|
Miniature orchids?
Greetings all,
I just discovered this group after biting the bullet and getting an orchid. Many members of my family have had them, so I'm not a total babe in the woods and I think I'll be able to keep this one up (phal. "pink stripes") just fine in my tiny Amsterdam (Netherlands) apartment. However, I know that the collector bug will hit me very hard at any moment, I can feel it--it's happened before, just not yet with orchids (actually, it's an interest in adding vanilla to the list of spices and herbs I'm trying to grow that got me the phal.; it was *there*, you know how it is, and they didn't have a vanilla orchid in stock and this one just kept nodding away at me...). Before I go totally nuts I'd like to have a direction for that to flow... I'll be getting a few hardier and larger sorts as regular houseplants as I go, given that the prices here are much lower than appears to be the case in much of the rest of the world (the nice phal.'s with one flower spike with 6 or 7 flowers are going for 5 Euros here right now) but for the collecting and being generally insular and nuts about it phase, I think it would be best to try these fabulous little tiny ones I keep seeing referenced. In this climate, a miniature greenhouse, say the size of a couple of 10-gallon aquaria, would be my best bet to start off with, I think. So... what am I yammering at you folks for? Well, I'd like suggestions on which of the miniatures make good starters for amateur cultivators. What's good in shade (apartment's too small and the electrics too crappy and bunched up to get a fancy lighting setup, so we're talking natural conditions on that one), what can take a lower-temperature winter (yes, we do have a heater, but no, we don't run it very high at night--just enough to keep stuff from freezing) (I'm willing and able to get reptile hot rocks or something for the mini-greenhouses, though, should that turn out to be best)? I'm not one of these people who think something has to be showy to be special, and am in fact quite attracted to the weird, so don't worry about that sort of thing in answering. I am also aware that the floral return on orchids is limited--in other words, I'm fine with looking at apparent clumps of sticks or smudges of green for most of the year. The humidity levels here are high, but the light low. I have access to excellent plant-supply shops where they will know which soils/media to sell me, and which fertilizers (if any), and where I can ask advice about sick or damaged plants, so I don't have to get only the hardiest and most difficult to kill or anything like that, but this probably isn't a moment for the downright delicate. So, any suggestions on what to keep my eyes peeled for? Thanks, Katrina --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.497 / Virus Database: 296 - Release Date: 7/4/03 |
Miniature orchids?
"White Monkey" writes:
adding vanilla to the list of spices and herbs I'm trying to grow that got me the phal.; it was *there*, you know how it is, and they didn't have a vanilla orchid in stock and this one just kept nodding away at me...). "Small apartment" and vanilla don't exactly go hand in hand. Vanilla requires high humidity, high heat, and won't flower until it is a significant number of metres long. I think this is a pity - I would also have liked to grow my own vanilla. that sort of thing in answering. I am also aware that the floral return on orchids is limited--in other words, I'm fine with looking at apparent clumps I wouldn't know about that. I have an epidendrum hybrid (far from a miniature, I am afraid. It comes up to my hip when it is flowering) which finished flowering in the beginning of april. It had kept at it for three months at that time. Today, the first flower of its new flower stalks opened. Last year, it only flowered once. Flowering seems to be related to size. Perhaps Larry knows wether there exists such a thing as a miniature epidendrum? Larry? I am getting a number of flasks in august. In there is a neofinetia falcata. Perhaps that would be someting for you? I have no idea how hard it is to grow, though. Talk to me in three years. Geir - who also lives in a small flat. |
Miniature orchids?
"Small apartment" and vanilla don't exactly go hand in hand. Vanilla
requires high humidity, high heat, and won't flower until it is a significant number of metres long. Thanks for telling me this. The heat will be a problem, so I may not get one after all... but as for it getting to a certain size, they climb, right? I was planning to train it all over the kitchen window and environs; I have a wire grid there already anyway. That room is so humid I need to open the door to make tea, or I suffocate. Well, not quite that bad.... Does the whole plant require high heat, or only the root system? I've heard very interesting stuff about growing some warm-root vegetables with their top leaves actually frosted, if the roots are kept warm. I suppose this is too much to hope for with a vanilla orchid? Another point is that I don't plan to live in this apartment forever; when we eventually moved, having grown the plant awhile might give it a jump on flowering... ? I am getting a number of flasks in august. In there is a neofinetia falcata. Perhaps that would be someting for you? I have no idea how hard it is to grow, though. Talk to me in three years. That does look like an awfully nice plant. Thanks for the tip; it's going straight onto my wish-list! Thanks, Katrina --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.497 / Virus Database: 296 - Release Date: 7/4/03 |
Miniature orchids?
"White Monkey" writes:
Thanks for telling me this. The heat will be a problem, so I may not get one after all... but as for it getting to a certain size, they climb, right? I Yes, they climb. If you are to get flowers on it, expect to have it go up and down to the ceiling a couple of times. I have been told that a length 10m is not an uncommon length for production-size specimens. Not exactly a miniature. :) wire grid there already anyway. That room is so humid I need to open the door to make tea, or I suffocate. Well, not quite that bad.... Does the Buy a small digital hygrometer/thermometer combo. It shouldn't cost more than about 15 euro. If the humidity ever drops below 60%, you will have trouble. I have never tried this myself, so all I am stating with such confidence is hearsay. YMMV. whole plant require high heat, or only the root system? I've heard very The whole plant, as far as I know. to live in this apartment forever; when we eventually moved, having grown the plant awhile might give it a jump on flowering... ? I would expect so, but my experience is, as I said, nonexistent. :) I know there is a guy on no.fritid.hage (norway.recreation.garden, literally) from time to time who has grown vanilla in the past in an apartmentq. He has complained about huge crops of black fungi, but little vanilla. :) If you try there, you might be able to lure him out. Geir |
Miniature orchids?
Welkom! "White Monkey"
The first orchid to come to mind is Ludisia discolor, easy grower, very low light. They have the most beautiful leaves. Cheers Wendy "White Monkey" wrote in message ... Greetings all, I just discovered this group after biting the bullet and getting an orchid. Many members of my family have had them, so I'm not a total babe in the woods and I think I'll be able to keep this one up (phal. "pink stripes") just fine in my tiny Amsterdam (Netherlands) apartment. However, I know that the collector bug will hit me very hard at any moment, I can feel it--it's happened before, just not yet with orchids (actually, it's an interest in adding vanilla to the list of spices and herbs I'm trying to grow that got me the phal.; it was *there*, you know how it is, and they didn't have a vanilla orchid in stock and this one just kept nodding away at me...). Before I go totally nuts I'd like to have a direction for that to flow... I'll be getting a few hardier and larger sorts as regular houseplants as I go, given that the prices here are much lower than appears to be the case in much of the rest of the world (the nice phal.'s with one flower spike with 6 or 7 flowers are going for 5 Euros here right now) but for the collecting and being generally insular and nuts about it phase, I think it would be best to try these fabulous little tiny ones I keep seeing referenced. In this climate, a miniature greenhouse, say the size of a couple of 10-gallon aquaria, would be my best bet to start off with, I think. So... what am I yammering at you folks for? Well, I'd like suggestions on which of the miniatures make good starters for amateur cultivators. What's good in shade (apartment's too small and the electrics too crappy and bunched up to get a fancy lighting setup, so we're talking natural conditions on that one), what can take a lower-temperature winter (yes, we do have a heater, but no, we don't run it very high at night--just enough to keep stuff from freezing) (I'm willing and able to get reptile hot rocks or something for the mini-greenhouses, though, should that turn out to be best)? I'm not one of these people who think something has to be showy to be special, and am in fact quite attracted to the weird, so don't worry about that sort of thing in answering. I am also aware that the floral return on orchids is limited--in other words, I'm fine with looking at apparent clumps of sticks or smudges of green for most of the year. The humidity levels here are high, but the light low. I have access to excellent plant-supply shops where they will know which soils/media to sell me, and which fertilizers (if any), and where I can ask advice about sick or damaged plants, so I don't have to get only the hardiest and most difficult to kill or anything like that, but this probably isn't a moment for the downright delicate. So, any suggestions on what to keep my eyes peeled for? Thanks, Katrina --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.497 / Virus Database: 296 - Release Date: 7/4/03 |
Miniature orchids?
"White Monkey" wrote in message ...
"Small apartment" and vanilla don't exactly go hand in hand. Vanilla requires high humidity, high heat, and won't flower until it is a significant number of metres long. Thanks for telling me this. The heat will be a problem, so I may not get one after all... but as for it getting to a certain size, they climb, right? I was planning to train it all over the kitchen window and environs; I have a wire grid there already anyway. That room is so humid I need to open the door to make tea, or I suffocate. Well, not quite that bad.... Does the whole plant require high heat, or only the root system? I've heard very interesting stuff about growing some warm-root vegetables with their top leaves actually frosted, if the roots are kept warm. I suppose this is too much to hope for with a vanilla orchid? Another point is that I don't plan to live in this apartment forever; when we eventually moved, having grown the plant awhile might give it a jump on flowering... ? Umm... as White Monkey says, Vanilla planifolia has to get -really- big before it flowers and needs more space and light than a kitchen window can provide. It is a -tropical- plant; the whole thing has to be kept warm. It is essentially a greenhouse item. They are grown outdoors in Madagascar. I hope you aren't considering it as a source of vanilla "beans". The process of making vanilla pods is a kind of lengthy fermentation that takes lots of heat and sunlight. J. Del Col |
Miniature orchids?
"White Monkey" wrote in message ...
"Small apartment" and vanilla don't exactly go hand in hand. Vanilla requires high humidity, high heat, and won't flower until it is a significant number of metres long. Thanks for telling me this. The heat will be a problem, so I may not get one after all... but as for it getting to a certain size, they climb, right? I was planning to train it all over the kitchen window and environs; I have a wire grid there already anyway. That room is so humid I need to open the door to make tea, or I suffocate. Well, not quite that bad.... Does the whole plant require high heat, or only the root system? I've heard very interesting stuff about growing some warm-root vegetables with their top leaves actually frosted, if the roots are kept warm. I suppose this is too much to hope for with a vanilla orchid? Another point is that I don't plan to live in this apartment forever; when we eventually moved, having grown the plant awhile might give it a jump on flowering... ? Umm... as White Monkey says, Vanilla planifolia has to get -really- big before it flowers and needs more space and light than a kitchen window can provide. It is a -tropical- plant; the whole thing has to be kept warm. It is essentially a greenhouse item. They are grown outdoors in Madagascar. I hope you aren't considering it as a source of vanilla "beans". The process of making vanilla pods is a kind of lengthy fermentation that takes lots of heat and sunlight. J. Del Col |
Miniature orchids?
Probeer Herman ter Borch, "botanische orchideeen" (helmond Nederland) Hij
heeft veel kleine planten van goede kwaliteit en prijs. Hij kent er ook veel van. http://www.botorch.com/ Akerne orchids in België zij hebben ook veel kleine planten zoals restrepia, dracula ... www.akerne-orchids.com These two sites can tell you a lot and the people there know what they are talking about Peter |
Miniature orchids?
"Wendy" wrote in message
news:MqWNa.120079$MJ5.109561@fed1read03... Welkom! "White Monkey" The first orchid to come to mind is Ludisia discolor, easy grower, very low light. They have the most beautiful leaves. Cheers Wendy Ooh, thanks, yes (having done a search), those do look nice. I'll see if I see them at the market. Thanks, Katrina --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.497 / Virus Database: 296 - Release Date: 7/4/03 |
Miniature orchids?
Probeer Herman ter Borch, "botanische orchideeen" (helmond Nederland) Hij
heeft veel kleine planten van goede kwaliteit en prijs. Hij kent er ook veel van. http://www.botorch.com/ Akerne orchids in België zij hebben ook veel kleine planten zoals restrepia, dracula ... www.akerne-orchids.com These two sites can tell you a lot and the people there know what they are talking about Peter Hartelijk bedankt! Heel mooi! Ik zal vragen op mijn vriendin die een auto heeft of zij vindt een ritje een fijn idee. (Of het bovende zin in betere Nederlands.) Dank u, Katrina --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.497 / Virus Database: 296 - Release Date: 7/4/03 |
Miniature orchids?
If you are to get flowers on it, expect to have it go up and down to
the ceiling a couple of times. I have been told that a length 10m is not an uncommon length for production-size specimens. Not exactly a miniature. :) Not *all* my orchids have to be miniature. My husband and I need more color around the place (in season; greenery's fine too), and could fit a *few* normal-sized plants in here. The miniatures are just an attempt to get a handle in advance on controlling the effect on our lives of an inevitable leap into colelction mania. Not to mention trying to keep things as inexpensive as possible right now, but this, I know, doesn't necessarily go well with wanting miniatiures! So I'll be starting, ahem, small. In the non-mini group there are some lovely yellow oncidiums (oncidia?) down at the flower market this week for 4 Euros. I forsee myself walking down there tomorrow... ...I have never tried this myself, so all I am stating with such confidence is hearsay. YMMV. Thanks; it does look, though, as though the vanilla plant will have to wait for a greenhouse, hothouse, sunroom with conditioning, something like that. Darn. Thanks again, Katrina --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.497 / Virus Database: 296 - Release Date: 7/4/03 |
Miniature orchids?
It is a -tropical- plant; the whole thing has to be kept warm. It is
essentially a greenhouse item. They are grown outdoors in Madagascar. Thanks, yes, it does look like I'll have to wait on this one. I hope you aren't considering it as a source of vanilla "beans". The process of making vanilla pods is a kind of lengthy fermentation that takes lots of heat and sunlight. I was thinking (dreaming) of it as a very-low-yield, impress-your-friends kind of source, like my ginger and turmeric plants. Oh well! Someday I'll be able to create the right conditions and I'll give it a whirl. I'm the sort who's trying to make my own rice wine for cooking and do all my own curry powders up and so forth (except when there's a "personal" blend going around one of the shops or markets, like this nice hot madras powder I'm nearly out of). Thanks, Katrina --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.497 / Virus Database: 296 - Release Date: 7/4/03 |
Miniature orchids?
Hwra. Lava Burst 'Puanani' -- starts blooming in the compot, can stay in a
2" pot for years, blooms its head off in bright light, still blooms 2 or more times a year in phal shade ... -- Kenni Judd Juno Beach Orchids http://www.jborchids.com "White Monkey" wrote in message ... Greetings all, I just discovered this group after biting the bullet and getting an orchid. Many members of my family have had them, so I'm not a total babe in the woods and I think I'll be able to keep this one up (phal. "pink stripes") just fine in my tiny Amsterdam (Netherlands) apartment. However, I know that the collector bug will hit me very hard at any moment, I can feel it--it's happened before, just not yet with orchids (actually, it's an interest in adding vanilla to the list of spices and herbs I'm trying to grow that got me the phal.; it was *there*, you know how it is, and they didn't have a vanilla orchid in stock and this one just kept nodding away at me...). Before I go totally nuts I'd like to have a direction for that to flow... I'll be getting a few hardier and larger sorts as regular houseplants as I go, given that the prices here are much lower than appears to be the case in much of the rest of the world (the nice phal.'s with one flower spike with 6 or 7 flowers are going for 5 Euros here right now) but for the collecting and being generally insular and nuts about it phase, I think it would be best to try these fabulous little tiny ones I keep seeing referenced. In this climate, a miniature greenhouse, say the size of a couple of 10-gallon aquaria, would be my best bet to start off with, I think. So... what am I yammering at you folks for? Well, I'd like suggestions on which of the miniatures make good starters for amateur cultivators. What's good in shade (apartment's too small and the electrics too crappy and bunched up to get a fancy lighting setup, so we're talking natural conditions on that one), what can take a lower-temperature winter (yes, we do have a heater, but no, we don't run it very high at night--just enough to keep stuff from freezing) (I'm willing and able to get reptile hot rocks or something for the mini-greenhouses, though, should that turn out to be best)? I'm not one of these people who think something has to be showy to be special, and am in fact quite attracted to the weird, so don't worry about that sort of thing in answering. I am also aware that the floral return on orchids is limited--in other words, I'm fine with looking at apparent clumps of sticks or smudges of green for most of the year. The humidity levels here are high, but the light low. I have access to excellent plant-supply shops where they will know which soils/media to sell me, and which fertilizers (if any), and where I can ask advice about sick or damaged plants, so I don't have to get only the hardiest and most difficult to kill or anything like that, but this probably isn't a moment for the downright delicate. So, any suggestions on what to keep my eyes peeled for? Thanks, Katrina --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.497 / Virus Database: 296 - Release Date: 7/4/03 |
Miniature orchids?
"White Monkey" writes:
I hope you aren't considering it as a source of vanilla "beans". The process of making vanilla pods is a kind of lengthy fermentation that takes lots of heat and sunlight. I was thinking (dreaming) of it as a very-low-yield, impress-your-friends kind of source, like my ginger and turmeric plants. Oh well! Someday I'll be able to create the right conditions and I'll give it a whirl. I'm the Don't let the process get you down. The worst that will happen to you when fermenting your pods is that you will have learnt something about fermentation. Since fermentation is a fairly important bit of cooking techniques, you might be a better cook. If you have a go, please save an unfermented pod for me, please. I am sure that a vanilla thingy would be a nice plant, even in a non-flowering size. :) Now, if I could get my vanda keeree/sansai blue and my blc white diamond to flower. Does anyone know how large a vanda needs to be before it starts to have a chance of flowering? The leaves are about 15cm/6in high right now. Geir |
Miniature orchids?
"Kenni Judd" wrote in message
... Hwra. Lava Burst 'Puanani' -- starts blooming in the compot, can stay in a 2" pot for years, blooms its head off in bright light, still blooms 2 or more times a year in phal shade ... Thanks! That *is* nice! It's gone _right_ onto the list. On the non-mini's, I was planning to put 1 or 2 (eventually!) less delicate types in each room... the phal. is on the dining/living room table with tree-filtered sunlight in the mornings, and indirect-tree-filtered sunlight in the afternoons. It's only been here 3 days, but certainly hasn't gone into shock or anything. The oncidium I may buy tomorrow is destined for the warm (at this time of year) and bright (in the afternoon) bedroom, over by the anthurium because that also likes lots of light but fries quickly in direct sunlight. That room really won't be much of a problem, but the trouble is, everything ends up gravitating into that room, from the schefflera to the mother-in-law's-tongue to the maranta (guess who rescues the plants nobody wants when they move, around here? I got all the plants from a coffeeshop that went out of business, too, and farmed them out to friends with better light, but kept the dracaena reflexa and the pothos and they've just been going to town these last couple of years). We have a very dark and gloomy office, from a plant's point of view, and a shady living room. It seems to me that some orchids might even like my husband's office, there in the gloom, but he thinks Orchids Die without Religiously Specific Conditions and that nothing can ever live in there with him... any suggestions from the group on what I might prove him wrong with? And for that matter, just to dream here, is there even a single orchid which can live outdoors through a freezing winter on a windy balcony? Yeah, I know, ha, ha. --Katrina --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.497 / Virus Database: 296 - Release Date: 7/4/03 |
Miniature orchids?
On 06 Jul 2003 11:02:20 +0200, Geir Harris Hedemark
wrote in Message-Id: : Perhaps Larry knows wether there exists such a thing as a miniature epidendrum? Larry? Yes. Mini-epis exist. There are mini plants with mini flowers, also hybridizers (Cal-Orchid, Yamada) are breading shorter plants with larger blooms. Here are a few: http://www.sborchid.com/OrchidOfTheD...LilacPixie.htm http://www.sborchid.com/OrchidOfTheDay/Epi-TinyRed.htm http://www.sborchid.com/OrchidOfTheD...d-specimen.htm http://www.hborchids.com/epi.htm#epi http://www.sborchid.com/OrchidOfTheD...planifolia.htm |
Miniature orchids?
|
Miniature orchids?
"Geir Harris Hedemark" wrote in message ... (J. Del Col) writes: The fermentation in this case is a dry --well, moist-- process that takes months and requires tropical heat and sunlight. Home production of vanilla "beans" is wholly impractical unless one lives in the tropics. You are saying this to someone who is growing tropical orchids in a place that is almost north of the polar circle. Sounds to me like an excuse to borrow the temperature chamber from work. :) This reminds me of a discussion I had with a lady recently, who was saying that it isn't practicable for home owners to have their own vegetable gardens when you're as far north as the north shore of Lake Superior. I just had to point out that I knew a family in Churchill Manitoba (which is MUCH further north) who made their own greenhouse, and grew their own vegetables. The structure seemed rather flimsy, and a polar bear would not have any trouble ripping the walls apart to get to the tasty morsels inside, but they were growing a wide variety of things ranging from potatoes to flowers. The moment someone tells me that something is impossible or impacticable, I tend to get motivated to find a way to do it in a cost effective manner. That is, I won't settle for showing that it is possible to grow a given plant in a given locality, I'd go a step further to show that it is less expensive for me to do it myself than it is to rely on some other means (in the case of food stuffs, the alternative is to buy directly or indirectly from a distant supplier). After all, the principal reason most of us can enjoy our own orchids is that some genius figured out how to grow and propagate them in large numbers outside their natural distribution. One factor providing impetus for technological change is a desire to do what is presently difficult, impractical or impossible with existing technologies. Cheers, Ted BTW: instead of borrowing the temperature chamber, why not make your own? |
Miniature orchids?
Xref: kermit rec.gardens.orchids:46738
(J. Del Col) spaketh thusly: Home production of vanilla "beans" is wholly impractical unless one lives in the tropics. While I would note that the production of vanilla from the live plant is generally an impractical effort, I don't believe it is a necessity that one must live in a tropical climate to process the "beans." The fruits may be "killed" either by drying in the sun or boiling (there is a third technique that escapes me), but then may be steeped in alcohol after being bundled and dried for several months. There are many ways to process vanilla, all of which are energy- and time-intensive. Some techniques are detailed in "Make Mine Vanilla" and "The Vanilla Cookbook." More info at: http://www.nielsenmassey.com/makingofvanilla.htm -AJHicks CHandler, AZ |
Miniature orchids?
"Geir Harris Hedemark" wrote in message ... (J. Del Col) writes: The fermentation in this case is a dry --well, moist-- process that takes months and requires tropical heat and sunlight. Home production of vanilla "beans" is wholly impractical unless one lives in the tropics. You are saying this to someone who is growing tropical orchids in a place that is almost north of the polar circle. Sounds to me like an excuse to borrow the temperature chamber from work. :) This reminds me of a discussion I had with a lady recently, who was saying that it isn't practicable for home owners to have their own vegetable gardens when you're as far north as the north shore of Lake Superior. I just had to point out that I knew a family in Churchill Manitoba (which is MUCH further north) who made their own greenhouse, and grew their own vegetables. The structure seemed rather flimsy, and a polar bear would not have any trouble ripping the walls apart to get to the tasty morsels inside, but they were growing a wide variety of things ranging from potatoes to flowers. The moment someone tells me that something is impossible or impacticable, I tend to get motivated to find a way to do it in a cost effective manner. That is, I won't settle for showing that it is possible to grow a given plant in a given locality, I'd go a step further to show that it is less expensive for me to do it myself than it is to rely on some other means (in the case of food stuffs, the alternative is to buy directly or indirectly from a distant supplier). After all, the principal reason most of us can enjoy our own orchids is that some genius figured out how to grow and propagate them in large numbers outside their natural distribution. One factor providing impetus for technological change is a desire to do what is presently difficult, impractical or impossible with existing technologies. Cheers, Ted BTW: instead of borrowing the temperature chamber, why not make your own? |
Miniature orchids?
Xref: kermit rec.gardens.orchids:46738
(J. Del Col) spaketh thusly: Home production of vanilla "beans" is wholly impractical unless one lives in the tropics. While I would note that the production of vanilla from the live plant is generally an impractical effort, I don't believe it is a necessity that one must live in a tropical climate to process the "beans." The fruits may be "killed" either by drying in the sun or boiling (there is a third technique that escapes me), but then may be steeped in alcohol after being bundled and dried for several months. There are many ways to process vanilla, all of which are energy- and time-intensive. Some techniques are detailed in "Make Mine Vanilla" and "The Vanilla Cookbook." More info at: http://www.nielsenmassey.com/makingofvanilla.htm -AJHicks CHandler, AZ |
Miniature orchids?
We don't deal much with freezing, but you might tell him about the tray of
bareroot encyclias my husband spilled while unloading the trailer after a show -- several of them fell behind the shelves and I didn't find them for 3 weeks, till I was loading up for the next show. During which time they were locked in an enclosed trailer with no water, no light, no air circulation, and the trailer was parked in baking sun [temps inside had to exceed 105F]. All lived, and almost all of those which had been in spike went ahead and bloomed. -- Kenni Judd Juno Beach Orchids http://www.jborchids.com "White Monkey" wrote in message ... "Kenni Judd" wrote in message ... We have a very dark and gloomy office, from a plant's point of view, and a shady living room. It seems to me that some orchids might even like my husband's office, there in the gloom, but he thinks Orchids Die without Religiously Specific Conditions and that nothing can ever live in there with him... any suggestions from the group on what I might prove him wrong with? And for that matter, just to dream here, is there even a single orchid which can live outdoors through a freezing winter on a windy balcony? Yeah, I know, ha, ha. --Katrina --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.497 / Virus Database: 296 - Release Date: 7/4/03 |
Miniature orchids?
White Monkey ) wrote:
: So... what am I yammering at you folks for? Well, I'd like suggestions on : which of the miniatures make good starters for amateur cultivators. What's : good in shade (apartment's too small and the electrics too crappy and : bunched up to get a fancy lighting setup, so we're talking natural : conditions on that one), what can take a lower-temperature winter (yes, we : do have a heater, but no, we don't run it very high at night--just enough to : keep stuff from freezing) (I'm willing and able to get reptile hot rocks or : something for the mini-greenhouses, though, should that turn out to be : best)? I'm not one of these people who think something has to be showy to be : special, and am in fact quite attracted to the weird, so don't worry about : that sort of thing in answering. I am also aware that the floral return on : orchids is limited--in other words, I'm fine with looking at apparent clumps : of sticks or smudges of green for most of the year. The humidity levels here : are high, but the light low. I have access to excellent plant-supply shops : where they will know which soils/media to sell me, and which fertilizers (if : any), and where I can ask advice about sick or damaged plants, so I don't : have to get only the hardiest and most difficult to kill or anything like : that, but this probably isn't a moment for the downright delicate. You might think about Dendrobium sulawesiense (go to Andy's Orchids at www.andysorchids.com for a pic and description). It has low light requirements (similar to phal light requirements) but the min temp is listed as 55F which may require a hot rock in your environment :-). I have been keeping one in a bathroom window that gets about 1000 footcandles of light if I hold the light meter just right and it is not only growing well but it's about to bloom. I am in a much, much warmer climate than you though. The canes are listed as getting to 30" but mine is anywhere near that big and even if they do get that long the canes are really thin so the plant doesn't take up much pot space. BTW, Andy's has a pretty cool search engine that you can use to get some ideas. A search for "cool" and "shady" yields 153 hits. A search for "cool", "shady", and "miniature" 22 hits. And, a search for "cool", "shady", "miniature", and "easy grower" yields 6 hits. I can't get at the website from the machine I'm typing this on otherwise I'd just cut and paste the results in for so you'll have to do it for yourself. Dave |
Miniature orchids?
"Dave Sheehy" wrote in message
... White Monkey ) wrote: : So... what am I yammering at you folks for? Well, I'd like suggestions on : which of the miniatures make good starters for amateur cultivators. What's : good in shade (apartment's too small and the electrics too crappy and : bunched up to get a fancy lighting setup, so we're talking natural : conditions on that one), what can take a lower-temperature winter (yes, we : do have a heater, but no, we don't run it very high at night--just enough to : keep stuff from freezing) (I'm willing and able to get reptile hot rocks or : something for the mini-greenhouses, though, should that turn out to be : best)? I'm not one of these people who think something has to be showy to be : special, and am in fact quite attracted to the weird, so don't worry about : that sort of thing in answering. I am also aware that the floral return on : orchids is limited--in other words, I'm fine with looking at apparent clumps : of sticks or smudges of green for most of the year. The humidity levels here : are high, but the light low. I have access to excellent plant-supply shops : where they will know which soils/media to sell me, and which fertilizers (if : any), and where I can ask advice about sick or damaged plants, so I don't : have to get only the hardiest and most difficult to kill or anything like : that, but this probably isn't a moment for the downright delicate. You might think about Dendrobium sulawesiense (go to Andy's Orchids at www.andysorchids.com for a pic and description). It has low light requirements (similar to phal light requirements) but the min temp is listed as 55F which may require a hot rock in your environment :-). I have been keeping one in a bathroom window that gets about 1000 footcandles of light if I hold the light meter just right and it is not only growing well but it's about to bloom. I am in a much, much warmer climate than you though. The canes are listed as getting to 30" but mine is anywhere near that big and even if they do get that long the canes are really thin so the plant doesn't take up much pot space. Wow, thanks, those ARE hot! And thank you for all the light info, etc. I'll keep my eyes peeled for it! Thanks again, Katrina --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.497 / Virus Database: 296 - Release Date: 7/4/03 |
Miniature orchids?
Why not? Pollinating them is easy getting something out of it is harder.
I'm trying to grow my own orchid seed in windowsills in an appartment. I'll inform you of my faillores or successes later. Peter "Diana Kulaga" schreef in bericht thlink.net... I hope you aren't considering it as a source of vanilla "beans". The process of making vanilla pods is a kind of lengthy fermentation that takes lots of heat and sunlight. And hand pollination. I wouldn't try this one in an apartment. Diana |
Miniature orchids?
"Boystrup Pb, ann,..." writes:
Why not? Pollinating them is easy getting something out of it is harder. I think Diana was referring to Vanilla flowers lasting only a couple of hours/a day, and only one maturing at a time. If you are to get a nice number of pods, you will need to catch several flowers for pollination. Geir |
Miniature orchids?
On 06 Jul 2003 22:47:14 +0200, Geir Harris Hedemark
wrote in Message-Id: : Larry Dighera writes: http://www.sborchid.com/OrchidOfTheDay/Epi-TinyRed.htm Want! Me too. I'll have to pick one up the next time I'm there. Of course, I can't get. Wrong bit of the globe, and importing grown plants is next to impossible without starting a business. Do you know if there is anyone out there willing to sell hobby-sized flasks of miniature red or blue miniature epis worldwide? You've probably already looked here, but just in case: http://www.orchidmall.com/supplies.htm Troy Meyers ships flasks internationally: http://troymeyers.com/index.html Geir - about to start offloading SH grown yellow-coloured epidendrum keikis on friends in a couple of months. Would that be Epidendrum secundum 'Pretty Princes'? Dang, these things grow like mad. In december, they were 2in long with one reed. They now count four reeds at 5in. They bloom quickly too. |
Miniature orchids?
Oke, thanks, didn't know that. But it makes me curious, I think I'll buy one
this summer. Peter "Geir Harris Hedemark" schreef in bericht ... "Boystrup Pb, ann,..." writes: Why not? Pollinating them is easy getting something out of it is harder. I think Diana was referring to Vanilla flowers lasting only a couple of hours/a day, and only one maturing at a time. If you are to get a nice number of pods, you will need to catch several flowers for pollination. Geir |
Miniature orchids?
Larry Dighera writes:
Geir - about to start offloading SH grown yellow-coloured epidendrum keikis on friends in a couple of months. Would that be Epidendrum secundum 'Pretty Princes'? Nah. The only epis I can get locally are noname hybrids (tagged "ballerina"), and most of the flower colors available are pink, white and orange/yellow. This is half the reason why I am having a go at flasks. Thanks for the links. I will surely have a look. Geir |
Miniature orchids?
Larry Dighera writes:
Geir - about to start offloading SH grown yellow-coloured epidendrum keikis on friends in a couple of months. Would that be Epidendrum secundum 'Pretty Princes'? Nah. The only epis I can get locally are noname hybrids (tagged "ballerina"), and most of the flower colors available are pink, white and orange/yellow. This is half the reason why I am having a go at flasks. I couldn't find the Troy Meyers site? Geir |
Miniature orchids?
It's http://troymeyers.com/ . - Dave
"Geir Harris Hedemark" wrote in message ... Larry Dighera writes: Geir - about to start offloading SH grown yellow-coloured epidendrum keikis on friends in a couple of months. Would that be Epidendrum secundum 'Pretty Princes'? Nah. The only epis I can get locally are noname hybrids (tagged "ballerina"), and most of the flower colors available are pink, white and orange/yellow. This is half the reason why I am having a go at flasks. I couldn't find the Troy Meyers site? Geir |
Miniature orchids?
But it makes me curious, I think I'll buy one
this summer. You might want to think about whether you have the room or not. I'm growing a couple of vanilla orchids and they get very long very fast. I have read that they won't bloom until they are 20-25 feet long. I have one that is in a shallow planter, wrapped around and around the planter. I would estimate it's a good 12-15 feet and still no sign of a flower, just more vining. Tracey |
Miniature orchids?
A grower suggested to me that it works rather well when you make a spiral of
wire that spirals inward and is wrapped in sphagnum or the like. You need to be consistent in directing the growth but if you're careful you can get a full sized vanilla planifolia on a spiral about four feet (1.5 meters) across. This is quite a bit bigger than the run of the mill masdevalia but still manageable. I have one in my small greenhouse providing some additional shade for the Phals. It grows fast (for an orchid) but is still no race horse. Think of it as a strange Philodendron. Fruit will be about as likely! Dave "Tracey" wrote in message ... But it makes me curious, I think I'll buy one this summer. You might want to think about whether you have the room or not. I'm growing a couple of vanilla orchids and they get very long very fast. I have read that they won't bloom until they are 20-25 feet long. I have one that is in a shallow planter, wrapped around and around the planter. I would estimate it's a good 12-15 feet and still no sign of a flower, just more vining. Tracey |
Miniature orchids?
thanks for the info from both of you. I might have to wait till i have some
more room. Peter "Dave Lockwood" schreef in bericht news:dpIOa.8741$OZ2.1177@rwcrnsc54... A grower suggested to me that it works rather well when you make a spiral of wire that spirals inward and is wrapped in sphagnum or the like. You need to be consistent in directing the growth but if you're careful you can get a full sized vanilla planifolia on a spiral about four feet (1.5 meters) across. This is quite a bit bigger than the run of the mill masdevalia but still manageable. I have one in my small greenhouse providing some additional shade for the Phals. It grows fast (for an orchid) but is still no race horse. Think of it as a strange Philodendron. Fruit will be about as likely! Dave "Tracey" wrote in message ... But it makes me curious, I think I'll buy one this summer. You might want to think about whether you have the room or not. I'm growing a couple of vanilla orchids and they get very long very fast. I have read that they won't bloom until they are 20-25 feet long. I have one that is in a shallow planter, wrapped around and around the planter. I would estimate it's a good 12-15 feet and still no sign of a flower, just more vining. Tracey |
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 09:46 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
GardenBanter