|
Newsletters |
|
ORCHIDS IN JERSEY 22-29th MAY.
Its been a long time since Mary and I (more I) wanted to visit the Eric young Orchid Foundation on Jersey. After booking a holiday for seven days from 22-29th May, I phoned the foundation to book a “behind the scenes” a tour by prior arrangement, only to find out that most of the staff would be in London at the Chelsea flower show, nobody could do the tour. Never the less we went on the Wednesday, a good day to go as it was raining, the first Jersey had for about seven weeks. I was taken aback to what I saw, all new houses which was the main building, glass houses to the rear, the main show house was big with most of the orchids we have in our collections the likes of cymbidiums Coelogyne, Catteyas hybrids Miltonias, Paphiopedilum, and Phragmipediums. The list could go on and on. One I almost missed as going by thinking it was a bamboo then Mary pointed out the white flowers at the top. It was a Sobralia Mirabilis the plant was about eight to ten feet high, one other was up in the top roof by the glass which was well over twenty five to thirty foot. I didn't find the name. While we were there we were told that they had got a GOLD at the Chelsea show. Our visit was well worth the effort David and Mary.
Hydroponics and a wet pot!!
Say hydroponics to anyone and they immediately think of running water. Hydroponic growing has been around for ages, a lot of plants are grown by this method. Having their roots dangling in moving nutrient filled water they grow quickly and have no messy compost to have to worry about. Reading a back copy of an orchid magazine from the 1990’s I came across an article making reference to hydroponics and using a method similar to grow Vanda orchids, though I am sure other specie could benefit grown by the method I am about to describe. First one needs a 6 or 7 inch terracotta pot. The hole on the inside needs to be sealed so I suggest once the inner surface has been cleaned then a piece of plastic is stuck over the hole using a waterproof silicon. Once this has set then the pot is filled to within half an inch of the top with clean sand. The pot is then filled with water until the sand has absorbed all it can and water is left on the top surface of the sand. Allow the pot to stand until water can be seen filtering through the pot side, at this point get the already root trimmed Vanda ( or other orchid ) and using a damp moss pad tie the plant to the pot where the moisture is filtering through, label and place in an appropriate spot on the bench. The water will filter through the pot and moss and so keep a gentle running flow over the roots and all one then has to do is top up the water in the pot and not allow it to dry out. Trial and error will soon establish when more water needs to be added and a healthy plant should ensue. A covering of the top of the pot with a sheet of clear plastic will stop moisture escaping into the atmosphere. If one wishes a group of small plants could be place around the pot to make a constant flowering display. You will still have to bear in mind air movement, light and heat as well as fertilising of your plant, here we have only supplied it with running water. Dave Morgan.
|
|
August 2010 abridged Newsletter |
|
Bagley X Sparsholt |
