener may have some ideas ?
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:25

More details ; my bins are made of wooden slats on edge, so that there is a
2 inch gap between each slat and the next one above. They are about 5 feet
high ( then holding a couple of tons....). Compost is made from all the
usual stuff − household materials − fruit peel, lettuce leaves etc , plus
weeds, shredded soft wood prunings, lawn mowings etc ; and also some lawn
turf ( inverted) when I cut a new bed, and a bag or two of stable manure.
This particular bin has been left for at least a year, for various reasons.

There is a hole − or probably several on different sides ( I can't actually
get to two of the sides ) − about a foot or so above the ground, dug into
the compost − the hole is about 2 inches across − as big as it could be I
expect because of the slats and the size of the gaps between them.

I shovelled up two wheelbarrow loads ( as heavy as I could wheel) of
excavated material from around the bin − perfect compost looking rather like
the soil you see in mole-hills − slightly gritty, but no lumps or stones or
anything like that at all.

In fact I would say "moles" but for several things ; my garden is very
heavily mulched every autumn, often using stable manure . But I have never
seen a mole hill anywhere. ( And yes I have had them in previous gardens
and I know what to expect ! ) . The village green is a hundred yards away ,
and never a molehill on that ; in fact the nearest I have ever seen is on
the roundabouts on the by-pass − over a mile away − with some real natural
barriers in between.

My garden is surrounded on two sides by brick walls ( the house or garden
walls )- all 6 foot high or more ; and on the other sides by 6 foot board
fences . I won't say it is 100% vermin proof, but things like rabbits -
which I have had before − leave their traces nibble my vegetables ( no
signs of this) − and need holes to get through , and I think I closed them
all up last time: anyway the entrance hole to the heap is too small for
rabbits. Rats or mice or a mole could slip through the fence somewhere I
expect − but the hole being a foot up puzzles me, and do rats and mice
excavate in this way ? I didn't think so.

My only conclusion is that I have a very civilised mole which doesn't do any
damage in the garden ! BTW I am now digging out the compost and may come
to a nest , but it takes time to shovel out , sieve and then spread a couple
of tons.

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Off message, but another gardener may have some ideas ?
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:05

Geoff, given that the culprit is most likely to be active when it is
dark, you could always keep watch overnight... Alternatively, what
about setting up 'Compost Cam' to record events? Could be a
fascinating exercise!

From: David Martin
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Off message, but another gardener may have some ideas ?
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:35

Hello Geoff,
It's more than likely rats. I get them in my compost bins every few weeks. Plenty of food in a compost bin. I dose them with rat poison but it only works for a short time. Ours seemed to start by a neighbour throwing peanuts out for the birds. Our gardens are very clean and tidy but we can't completely get rid of them.
David

geoff hands wrote re: [OrchidTalk] Off message, but another gardener may have some ideas ?

> My compost bins have been invaded, and soil excavated − by I don't
> know what...

From: Dennis Read
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Off message, but another gardener may have some ideas ?
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:45

Rats had a great time in my compost until I bought a break-back. they do climb walls
Dennis

From: jns tropic
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Name that PLant.
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:40

Your Cat looks just like my Epicattleya El Hatillo, but my Sharry Baby 'Sweet
Fragrance' looks different then your Sharry Baby.

From: Lynda Coles
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Off message, but another gardener may have some ideas ?
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:55

Rats !!!.........do be careful when you are digging down......(wear gloves and keep the bicycle clips handy : ) )

From: geoff hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Name that PLant.
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 02:15

> I recently purchased the Oncidium for just £5. Quite a bargain as
> it has three flower spikes, and of course that wonderful
> Vanilla/Chocolate fragrance.

> I just wanted to hear from of few of you to agree that it is
> .....Oncidium Sharry Baby 'Sweet Fragrance'.

> The other image is of a new purchase and although it was labelled
> 'Cattleya', I feel sure that it is an EpiCattleya......but do any
> of you recognise it, and can you suggest a name please.

From: geoff hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Name that PLant.
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 02:15

From: geoff hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Off message, but another gardener may have some ideas ?
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 02:30

Rats − of course ; I had forgotten that they can climb... and it's about 50
yards from the compost bin to a working farmyard complete with barns, grain
storage and a large milking parlour... bound to be a few rats there too .
The only really remarkable thing is I have never had them before !

From: tony garthwaite
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Off message, but another gardener may have some ideas ?
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:00

Well, welcome to the club Geoff!
I have now managed to obtain some industrial strength rat poison (on grain) which is being taken up by the 'family' rushing across our garden. Remember, they breed rapidly and numbers are rising I understand.
Best of luck!

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Name that plant.
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:45

Thanks very much for the name of the EpiCatt. So, I will now write a label: Epicattleya El Hatillo. The plant has three flower spikes. One has four flowers open, and I await to see the other flowers....also four to each spike. Do I detect a slight fragrance ??? What say you?

Geoff, your name for the Oncidium draws a blank when keyed in to the Internet.......any more suggestions please. I am also thinking as our friend 'Tropic' does that it is not 'Sharry Baby'. So, it seems as if you are definitely on the right track, but maybe the name is not quite correct.

From: Gordon Walker
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Message for Lynda
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:50

Lynda please e-mail me as I am unable to contact you on your current address.
Gordon.

From: Roy Lee
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Name that PLant.
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:05

Unfortunately its NOT Onc Sharry Baby Sweet F' Roger. It could be an Oncidium or an Odontocidium but exact what is still the question.

From: David Martin
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Name that plant.
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:45

From: geoff hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Off message, but another gardener may have some ideas ?
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:15

"They" say, you are never more than 10 feet away from them , or something
like that... and there are more of them than us...

I am starting on digging out the compost, tomorrow, armed with nothing less
lethal than a chromium steel spade... I expect/hope that as I am digging
from the top, the nest will collapse and they will evacuate , flying white
flags ; but I am not called "the Dorset exterminator" for nothing...(
actually, no-one ever called me that, but since I don't have a personal PR
man, I have to do it myself...)

What fun ! ( and makes a change from talking about boring plants....)- as
you might guess I have just finished dinner and tasting some wine I bought
in France earlier this month − the alcohol content seems OK if nothing else
!

tony garthwaite wrote Re: [OrchidTalk] Off message, but another gardener may have some
ideas ?

> I have now managed to obtain some industrial strength rat poison (on grain)
> which is being taken up by the 'family' rushing across our garden. Remember,
> they breed rapidly and numbers are rising I understand.

From: geoff hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Name that plant.
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:35

Roger − I bought one from my Garden Centre a couple of weeks ago , with that
on the label !

However I have tried Wildcatt (database) which yields nothing of interest -
but my version is perhaps 12 months old ?

I have just subscribed to OrchidWiz − which seems to be the best database (
Dennis etc already have it ) and await their CD ; when it comes I will try
it out on this one.

But maybe the breeder named it but has not registered it ( naughty ,
naughty...)

The cross is surely Onc ornithorynchum ( explain9ing he spike from every
leaf axil, and the scent) crossed something − Onc Charlesworthii perhaps ?

> Geoff, your name for the Oncidium draws a blank when keyed in to
> the Internet.......any more suggestions please. I am also thinking
> as our friend 'Tropic' does that it is not 'Sharry Baby'. So, it
> seems as if you are definitely on the right track, but maybe the
> name is not quite correct.

From: geoff hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: EC/pH meters..
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:15

I began to doubt my meter today ; I seemed to be making much more adjustment
than hitherto , after adding the usual nutrients to the water. So I dug out
some standard buffer sachets, and tried it out ; in the pH it reads pH 8.45
instead of 7.0( so I have been using rather acid mixes...since by the time I
acidify down to give a reading of 6.5 pH it is perhaps less than 5 ? ) and
in the EC buffer it should have read 1413 ( at the temp in my kitchen) but
read 1135 so that by the time I have pushed the nutrients up to read 500 EC
( my summer level) it has perhaps been 700 ?

I can't find the calibration instructions for the Hanna 98129 in my boxes of
papers, or on the web, so have ordered a new Hanna combo meter , and will
use plain water until it arrives.

From: Dennis Read
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Andreacum video
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:55

Tricia, I think you subscribe to OGD. Th last, OGD222, had a link to a video of a moth pollinating an Angraecum. I am not computer literate enough to offer it on Orchid Talk. Maybe you could?
Regards

From: Dennis Read
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Name thatplant
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:15

Orchid Wizcould find no orchid anywhere near Meikle van holme. Sharry Baby is now very variable and has also been used in many commercial nurseries and not registered
Regards

From: JIM MATEOSKY
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: meters and mixing
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:45

I just got a meter, it says it is calibrated, so I started mixing and measureing at first it seemed ok but......

how long do you wait after mixing to measure? the EC seems to rise in the first couple minutes? anyone else seen this? or am I missing something? any other things to watch out for?

From: geoff hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: blue cattleyas and Orchid Digest
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:35

Some time ago, Orchid Digest did a big feature on blue cattleyas, with lots
of pics and info..

At the time I hardly grew cattleyas at all, and maybe I generously passed it
on to someone, or loaned it ; I think I am unlikely to have chucked it away.

Whatever, although I have a 5 year run of issues on my shelves, no blue
cattleyas. And now cattleyas are of great interest to me, and I'd love to be
able to read it.

( I have asked Orchid Digest, but it does not seem to be mentioned in the
list of over-runs etc offered for sale.)

From: Tricia Garner
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: Andreacum video
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:40

On 31 Jul, in article ,
Dennis Read wrote:
> Tricia, I think you subscribe to OGD. The last, OGD222, had a link
> to a video of a moth pollinating an Angraecum. I am not computer
> literate enough to offer it on Orchid Talk. Maybe you could?

Yes, Kenneth and I subscribe to each other's lists − hoping he won't
mind me quoting the link:

From: Roger Grier
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Off orchid complaint.
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:15

Some of the E-mails that I receive from the 'Club Members' arrive in my 'Junk Mail' folder.

From: geoff hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: meters and mixing
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:40

The meter will show a different reading for each temperature − e.g.the Hanna
buffer solution for EC reading calibration would show 1413 (uS) at 25 C.,
1548 at 30C, but only 1278 at 20 C − and so on. But its all the same mix.
Maybe 1300 is the limit you could give ( by way of example) without root
scorch − but what matters is the reading when you apply it, not what it
might be later or has been earlier.

Now, when the meter comes out of your pocket into a water based solution it
will have to adjust to the new temperature ( your water and air temperatures
are never the same ! ) so the meter will change it's reading whilst this
happens.

Secondly, when you add nutrients to water , various things happen ; I won't
make a fool of myself explaining chemistry which I have forgotten, but it is
all normal and expectable. It's not only in the first minutes either ; leave
the bucket of mix overnight, and tomorrow you will get different readings.
Some things are only slowly soluble ; some things react with other things to
produce different compounds, and so on. It doesn't mean that the meter is
unreliable, nor that the readings don't matter. If your plants want mix at
pH 6.0, and your mix is right on the button today ., but after a few days
has changed to pH 7 − it doesn't mean that the mix is correct because it
once was pH6. For various reasons the pH has changed − and since your roots
will take up that mix when you pour it on the plants, it has to be right
when you pour it on.

> I just got a meter, it says it is calibrated, so I started mixing
> and measureing at first it seemed ok but......

> how long do you wait after mixing to measure? the EC seems to rise
> in the first couple minutes? anyone else seen this? or am I missing
> something? any other things to watch out for?

From: geoff hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Re: Andreacum video
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:55

As to the commentary , over-dramatic is not quite the word(s) I would use;
as I understand it, the moth ***morganiae predicta by name ( forgotten the
genus )- looks like a hawk moth to me by the way, was first discovered about
70 years ago...to suggest that they guy in the video discovered it is rather
bending the truth.

I also think I take issue with the " infra-red light invisible to the moth".
Invisible to the man perhaps ( unless he wears night-vision glasses) But how
does anyone think a moth sees in the dark ? By "seeing infra-red light is my
understanding...

But it's not a story which needs to be hyped at all ; to actually film the
event is remarkable − I don't want to belittle that. In fact to "prove" the
pollinator for most orchids is something of a feat. Congratulations Mr
U-toob if that's your name.

From: David Martin
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Off orchid complaint.
Date: Sat, 01 Aug 2009 11:00

> Some of the E-mails that I receive from the 'Club Members' arrive
> in my 'Junk Mail' folder.

From: geoff hands
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Off orchid complaint.
Date: Sat, 01 Aug 2009 12:25

I never said that it was deathless prose. Probably junk is the right place
for most I write... (joke)( or serious ? )

Why computers do things is only understood by geeks and nerds ; none of them
round here.

(BTW I googled the words, lest I misuse them) ; I do not think that anyone
who reads this is likely to be a carnival performer who does disgusting acts
( a geek) but I meant it in the "computer geek" sense.

> Some of the E-mails that I receive from the 'Club Members' arrive
> in my 'Junk Mail' folder.

From: Roy Lee
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Off orchid complaint.
Date: Sat, 01 Aug 2009 12:45

Roger, it seems to be a problem with some/all of the 'Spam" programs. I get Orchid-talk thru Yahoo and have a number of group e-mails go into spam plus personal emails. Could be the virus programs used by the providers also.

From: JIM MATEOSKY
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Off orchid complaint.
Date: Sat, 01 Aug 2009 13:00

happens to me to the email service providers have some sort of algorythm to detect spam and often there is some "flaws" in the methodology, I have a not-spam icon that sems to help,

From: jns tropic
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Off orchid complaint.
Date: Sat, 01 Aug 2009 14:40

At least 10 % of the groups emails fall in the 'Junk Mail' folder. About 25% of my 'Junk Mail' folder is from the group. It's not hard to find them. I use 'Linux Mint' and I don't use a anti virus program. I just think that Linux is trying to help me.

From: Ed Deckert
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Off orchid complaint.
Date: Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:25

It is possible that the spam filter is treating a word − or words appearing in the email subject line (or even the text of the email) as being indicative of "Spam" email − and is pulling those emails out based solely on that criteria.

From: David Martin
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Dendrobium No Name
Date: Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:50

Does anyone know the name of this Dendrobium hybrid? I bought it at the
end of May at the OSGB. It was one of the remnants from the Wisley
orchid show and Henry twisted my arm for £2.00. I had no idea what the
flower was like or a name for it. I repotted in my own compost and put
it in the warm greenhouse with my Phals, I was surprised how fast it
responded with the new growth and a flower spike. I have included a
photo of the roots for Roger to examine!!!!
David

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	22-28
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

2009 Archived Messages

22—31 July