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Fenland Orchid Society |
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HELEN MILNER ON A HISTORY OF GARDEN PLANTS AND ORCHIDS
Helen said this talk was for beginners and experienced growers. Helen took us through a history of well known garden plants to start with.
Firstly, how long have they been here? The first Viola hybrid was raised in 1813 and modern varieties began to appear from 1840. Auriculars have been in cultivation over 350yrs and Lupins were spread by the Romans, Lavender was also introduced by them.
Fuchsias have the same geographic location as orchids and have been known since the 17th century Dahlias were introduced in the 18th century and Dianthus were common to many European countries. Hybrid tea roses originated in France in 1867. As you can see so far our garden plants have a long history and have been around for a long time.
Specie Geraniums were known in the 17th century but the hybrids came much later. Daffodils were native to Europe as also were Begonias. Lilies were thought to have been introduced in the 18th century though Helen was not certain on that point. Aquilegias are also native to Europe and there are many lovely colours in that plant, though I am very fond of the native ones. Chrysanthemums come from Asia though not the large flowered varieties that we know today. In the country gardens of the 17th and 18th centuries the emphasis was on wild flowers, herbs, bulbs and vegetables, pretty but not the vibrant blaze of today’s gardens. Later came formal gardens with shrubs, and trees, no summer bedding plants as we know them.
And then on to Orchids The first orchid was introduced into Kew in 1750, and by 1789 15 species were being cultivated in Kew, and in 1818 the first Cattleya was bloomed in England. The plant was found as packing material round some other plants and as it was still green and healthy looking William Cattley who found it decided to try to grow it. Imagine the awe and delight when it first bloomed, nobody had ever seen such a showy large flowered orchid before. It was named after William Cattley and became Cattleya labiata because of its large lip. Anyone who was wealthy or important in the orchid world wanted one. Commercial nurseries sent out their own collector to South America to obtain as many as they could, and very large amounts of money changed hands for these plants. The Duke of Devonshire, William Cavendish and others like them put them in their orangeries and stove houses, though a lot died because of the wrong conditions. Collectors were also encouraged to keep secret the locations of the plants so some of the nurseries had the monopoly of them.
In 1900 a man named Lewis Knudson learned how to germinate orchid seed on a sterile media, from then on many species and hybrids were available to the general public, and it stopped the wilful denuding of the wild. In 1950 orchid societies began to form, greenhouses became more affordable and the meristemming of orchids meant that both species and hybrids became cheaper and easier to obtain these wonderful plants. In this economic meltdown and climate change we just need to find a way to grow them more economically.
Buying my First Water Tester
At the Peterborough show I treated myself to a EC/TDS/ salt tester it cost £69.99 which at the time, a bit much but hold you on I say. Now as to finding what water I gave my Orchids I was amazed as the water I tested first was out of the rain water butt, where water comes off the garage roof which is mineral covered and flat, I tested this water that was 60ms, when I gave all my Orchids this water putting i.e. the feed in to 1Gallon I was putting far too much in as with my cymbidiums which only want 900ms, I could see I was up in the 1500- 1600 ms. now I take a reading each time I water.
I am now saving on fertilizer. With the tester I got a table for some of the Orchids. Disa. less than 100ms, also Masdevallia the same. Phragmipedium 150ms. Paphiopedilum 350ms, Miltonia /Odonts 400ms, Dendrobium 500ms. Cattleya /Phalaenopsis 700ms .Cymbidium 900ms. As you can see that there are a lot of Orchids which are not listed. What I will do is look at the roots and only give a weak dose when watering to see how they do, if they like the food no harm is done.
The water off the greenhouse was 20ms, my tap water was 40ms. The M. S stands for Microsiemens
David Sinclair
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The Old Chestnut
Yes it’s that time of the year when the daylight hours get shorter and the temperatures begin to drop. Just think how many revolutions your fan will have made in the last year, how many oscillations moving the air from one end of the green house to the other. It is now going to be asked to do another job, moving warm air. If your fan needs a drop of oil or a piece of flex then now is the time to do this kind of job.
All things electrical should be checked for safety especially where they have been working in high humid conditions. By removing the plug (with power off) and checking wire is safely held within the plug, that none of the screws pinching the wire are not lose and then wiping dry the surface where the pins are visible and doing the same on the socket side can you feel a bit of safety maintenance has been done.
Check all electrics and be safe. Lets face it you cannot smell it, or see it but electricity has a hell of a bite, CHECK ALL ELECTRICS AND BE SAFE.
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December 09 Abridged |
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Min.cymbid Gleneagles Cooksbridge delight |
