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2. Open Chat, WBS Wed 27 Aug 97
3. Program Transcript, WBS Wed 27 Aug 97
I first became interested in Orchids sometime in the mid-'70's, while attending the University of Hawaii at Honolulu as a student of General Agriculture. One of the first growers I met was J. Milton Warne, located
on about 1.5 acres in a residential area in the lower Nuuanu valley in Honolulu, surrounded by some of the most dense (and expensive) housing on Oahu. It was an island of serenity, with 6 structures devoted to orchids, all about 20' x 60', a flock of chickens and a dog, banana trees, papayas, and a bunch of other things.
One of the structures, with a glass roof to keep out the rain, was his flowering house/showroom: next to it, a slightly smaller glasshouse was devoted to his flasks, compots, small seedling, paphs, phals, and misc.
species. The remaining four, all open structures with snow-fencing to control the light, were his main growing areas for Cattleya alliance, Miltonias, Vandas and the odd species. Most of the trees on the property were also covered with various orchids; mostly species, but with a few hybrids here and there.
While later pursuing a Master's Degree at UH, I was fortunate to work for Milton part-time, helping out with the myriad chores of operating a commercial nursery (scrubbing pots, weeding, rebuilding benches, painting
the glasshouse roofs, etc.). Being into photography at the time, I managed to get quite a few photos of his material, some of which I would like to share with you.
Milton's primary "plant of commerce" was the cattleya alliance. He had plants (unless stated otherwise, all of the plants/flowers shown were his crosses) of all colors:
Lc. Fedora 'Everest' is also a parent of Lc. Jane Warne 'Alii' (pictured above) and her sister 'Sparkle' (sorry, no picture), who is the better parent and the mother of two crosses you'll see in a bit. The clone
'Sparkle' differs from 'Alii' in having a distinct lipstick-streak pattern on the sepals and petals, but with the same lip as 'Alii'.
In pursuit of non-crippling yellows, Milton made Lc. Copper Charm, variety Kathie. Lc. Copper Charm is Lc. Nuuanu, a good yellow in his collection, X C. bicolor .
PRE-DISCUSSION MAILOUT
All three of these Meditations were from Milton's crossing, though the originator is listed as Wallace Fujimoto, a fellow AOS judge with Milton. Both made the cross with Bc. Deesse 'Rainier' and Lc. Fedora 'Everest'.
One other line of Milton's yellow breeding produced Blc. Nuuanu Sunshine 'Radiant' (Lc. Doubloon X Blc. Jane Helton). This was its first, and last, flowering. Note the "peppermint striping" in the sepals and petals, which has unfortunately faded a bit in this 20 year old slide. Similar to a peppermint Phal.
Milton also loved the novelty Catts, and had some success in improving them.
Using Lc. Jane Warne 'Sparkle' (above) pollen on 'Dream Girl' gave:
and;
Present 17:
Richard WPB
Susan
Dan
Chuck Meyer
Carol
Lois
Ellen
John
Harold
Earl
foxtail
Evlyn
Paula
Gail
Steve
Magda
Greg
Tex1 Dan (Dan from Wharton, Texas)
I have a Catt in bloom today! It's Slc. Pumpkin Festival 'Fong Yuen', AM/OSROC. Has a very nice fragrance. My first Slc. ever. With our heat this year, I'm surprised!
prankster d (Susan from Oregon)
Congratulations on the Slc. flower! Do you grow in greenhouse?
Tex1 Dan (Dan from Wharton, Texas)
No greenhouse yet! I have about 40 or 50 phals inside the house and around 70 catts outside! I'm praying for a large incentive check next Spring! I plant to build a temporary PVC structure this Winter!
prankster d (Susan from Oregon)
My collection is quite mixed, I'm getting mostly Odont type species now. Other species too, ...Oncids, a few Paphs, quite a lot of Catts...Mixed bag! I've had Phals in the past but only one has survived my winters (and it doesn't look so hot!) I grow outside in summer, in sunporch in cooler seasons.
Tex1 Dan (Dan from Wharton, Texas):
I have too many indoors in airconditioning! I'm constantly misting them! I use a special blend of promix with them and so far so good! I always thought oncidiums liked fairly warm temps! They do well outside for me!
prankster d (Susan from Oregon):
The stove is in the living room , fairly remote from the sunroom. The heat sort of diffuses into the double-glazed porch. So far no fume trouble. The stove burns clean. Fairly healthy for plants AND people.
Some Oncids do well for me. Some don't. When they start to fail , I send them to live with my Mom.She heats! During cold , I've learned to keep em DRY. Makes the difference.
Tex1 Dan (Dan from Wharton, Texas):
Susan, my three oncidiums love the outside heat! I tried some of my phals outside, but they couldn't handle the intense heat. I'm afraid the awning they were under had too much light! The oncidiums, catts, vandas, dens, and cyms seem to do well outside! Not the phals!
prankster d (Susan from Oregon):
Dan, I keep my one remaining Phal as well as my Paphs indoors. Weirdly, my Masdies are enjoying it outside!
It's our reliably cool nights that make Masdies and Odonts content, even when its hot during the day. I have a parrot too. [Dan's parrot ate on his $150 phal!] Don't let him near my plants. I'm probably the only O.Safari member who's had orchid losses from Sheep. One of my ewes got into the yard and wasted a Pliocene and an Oncid. A Lycaste was sampled but rejected (those spines on the pseudobulbs are good for something!
121133ellen
Can anyone help me with my chinese paphs, species and hybrids. They seem to grow so slowly and even those that look blooming size don't. I have had Paph. Vanda Pearman for 5 yrs, no flowers even though the plant has several healthy growths.
[IMO they do grow slowly...mlg]
ChuckMyr (Chuck from Austin, Minnesota)
Hi Ellen, How are you growing them now?? A have both micranthum and armeniacum and so far they have done OK for me.
marylois
Ellen - they like to be warmer than others, I believe -- like 60F and above...plenty of water, well drained, more light than phals - less than catts.
121133ellen
Chuck, I grow in a greenhouse, medium light and fertilizer. Can't make them bloom like my phrags which are dependable. I'm ready to give up on paphs and stay with the phrags.
JCY8S (John in Arcadia CA)
Ellen, I have had a Paph. Vanda Pearman for 29 years and have seen it bloom about 4 times. I think that this year it will bloom again after MANY years. It seems to like new potting mix and a regular supply of water and good light.
121133ellen
I am giving them more light than the intermediate paphs and plenty of water. Sometimes too much because they will sometimes show root rot.
Tex1 Dan (Dan from Wharton, Texas)
John, that's not very rewarding - 4 times in 29 years, sure shows some devotion!
JCY8S (John in Arcadia CA)
Yes, Ellen, you have to be careful of root rot but they do seem to like the water if you can figure out just how and when!!
121133ellen
John any plant that will bloom 4 times in 29 years won't have a place in my greenhouse. Space is at a premium and those that don't produce don't stay.
marylois
Well, I'm heading for that record with a Paph. St. Swithin...six years, one blooming!
ChuckMyr (Chuck from Austin, Minnesota)
Ellen, I think they like brighter light than most Paphs. I grow mine about 6 inches below fluorescent tubes. Warm in the summer but a little dryer and quite cool in the winter. (again this seems to have worked for my two species - can't say what the hybrids might like).
[My Armeni Whites and Lynleigh Koopowitzs like the "phal or lower" light in front of the cooling pad... they want to stay damp...the Armeni Whites are from a flask and are growing and making stolons like mad - expect a spike any time...Armeni Whites are known to grow faster than species and other parvisepalum hybrids...mlg]
prankster d (Susan from Oregon)
Lois, I read somewhere that Paphs like St. Swithin want light, like you'd give Catts. A little scary!
JCY8S (John in Arcadia CA)
I have a St. Swithin and have never bloomed it! But this year it has begun a second growth so that is encouraging. How about a cattleya seedling that has never bloomed in 40 years but for the last 15 years has had a sheath each year!! (I will bloom the darn thing or die trying!!!!!!!!!!!)
marylois
Chuck, how cool are your Chinese paphs getting in the winter?
121133ellen
Chuck, has anyone mentioned a dry winter period to get bloom.
marylois
Well, it's on a 3 foot wire stand to get it up into more light, but the paphs are in front of the cool pad - so perhaps I need to move St. Swithin out into a brighter section of the greenhouse...will do it tomorrow! [Strange how my Paph. Isabel can be blooming in same conditions though...mlg]
ChuckMyr (Chuck from Austin, Minnesota)
Mine get down to about 50 degrees F in my basement at night. In their natural habitat I understand they might even be nipped by a little frost!
JCY8S (John in Arcadia CA)
Ellen, I just read an article in the July 1995 AOS Bulletin that tells how to grow Paph armeniacum. I am definitely going to change my growing habits with this plant.
prankster d (Susan from Oregon)
John , I wonder if your bloomless Catt has a lot of B. digbyana in it. They sure don't like to bloom. Speaking of bloomlessness, has anyone here bloomed Coalescence cristata?
KB Barrett
Does anyone have an address for Sigma Lab supplies? I may want to try my hand at stem props and need a source for flasking medium.
ChuckMyr (Chuck from Austin, Minnesota)
I do go longer between waterings in the winter, but I don't let them get bone dry.
Carol Holdren (Boca Raton, Fl)
Address for Sigma is P.O. Box 14508 St. Louis, MO 63178
Sigma phone number is 1-800-325-3010
121133ellen
There are so many different theories on these paphs that I don't know who to follow. I have been using Cash's book on paphs and phrags.
[I like the Koopowitz/Hasegawa, The Slipper Orchids, and Hennessey/Hedge - same title, much larger, more expensive book - panned by some, but I especially like the organization of the book...can always find what I go after...mlg]
runnerRick (Rick in San Diego, CA. Diablo View OS, AOS)
Kathy, you will love Paph. Bruno 'Model' it is about 2/3 spicerianum. Very pleasant to look at!
UncleEarl
Have a pic of Bruno in the program if you want to wait around.
JCY8S (John in Arcadia CA):
Yes, I noticed it. My spicerianum 'St Albans' is just beginning to show a spike. I almost lost it but succeeded in saving a few growths. Almost lost it to stupidity - didn't repot it and the roots rotted.
JCY8S (John in Arcadia CA)
Susan - no digbyana. The plant is an Lc. but from parents that I was told were shy bloomers. I can't think of them now though.
121133ellen
I have a Coelogyne cristata that blooms every January, covered with flowers.
marylois
John, what did you learn? How are you going to change your parvi growing?
prankster d (Susan from Oregon)
Ellen, I've only had my C. cristata a year or so. Was told it was hard to bloom, that it sulks for years if re-potted ...What's your conditions for growing yours?
foxtail2
Anyone can help on root damage from birds chewing as I have three birds who attacked my Dends.
[Missed your question, foxtail. Well, if the birds pulled roots out of media, I'd repot...but with a den. it's more likely they got into the mass of new roots growing over the side of the pot. Dendrobiums are sturdy...may be hurt so bad they sulk a while, but they'll snap back. If too badly damaged, I'd not let them bloom this year...mlg]
JCY8S (John in Arcadia CA)
Lois, it seems that temperature control, vigorous air movement, and a drop in temperature, and a rest during the winter might be the answer. The article said that a drop to about 50 F for 2 months in the winter would be good.
121133ellen
Susan, I grow my cristata in a basket lined with coconut. It is filled with large and medium bark and charcoal. During the spring I water heavily and fertilize with a balanced formula. Mid-August I change to a high middle number until I bring it back to the greenhouse in late October.
marylois
May have to put mine out in the lath house for a spell this winter...keep my greenhouse above 55.
prankster d (Susan from Oregon)
Ellen, Thanks. Mine is already in a basket. Does yours get real cool and dry winters?
ChuckMyr (Chuck from Austin, Minnesota)
Lois, isn't that a problem! How to keep all one's orchids happy when they all want different conditions!
bmtorchids (Barbara from California)
I have a Onc. Elegance 'Midas' in bloom, the bulbs like a large mango, and stalk is about 3' tall, flowers are pale yellow & brown, very nice, first bloom.
121133ellen
Cristata doesn't need a lot of light. I let it dry from Nov till I see the buds forming. I grow it low in a greenhouse that drops to 55 at night.
JCY8S (John in Arcadia CA)
Chuck - one greenhouse can have many little micro-climates so you just have to move plants around to find the right one (maybe!).
JCY8S (John in Arcadia CA)
Has anyone heard that Den. victoriae-reginae might be self-sterile? I tried several flowers and no pod took.
[Would appear to be a very reluctant breeder! Wildcatt shows only nine first generation progeny registered...and only one of those bred a second generation!...mlg]
prankster d (Susan from Oregon)
Thanks, Ellen. I can make my cristata happy!
ChuckMyr (Chuck from Austin, Minnesota)
The problem is John that I grow under lights in a special case I built. Fans inside keep temps evenly distributed throughout. The only thing I can manipulate is the light (distance). Someday. John, maybe I'll have a greenhouse, but that is only a dream for now.
bmtorchids (Barbara from California)
Dan, you'll get good plants from Peter. Phals will bloom for you year around.
Tex1 Dan (Dan from Wharton, Texas):
Barbara, Peter has one heck of a collection! He has about 1500 phals in his greenhouse! He is specializing in red phals, and has a fantastic collection for someone so young! I think he plans to be a breeder of phals or a judge! He has a great start either way!
marylois :
Dan - he wants both...he started the Dallas Judging program In July...we have a clerkship before acceptance of a student. And you must meet our 15 year old Mario from CA...he comes to OS now and then...not so much during the school year.
[Visit Mario's homepage - you'll be amazed. Had a message from him following chat...he has his greenhouse completed and is in seventh heaven!...mlg]
Tex1 Dan (Dan from Wharton, Texas):
Mary Lois, you're telling me that Peter is starting his training as a judge? What's the least amount of time it takes to become a judge? I thought that would be in the future! With his collection, and after talking to him...sounds like he'd make an excellent breeder. He sure has the germplasm!
marylois
Minimum time is 6-1/2 years.
JCY8S (John in Arcadia CA)
I just discovered a plant that I bought this spring and promptly pollinated now has the seed pod AND 3 blooms coming up fast!! It is a nice white.
prankster d (Susan from Oregon)
I don't think I could even dream of affording to heat a year round greenhouse here! (Stays well below 0F for months!) Just not greenhouse country!
ChuckMyr (Chuck from Austin, Minnesota)
Susan, that is something I've thought of as well here in Minnesota. When I do expand, I wonder if maybe I shouldn't go with a sodium light setup in a special basement room instead of a greenhouse.
JCY8S (John in Arcadia CA)
Dan, could you cover that temporary structure with plastic during the winter for some protection for your plants?
prankster d (Susan from Oregon)
Chuck, I'm going with more lights!
JCY8S (John in Arcadia CA)
Ellen, I visited Charlesworth in England many years ago and all of their greenhouses were sunk up to bench level. Outside they were only about 4 feet high. You walked down some strain to the level of the floor and it was a most interesting set up and certainly saved on fuel costs.
121133ellen
Sue, some members in my orchid society grow in pits in the ground. Some are large enough to walk into. Because the greenhouse or pit is below the frost level, the temp stays above freezing, in the 40's. The orchids growing in these pits are great.
JCY8S (John in Arcadia CA)
Dan, could you cover that temporary structure with plastic during the winter for some protection for your plants?
ChuckMyr (Chuck from Austin, Minnesota)
Susan, I've got 7 pairs of 40 watt fluorescents going 16 hours a day right now. If I expand more it has to be more energy efficient (although all that wattage does warm up the case nicely during the day during the winter.
runnerRick (Rick in San Diego, CA. Diablo View OS, AOS)
John, if you use the new twin wall plastic about 10mm thick, it insulates quite well. I have a 12' high GH that was heated this last year with one 1500 watt heater.
Ruckster1 (Sharon from Tejas)
John, that is the greenhouse setting we plan to do eventually in WA.
121133ellen
New York winters can't compare to some states but we go below freezing and we have LILCO, the highest gas and electric rates in the country. If I were to build the greenhouse again I would sink it below the frost line. Should there be a power failure, the orchids would be safe. Now I need backup systems and alarms.
JCY8S (John in Arcadia CA)
Sharon, on top of everything each plant was set on top of an upside down pot so the air circulation was great.
marylois
Ellen and John - that's the way to go! in ground to bench level...under benches are plastic containers of water to absorb heat from sun and keep GH warm at nite...best when you can sink it into the side of a hill for protection from north and west as well.
Tex1 Dan (Dan from Wharton, Texas)
Think about using PVC tubing! It's very flexible to different designs! North Carolina State has a brochure for free on using PVC for a greenhouse! Total cost was about $70 bucks!
[Dan, was that $70 or $700?...mlg]
bmtorchids (Barbara from California)
Dan, here with our Calif. weather, one windy day your $700 investment will be all gone.
Tex1 Dan (Dan from Wharton, Texas)
Barbara, We get windy days also! You have to know how to anchor the pipe. You also need to look at 2' PVC is a pretty large sturdy tubing!
runnerRick (Rick in San Diego, CA. Diablo View OS, AOS)
Lois, I used drums under the benches until the spring this year. The mass of water in the drums did help maintain the temp at night but then, I needed to expand the shelving. The drums left and under shelves went in, along with a concrete floor. *I love my concrete floor*
marylois
Susan, I'll send you the email of a couple in Colorado...they can put you in touch with people who have build heat-conserving GHs. [Sent e-mail to Prankster...mlg]
marylois
Earl opted to have the program here at WBS...and it's a good thing cause Richard has called my attention to the fact that ICS chat seems to have ceased to exist! Time for me to contact NetCentral for another room...unless the chat replacing ICS. We need an alternated room...here's hoping WBS holds up!
UncleEarl (Earl from Vacaville, CA):
Okay. For those who want to see it, this talk is It's basically about my time with Milton Warne in Hawaii.
marylois
It's not every day one gets to hear first-hand from someone who worked with Hawaii's premier hybridizer.
UncleEarl (Earl from Vacaville, CA)
To start off, Milton mostly grew Cattleya's, Here are the 'standards':
Purple: Blc. Mid Ocean 'Ruby';
White with colored lip (WCL): Lc. Jane Warne 'Alii', AM/AOS;
Whites, such as Blc. Meditation:'King's Ransom', AM/HOS,
'Queen's Dowry' ,
and my personal favorite 'Classic'.
JCY8S (John in Arcadia CA)
Earl the white Blc.'s are great. Yes, the 'Classic' is the one I would pick also.
UncleEarl (Earl from Vacaville, CA) 'Classic' isn't quite as flashy as 'King's Ransom' or 'Queen's Dowry', but has a better presence, in my opinion. One of Milton's better breeding plants was Lc. Copper Charm 'Kathie' (he let me give it the clone name for my ex-wife).
graphicgreg (its finally not raining today in Florida)
Let's face it folks...you can have Stanhopeas galore but it's always easy on the eyes to see an award-quality standard Cattleya.
prankster d (Susan from Oregon)
Greg, righto! You'd better be quick to enjoy your Stanhope!
bmtorchids (Barbara from California)
Earl, the Queen's Dowery is the best.
JCY8S (John in Arcadia CA)
Earl, I took time to view all the pictures. I can't decide which I like best. That is a great collection of some very nice plants.
UncleEarl (Earl from Vacaville, CA)
Barbara, you should have seen it on first flower. Milton (and others who saw it) said it had a lip bordered in red. It seems to have a different lip on each flowering, sometimes with a pale flush, sometimes with a lipstick mark and sometimes as shown in the picture.
Yellow: Lc. Copper Charm, variety Kathie.
Lc. Copper Charm is Lc. Nuuanu, a good yellow in his collection, X C. bicolor ,
and 'Kathie' progeny Blc. Luis Y. Yanos
graphicgreg (its finally not raining today in Florida)
Nice Lip on that yellow Earl (not the spade lip). What is the hybrid ???
UncleEarl (Earl from Vacaville, CA)
The yellow is Blc. Luis Y. Yanos, a hybrid of Lc. Copper Charm with Bc. Hula Girl.
Evlyn
They are all gorgeous--I'll take one of each and two of the Irish--
They are all gorgeous--I'll take one of each and two of the Irish--
JCY8S (John in Arcadia CA)
Earl, what has happened to this collection?
bmtorchids (Barbara from California)
Earl, do you still have a lot of the Catts?
UncleEarl (Earl from Vacaville, CA)
As far as I know, it is still in existence. Can't remember the name of the party who bought it, but I think it's still called J. Milton Warne Orchids.
UncleEarl (Earl from Vacaville, CA)
Barb, all my Catts are in Hawaii; some at Ken West's place, some at Jim McCully's, and some in the woods.
JCY8S (John in Arcadia CA)
Earl, do you have an address for this firm?
JCY8S (John in Arcadia CA)
What did Warne specialize in? The Catts or the Miltonias?
UncleEarl (Earl from Vacaville, CA)
Someone wanted to see Paph. Bruno 'Model', AM/RHS.
This was not a typical flowering of it! And the slide has faded a bit. But...
UncleEarl (Earl from Vacaville, CA)
He specialized in both Catts and Milts.
JCY8S (Johnin Arcadia CA)
Earl, you can certainly see the spicerianum in that flower. I have seen it and I really like the small size. It is in perfect proportion. I hope to have one some day.
marylois
Like you, Earl - I cannot remember the name of the person who bought him out. GH's still in Milton's backyard, but new owner of orchids and GHs. I'll have to write Roy Tokunaga for name and address of new owner as I don't think it has the same name anymore.
UncleEarl (Earl from Vacaville, CA)
Did anyone notice that it has a double stripe in the dorsal?
ChuckMyr (Chuck from Austin, Minnesota)
Earl, Is the double stripe typical of this hybrid or special to this clone??
graphicgreg (its finally not raining today in Florida)
Earl, how do you feel about the Brazilian Miltonias ? We have several, some nice ones, but they're somewhat frustrating because of the single flower, or more often, one opening flower and one dying per spike.
JCY8S (John in Arcadia CA)
Yes, I noticed it. My spicerianum 'St Albans' is just beginning to show a spike. I almost lost it but succeeded in saving a few growths. Almost lost it to stupidity - didn't repot it and the roots rotted.
prankster d (Susan from Oregon)
Earl, Yes! Do the siblings have double dorsal stripes?
JCY8S (John in Arcadia CA)
I think that the double stripe is very unusual. I have seen this plant and its never had a double stripe.
UncleEarl (Earl from Vacaville, CA)
Chuck - this was not a typical flowering; it usually only has a single stripe.
Greg - there are a lot of Brazilian Miltonias that are multiflowering without the 'one opening, one dying' syndrome; M. Earl Dunn, for instance.
JCY8S (John in Arcadia CA)
Susan, this is an old old cross. I have never heard of any other cultivar.
runnerRick (Rick in San Diego, CA. Diablo View OS, AOS)
Earl, Great pics and yes, I noticed the double stripe. This last January I saw Bruno for the first time at James McCully's place on Hawaii. It was very large and had 7 blooms on it. I asked him if he would sell a division and he replied in the negative. I don't recall if his plant had a double or single stripe.
UncleEarl (Earl from Vacaville, CA)
And as far as I know, it has never been used as a parent, either.
marylois
Genus Miltonia has about 7 warm-growing Brazilian species and a number of natural hybrids.
Brazilian Miltonias in two groups: Spectabilis and Clowesii Alliances (Pabst and Dungs).
Spectabilis Alliance: anceps, flavescens, spectabilis (and natural hybrid Mil X festive (flavescens x spectablis).
All three have compressed peduncles, long flower bracts and long ovaries.
CON:Clowesii Alliance: clowesii, cuneata, regnellii, russelliana, schroederiana; plus Ansellia candida (recently removed from Clowesii Alliance)
untidy growth habit and climbing rhizome - doesn't branch.
flowers few and crowded.PRO:
vigorous growth
temperature tolerantpoor shape: flavescens and festiva
short infl/flwr crowding: anceps and spectabilis
good lip and color: spectabilis
CON:
short stems
russelliana's untidy growth habit
PRO:
bright colors
color patterns
temp tolerant
tidy growth habit (except russelliana)
JCY8S (John in Arcadia CA)
Bruno was registered in 1896 by Veitch
UncleEarl (Earl from Vacaville, CA)
Intergenerics with the Brazilians (with Brassia, for instance) correct the poor flowering habits a lot. Sometimes, but not always.
JCY8S (John in Arcadia CA)
Earl, it has been used as a parent quite a few times.
Ruckster1 (Sharon from Tejas)
Earl, I just got Dgmra. Flying High 'Stars & Bars' I was able to see the parent from your note page, thanks for that stuff!
UncleEarl (Earl from Vacaville, CA)
Got a pic, Sharon?
Ruckster1 (Sharon from Tejas)
Earl, I JUST got the photos back today, will scan them in and get them on my page in the next week or so.
graphicgreg (its finally not raining today in Florida)
Sounds like the Brazilian Miltonia's drawbacks are not such a problem that a shot of Brassia won't fix...
UncleEarl (Earl from Vacaville, CA)
Or Odont, or ...
marylois
Show Milt. Honolulu, Earl - I have one out there with 14 spikes on it.
UncleEarl (Earl from Vacaville, CA)
Milt. Honolulu 'Early Times' (Gayety X Anne Warne). Imagine it as a very dark purple, though.
runnerRick (Rick in Concord, CA. Diablo View OS, AOS)
Earl, what is the parentage?
bmtorchids (Barbara from California)
Earl that's nice, if Lois have on with 28 spikes, that should be enough to send one to each of us......... right?
JCY8S (John in Arcadia CA)
Good Idea, Barbara!!!!!!
UncleEarl (Earl from Vacaville, CA)
It's Gayety X Anne Warne, Anne Warne is spectabilis X ?
marylois
Barb - 14 - not 28 *grin*....but -- no chance -- no plants to divide that puppy! Will let it get to bushel basket size if it cooperates.
JCY8S (John in Arcadia CA)
Lois - that is the correct thing to do. The blooming then will be spectacular.
prankster d (Susan from Oregon)
Almost looks black!
UncleEarl (Earl from Vacaville, CA)
You should have seen some of the specimen plants at Milton's (No offense, Lois! [G]).
[That's where I got my Milt. Honolulu! *S*...mlg]
UncleEarl (Earl from Vacaville, CA)
It is almost black, Susan. *Very* dark purple.
runnerRick (Rick in Concord, CA. Diablo View OS, AOS)
Lois, I read an article just today about 'pinching' cattleyas to get more stems in a single year from the Jan 67 AOS bulletin. Can you do that with the Milt. too?
[Rick, just read the article. Shows you can find just about anything somewhere in the AOS Bulletin *G*. I bet that caused a stir in judging circles in 1967! If you want flowers, go ahead...if you want to show the plant (and usually that would be done to create a CCM plant), it is not ethical...it's in the same realm as artificially flattening a bloom, or cutting halfway through rhizomes to force dormant eyes. Yes, I'm sure it's all been done, and gotten away with even though most judges watch for signs of manipulation. Much better to select a cultivar which is already growing in two or more directions as a seedling and having the joy of bringing it to CCM quality...mlg]
graphicgreg (its finally not raining today in Florida)
Anne Warne = spectabilis x Bluntii (spectabilis x clowesii) We had one get a CCM here a few years back, clonal name 'Alii' One hundred thirty-eight flowers on 70 inflorescences borne on a plant in good condition, 54 cm tall, 124 cm in diameter, grown in charcoal on a tray; leaves yellow-green with a few blemishes, which resulted in a lower score; flowers fresh and in good condition, displayed evenly all around the plant; sepals and petals solid bright purple; lip lighter purple with darker veins; column white with dark purple wings, yellow spot understand column base, anther cap white.
UncleEarl (Earl from Vacaville, CA)
Rick, with most of the Brazilian Miltonias, bushy, many-lead plants are not a problem. It's their natural growth habit.
marylois
Milt Honolulu is 12.5 per cent clowesii, 12.5 per cent flavescens, 75 per cent spectabilis. What it lacks in flowers per infl, it makes up for in number of infls. And as Earl said, a VERY dark purple that commands attention...and it doesn't climb out of its container.
UncleEarl (Earl from Vacaville, CA)
Alii' has won a *lot* of CCM's throughout the years!
graphicgreg (its finally not raining today in Florida)
These things are rank growers aren't they Earl ?? We grow ours in baskets or on tree fern baskets...can't seem to keep them in the pot. We just bought a plant of the normal color form of spectabilis this year and I find it more charming than var. Moreliana.
Evlyn
Greg--what media in the basket?
[Ev, since you are just around the corner, may I suggest a media of 3 parts medium charcoal, one part horticultural perlite (sponge rock), 1 part Pro-Mix HP, 1 part medium tree fern in a hardware cloth lined slatted wood basket? Come on over and see mine!...mlg]
UncleEarl (Earl from Vacaville, CA)
They will definitely grow well if you give them the right conditions. Basically, if it's comfortable for you, it's comfortable for them!
graphicgreg (its finally not raining today in Florida)
Whatever, Evlyn...tree fern or sphagnum. Bark breaks down too fast for us in this heat. 85% of our plants are now in Lava Rock.
marylois
Mine were climbers, never in the pot...put some in baskets...same media...no problem...they don't want wet roots for long, but want lots of water...ergo, good drainage of a basket. [IMO they climb even more to get out of a wet media...They want to get wet often, but then immediately dry...mlg]
UncleEarl (Earl from Vacaville, CA)
Here's a couple of Milt. Earl Dunn's; first, 'Kathie', then 'Steven'
marylois
Really like the ss/ps markings on 'Kathie'
graphicgreg (its finally not raining today in Florida)
Those ARE COOL Earl ! ! ! Great markings.
runnerRick (Rick in Concord, CA. Diablo View OS, AOS)
Earl, are these your hybrids? They are quite nice!
UncleEarl (Earl from Vacaville, CA)
'Kathie' is the registration plant and has an HCC/AOS. 'Steve' (named for my son) has incredible substance. Both were used as parents, but I don't know how the progeny turned out. If anyone gets to Hawaii and goes to Jim McCully's, he may have some of the crosses. M. Earl Dunn was made by either WWG Moir or the Perreira's, I'm not sure, tho' I think it was Susan who did it.
If you want the story: I had just bought the plant up at Pat Kawamoto's nursery and took it out to a show (can't remember which one now) and it got the HCC. Susan Perreira and Robert were there and she came over and asked if I wanted it named for me! I was honored (and a little embarrassed), so said yes.
graphicgreg (its finally not raining today in Florida)
Wildcatt says that Perreira's registered the cross in 1977.
runnerRick (Rick in Concord, CA. Diablo View OS, AOS)
Ok, great show tonight. Got to go though. Dinner ready.
marylois
Earl - where is McCulley??? Name of range? Which Island?
runnerRick (Rick in Concord, CA. Diablo View OS, AOS)
Lois, James McCully is just down the road from Carmela Orchids on the big island of Hawaii.
UncleEarl (Earl from Vacaville, CA)
McCully Orchid Farm on the Big Island. Not sure of the exact location as he has moved since I left. Should be in the phone book, tho.
[James McCully Orchidculture
PO Box 355
Hakalau, HI 96710
[808-963-6233 FAX 808-963-6736...KB]
KB Barrett
Thanks Earl! Great topic!
graphicgreg (its finally not raining today in Florida):
Thanks Earl...that was kind of you to share your experience...and your great pictures !!
UncleEarl (Earl from Vacaville, CA):
Maybe can do another one?
So ended yet another fantastic OrchidSafari topic night...and with the promise of yet another from Earl, and Magda is thinking about a possible subject.
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