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#1
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your first ever orchid
Hi Shell, how long have you been growing orchids?What was your first one to
get you hooked! kenty "Shell" wrote in message m... I do try to buy orchids advertised as blooming size or even better a previously bloomed one unless it's something that I'm willing to wait on like a more unusual type. Or like my flask experiment Shell "Myrmecodia" wrote in message om... "Shell" wrote in message .com... How do you tell when an orchid is blooming size or near blooming size? I keep seeing leaf span measurements and pot sizes but no real ages or anything. That's because age isn't very useful when dealing with orchids. Since orchids grow indefinitely, there is typically no way to be certain of their age. This is especially true of divisions where there is no way to determine how much material has been removed. The only exception is with seedlings that still retain all of their immature pseudobulbs. With such a plant, you can estimate age, but only if you know the rate at which the plant is producing new growth. When growing a seedling, you should see each growth significantly larger than the previous one. As the plant matures, each growth should be the same size as the previous, never smaller. "Blooming size" is usually a guess based on a grower's experience with other plants of that species or hybrid. If the grower has lots of experience, it may be a very good guess, but there is no way to be sure. Many orchids will bloom for the first time before they reach full size, but first-flowering is dependent on many factors (genetics, skill of the grower, etc). The presence of old inflorescences indicating that the plant has previously bloomed is the only way for a beginner to be sure a plant is blooming size. In my experience, most "blooming size" seedlings will flower within a range of a few months to a few years given proper growing conditions. "Near blooming size" plants fall in basically the same range, but all things being equal, larger seedlings will bloom before smaller seedlings. Some seedlings will bloom within a year out of flask. For example, my Coryanthes thivii bloomed about 10 months after it was deflasked. Other seedlings won't bloom for years or decades if they are missing some critical requirement in their culture. Nick -- myrmecodia-at-yahoo-dot-com |
#2
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your first ever orchid
My first ever orchid was actually 4. A pot with 3 Dend.Caesar Jacque in it
and a mystery Dend that I got from Lowe's for a substantial markdown. The large pot has the 3 end Caesar Jacque in it and was half price because it had lost a few leaves and only had one flower left. The mystery Dend had been knocked over and the fancy pot was gone along with the tag and the flowers, the reson it was only $3. do love a deal Shell (who's motto is : Cheap is good but free is better) "kenty ;-)" wrote in message ... Hi Shell, how long have you been growing orchids?What was your first one to get you hooked! kenty "Shell" wrote in message m... I do try to buy orchids advertised as blooming size or even better a previously bloomed one unless it's something that I'm willing to wait on like a more unusual type. Or like my flask experiment Shell "Myrmecodia" wrote in message om... "Shell" wrote in message .com... How do you tell when an orchid is blooming size or near blooming size? I keep seeing leaf span measurements and pot sizes but no real ages or anything. That's because age isn't very useful when dealing with orchids. Since orchids grow indefinitely, there is typically no way to be certain of their age. This is especially true of divisions where there is no way to determine how much material has been removed. The only exception is with seedlings that still retain all of their immature pseudobulbs. With such a plant, you can estimate age, but only if you know the rate at which the plant is producing new growth. When growing a seedling, you should see each growth significantly larger than the previous one. As the plant matures, each growth should be the same size as the previous, never smaller. "Blooming size" is usually a guess based on a grower's experience with other plants of that species or hybrid. If the grower has lots of experience, it may be a very good guess, but there is no way to be sure. Many orchids will bloom for the first time before they reach full size, but first-flowering is dependent on many factors (genetics, skill of the grower, etc). The presence of old inflorescences indicating that the plant has previously bloomed is the only way for a beginner to be sure a plant is blooming size. In my experience, most "blooming size" seedlings will flower within a range of a few months to a few years given proper growing conditions. "Near blooming size" plants fall in basically the same range, but all things being equal, larger seedlings will bloom before smaller seedlings. Some seedlings will bloom within a year out of flask. For example, my Coryanthes thivii bloomed about 10 months after it was deflasked. Other seedlings won't bloom for years or decades if they are missing some critical requirement in their culture. Nick -- myrmecodia-at-yahoo-dot-com |
#3
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your first ever orchid
Xref: kermit rec.gardens.orchids:52595
Shell, I have lots of seedlings, but recently I decided to keep those purchases to a minimum, and save my money for plants that will give me somewhat more immediate gratification. One of the reasons for the change is that so many BS plants turn out to be just that: BS! Of course, it depends on the source, and there are some (Ray, for example) in whom I place much more trust than others. Still, the younger the plant, the higher the attrition rate, despite everyone's good intentions. And, worst of all, unless a plant is in bloom when you get it, or has at least been previously bloomed, there's no guarantee that it won't sit there like a salad and never bloom at all. Mix it up between blooming and smaller, and you'll be happier, I think. After all, we grow these suckers for the flowers, not the foliage! Diana |
#4
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your first ever orchid
I was looking into doing one of those orchid a month things where you get a
different orchid in spike every month. If I can get someone to get this for me for Christmas I try to buy older plants, especially previously bloomed ones if I can. Thing is it's really hard for me to pass up a chance to get an interesting plant for a really good price Shell "Diana Kulaga" wrote in message hlink.net... Shell, I have lots of seedlings, but recently I decided to keep those purchases to a minimum, and save my money for plants that will give me somewhat more immediate gratification. One of the reasons for the change is that so many BS plants turn out to be just that: BS! Of course, it depends on the source, and there are some (Ray, for example) in whom I place much more trust than others. Still, the younger the plant, the higher the attrition rate, despite everyone's good intentions. And, worst of all, unless a plant is in bloom when you get it, or has at least been previously bloomed, there's no guarantee that it won't sit there like a salad and never bloom at all. Mix it up between blooming and smaller, and you'll be happier, I think. After all, we grow these suckers for the flowers, not the foliage! Diana |
#5
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your first ever orchid
On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 23:40:02 GMT, "Shell"
wrote: I was looking into doing one of those orchid a month things where you get a different orchid in spike every month. If I can get someone to get this for me for Christmas I try to buy older plants, especially previously bloomed ones if I can. Thing is it's really hard for me to pass up a chance to get an interesting plant for a really good price Shell Shell - I would think again and give this one a pass. Instead ask for a gift card or prepaid account that you can draw on. This plant a month generally is not a very adventuresome collection. You like to experiment and like such different plants, I think you will be happier choosing your own. SuE http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/albums.php |
#6
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your first ever orchid
You're probably right Maybe I can talk someone into a couple of gift
certificates Thanks Shell "Susan Erickson" wrote in message ... On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 23:40:02 GMT, "Shell" wrote: I was looking into doing one of those orchid a month things where you get a different orchid in spike every month. If I can get someone to get this for me for Christmas I try to buy older plants, especially previously bloomed ones if I can. Thing is it's really hard for me to pass up a chance to get an interesting plant for a really good price Shell Shell - I would think again and give this one a pass. Instead ask for a gift card or prepaid account that you can draw on. This plant a month generally is not a very adventuresome collection. You like to experiment and like such different plants, I think you will be happier choosing your own. SuE http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/albums.php |
#7
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your first ever orchid
You're probably right Maybe I can talk someone into a couple of gift
certificates Thanks Shell "Susan Erickson" wrote in message ... On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 23:40:02 GMT, "Shell" wrote: I was looking into doing one of those orchid a month things where you get a different orchid in spike every month. If I can get someone to get this for me for Christmas I try to buy older plants, especially previously bloomed ones if I can. Thing is it's really hard for me to pass up a chance to get an interesting plant for a really good price Shell Shell - I would think again and give this one a pass. Instead ask for a gift card or prepaid account that you can draw on. This plant a month generally is not a very adventuresome collection. You like to experiment and like such different plants, I think you will be happier choosing your own. SuE http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/albums.php |
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