Re: [OGD] Orchids Digest, Vol 7, Issue 454

From my reading, both the Mathis book and the Tulloch book are good and important contributions to the hardy orchid cultural literature. Both are experience-based as opposed to lists like the Cribbs book. They are both well illustrated and show the building of large hardy orchid gardens.

[OGD] Yellow Lady Slipper names

In answer to Rand's question, I invite you to take a look at http:// www.cyps.us/yellow.html. The proper name of a yellow ladyslipper in the Americas is problematic. There are good taxonomic reasons to call the various races subspecies of Cypripedium calceolus. However, the Eurasian calceolu

[OGD] Diatomite and salts

Because of it's ultra-porous structure, Diatomite quickly absorbs water. If the water contains salts and the diatomite is dry, the matrix is saturated with that solution, initially at the concentration of fertilizer you use. When the water evaporates, the salt is left behind since it is not vol

[OGD] Phrag. kovachii/genetic finger print

Genetic variability among even closely related individuals runs at least 1/10%. The greater the genetic distance, the greater the variation. The size of the sequences described here is probably not enough to show much, if any, variability unless the sample is from a genetically extremely divers

[OGD] Paph Rothschildianum blooming time

I have grown about 20 seedlings of Paph Rothschildianum over the past 20 years. Under my conditions (home under lights), all but two have grown very slowly and show no inclination to bloom. One has grown almost large enough to bloom. One has grown very quickly, bloomed at about 10 years, and ha

[OGD] Germination of Pecteilis

Any good media should work. A key requirement for Habenaria/Platanthera/Pecteilis seems to be darkness. I have had Habenaria set in the light for two years on several media doing nothing apparently. When they were inadvertently put in storage for about two months, I returned to find almost 100%

[OGD] Rangaeris amaniensis

I have grown Rangaeris amaniensis for about 25 years on the same slab of tree fern. It is one of the toughest mounted orchids in my experience. It gets misted every morning inside during the Winter and spends the Summer outdoors. It just finished blooming for me. No special water and I've never

[OGD] Clear pots

I am fanatically happy with the Rands Aircone pots which range from clear to almost white. UNDER MY CONDITIONS, they work better than anything else for Paphs and Phrags. I attribute much of this long term benefit to the better airflow. If this were the only factor involved, then any color shoul