OrchidSafari ARCHIVES*

Present were 24:

Phals (Bob Gordon - CA)
paulav (Paula - Boca Raton FL)
gaillevy (Boca Raton FL)
Jane5536 (Huntington L.I. N.Y.)
CaryStarr (Cary - Boca Raton, FL)
Josh (Iowa)
Harold (Farmers Branch TX)
graphicgreg (So FL)
JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
runnerRick (Rick in Concord, CA. Diablo View OS, AOS)
The Phalie Phanatic (Gary, Hershey, PA) (Welcome, Gary!)
EquitantMan (Matt from Ventura, CA)
Evlyn (Northwest Louisiana)
peterlin (Dallas TX)
Ann12 (Dallas TX)
nodosa (Ed in SAT)
AORCHID (art,simpsonville sc)
kahless66 (Kevin from Southfield, MI)
emf21 (Emily - Savannah GA)
foxtail2 (Doug - Palm Harbour FL)
Lanceps (Thamina from Manhattan Beach, Calif.)
     And briefly :-)
sparkysteve (of Boca Raton, Florida)
JR000 (Jerry No. CA)
marylois (Northwest Louisiana)(briefly)

A truly remarkable evening with Bob Gordon, who did a fantastic job fielding questions even though he was having a posting problem (subsequently solved through a WBS tech contact - USE THAT HELP ADDRESS!) . Thank you so much, Bob. Thanks to Greg and Fleur who took over in keeping things moving; and thanks are due each and every one of our chatters, who helped keep sparkle in the evening. I'd bet on there being several lurkers who we did not capture in attendance...mlg

Phals
To all...I'm not lecturing; answering questions only.

I'll entertain questions on water quality or any aspect of phal culture.

If anyone has a copy of their local water report handy, it might help to get it out. I'd like to talk about water quality some tonight.

I'd like to encourage everyone to get a copy of their local water analysis ... for a good reason: The nutrition your plants get is a combination of what's in the water and what you add.Without the local water analysis, there's no way of knowing just what you're putting on your plants. [I think water quality is one of the last real barriers to understanding the culture of orchids; even beginners should have a grasp of what's involved...BG]

Jane5536 (Huntington L.I. N.Y.)
I feel guilty--I don't have a water analysis. What it gets is what it gets! With rain water when possible.

Ellen,Smithtown,NewYork
Our water is supposed to be good quality, Jane.

graphicgreg (its almost autumn in SoFla):
Don't worry, Jane in Huntington....any kind of analysis will do.

paulav (Paula in Boca Raton, Florida)
Does anyone here from South Fla. have a water analysis?

Jane5536 (Huntington L.I. N.Y.)
Ellen-I remember that from our meetings--Greenlawn water is supposed to be good - that's what I tell my plants.

Phals
Good water is not enough. It's very possible to have water that is too good. The plants will suffer malnutrition. [A good example of that situation is what faces orchid growers across Canada: The water is so pure it lacks some of the essential trace elements. Compounding the problem is the presumption by fertilizer manufacturers that a minimum level of those micronutrients is present in user's irrigation water...relieving them of the need to include the trace elements in their "complete" fertilizers. The northeastern US and parts of the Carolinas have the same problem"...BG]

Paula...water quality varies from neighborhood to the next.

JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
Jane - I just tell my plants that they are just plain lucky to get the water so like it or not!!

Ellen,Smithtown,NewYork
Bob, what about using rain water?

Phals
Ellen...rainwater is fine, but get it analyzed. It's not all pure. [There is an additional problem in storing rain water...algae...BG]

paulav (Paula in Boca Raton, Florida)
Bob, what would give a yellowish tinge to city water?

JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
Paula - could the yellowish tinge be rust?

Phals
Paula...rust, maybe. No idea; call the water company.

paulav (Paula in Boca Raton, Florida)
Seriously, the city water in Boca Raton comes out of the tap rather yellow...but my orchids seem to do ok. Bob, what are some of the nasties in water we should be aware of that might harm our orchids?

Phals
Paula...there are few things in drinking water that will harm your orchids.

graphicgreg (its almost autumn in SoFla)
Bob, I would think that chlorine in drinking water would be among the harmful elements.

Phals
Greg...by the time the chlorine gets to your plants it is essentially dissipated. [Aeration of the water (splashing) will disperse most of it; the remainder is no harm to the phals.--BG]

graphicgreg (its almost autumn in SoFla)
Thanx about the chlorine Bob...here in Florida the well water usually has a lot of iron and sulphur that stains the leaves. Any comment ?

Phals
Greg...you might deionize or RO if the stains offend you.

graphicgreg (its almost autumn in SoFla)
The stains don't offend me because we use well water only once a week for fertilizing thru the Dosatron. The rest of the week it is Palm Spring's (Fla) finest.

Jane5536 (Huntington L.I. N.Y.)
How do you go about getting an analysis, Bob--a sample to your local water authority?

Phals
Jane...call the water company and ask for the most recent analysis.

Ellen,Smithtown,NewYork
Where would I go to get the water analazed?

JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
Aren't all water companies federally mandated to provide the analysis report if requested?

Phals
John...that's a new requirement just recently established, I think. Local water companies will do the analysis every 2 years or so. [If you use well water, you're on your own. Try calling the county agriculture agent or a local university extension for help. They may do it free. If you have it done commercially, ask to have only these elements evaluated: Phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, iron, zinc and sodium. See Chapter Five of my Seedling book in general and page 65 in particular for guidance on what the numbers mean, i.e. what's enough and what's too much...BG]

JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
Bob - our water company has been sending it to us every year for several years now.

Phals
John ...good. All water companies should do that, but I'm afraid the only people who read them are orchid growers. [And they need to; on the east coast, pay special attention to the magnesium numbers. It should run between 6 and 24 parts per million (PPM)for good flower production. Too low? You may need to supplement with Epsom salts. For our purposes, PPMs and Mg\ltr are the same...BG]

Ellen,Smithtown,NewYork
Bob, do phals benefit from being outdoors during the summer?

Phals
Ellen...I don't recommend summering phals out. Too many variations in the culture envelope that could be harmful. [Potential problems: Too hot, too cold, too dry, bugs, dessication from warm winds, wetness at night from rain...ad nausem...BG]

paulav (Paula in Boca Raton, Florida)
A phal question, Bob - is it normal for a Phal. equestris alba to bloom in August in the dead of summer?

paulav (Paula in Boca Raton, Florida)
Bob, did last year's El Nino have much effect on your phals?

Phals
Paula...to my knowledge, no. Plants in culture are not greatly affected by outside weather.

Ellen,Smithtown,NewYork
Bob, I have trouble with a temperature drop in the greenhouse or house. I thought a couple weeks outside at this time in a covered area would provide that.

Phals
Ellen...open greenhouse windows to get the same effect. [Your phals need a cooling down period of about a month starting when the nighttime temps are consistently below 60 degrees F. See any of my books on details of the flower induction process. It's worth knowing how to help nature along with the process. Different processes in different areas...BG]

graphicgreg (its almost autumn in SoFla)
Bob, we are feeling lazy this year...do you think that Phals REALLY should be repotted EVERY year? growing in sphagnum.

Phals
Greg...if your media is good, go ahead to 2 years, but your plants will enjoy being potted annually.

graphicgreg (its almost autumn in SoFla)
Bob. oddly enough, the Phals look pretty good this year having not been disturbed... so we might just go for that second year.

runnerRick (Rick in Concord, CA. Diablo View OS, AOS)
Mediumwise, if you have the right stuff in the water, you could plant the Phals in broken glass and they would grow like gangbusters.

JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
Greg - do you fertilize a lot with that mix?

Phals
Greg...stick your finger down into the media. If it comes out clean, OK. If not, repot. [FWIW, phals often look their best just before they die. Remember, flowering is an act in preparation for death of the plant...BG]

graphicgreg (its almost autumn in SoFla)
Bob, I have a really serious question that I would like to be able to quote you on: what species or hybrid orchid do feel belongs in every collection?

Phals
Greg...my long suit is culture; grow whatever pleases you.

graphicgreg (its almost autumn in SoFla)
I know Bob...but that sounds evasive. I'm trying to create a 'shopping list' of growers for my website's Christmas issue. Surely there must be a Phal that you personally feel is a rewarding addition to any collection?

Phals
Greg...I know it's evasive, but if you must, I like tall, white, serene phals and am more interested in growing than collecting them.

graphicgreg (its almost autumn in SoFla)
That's a good answer...thanks, Bob.

JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
Bob - that sounds like a visit to Zuma Canyon Orchids many years ago! many white phals in a huge GH.

The Phalie Phanatic (Gary, Hershey, PA)
Bob, I am a first-timer on this site. I have a question about potting medium. Doesn't most everyone. I tend to enjoy watering my phals. I have formulated a mix of equal parts of aliflor, perlite, charcoal, and isolite. My plants seem to really like it. I would like any comments from those of you out there. Thanks.

paulav (Paula in Boca Raton, Florida)
Do your phals seem to thrive in your mix, or are you seeing some problems?

Phals...Gary, if your phals seem to like your potting mix, then keep using it! But it may not work for others - it all depends on your growing conditions (light, humidity, watering frequency, fertilizer, repotting, etc. [After watching avante garde mixes come and go as the darlings of orchid growers for a lot of years, I think it's safe to say that phals will not do consistently well over the years in any inorganic medium. They are not lithophytes, they're epiphytes add grow on trees in the natural situation. To my knowledge, no wild Phalaenopsis has ever been found growing on rocks...BG]

Jane5536 (Huntington L.I. N.Y.)
If you haven't got one, Gary -- Bob Gordon's book on phals is great for your library. [Thanks for the plug, Jane. There are four books in print currently, three of them on phals. They are Beginners Guide to Growing Phalaenopsis, Culture of the Phalaenopsis Orchid, Phalaenopsis Culture: A Worldwide Survey, and Orchid Seedling Care. They are available through the AOS Bookstore, selected nurseries or from me directly...signed. My web site is http://www.js-net.com/orchid...BG]

The Phalie Phanatic (Gary, Hershey, PA)
Paula, so far I haven't seen any problems -- just growth and new roots. I grow in the house near windows (have a skylight too) and use lights to supplement. Have about 7 fans running day and night. Keep windows open when I can. The weather is great right now. 80s today and going down to the 60s this evening. I have heard it said that 'whatever works for you' is what one should do. Jane, I have all three of Bob's books -- two from AOS and the one on seedlings from a local grower. Am starting on them the second time!

Phals
Gary...I don't like using inorganic media on my orchids. They don't grow in nature that way and I've been very unhappy over the years with any media that doesn't rot eventually.

Ellen,Smithtown,NewYork
Bob I liked the idea of extra holes in the pots. I think it helped my plants.

paulav (Paula in Boca Raton, Florida)
Sounds like a great setup, Gary! Do you grow anything besides phals?

JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
Gary - you are so right. Whatever works for you is what you should do in everything!!

runnerRick (Rick in Concord, CA. Diablo View OS, AOS)
Folks, if you are serious about your water and your Phals. Make sure that you read Orchid Seedling Care by Bob Gordon as it contains the basis for good growing and water understanding.

The Phalie Phanatic (Gary, Hershey, PA)
Paula, not much besides phals. I do have some mini catts, a couple of oncidium and a brassia, but mostly phals -- somewhere over 200 at last count!

Fleur (Tonight, Phalaenopsis with Bob Gorden in session)
I agree with Gary, what works for you is the way to go.

The Phalie Phanatic (Gary, Hershey, PA)
Thanks, Bob. My problem is that not only does the media rot, but I have a tendency to rot roots too. I guess I am trying to take an easy way out! (^~^)

[Gary...if you're rotting more than just a few roots, you should look to repotting more often, watering less often...or using less nitrogen (it accelerates media breakdown...BG]

Ellen,Smithtown,NewYork
Gary, try putting some holes in the sides of your pots.

runnerRick (Rick in Concord, CA. Diablo View OS, AOS)
Bob, how are the Phals. doing at your new home site?

Phals
Rick ...an interesting challenge growing among 100 foot high cedars. [We grow under 430w Son Agro lamps, 9 hours each day to supplement the 2 hours of sunlight...BG]

Ellen,Smithtown,NewYork
Bob, are the novelty phals more difficult to grow?

Fleur (Tonight, Phalaenopsis with Bob Gorden in session)
Ellen, just the kind Ed grows. Or did.

Phals
Ellen...yes, because they are all relatively new compared to the standard pinks and whites. [Some novelties will grow erratically for a few years before they settle down. The standards have many generations behind them for stability.-BG]

graphicgreg (its almost autumn in SoFla)
Sounds to me like you are giving them a lot of H2O, Gary. Despite Bob's dislike for inorganic media, here in a Florida shadehouse where summer rains are rampant Lava Rock is a blessing. HOWEVER, we grow our Phals in sphagnum with a little Aliflor, under cover.

The Phalie Phanatic (Gary, Hershey, PA)
Ellen, I have read about that. I may try that. However, at the present, I am still testing the medium that I mentioned earlier. I want to give it time.

Ellen,Smithtown,NewYork
In one of Bob's books he suggested additional holes. I used a hot glue gun on the plastic pots last time I repotted and I think I have less root loss.

[Phals...Ellen: That part of the book also suggests avoiding the smoke from the melting process. It's toxic...BG]

Phals
Gary...annual repotting will reduce root rot to a level that is harmless.

The Phalie Phanatic (Gary, Hershey, PA)
Bob, I was trying to cut down on the repotting.

Phals
Gary...bite the bullet and repot. That's what vacations are for.

The Phalie Phanatic (Gary, Hershey, PA)
Greg, one of our local growers is starting to use Aliflor along with bark and the plants seem to be doing well.

Evlyn
What do you think about the 'clear' plastic pots, Bob?

Phals
Evlyn...don't know, haven't tried them, but the idea is good.

Ellen,Smithtown,NewYork
I have some Brother crosses and Buddha crosses and they seem more prone to rot.

Phals
John...the Japanese and Taiwanese are moving back in that direction. [That direction being back to the old standard tall, pink, white and stripes. Hugo Freed would have been very pleased...BG]

JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
Bob - does Phal Aussie Delight 'Zuma Canyon' breed? I can't get it to set a pod either as pod holder or as pollen giver.

Phals
John...sorry, don't know...but try selfing it first then pollinating another flower. You might also soak the pollen in contact lens cleaner...first.

JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
I have never heard of contact lens cleaner being used. Why is it used?

Phals
John ...to remove a coating of protein.

JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
OK I will try it - any particular brand?

Evlyn
Bob I see in catalogs the term stem props. How are these made and when? I am asking because it is time to cut spikes and I want to play with the cut spikes.

Phals
Evlyn...stem propations are clones made from nodes on phal stem. Cut the stem off and send to a lab for reproductions.

Evlyn
That would be an unflowered node??

EquitantMan (Matt from Ventura, CA)
Yes, unflowered nodes, all of them have potential. A stem prop is the same thing as a keiki, but you are forcing the node to make a plant.

peterlin
Evlyn - unbloomed nodes below the first flower usually have a viable growing point for stem prop process... But the two nodes from the bottom (i.e., ones that are closest to the plant) are not likely to develop anything.

The Phalie Phanatic (Gary, Hershey, PA)
Peter, thanks for that pointer on the nodes. I always wondered which direction (from top or bottom) that those various 'pastes and potions' were talking about.

The Phalie Phanatic (Gary, Hershey, PA)
Bob, in a previous 'chat' someone asked you about cutting or not cutting stems. I am pretty new at this. I know that plants like Lee Ming-Dau 'SW' and Jack Crawford continue to flower. Is there any way beyond observation to tell which ones should not be cut? Is there a certain percentage of a certain background parent which would help to indicate this? I am planning on getting Wildcatt and thought that this would help a newcomer like me.

Phals
Gary...cut all OLD spikes when you repot this month on whites, pinks and stripes. Leave the new spikes.

kahless66 (Kevin from Southfield, MI)
I have a question. Outside of too much light, what would cause leaves on a phals to turn yellow and fall off?

graphicgreg (its almost autumn in SoFla)
The lower leaves naturally do that Kevin...especially at this time of year.

kahless66 (Kevin from Southfield, MI)
Any other causes? I have a Phal. lueddemanniana which has only the leading leaf left and two spikes. All three are green.

peterlin
Kevin - also check for root rot (from over watering) and pests (scales or mealy bugs).

kahless66 (Kevin from Southfield, MI)
Thanks, Peter. I will check for both.

JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
Bob - I am trying the carpet padding on a try trick with small phal seedlings and they are reacting wonderfully. They are growing faster than I have ever seen them. Any comments?

Phals
John...if it works, don't take anyone's advice, including mine.

Josh319 (The hosta, water garden, and orchid guy from Iowa!!)
John -- Tell us about the carpet padding...

JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
Josh - get a plastic cafeteria type tray (school cafe type is good). Put a piece of foam carpet padding on it (ask a neighborhood store for a piece and they will either sell it or give it to you. Then place your pots on it and fill the tray with water. It will soon go down so that the pots are really sitting in water. It provides more moisture and in my low humidity area it works well! This is Ed's GREAT idea!!! When it gets too full of algae throw it away and put a new piece down.

Josh319 (The hosta, water garden, and orchid guy from Iowa!!)
John -- What type of potting medium?

JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
Josh - I use fir bark and with seedlings it is the fine kind.

nodosa (Ed in SAT)
John, you mix that pad with Jerry's juice and get out of the way!

JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
Ed - that is exactly what I have done!!!! Jerry's juice and the carpet padding and my plants are 3 times the size over the summer so far.

Jane5536 (Huntington L.I. N.Y.)
Ed-- do you just lay seedlings on top of carpet padding?

JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
Jane- no, mine are in pots - small plastic ones.

Phals
Jane...the carpet pad works well with any orchid seedling I've tried it on.

The Phalie Phanatic (Gary, Hershey, PA)
John and Ed -- I have been using Jerry's juice since March and I am seeing the same thing. Lots of growth.

Evlyn
Ed, I spent all day cutting up carpet pad and putting it flats. My kids have to be very mobile as I play with them a lot.

JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
Gary - I am seeing more growth on paphs but still significantly more on Phals.

runnerRick (Rick in Concord, CA. Diablo View OS, AOS)
GraphicGreg - Jerry Rodder is the guy. He started it out as Wundergrow and Wunderbloom and now its Jerry's Juice.

nodosa (Ed in SAT)
Careful, John, we'll give Jerry another quake. Bob, I missed the item on lens cleaner. Que pas?

Phals
Ed...bathing phal pollen in contact lens cleaner will sometimes remove a protein that prevents successful pollination.

Jane5536 (Huntington L.I. N.Y.)
Sounds very interesting, John -just put pots on the saturated padding and water as usual?

AORCHID (art,simpsonville sc)
Ed, do you keep carpet saturated with wondergro and let plants absorb fertilizer through bottom of pot?

JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
Yes, Jane - water as usual (at least I do)

Jane5536 (Huntington L.I. N.Y.)
This sounds good almost like water in saucer for phrags but this would be much less moisture.

nodosa (Ed in SAT)
Jane, the carpet pad is placed flat on the bench. Pots are placed on top of the pad. Small plants really like the added moisture, it seems. This brilliant development came entirely by accident. Evlyn, slow down on playing with the children. Plants shape themselves to optimize lite and food. They disorient and slow down when agitated.

emf31
Hello, all. What I have heard is that phal. amboinensis is one of the 'everlasting' phals, so you don't cut the spikes. And hence, any of it's children will carry this tendency, too, so don't cut the spikes.

peterlin
If you want flowers, do NOT cut spikes on phals that have summer blooming species in the background...i.e., Phal. amboinensis, Phal. violacea, to name a few...

The Phalie Phanatic (Gary, Hershey, PA)
John, I purchased a P. Summit Run from a member of our society a little over a month ago. He couldn't get it to do much. I brought it home, put it on my regimen (?) and the new leaf it has put out is so much larger than the ones previously. I realize that they should get larger, but this is unusual if I do say so myself.

Jane5536 (Huntington L.I. N.Y.)
Thanks, Ed--sounds like a breakthrough because a lot of my small plants seem to get too dry and watering them more isn't the answer.

nodosa (Ed in SAT)
Thanks, Bob, good to know.

TO ALL: CARPET PAD IS NOT A CAPILLARY MAT FOR BOTTOM FEEDING. IT IS SIMPLY A SOP THAT HOLDS MOISTURE LONGER AND ADDS COOLING HUMIDITY TO PLANTS PLACED UPON IT.

EquitantMan (Matt from Ventura, CA)
Do any of you in the south grow phals outside?

graphicgreg (its almost autumn in SoFla)
We do Matt, but under fiberglass and on a drip irrigation system which they love.

peterlin
Kevin - on another note on Phal. lueddemanniana, you have to give it LOTS of light to get it to bloom. In fact, the leaves should be yellowish green (sick looking) to have flowers. Keeping it next to your other phals in low light condition, it may not bloom at all.

emf31
I have tried to do stem props on my phals last year. I put the paste on the node, but it just branched instead of keiki. This happened on two different plants. Why would that be?

EquitantMan (Matt from Ventura, CA)
Before you put the keiki paste on, very carefully peel back the node covering, might I stress VERY carefully.

peterlin
I was told that if you want keiki (instead of more flowers) from keiki paste, keep the treated phals in low light condition. In fact, a dark room would be good.

nodosa (Ed in SAT)
Jane - Bill Tippit and I wrote the pad up in the Bulletin a couple of years ago.

Jane5536 (Huntington L.I. N.Y.)
Ed --I can't believe I missed it! any idea anyone when this was put in bulletin?

nodosa (Ed in SAT)
Jane - it was Vol 63, pg 103. The title was something about growing on a magic carpet, as I recall.

Evlyn
I have not seen any scale on my phals, but I do get it on the Catts. Is that a different scale on phals and I just don't know what to look for.

nodosa (Ed in SAT)
Evlyn - phals are very susceptible to brown humpback scale. Better watch closely - it really expands once started.

kahless66 (Kevin from Southfield, MI)
I keep both of my plants close to the lights and they get some early morning sun as well. Both develop spikes without a problem.

peterlin
Matt - I don't.. Plants dry up too quickly when grown outside. Besides, I can only water my lawn twice a week. No outside watering is allowed except the two days.

emf31
I have kept a few phals out during the summer, but behind my bigger plants. We're in deep humid south Georgia.

The Phalie Phanatic (Gary, Hershey, PA)
Peter, glad to know that about Phal. lueddemanniana. I got one last weekend and it was indeed yellow. I thought that perhaps it was sickly, but it had a couple of nice flowers so brought it home. I will have to be certain that it gets the light.

Phals:
I must go now.

harold6820 (Farmers Branch, TX)
Bob, thanks a bunch. Enjoyed it.

Ellen,Smithtown,NewYork
Thank you, Bob.

Jane5536 (Huntington L.I. N.Y.)
Thanks, Bob.

The Phalie Phanatic (Gary, Hershey, PA)
Good night, Bob.

Fleur (Tonight, Phalaenopsis with Bob Gorden in session)
Good night Bob, thanks for answering the questions.

kahless66 (Kevin from Southfield, MI)
Good night, Bob.

peterlin
Night, Bob.

graphicgreg (its almost autumn in SoFla)
Ed, here in SoFla we've hardly if ever had scale on phals. But the old spider mites go after them once in awhile. Last year the aphids were going after the flower spikes.

Jane5536 (Huntington L.I. N.Y.)
I put my Phals out in a dining tent--really looking good-- put them in center so rain when we get it won't hit them.

harold6820 (Farmers Branch, TX)
Matt, Peter is just a few miles from me, he has restriction, but we do not. Ouside for me would be prohibitive because of the heat. It is vicious.

Ellen,Smithtown,NewYork
I thought orchids need air all around them. Doesn't the padding interfere with that?

harold6820 (Farmers Branch, TX)
Greg, I have had spider mites on my Phal's in the garage in the past. I took the suggestion in the bulletin and got some eucalyptus (dried). Stuck a piece in each pot. Like magic...no spider mites.

nodosa (Ed in SAT)
Greg, we never had scale until 4 or 5 years ago. Now it is rampant on many plants - not just in the greenhouse. Every time someone mows close to the greenhouse, we have to go on scale patrol.

The Phalie Phanatic (Gary, Hershey, PA)
Regarding the keiki paste, I found out after I tried it the first time and got blooms that I should have put it in low light. I recently bought a Node Paste and it specifically indicates: 'if flowers are desired, keep the plant in light bright enough to flower. Low light will usually produce keikis.'

Fleur (Free chat session now in progress.)
Harold, do you mean dried leaves?

peterlin
Spider mites is usually not a problem if the growing area is humid enough. But humid area encourages mealy bugs. And then the scales are always there.. ;-)

graphicgreg (hot town summer in the city)
Great suggestion Harold, never heard that one before. Scale is tough to get rid of, Ed...we spent the better part of four years eradicating it and now have it mostly under control.

nodosa (Ed in SAT)
We tried eucalyptus leaves. It got rid of the red spider but what can we do with all these Koala? Fleur, you should know.

harold6820 (Farmers Branch, TX)
Yes, Fleur. Went to a craft house...M.J. Designs...and bought 3-4 bundles of dried leaves. So far they are working. My wife grows false dragons head just outside my garage, and they attract the spider mites.

Fleur (Free chat session now in progress.)
Ed, they are usually so doped out of their minds from the eucalyptus leaves that catching them is no problem at all.

nodosa (Ed in SAT)
We're on top of the scale problem, Greg, but I know a lax month and we'll have the war to win again. We work hard at a plant free growing area. Red Spider is going to explode in Texas. Been too hot and dry too long this summer.

graphicgreg (hot town summer in the city)
Ed, as far as I'm concerned Red Spider is a far easier opponent than scale. Usually one or two shots of Kelthane...or even Safer's Soap does the trick. Scale on the other hand...

Fleur (Free chat session now in progress.)
Scale is almost impossible to control in my greenhouse, always so humid. Just when I think it's gone I find another plant.

nodosa (Ed in SAT)
Fleur, if you can get liquid Sevin, it might help the scale problem. Test it on a few of your little plants first. Sevin is Carbaryl and may be sold under several names. Powder and liquid both available - we prefer the liquid. It is reasonably safe and effective.

Evlyn
Snails are a big problem for me.

graphicgreg (hot town summer in the city)
Fleur, give me some words of encouragement for my Masdevallia enterprise. I am growing the Masd. wendlandii in a small clay pot in fine tree fern, perlite and aquarium charcoal. It gets watered every other day, A Pleurothallis endotrachis right near it is thriving and it seems to be happy. Low light and lots of air movement. Any suggestions other than adding an air conditioner?

Fleur (Free chat session now in progress.)
Greg, it sounds just about right. Air conditioning may just dry out the air too much.

graphicgreg (hot town summer in the city)
Thanks, Fleur...I really like a challenge and we'll probably try more of the warm growers next year. Can't AC anyway...open shadehouse.

Fleur (Free chat session now in progress.)
I think I will call it a day, and spend some time with the babies. Good night to you, see you on the weekend.

nodosa (Ed in SAT)
See you, Fleur. Will have to miss this weekend - we're on the road.

Fleur (Free chat session now in progress.)
I will miss you Mr. roadrunner, have a good time.

sparkysteve (of Boca Raton, Florida)
A little tip about me and my pictures---I keep the URL in the ''setup'' window, but I remove the H from HTTP to remove the pix from the chat. Then if I want the picture, I just put the H back in.

Lanceps (Thamina from Manhattan Beach, Calif.)
Bye, all

sparkysteve (of Boca Raton, Florida)
Night, Lanceps

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