Finally! A subject I can really get into!

My Mom told me I stopped nursing at two weeks, which probably explains my
obsession and desire to make up for lost time!

Besides, it's the pseudobulbs that are the primary water-storage vehicles in
sympodial plants, so I'd say a more accurate, if less humorous - way to
explain the velamen thickness variation is related to the whole structure of
the plant, and the conditions they might naturally grow in. I like to think
of velamen as a means of moisture "capture and short-term storage," while
bulbs are for longer-term storage.

The bulbophyllum, having pseudobulbs, doesn't need to grab as much moisture
every time it's wetted, as it already has some stored. The vanda, on the
other hand, doesn't have pseudobulbs, so needs a better way to grab what it
can.

Sounds like and interesting experiment - grow bulbos in a lower-moisture
environment and see if the velamen gets thicker.
--

Ray Barkalow First Rays Orchids
http://www.firstrays.com
Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info!


"Jerry Hoffmeister" wrote in message
news:Z5SEa.1180356$S_4.1205365@rwcrnsc53...
I had to giggle at this analogy... thinking about how incredibly complex
the
anatomy you're talking about REALLY is. As a breastfeeding consultant, and
wife to an orchidist on this group (Jerry) I would like to point out that
big breasts, in a non-nursing woman (or any other lactating female) are a
consequence of the quantity and proportion of FAT in the breast. Or of
silicone, in the case of my sister in law. The fact that Anna-Nicole has
huge boobs doesn't mean that she has greater milk (or water) storage
capacity than a flat-chested woman. The question is whether A-N or Twiggy
get pregnant, how well does their body build up the glands that produce
and
transport milk (the human parallel to velamen??) Cheers! Betsy

"K Barrett" wrote in message
news:eD9Ea.890048$Zo.202493@sccrnsc03...
The secret to bulbophyllums is to remember that they have roots with
very
little velamen on them. Velamen traps and holds the day's moisture for
the
plant to use at a later time. Hence Bulbophyllums need/want more of a
daily
introduction to water than something like a Cattleya would. Cattleyas -
for
example - can take some drying out because the velamen traps and holds
moisture, like a sponge. Think of it this way. If velamen was an
anatomical
feature equivalent to breasts, Bulbophyllums would be Twiggy and
Cattleyas
would be Jane Mansfield (or insert the name of whatever heroin-chic
model
currently in vogue and Anna-Nicole Smith). So you can visualize how
deficient in velamen poor Bulbophyllums are. You gotta keep most of
these
babies evenly moist, but still with air to the roots. A difficult
balancing
act indeed. If your remaining Bulbophyllum doesn't want to grow for you
try
a bit more water, try to make sure it stays above 60F at night and try a
*bit* more light (as for Cattleyas).

K Barrett

"Boystrup Pb, ann,..." wrote in message
.be...
First the sad news.
* Today my first ever Bulbophyllum died. Leaving me only one which
doesn't
seem to want to grow
* Secondly I am about to become an uncle. That's the good news. I
think!!!!
Most children seem afraid of mee because I so big. (hight 1,93m.)

Now to the questions:
*I bought 2 paph's this week: A paph. King Arthur and a paph
grattrixianum.
I bought them for just ?17.
For some time now I have been making a file and looking for pictures
of
my
orchids to but in it until I can make my own pic's. Using books,
asking
permision on the net, friends ...
But I can't find one of these 2 plants, so if anyone could help me
please???
I'm not going to publisch anything, I just use the file to look up
what
the
flowers look like, pests they've had...

* Also I fell in love with an orchid last Christmas. A thelymitra
variegata
208 and 199 from Australia. If there has ever been an orchid with a
perfect
colour it must be a Thelymitra. If I could just live in Australia!!!!!
I found the pic's on the orchid mall. Now ever sinds I have contacted
several growers in Europe and one in Australia. But none of them has
ever
had or seen this orchid. Please if anyone knows were I might be able
to
find
one without braking any laws, tell me, please, please, please.

To end this with a piece of advice to all the men out there. An orchid
is
like a great woman. Beauty on the outside and the inside, and when you
find
the perfect one, you can never let them go.

Peter