OrchidSafari ARCHIVES*

Richard wpb
SparkySteve
James
AJHicks
Ellen
Lois
Carol
Dan
Marilyn
John
Barbara
Sam
Josh
Fleur
Butch
Andy NVA
Gail
BobG

121133ellen
Are we having a culture discussion tonite?

marylois
Ellen - yes, Marge and Charlie Baker will be here to answer culture questions - especially dendrobiums.

121133ellen
I have 14 nobiles in bloom. Best year ever. I think I have the culture down finally. Two years ago I took all the keikis and potted them up. I now have blooming plants. I sound like a proud mommy

121133ellen
Lois, will they discuss phrag culture?

marylois
If you ask them, Ellen - Phrags were in their 1991 book.

121133ellen
Lois, I potted up a dozen plants in the shredded rubber. Will report on how they are doing. So far so good.

marylois
How did you shred the rubber, Ellen?

AJHicks (Busy seed dude)
Shredding your own tires? Those are some savage cats you have as pets, I suppose. ;-) The local tire chip plant here sells it for $5 per 50-pound bag.

121133ellen
No, I bought it or I should say a commercial grower on Log Island ordered it from. It is used primarily on playgrounds but I guess someone tried it on orchids. Repotting 700 orchids is a chore so I'll try anything on some plants hoping to find a media that doesn't break down. I think how it is processed is important. I paid about the same as bark for a 50 pound bag including shipping.

marylois
I'm using charcoal mainly - with additives according to needs.

121133ellen
I put an assortment of plants, nothing valuable in the mix and I'll give them a year and see what happens. Someone here in New York is growing phals in it with a lot of success.

marylois
That's the way to do it, Ellen! Keep us posted. Now. Tell us what you did to get 100% blooming on your nobiles.

121133ellen
I grow them in full sun during the summer and feed them a high middle number every second watering. This year they bloomed along the entire cane. One plant had 27 flowers.

marylois
Ellen - did you withhold all water this winter?

121133ellen
Only 6 weeks and then you could see the buds and I started to water again. I think the season before determines the success with bloom

55SS (James in Fresno )
Mr. Saporita? Hi, Steve forwarded a list to me of species from Malaysia? have you ordered yet?

Richard in West Palm Beach
Not yet -- probably in early to mid March. I have a second vendor who will be sending me a list when he returns to Malaysia from the Japan Orchid Show the first week in March. I want to be able to compare before I order.

55SS (James in Fresno )
Have you ever ordered any Phals from Asian dealers?

Richard in West Palm Beach
Only from the Philippines -- the Phals were pretty dessicated and had a survival rate of about 75%. However ... I regard most of the plants from that dealer as being poor quality.

55SS (James in Fresno )
what about the current dealers?

Richard in West Palm Beach
I have never imported from Malaysia before -- this will be the first time. The list you got was sent to me, handwritten, by fax. The second vendor apparently has a lot of experience exporting to the US and Japan and appears to be a sizeable operation. That's why I want to wait to see his list before ordering. He specializes in Paraphalaenopsis, Renantheras, and other vandaceous intergeneric hybrids as well as species.

55SS (James in Fresno )
I was interested in the Phals species from the list...

Richard in West Palm Beach
I am interested in a few of the Phal species on the list -- especially gigantea; and also the Paraphalaenopsis.

Richard in West Palm Beach
Just a note -- Cathay Pacific Airlines has a fantastic special going on if you register as a 'Cyber Traveler' you can fly from New York or Los Angeles to as many as 17 cities in Asia (via hong Kong) for only $899.00 including all US taxes! If you're interested check them out on the web. This is the airlines I use when I fly to Bangkok and it is superb! http://www.cathay-usa.com/inetallasiapass/network.htm

Tex1 Dan (Dan from Wharton, Texas)
Hello to everyone!! Can anyone give me some spiritual advice about a bloomed out paph? Do you cut the stem back after blooming or do you leave it alone? Will they rebloom from the same stem? I think not. How soon do you divide them?

marylois
Hi, Dan - no rebloom unless they are sequential blooming (you would see the developing buds along side the earlier bloom). I cut stems right away - more sanitary that way. You might want to discuss this when the Bakers get here as well.

Tex1 Dan (Dan from Wharton, Texas)
What about dividing the plants? If the pot has room,let them go, or do you divide when new growth appears?

NativeOrchid (Carol, Darnestown, Maryland)
Hi Dan, as to division...Paphs like to be a multi-growth plant. Don't think about dividing until you have at least 3-4 mature growths per division.

marylois
I think a paph is better if not divided - just repot annually...if the clump falls apart, then pot up the pieces. Much more effective when there are multiple growths.

Tex1 Dan (Dan from Wharton, Texas)
Carol, thanks. I grow many different orchids, but while at Palmers Orchid Nursery, I saw one that called my name. Just had to bring it home!(GRIN)

Tex1 Dan (Dan from Wharton, Texas)
Mary, are you using the charcoal sponge rock mix with the paph's? Mine has a touch of promix in it? I've never seen the roots, but it seems to be doing well in the kitchen greenhouse window. Do you repot when it overgrows the pot or should you do it annually?

NativeOrchid (Carol, Darnestown, Maryland)
Dan, I repot annually. Paphs get really touchy about sour medium and seem to like the process of a repot.

marilyninOttawa
Isn't it interesting that some orchids resent being disturbed while others love it!

Tex1 Dan (Dan from Wharton, Texas)
The charcoal sponge rock is pretty durable, but I use it on catts, onc, dens and some phals. I wish I would have also tried some on my cyms, but being a first timer to paphs I'm unsure what will work!

marylois
Yes! And amazes me that phals can be repotted when in bloom and not pout a bit!

55SS (James in Fresno )
Phals can be repotted with no pout?!? What about into a different media?

marilyninOttawa
The only plants I really worry about repotting at the correct time are Cattleyas which root only once a year. If you do not time it right, the plant can suffer.

NativeOrchid (Carol, Darnestown, Maryland)
Marilyn, I peeked in the cold frame today and the baby Cyps have green tips!! I left the lid up. We are having gentle rains and highs in the 50-60's. Nighttime lows are in the upper 40's. If we have a severe cold snap, I may have to drag everything into the basement!

marylois
Dan - yep! That's my basic mix...I use about one half tree fern along with the same mix for dendrobiums.

marilyninOttawa
Carol, Keep the green tips covered with loose litter, at least for another two weeks.

Tex1 Dan (Dan from Wharton, Texas)
Mary, what does the tree fern do for dens?

marylois
Now, I'm not saying big changes like a mix change *G*....but when a phal needs repotting, you don't have to wait and it's best not to...just go ahead and give it a fresh new home when you notice the need.

NativeOrchid (Carol, Darnestown, Maryland)
I am being extra cautious! This warmth is speeding things up by 4-6 weeks. Cherry blossoms in downtown D. C. yesterday!!

marylois
Opens up the charcoal mix a bit, and the tree fern is long-lasting - mine really like it...but then, when I can get it, I like to add a bit of tree fern for most things. The mother hen in me wants to give em more than charcoal. *s*

marilyninOttawa
I find that having the right temperature differential works wonders to get sleepy orchids awake. They really respond with new roots and leaves. I saw this recently with a Eurychone seedling which had been sulking until it was exposed to the 23C day, 15C nights. I just stood back and watched it do its thing!

121133ellen
Warm here in New York too. Had to add shading to greenhouse. Catts were burning.

Tex1 Dan (Dan from Wharton, Texas)
Marylois, I understand. We can get fern at Teas Nursey in Houston. Do you have a problem breaking it up into small pieces?

marylois
Dan - I buy the loose tree fern from OFE. OFE International Inc, 12100 SW 129th Ct, Miami FL 33186 (P O Bx 163256, Miami FL 33116-3256) Phone (305) 253-7080

NativeOrchid (Carol, Darnestown, Maryland)
Marylois, isn't OFE awfully inconsistent in their supply?

marilyninOttawa
Speaking of tree fern, I have used a saw or a chisel to hack it into bits. I do not use it anymore here up north but it was very useful in the tropical setting. Doesn't break down with time.

marylois
Carol - inconsistent in which way? quality? I do find they are out of tree fern quite often, but that's the shortage...I try to stock up...hoard it!

NativeOrchid (Carol, Darnestown, Maryland)
Yeah, that is what I mean. When I was ordering for Arbec, they were always out of stock! Most frustrating!

marylois
Right, Marilyn - the tree fern lasts as long as I can use the charcoal anyway -- a good pairing.

marilyninOttawa
I wonder if some of the new hydroponic pellets and pumice products would serve as well as tree fern? Haven't tried them yet.

bmtorchids (Barbara from sun/rain S.F. Bay area)
We had the Bakers at our society meeting a couple months ago, I bought both their books. Very good culture information.

AJHicks (Orchid Seedbank Dude, Socorro, NM)
Treefern is endangered, and imported and shredded under CITES permit. The supply is tenuous. This is why OFE's supply is irregular, I would bet.

121133ellen
I also find the quality of bark has changed. I can get the same junk at Home Depot.

55SS (James in Fresno )
Is there something about immature tree fern not being good?

bmtorchids (Barbara from sun/rain S.F. Bay area)
I've been using the 'Miracle Rocks' lately. The Catts and Den loves it.

NativeOrchid (Carol, Darnestown, Maryland)
A. J. is right. We should be looking for a substitute now. Coconut fiber has been suggested.

121133ellen
Barbara what are miracle rocks?

AJHicks (Orchid Seedbank Dude, Socorro, NM)
Immature tree fern has largely been rejected; many growers find it a poor substitute, and the South American species of treefern is a 75-year crop. Seek substitutes. Now.

marylois
I tried Hadite years ago - a man-made expanded clay product...for me, it seemed to be too dry or too wet...never figured out the right watering regime with it. In my clay pots and the mixes I use, I can lift the pot and tell whether or not it needs water.

orchidnut (Sam in Lincoln, NE)
Has anyone been using the ''tire chunks'' as a potting medium?

121133ellen
Sam, I am trying the shredded rubber on some plants.

marilyninOttawa
I have used both coconut fiber and tree fern chunks in tropical culture but had best results with broken pieces of crock (porous fired clay). This was when I was a debutante grower and was trying everything.

NativeOrchid (Carol, Darnestown, Maryland)
Sam, I contacted the gentleman who did the research about using it on orchids. I was delighted to find that he is an orchid hobbiest. He gave strong caution about using it as an orchid medium. He felt that the zinc toxicity would be a problem.

marylois
I know - just about the time I began to use bark effectively, it degraded to nothing ...now that I can use tree fern, it's disappearing *sigh* - no end. Then there is also a shortage of charcoal.

marilyninOttawa
I suggest that inert materials may be good media to support heavier rooted orchids.

NativeOrchid (Carol, Darnestown, Maryland)
Andy has been using alot of pearlite with good results. But he grows in high humidity and wet.

bmtorchids (Barbara from sun/rain S.F. Bay area)
The M. Rocks came from China, selling for $10. for 25 lbs. I think they are natural, will not expend, will not absorb salt. It give enough weight for large Catt & Den. I really like it.

marilyninOttawa
Some growers have great succes with perlite but for me it is not the medium of choice. Maybe there are different grades or compositions?

NativeOrchid (Carol, Darnestown, Maryland)
Barbara, who is supplying them? Marilyn, he is using a #4. Very coarse.

marilyninOttawa
Ah!

AJHicks (Orchid Seedbank Dude, Socorro, NM)
Plus, perlite is 'expanded' perlite. The perlite mine (just up the road from the tire chipping plant - I swear to God, this is true) pulls out this fine dust. It has to be compressed and then expanded, presumably with water as steam.

marylois
Marilyn - the larger, horticultural perlite works best with orchids, I believe. Even then, I wouldn't want more than half perlite.

bmtorchids (Barbara from sun/rain S.F. Bay area)
Carol, last year at our San Francisco show many vendors are selling then, I got mine from our society member (Lancer he just past away l - 2 weeks ago).

marilyninOttawa
We can buy pre-mixed media in different grades and this contains the coarse stuff that you are talking about (Gubbler's Mix)

NativeOrchid (Carol, Darnestown, Maryland)
Oh! Hm-m-m If you remember a particular source of supply, could you let me know? Marilyn, OFE has three different sizes of expanded perlite.

marylois
I once rooted and bloomed a cymbidium backbulb in a styrofoam cup full of horticultural perlite! Had it propped up along the outside with large stones!

Marg and Charlie
Hi all, My sincere apologies for being late. I'd have Marg.tell you about it, but I'd hate to see grown folks cry.

marylois
Welcome, Marg and Charlie...we've just been chatting away hoping not to get a message saying you couldn't get here *s*. Welcome to OrchidSafari.

Marg and Charlie
Thanks for the welcome! Has there been a topic that we should join?

NativeOrchid (Carol, Darnestown, Maryland)
Hi Marg and Charlie. You books are the backbone of the species selection in the National Capital Orchid Society library! We are fans of yours! Why don't you come out and talk to us?

Marg and Charlie
NativeOrchid, It's a LONG drive.

marilyninOttawa
I wonder if you could update us on how the data collection re: seed/capsule maturation has been going? I have been gathering some more data and so should have some submissions soon.

Marg and Charlie
Marilyn, We've had a few contributions, many of them from Aaron, but I haven't had the opportunity to update the website.

AJHicks (Orchid Seedbank Dude, Socorro, NM)
We send in all of the capsule times we receive, which is (unfortunately) rather uncommonly.

NativeOrchid (Carol, Darnestown, Maryland)
I have a tuberolabium escritorii that was selfed around Christmas time. Does anyone have any idea as to when the pod should be harvested?

Marg and Charlie
Carol, If you've checked the orchidculture.com website and it isn't there, I'm afraid I can't help.

orchidnut (Sam in Lincoln, NE)
Are you interested in just pod data, or germination data too?

Marg and Charlie
Orchidnut, The database is pollination and germination. Marilyn helped design the form so that it might actually provide useful information some day. :)

orchidnut (Sam in Lincoln, NE)
Good! I have some germination data that I should send to you.

Marg and Charlie
Orchidnut, Great, Sam, every little bit helps! What Marilyn and I had envsioned was as comprehensive a collection of data as possible. If your go to the orchidculture.com website, there is an online form that can be filled out, or you can send me an email.

orchidnut (Sam in Lincoln, NE)
Ok...I have your site bookmarked. I'll have to get my info together, and do that.

121133ellen
Can I ask a question on Phrag culture?

Marg and Charlie
Ellen, Sure, you can always ask!

121133ellen
Marge, concerning Phrags. I have your book in front of me. I grow 100 phrags in the house in floor to ceiling windows on shelves. I grow them in saucers with diffused light. Some got so big I moved them to the greenhouse using vandas to partially shade them. I find they are not doing as well. The greenhouse is cooler and much more humid. Should I remove the saucers, return them to the house? Help.

Marg and Charlie
Ellen, Anytime you change a plant's environment it will take awhile to adapt. How much did your temps change? Most of the Phrags dry a little in winter. Has your light increased much?

121133ellen
My light has increased and the temp goes down to 55 at night.

Marg and Charlie
121133ellen, you might backoff on the water. Are the plants looking bad because they're turning yellow?

JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
Marge - what is the height of a Dend. victoriae-reginae? My new growth just keeps on growing and it is now much bigger than the last growth.

Marg and Charlie
JCY8S, John, that's the best indication of a happy plant! Are you complaining? Victoria-regina is usually 10-24 inches, but 48 inches is recorded for some cultivated plants.

JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
Thanks Marge. I hoped that was the answer. Maybe this growth will really give a show of flowers later this spring.

KB Barrett (Kathy in N. Calif.)
Marg and Charlie, I moved my den aggregatum outside after your talk in Feb, probably was too late to initiate blooms this season. Also tried to keep it dry. I was wondering if I move it back inside now if it may get tricked into thinking it was spring and spike for me? I live in Calif.

121133ellen
Leaves are yellowing on older growths and I found some brown spots which I treated with Banrot.

Marg and Charlie
KB Barrett, Kathy, unless there is a reason to move it in now, why not leave it out awhile longer. Then when you bring it in, it should initiate a spike.

NativeOrchid (Carol, Darnestown, Maryland)
Ellen, If I may offer my meager opinion, I'd get those babies into higher light and increase the air circulation. I grow my Phrags in 3000+ foot candles year 'round. They seem to do well.

121133ellen
Carol, I keep 4 fans on all the time so air circulation isn't the trouble, maybe they are just reacting to the change in environment.

NativeOrchid (Carol, Darnestown, Maryland)
Yeah, probably. Thank God they are tough!

Marg and Charlie
121133ellen, The older leaves are probably yellowing now due to the increased light, or maybe they all got old at the same time. Are the other leaves yellowing some?

121133ellen
No, the other leaves are lighter in color but not yellow. I forgot that plants grow up like people and they just outgrew the house shelves.

Marg and Charlie
John, victoria regina blooms on mature stems, so don't be disappointed if it doesn't give you blossoms this year.

JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
Marge - Does victoria-regina also re-bloom on old canes?

Marg and Charlie
JCY8S, yes, mature canes continue to bloom for several years.

KB Barrett (Kathy in N. Calif.)
Will do, I guess I'm just impatient *G* Also, We got some Den.kingianum keikis from Australia, and mine are just sitting there doing nothing, no growth, nada... I thought they might be confused with the change in hemispheres??? (Notice how I assume my poor culture isn't to blame!!!)

JCY8S (John in Arcadia, CA)
Kathy - some of my Dend kingianum keikis also are not started but some have started nicely. They were slow - maybe change of hemishere?

Fleur (Sunny Tasmania)
Kathy give the kingianums time, it's very hard to do real damage to them.

bmtorchids (Barbara from sun/rain S.F. Bay area)
Kathy did you keep the kingianum out side?

Marg and Charlie
KBBarrett, Kathy. kingianum probably isn't out of it's cool, dry rest yet???

KB Barrett (Kathy in N. Calif.)
All, like I said, I got antsy and let the kingianums get wet in the rain we've been having, everyone else's were blooming already and mine were doing nada, so I guess its 'wait til next year' for mine!! *G*

121133ellen
Marylois, the plant I had at King of Prussia doubled in size. It threw 3 new growths. That cardinale is definitely my favorite.

marylois
Ellen, it is a beauty! I'm kinda partial to Phrag. schlimii. And I have a bud down in my Hanne Popow growth!

NativeOrchid (Carol, Darnestown, Maryland)
Marylois, sedenii is my favorite. I have three different clones and I love them all.

marylois
And my clone of Pot. Egyptian Queen 'Black Diamond', HCC/AOS bloomed - and it sure doesn't look like mama!! Not full.

NativeOrchid (Carol, Darnestown, Maryland)
Yes Egyptian Queen doesn't look like the picture in Stewrt's catalog to my eyes. maybe it has to be a really big plant before it flowers well.

121133ellen
Charlie will the season of bloom affect the color of the flowers. I think the color is better when it is cooler. Can that be?

Marg and Charlie
12113ellen, Ellen, it depends on the species, but low light, high light,cool, warm all influence temps. duff, I meant all components affect color!

sparkysteve (of Boca Raton Florida)
Lois bad meristem or culture?

marylois
I claim meristem *G* The color is dark as it should be - almost black, flower smaller, more open than the one on exhibit above the seedlings...but what's new *LOL*? When I walked into Stewarts, all I could see was that Egyptian Queen - clear across the room it beckoned!

NativeOrchid (Carol, Darnestown, Maryland)
Marylois, let it grow up before you throw it away!

marylois
No, I'll keep her - but that one at Stewart's wasn't all that big -- maybe it's second blooming though...so I still can hope. Besides - our weird, dark weather could have something to do with it.

KB Barrett (Kathy in N. Calif.)
Let it grow Lois! No one has that plant for sale anymore.

marylois
Tell you another to watch for: Blc. George King 'Serendipity' - Palmers had 2" seedlings a while back...well worth the long wait. People are standing in line for a piece of mine - and I've no plans to divide.

Fleur (Sunny Tasmania)
Describe the Blc. George King 'Serendipity, please Lois, I have never seen one.

marylois
Fleur - a nice, full, concolor salmon-pink coloration. One of my favorites.

Marg and Charlie
Bye all, I seem to be having trouble with my connection. Cheers, Marg.

Fleur (Sunny Tasmania)
Sounds lovely, I like salmon, apricot shades almost as much as white.

121133ellen
Marge, I have chrysotoxum and farmerii loaded with flowers this year but didn't bloom last year. Do they bloom every year or occasionally miss a year

gaillevy (Boca Raton, FL.)
My farmerii is full of buds, should start hoping in the next day or two.

NativeOrchid (Carol, Darnestown, Maryland)
Marg/Charlie If you do FLY to the east coast sometime, please let me know!

KB Barrett (Kathy in N. Calif.)
The connection has been rottten this whole evening, I'd heard that a mudslide knocked everyone off recently, I know my ISP has been having trouble bigtime.

marylois
You are right, Kathy - my ISP had a notice about the mudslide - think I put it in an OS newsletter. Marg and Charlie - I'm sorry you are having so much trouble...and sincerely hope you will come back again soon.

NativeOrchid (Carol, Darnestown, Maryland)
Marg & Charlie, thanks for coming

marylois
Oh, Gail - that will be lovely -- do you find fareri, chrysotoxum, aggregatum seem to bloom great one year, then poorly for one or two years before another great blooming? That's been my experience.

121133ellen
Marylois, I'm glad I'm not the only one. I thought I was doing something wrong with the dendrobiums.

sparkysteve (of Boca Raton Florida)
Lois---I have probs with chryso---the others are fine.

Phals
Lois...did the Bakers have trouble navigating the chat room? Maybe suggest first time speakers do what I did; practice the day before.

KB Barrett (Kathy in N. Calif.)
I usually stay away from dendrobiums, they seem so twitchy, a little water or fert at the wrong time and they drop their leaves or keiki. I only have the d agg. and the keikis from Guy, and my friends gave me 2 den phals, which I've been trying to kill.

gaillevy (Boca Raton, FL.)
My chrysotoxum is just starting to show signs of life but not my aggregatum yet. They've all been realiable bloomers, I have a fimbriatum 'occulata' in bloom also, didn't do such a great job this year.

sparkysteve (of Boca Raton Florida)
good idea Phals

marylois
They did remarkably well, Bob - think they did a bit of practice...but the web just isn't agreeable this evening - nor has it been for a couple weeks.

sparkysteve (of Boca Raton Florida)
another real EASY one is Den. formosum

Fleur (Sunny Tasmania)
Easy for you to say Steve.

Phals
Lois...sorry I missed the Bakers; they not only have good advice, they also tell great jokes. ...Bob

gaillevy (Boca Raton, FL.)
So, are my new Phrags going in saucers or not, what was the consensus of opinion?

121133ellen
Gail, I grow all my phrags in saucers except besseae flavum.

marylois
I'll have to reread the synopsis - was going back and forth at that time...if you go into saucers, just watch 'em! Used to say it was a no-no for humid areas, but I have friends here that are doing it with success...imagine it has much to do with water quality - like RO or distilled...or NY water which is darn good.

marylois
I'm surprised you find the formosum types that easy with your heat and humidity, steve - some clones do well for me, others do not.

sparkysteve (of Boca Raton Florida)
Lois---mine is a Home Depot special

Fleur (Sunny Tasmania)
Steve, you should try the Queensland type Dendrobiums climate is very similar.

sparkysteve (of Boca Raton Florida)
which ones Fleur?

Fleur (Sunny Tasmania)
Steve, bigibum, phalaenopsis types.

marylois
Yes, Ellen - again, it's water quality. And I've heard no besseae or besseae hybrid is fond of constantly wet roots.

121133ellen
Marylois, I use rain water when I can,New York water is average.

gaillevy (Boca Raton, FL.)
Ellen, I listened to you with my others, yes they are in saucers and got a dose of Bone & Blood meal. My Sorcerer's Apprentice has been blooming for quite awhile and a sedenii 'Pete', quite nice. I was so impressed with my success I had to add to the family.

121133ellen
Gail I had a beautiful Andean Fire in bloom. Excellent color

sparkysteve (of Boca Raton Florida)
Gail your plants were from the growing last year---we will see next year!!

gaillevy (Boca Raton, FL.)
Ellen I just got an Andean Fire to try, I believe they may like it cooler than it is on my patio, we'll see, if it isn't happy outside I may become a window sill grower, of sorts.

marylois
That's what I'm afraid of, sparky...I'm using some water - long enough to soak thoroughly - but I dump the saucers that evening - and use distilled water. Ellen - NY water is still about the best in US even if 'average' - the rest of us...well, better left unsaid.

gaillevy (Boca Raton, FL.)
What plants of mine are you talking about the growing of last year??????

sparkysteve (of Boca Raton Florida)
Phrags that you just bought.

121133ellen
Gail. great plant, you'll love it. Also try Coral Gem.

gaillevy (Boca Raton, FL.)
I DID just buy some Phrags and the ones that are blooming are the ones I bought last year at this time, or shortly therebefore, when Lois visited - it's been a year!!!

sparkysteve (of Boca Raton Florida)
I though they were new.

gaillevy (Boca Raton, FL.)
Steve are you insinuating that I can't grow my Phrags another year???????

sparkysteve
I had thought you just bought them---and the flowers were just there because it's the time to flower!

marylois
Gail, steve is a rabble-rouser...he's gonna drive the newbie's mad with his quotes!

marylois
Gonna call it a night - so nice seeing you all again - especially YOU, Gail - been a while...and was good to see Barbara back again. Nite fleur, steve..