July 22 - 31 2010 mailing list messages

2010 Archived Messages

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From: Alex
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: [Fwd: Egrets again]
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:50

My habenaria radiata have flowered, 10 blooms on 4 stems. They look
very attractive too. I am not sure how to overwinter them apart from
letting them dry out till Spring. Has anyone who has tried them any
ideas?
Regards, Alex

From: David Martin
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] [Fwd: Egrets again]
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:50

Hello Alex,
This is the first year that I have tried these plants. I also have four
stems but it looks like I will only get one flower. They have been plagued
with greenfly and the tops have dried off. Maybe the weather here in the
South East has been too hot. From what I have read you let them dry off and
don't water again until the Spring. Temperature ? presumably somewhere
between 5 and 10 deg C to keep them dormant but frost free.
Regards,
David

From: Alex
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] [Fwd: Egrets again]
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:20

Hello David − pity about the greenfly, mine got some but not much and I
picked them off in time. Well it certainly hasnt been hot here except for
a couple of short bursts in may and june so perhaps drizzly type
manchester weather suits them. I will let mine dry off and keep them cool
till Spring, seems to be the general advice, maybe they will multiply!
Regards, Alex

From: Dennis Read
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Boisduval Scale
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:35

Over the past ? years I have read many articles trying to explain the
mysteries of this pernicious bug. Paul Johnson's article in this
months Orchid Digest is by far the best.
This article usrs laymans language to explains the explain the
mysteries of this bug.
It would be a great addition to our archive but I suppose copyright
would ptrclude it.
Thanks Paul
Regards

From: Paul Johnson
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Boisduval Scale
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:15

The copyright is held by Orchid Digest. Of course, copies of the
issue containing the article are available from Orchid Digest. There
is not a digital file of the individual article in its published form
from Orchid Digest, but I have already been given permission to
reproduce the article by scanning and making it available as a PDF on
my university website. This version will be downloadable and can be
used under standard `fair use' provisions, that is for personal and
educational purposes, and shall not be offered for sale.

I will try to get the PDF version made as soon as I can and posted,
and will give notice to OrchidTalk when it is available. The job does
need to be done this week as I leave for a short trip to Bolivia come
Saturday, returning 10 August.

From: Paul Johnson
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Orchid Digest article
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:20

The article about Boisduval scale from the current Orchid Digest issue
as kindly mentioned by Dennis is now available.
There are two size versions in PDF that are now available on my
university website, at: http://nathist.sdstate.edu/ORCHIDS/Pests/pests.htm
One is 8.4 MB, the smaller is 2.9 MB. If anyone has difficulty
obtaining either, you may contact me directly.

From: Dennis Read
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Fw: Boisduval article
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2010 08:50

Hello Dennis
Attached is a PDF of the scale article. You may forward it to whomever may be interested.

From: Alex
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Boisduval scale link
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:00

Hello Paul − I have been looking at your very helpful web site, especially
about spider mites. You refer to 'rubbing alcohol' and wondered if that
is the same as 'methylated spirits' which we can buy here in the UK?
Regards, Alex

From: Elater
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Boisduval scale link
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:20

Hello Alex,
Methylated spirits is ethyl alcohol (ethanol) denatured with methyl alcohol (wood alcohol). The latter is added to make the former undrinkable! Rubbing alcohol is diluted isopropyl alcohol.

All of the alcohols are not really used to kill the scale, which they can, but to ease the removal of the insects from the plant. This is why the concentration of the alcohol is not too important, so strengths of c. 50% or less can work, and will work better if mixed with a gentle soap. It is more important that methylated spirits be diluted because those alcohols readily soak into plant tissues and may cause great damage, especially to softer and thinner leaves. There is less of a problem with isopropyl.

In contrast to scale, mites can be more easily killed by alcohol-based sprays, but often a spray of soapy water will work just as well.

> Hello Paul − I have been looking at your very helpful web site, especially
> about spider mites. You refer to 'rubbing alcohol' and wondered if that
> is the same as 'methylated spirits' which we can buy here in the UK?
> Regards, Alex

From: Alex
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Boisduval scale link
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:40

Thanks Paul − I think its soapy water then. I suspect a lot of the
'organic' sprays we can buy are basically soapy water.
Regards, Alex

From: David Martin
To: Orchid Talk List
Subject: Re: [OrchidTalk] Boisduval scale link
Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2010 08:25

Hello Alex,
I haven't been following your talk with Paul too carefully but I hope you
realise that he means horticultural soap and not "soapy water". I use Savona
as tested many years ago in the orchid houses at Kew. They say "do not
spray in direct sunlight, use when the bugs are most active and don't spray
above 30deg C as physical damage can be done to soft foliage". consequently
they sprayed with warm water 24 hours later to wash away any deposits that
may build up. I think they sprayed every fifth day to catch any juvenile
bugs. I spray my Cymbidiums three time and then wash off the deposits, this
doesn't seem to do any harm.
David

> Thanks Paul − I think its soapy water then. I suspect a lot of the
> 'organic' sprays we can buy are basically soapy water.
> Regards, Alex

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

2010 Archived Messages

22—31 July