On 05 Aug, in article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Eric Muehlbauer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I am a big fan of iron phosphate as a slug control. It far > outperforms anything I have used previously, "organic" or > synthetic. That said, its effectiveness is limited to slugs. > Snails are not as attracted to the bait. So...over the years, > slugs have declined in my garden, but large snails, the escargot > kind, have increased. My kids won't let me kill them because the > are so pretty.(I've learned to lie a lot.....) On another note, > regarding the demise of Hoosiers, and of orchid buyer's > preferences...a few years ago, people were saying that the > commonality of phals and other orchids in Home Depot and even > supermarkets would lead to an tremendous increase in interest in > orchids....which would benefit everyone, growers (even the species > growers), local societies, and the big boys, like the AOS. > Unfortunately, I feel that the opposite has happened...at least > here in the US. Orchids have become commonplace, and even are > regarded by many buyers as "throwaway" plants...and, instead of > generating interest in them, they are just regarded as a common > and available addition to the home...just another nice plant. > Instead of generating widespread interest, they have generated > widespread acceptance...and apathy. Take care, Eric Muehlbauer in > Queens NY...Maudiae "The Queen:" in bloom along with Ascda and > Lycaste "aromatica"....
Hi Eric et al. I haven't tried iron phosphate as slug control - must give it a go. Your comments on the apathy generated by the widespread availability of 'easy' orchids applies here in the UK too, I feel. When I was introduced to orchids 30 years ago it soon became a serious hobby in the sense that I dedicated a greenhouse to orchids and threw out the tomatoes! I even met my husband through our mutual interest in orchids. These days I know a lot of people who have one or two orchids on a windowsill and leave it at that - they never progress beyond thinking of them as ordinary houseplants. If shown things like Masdevallias, Restrepias or, say, Stanhopea they are amazed that they are orchids too. They are generally unaware of (the remaining) orchid nurseries. I wish I knew how to get them interested in growing a wider variety. Regards from soggy Hampshire, England. -- Tricia If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done? _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
