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Paph. spicerianum x exul - Check out my greenhouse pictures shown below. When Maryanne figures out how to use the image program, she'll set them so you can enlarge them. |
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Cultural Tips for July 2010 First, re-read last months notes. Comply with that advice, then we can move forward. There's not much new for July. If you are on the three-fertilizer program, you should have switched to the balanced formula by now. That's where the three numbers are the same, as in 20-20-20. Now, with the heat of the summer upon us, it's important to keep your plants as cool as possible. On dryer days, one can sp ritz the foliage. This raises the humidity which helps to prevent transpiration. Check your light intensity. Too much light and they will burn - too little and they will be reluctant to bloom. I hope you have finished your repotting for this growing season. However, if you have not, there is still a little time left for the Phals, Phrags and Paphs. Be careful to avoid damaging your roots but don't delay. Your time is fast slipping away. I know I alluded to this last month, but in our current head, aphids, spider mites and thrips can propagate a new generation about every ten days and they are all born with a voracious appetite for your orchids. Ants bring aphids to your soft new growth and flower times. Mites populate the underside of leaves. They are so small as to be almost invisible. The leaves will start to show a silvering where the chlorophyll has been sucked out. Thrips are similar, but they will attack flowers too. I use our soap and alcohol solution for control. One more pest may show up now. Slugs will come with the rain. Metaldehyde is the cure. For the Good of the Society In order to get orchids in the hands of our members inexpensively, and help pay the rental on the meeting place, we have always held a raffle. We are out of plants for this purpose. If you would like to help alleviate this problem please donate those plants that you no longer need, those duplicates that are taking up bench space needlessly, even those that you no longer like, someone will be happy to have them. You benefit by having more bench space, and the satisfaction of knowing you helped. The society benefits by being able to keep the program going. Call Roger today at 746-2617 Roger
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