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Present were 22:
Phals (Bob Gordon)
James
marylois
sparkysteve
Jane5536
Doug
John
gaillevy
206.87.90.137
(visiting)
Fleur
129.171.187.87
(visiting)
Onorio
Evlyn
bmtorchids
maurelius
Harold
RichardWPB
Carol
Jane in LI
BCPRESS
Tex1Dan
knudy
Phals
Lois...I'm on. We've had 22 inches of snow in the past 24 hours up here.
More coming. Welcome to snowy southern California.-Bob Gordon
sparkysteve (of Boca Raton Florida)
Bob---when was the last time you had snow and exactly where are you exactly?
Phals
Sparky...We're 100 miles east of and 6,000 feet above Los Angeles. Snow
is common up here in the winter.
sparkysteve (of Boca Raton Florida)
One time in history there was measurable snow here---in 78 or 79 I think.
Phals
Sparky...the only snow you'll see in Florida is on Mt Florida, just south
of Orlando. At last count Mt Florida was 23 feet high and there were cows
standing on it.
Phals
Lois...We did a 30-minute special for PBS on the Santa Barbara show this
past weekend. It is for local consumption in the San Bernardino area, but
will probably be shown elsewhere as well. We'll start on a 13-part series
for PBS shortly.
sparkysteve (of Boca Raton Florida)
Bob---some grower down here did the same thing too.
Phals
sparkysteve...Who is the grower? I'd like to consult on what went right
and what didn't.
sparkysteve (of Boca Raton Florida)
Bob---I cant remember---maybe it was just a club member?
Phals
sparkysteve...I'd be very grateful if you could find out who did it...no
point in making the same mistakes twice.
Phals
Phal growers...if you haven't tried Ultra-Fine Oil as a medium for controlling
mealybugs, this might be a good time to do so. Non-toxic and very effective...and
cheap, US$10 for a pint of oil which is used at the rate of 1 teaspoon per
gallon or so of water.
Fleur (Tasmania )
Bob, what is ultra fine oil?
Phals
Fleur...a refined form of paraffin. In your parts, try white oil...which
I think, is made of fish oil.
Fleur (Tasmania )
Oh, I have white oil, but never heard of ultra fine oil. (Ultra-Fine is
a commercial brand name.)
Onorio
Phals, where do you usually purchase it
Phals
Onorio...it's available in most nurseries around southern California.
Evlyn
What causes phal leaves to go limp?
Phals
Evlyn...usually limpness is caused by a lack of water to the leaves. Causes:
(1) too much water which rots the roots or (2) not enough water. Take your
choice.
Phals
Ultra-Fine Oil, et al...I find it necessary to respray the oil every 3 months,
but I don't water from overhead; I use a drip system.
Evlyn
What would be the difference in drip and overhead watering as to use of
Sun Spray oil.
Phals
Evlyn...overhead watering dissipates the oil from the leaf surfaces quicker.
JCY8S (John in COLD Arcadia, CA)
Can you get that Ulta Fine Oil at Armstrong's Garden Centers here in So
Cal?
Phals
JCY8S...in all probability, yes. If not, ask.
Jane5536 ( [L.I. N.Y.])
Is this the same as sun oil?
Phals
Jane5536...Generally, all these different oils do the same job, they suffocate
the bugs. Most are acceptable for that reason, but some growers don't like
the sulfur in some oils such as Volck Oil. Personally, I've never had any
trouble with the sulfur in Volck Oil, but use the Ultra-Fine now because
now my chic orchid growing friends don't think I'm a dumb brown-thumber.
bmtorchids (Barbara from sunny and rain and cold No. Calif.)
Bob, can you mix the oil yourself with the mineral oil?
Phals
bmtorchids...I don't think the type of water makes any difference because
it is merely a carrier. Or were you asking about mineral oil?
bmtorchids (Barbara from sunny and rain and cold No. Calif.)
Bob, yes I mean mineral oil.
Phals
bmtorchids...I've used mineral or vegetable oil with essentially the same
results; the object is to suffocate the bugs.
bmtorchids (Barbara from sunny and rain and cold No. Calif.)
Thanks Bob.
Fleur (Tasmania )
Any problems with white oil?
Phals
Fleur...none that I know of. The Aussie growers I've talked to about it
rave about it's effectiveness. To my knowledge it is available only in Australia;
bummer.
Evlyn
Can we discuss potting mixes?
Phals
Evlyn...I'm easy on potting mixes
Evlyn
I want the expert advice Bob. Shall I put it this way. What are yours planted
in?
bmtorchids (Barbara from sunny and rain and cold No. Calif.)
Evi, I have been using the mud mix on some of my Phals, with very good result.
Phals
Evlyn...Peat-perlite mixes are, arguably, the most effective medium for
growing phals...IN THE HANDS OF A COMPETENT GROWER. In the hands of an inexperienced
hobbyist, it can be deadly. Reason? Peat-perlite mixes hold water very,
very well. Be advised to monitor watering carefully. Also, they contribute
to the nutrition of the plant, something most other media do not.
Don't mix plants potted in peat-perlite with plants potted in other media.
Set your watering schedule to the needs of the media you're using. If you
like to water, mount everything on slabs. Water plants mixed together like
slabs and peat-perlite and chances are good nothing will be watered right.
It's like playing hearts: Either all in mud or none.
Evlyn
I am using Sunshine #4--is there a better one out there?
Phals
Evlyn...Sunshine #4 is good, but I use it mixed with 20% seedling mix fir
bark. Works for me and my watering habits, but remember,media should be
selected on the basis of your watering habits: If you like to water, use
a coarse mix; otherwise, use a finer mix. If you hate to water, use straight
Sunshine # 4.
bmtorchids (Barbara from sunny and rain and cold No. Calif.)
Bob, is the peat-perlite mix very much like the mud mix?
Phals
bmtorchids...peat-perlite mix IS what is called 'mud'.
bmtorchids (Barbara from sunny and rain and cold No. Calif.)
Bob, glad to hear that, when I repot, I've been easing them into the mud.
Evlyn
I don't like to water. That is perhaps why I have some limp leaves. I pot
dry with Sunshine mix.
maurelius
All my Phals are in NZ SM with bark as topping. Works really well for me.
Haven't lost one yet.
JCY8S (John in COLD Arcadia, CA)
Bob, Have you tried Wundergrow on your phals?
Phals
JCY8S...sorry, don't know Wundergrow. What is it?
JCY8S (John in COLD Arcadia, CA)
Bob, it is a new fertilizer that seems very good with phals.
Phals
JCY8S...can you tell me some of the specs of Wundergrow? There really isn't
anything wrong with the fertilizers available on the world marker for phals
now. There will always be upshots that claim to fertilize better, but consider
that all phals in nature get is a little birdy doo and some monkey droppings
and you'll soon become a skeptic...like me.
bmtorchids (Barbara from sunny and rain and cold No. Calif.)
Bob, I've been using Wunderbloom since last Oct. 90% of my Phals, have double
spikes. The flowers are by far larger then before. I will use it all the
time from now on.
JCY8S (John in COLD Arcadia, CA)
I agree, Bob. Nature's only fertilizer is very infrequent. However I have
tried t his new one for 2 months and I do believe that it is showing some
results already. What is in it I don't know. Go to the Wundergrow home page
and read the material. That is all I know. Ed Wright says that it is good
as he apparently did a comparison test
Phals
All...I'm skeptical of testimonials or anecdotal evidence that are not backed
up by some clinical data. It may be good, but where are the specifics? PT
Barnum was right... Rapid growth is an indication of high nitrogen content;
that may or may not be good if not accompanied by high light conditions.
Rapid growth in low light means soft growth...which is prone to disease
and rot.
marylois (send email addr for mail list)
I definitely see faster growth on my phal compot replants using Wundergrow.
Fleur (Tasmania )
If Ed says it's good then it must be, he would never recomend something
he did not believe in. (I'm one of Ed's Wright's admirers too. BG)
JCY8S (John in COLD Arcadia, CA)
Not only did Ed recommend it he sent me a certificate to use to get a small
discount. I think that says something as Ed is a well recognized expert.
Phals
bmtorchids...if it works for you, stay with it and don't listen to me or
anyone else. But keep in mind that the AOS gives no awards for the biggest
plants...only flowers...and excessive nitrogen not only does not contribute
to larger flowers, but can actually PREVENT flowering as well as accelerating
the breakdown of potting media.
Phals
JCY8S...give Wundergrow the acid test: See how many commercial growers who
depend on their plants for a living...use the stuff. If they use it, you
can go to the bank with that information.
Phals
marylois...growth is a function first of light...then enough fertilizer
to make use of that light. Rapid growth is not useful to anyone in this
business except those who sell plants by the inch of leaf span. How many
flowers does it produce...of comparable size...compared to what is produced
by a control specimen? Plant size is a misleading gauge.
55SS (James in Fresno )
I have a Phal question, what is Phal parishii supposed to look like growth
wise when mature? I've heard that it is almost leafless when mature?
maurelius
James, parishii is a miniature.
55SS (James in Fresno )
I know it is a miniature, but it recently dropped half its leaves, and now
has two good ones left. well, it dropped two of its four.
maurelius
James, it may lose one leaf per season, but to lose more = problems with
your culture habits. It does not become leafless when mature. you have a
dead plant then.
55SS (James in Fresno )
The two leaves left look fine.
Phals
55SS...two to three leaves, 10-15 flowers when well-grown. They're easy
to grow...I know, I've killed dozens of them. The best parishii grower I
know is Gary Adkins in Huntsville, Alabama. He had one, var. Cindy, awarded
with an AM 10 years or so ago. May be the only parishii ever awarded. If
you're listening, Gary, I killed that piece of "Cindy" you gave
me.
55SS (James in Fresno )
OK, Thanks Bob
Onorio
Bob, what do you use for fertilizer, and at what pH?
Phals
Onorio...I'm still using Peat-Lite Special 20-10-20 at pH 6.2-6.5
Onorio
Bob, is that a good fertilizer for phals growing in NZ moss and can you
use it on all orchids.
Phals
Onorio...I think the Peat-Lite Special 20-10-20 is useful for all orchids
in culture...and in any media. It's big contribution is a good balance of
amoniaical and nitrate nitrogen...and no urea.
Onorio
Ok, thanks, one more question. PH -- 6.2, isn't that a little high ok, thanks
Bob. I've been using 7-11-27 with Cal Nitrate, but it's a pain to mix.
Phals
Onorio...6.2 is just fine. So is 7.2, but you'll need a bit more fertilizer.
pH is not all that important to the hobbyist.
Evlyn
What is the range of optimum light conditons for Phals Bob?
Phals
Evlyn...Depends on species, but generally, 800-1,500 footcandles...minimum
6 hours in winter and whatever nature provides in the summer.
Evlyn
Bob how about temperature lows in winter? And highs in summer?
Phals
Evlyn...min temps for most phals is 58 degrees F...or so. Be advised though,
that low temps like that encourage bacterial rot. Most Dutch commercial
growers hold the minumum after 1st of December to about 60...and then gradually
rise to about 68 at flowering time...high temps in summer about 80 degrees
F...with ample air movement. They will tolerate higher temps with greater
air movement.
Evlyn
Thanks Bob. I have been heating to 55 so I see that is a bit low.
Phals
maurelius...It's easy to make Phal crosses, but make sure you have a specific
purpose in creating a new hybrid. We're flooded with junk crosses in the
market today. If you want to make a cross just to watch nature at work,
fine...but hold on to or dump the extras. Don't pass them around.
marylois (send email addr for mail list)
Please expound, Bob - why hold and not pass around?
Phals
marylois...I don't recommend passing crosses around unless they have some
specific purpose and contribution to orchids in general. Crosses that have
no purpose have the effect of diluting the good work done by skilled breeders...and,
unfortunately, those junk crosses sometimes get used to make more crosses,
compounding the original error. Make your crosses to experiment, but don't
lower the level of quality of the rest of the orchid world in the process.
55SS (James in Fresno )
Is there any difference between growing Phals in NZ sphag and the stuff
that comes dried but green?
Phals
55SS...Phals will grow in almost anything organic...and a lot of things
inorganic. Watering is far and away a more important culture variable.
KB Barrett
Bob, do you know how to translate PPM into tsp/gal? Many growers talk about
fertilizing their orchids at 200ppm N (or whatever) and try as I might I
can't figure out how to convert it. And is this in one of your books? (
so in case I forget I can look it up later? blush)
Phals
KB Barrett...you're right, it is is in one of my books...and I'll look it
up and send the information. URL, please.
Jane5536 ( [L.I. N.Y.])
Phals -I bought a phal in peat-perlite mix -when can I change it to bark
[its blooming now]
Phals
Jane5536...Wait until your plant finished blooming before repotting. Try
the month of August if it is a white, pink or stripe. Otherwise, repot in
December. If the media is soft, repot now, but be careful of the spike.
Jane5536 ( [L.I. N.Y.])
Thanks phal-I just water too much for that mix
[Maurelius wanted to know about crosses with Phal phillipinense...]
marylois (send email addr for mail list)
Phal. philippinense has 17 registered progeny - one of the best is the darling
little Phal. Micro-nova. I will list the entire 17 in the next newsletter
for those who are interested.
Onorio
I have a Micro-Nova, does it tend to drop most of its leaves and then grow
them back
marylois (send email addr for mail list)
I don't know - I'm looking for one - Peter, what was the east coast hybridizer
of Micro-Nova???
peterlin
Tom Harper (Stone Orchids in TN) has mericlones of phal Micro Nova. Cute
litte darling. And Mark Rose (Breckinridge, NC) has some crosses with Phal. Micro Mova..
KB Barrett
Well, true confession time... Bob I can bloom and rebloom all those Taiwanian
Phals year after year, but I have yet to get a Zuma Canyon cross to rebloom
for me. I'm about to just consider them 'twitchy' plants and give up on
them. Has anyone else noticed this in Zuma canyon stuff? I love his work,
I can only get Gallant Beau 'George Vasquez' to rebloom for me.
Phals
KB Barrett...I don't know, but a call to George might answer your question.
His stuff is world-class...and he had a great mentor in Hugo Freed.
peterlin
Kathy - I bloomed many plants purchased from Zuma Canyon, both seedlings
from compots as well as mature mericlones. - feel free to send me a list
of crosses that you have problem with. Who knows..maybe you picked the more
reluctant bloomer. For example, Phal. violacea and Phal. Geroge Vasquez
crosses tend to take longer to mature.
bmtorchids (Barbara)
Kathy, that is very strange. I don't have any of that problem. Are you doing
anything differently? You probably pamper it too much.
KB Barrett
Ok, I admit it! I'm a klutz! *G* But I have Aussie delight, Sweet Memory,
and some others. I drool over his catalog every year, order them and they
just sit there. They grow, don't rot, put out roots and leaves, just no
spikes. I should probably look into the amount of light or diurnal temp
changes I'm giving them.
Phals
KBBarret...a rule of thumb: Any time a mature, healthy phal won't bloom,
try increasing the light. I've burned some I couldn't get to bloom; what
the hell, they aren't good for anything else anyway.
peterlin
Kathy - I had a Phal. Zuma Aussie Delight for 3 year. It bloomed last year..and
it is in bud now. Give them time. Novelty crosses are more expensive for
good reason. They are not the fastest growers compared to standard phals
(whites, pinks)
KB Barrett
Thanks Peter, Bob, and all!! I have them under fluorescents, so I'm sure
its not enough light, the bulbs are old, too... [Bob and Peter suggested
changing the fluorescent bulbs yearly, Bob said in October (or more specifically,
when the nightime temps fall consistently below 60 degrees F.)--kb]
Phals
Lois, et al...I've got to go and clear my driveway for the second time today.
Still snowing. How much snow do you have in Shreespo't? Nite all....Bob
Gordon
marylois (send email addr for mail list)
Not a flake, Bob - thank you ever so much for being with us this evening
lots of good questions and answers. You are appreciated.
- 30 -
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