The Orchid Garden

Don't spend your weekends mowing the lawn!

Question:

Ken, Ray and Vitaly, Yes.  I applaud your efforts to keep those unruly orchids under control.  I firmly believe we must show these orchids who is boss and not the other way around as I see so much in Florida and Missouri. Indoors… I prefer a machete for orchid trimming as opposed to an electric (or gas powered device)… I like to maintain a more natural one-to-one relationship with the indoor orchids.  Gas/Electric trimmers seems so…. ah…. ah… primitive, brutish, way-too-techno a method to use. Mick PS  John Allison (a heavy weight top vanda grower in Ft Lauderdale) once took pity on a disadvantaged youth who had a cocky streak in his personality.  John hired the boy in his greenhouse as picker-upper/gofer boy out of pity.  He didn’t really need a another helper, but wanted to do his part to help out in society.  All of John’s beautiful vandas are hung uniformly high in his huge greenhouse with roots flowing down everywhere. John left the greenhouse on an errand and told the boy to rake up dead stuff on the greenhouse floors as his first "big" task in the greenhouse.  The boy started right away on the task but quickly became entangled in the aerial roots and upset with the debris falling down the back of his shirt.  So to make his job easier (and to impress John with his natural insight) the boy grabbed some hedge trimmers (electric) and went in and cut all the dangling roots off at exactly 42" above the ground.  His precision was commendable… his effort was not. John was beyond words upon his return from his errand.   Future customers to John’s greenhouse after that episode secretly had a good laugh behind John’s back for quite a long time.  It still brings a smile to my face when I think about it.  It was funny.  The whole place reminded me of comedian Drew Carey turned upside down.  The boy only worked for 1 day for John if I remember right…. but, it was one workday from Hell. Mick

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Mick, What would you suggest for indoor use? I thought one of those hand-held power trimmers will do a nice job. Too bad spikes are a bit long, but that shouldn’t be a problem after the first application. Vitaly I mow all the orchids together…. no botanical specimens/stuff gets any special treatment in my garden.  But, I detect something wrong here by the tone of your note.  How do you guys in Ideeho trim your orchids up? — please remove the underscore to email me

Response:

Mick, They really work wonders and the orchids get fertilized at the same time!!! If you like the natural approach (especially when handling those in the house) you really ought to try it!   Some growers prefer Geese… But I find them way to messy! Marla – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I mow all the orchids together…. no botanical specimens/stuff gets any special treatment in my garden.  But, I detect something wrong here by the tone of your note.  How do you guys in Ideeho trim your orchids up?

Response:

Marla, Splat, splat, splat.  Honk, honk.  Whoa… that sounds like some super serious fertilizer from Ideeho way. Right now we count on our king size Florida mosquitoes for the "natural" stuff down here, but maybe them geeses is the wave of the future for fertilizing these rascal orchids.  We’ll have to investigate it more. Mick

Response:

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Response:

I’d be happy to ship you three or four hundred, do you want them to your greenhouse address or c/o your inlaws? Is it ok if we mix some babies in the crate, they’re getting big already and have feathers more than fuzz….? With every order over 500 we’ll include a free umbrella for personal self-defense. Val

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Marla, Splat, splat, splat.  Honk, honk.  Whoa… that sounds like some super serious fertilizer from Ideeho way. Right now we count on our king size Florida mosquitoes for the "natural" stuff down here, but maybe them geeses is the wave of the future for fertilizing these rascal orchids.  We’ll have to investigate it more. Mick

Response:

Are they orchid trained? Marla – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’d be happy to ship you three or four hundred, do you want them to your greenhouse address or c/o your inlaws? Is it ok if we mix some babies in the crate, they’re getting big already and have feathers more than fuzz….? With every order over 500 we’ll include a free umbrella for personal self-defense. Val

Response:

Weekends should be reserved for family, friends, and football. So don’t waste your valuable time pushin’ a mower around in circles. Leave that hastle to Moe. Moe’s Lawn Care Service offers a full line of lawn care services. With over fifteen years of experience there’s no job that we can’t handle. That’s why at Moe’s we say, "We love to mow and it shows!" http://www.moeslawncareserviceinc.com

Response:

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Response:

Whew, those Aussie lasses are some tough babes alright… they definitely got us Floridians beat with that kind of hardware.  I thought we were tough guys with a 1/4 hp electric hedge/orchid trimmers.  I guess I was wrong. More power to the Aussies! Mick

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Here in Australia, where the orchids grow as big as houses, we find a chainsaw works the best Pam Mick, They really work wonders and the orchids get fertilized at the same time!!! If you like the natural approach (especially when handling those in the house) you really ought to try it!   Some growers prefer Geese… But I find them way to messy! Marla I mow all the orchids together…. no botanical specimens/stuff gets any special treatment in my garden.  But, I detect something wrong here by the tone of your note.  How do you guys in Ideeho trim your orchids up?

Response:

Here in Australia, where the orchids grow as big as houses, we find a chainsaw works the best Pam – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Mick, They really work wonders and the orchids get fertilized at the same time!!! If you like the natural approach (especially when handling those in the house) you really ought to try it!   Some growers prefer Geese… But I find them way to messy! Marla I mow all the orchids together…. no botanical specimens/stuff gets any special treatment in my garden.  But, I detect something wrong here by the tone of your note.  How do you guys in Ideeho trim your orchids up?

Response:

For a minute,  I thought you might be referring to a picture recently posted here. __ Ken Woodward ___ ____Newton, MA___

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Whew, those Aussie lasses are some tough babes alright… they definitely got us Floridians beat with that kind of hardware.  I thought we were tough guys with a 1/4 hp electric hedge/orchid trimmers.  I guess I was wrong. More power to the Aussies! Mick Here in Australia, where the orchids grow as big as houses, we find a chainsaw works the best Pam Mick, They really work wonders and the orchids get fertilized at the same time!!! If you like the natural approach (especially when handling those in the house) you really ought to try it!   Some growers prefer Geese… But I find them way to messy! Marla I mow all the orchids together…. no botanical specimens/stuff gets any special treatment in my garden.  But, I detect something wrong here by the tone of your note.  How do you guys in Ideeho trim your orchids up?

Response:

Yes. I applaud your efforts to keep those unruly orchids under control. I firmly believe we must show these orchids who is boss and not the other way around as I see so much in Florida and Missouri.   Mick, dear:   Are you implying in a general sort of way that Missouri orchid growers are push-overs?!  Softies?!   As to the question of mowing techniques, I just let my cats run free amongst the orchids.  This seems to keep the ‘out of control’ growing situation pretty much in hand.  There are times, however, that I think the ‘cure’ is worse than the disease, if you know what I mean   Fondly,   Karen Got questions?  Get answers over the phone at Keen.com. Up to 100 minutes free! http://www.keen.com

Response:

But I love mowing my lawn….it’s a great form of exersize & a good way to get some sun & air. I have over an acre that I enjoy green…..merrily,merrily,merrily,merrily…life is but a dream !    Dave — Links to my Visionary Art  http://members.delphi.com/3ddave Now available on T-shirts at http://www.zero23.com/zerogal.htm

Response:

My orchid "patch" is in the center of the front lawn… when I cut the grass I just run the mower over the orchid bed also to trim ‘em up nice & pretty. I used to  just "tilt" the helicopter on edge to trim the orchids back (like a giant weed whacker out of the sky)… but mowing ‘em with a regular riding grass mower is much easier… and cheaper. Mick

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – But I love mowing my lawn….it’s a great form of exersize & a good way to get some sun & air. I have over an acre that I enjoy green…..merrily,merrily,merrily,merrily…life is but a dream !    Dave — Links to my Visionary Art  http://members.delphi.com/3ddave Now available on T-shirts at http://www.zero23.com/zerogal.htm

Response:

Mick…… mowing orchids?!!  Somehow, that just sounds sickening and wrong! Do they like it?   What kind of orchids are we talking about here? Marla – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My orchid "patch" is in the center of the front lawn… when I cut the grass I just run the mower over the orchid bed also to trim ‘em up nice & pretty. I used to  just "tilt" the helicopter on edge to trim the orchids back (like a giant weed whacker out of the sky)… but mowing ‘em with a regular riding grass mower is much easier… and cheaper.

Response:

Marla, I mow all the orchids together…. no botanical specimens/stuff gets any special treatment in my garden.  But, I detect something wrong here by the tone of your note.  How do you guys in Ideeho trim your orchids up? Well, gotta’ run… time to sharpen up the blade on my orchid tractor cuttin’ mo’chine. Mick – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Mick…… mowing orchids?!!  Somehow, that just sounds sickening and wrong! Do they like it?   What kind of orchids are we talking about here? Marla

Response:

Right you are, Ken! Although, I really need help on how to cut back on those nasty vandaceous plants that grow so high up.  I tried holding the weed whacker up there, but my arms got really tired. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids         Secure Online Ordering        http://www.firstrays.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I would never mow except maybe to keep the phals flat to the ground. Also, I’ve found that hedge clippers can work wonders on those dens that get out of hand.  Orchid topiaries are a really exciting project, and be sure to get rid of all those nasty air roots.  Above all, be sure to keep the tiller handy in case you need to get rid of those pesky native american terrestrials. __ Ken Woodward ___ ____Newton, MA___ Marla, I mow all the orchids together…. no botanical specimens/stuff gets any special treatment in my garden.  But, I detect something wrong here by the tone of your note.  How do you guys in Ideeho trim your orchids up? Well, gotta’ run… time to sharpen up the blade on my orchid tractor cuttin’ mo’chine. Mick Mick…… mowing orchids?!!  Somehow, that just sounds sickening and wrong! Do they like it?   What kind of orchids are we talking about here? Marla

Response:

Mick, What would you suggest for indoor use? I thought one of those hand-held power trimmers will do a nice job. Too bad spikes are a bit long, but that shouldn’t be a problem after the first application. Vitaly I mow all the orchids together…. no botanical specimens/stuff gets any special treatment in my garden.  But, I detect something wrong here by the tone of your note.  How do you guys in Ideeho trim your orchids up?

– please remove the underscore to email me

Response:

I would never mow except maybe to keep the phals flat to the ground.  Also, I’ve found that hedge clippers can work wonders on those dens that get out of hand.  Orchid topiaries are a really exciting project, and be sure to get rid of all those nasty air roots.  Above all, be sure to keep the tiller handy in case you need to get rid of those pesky native american terrestrials. __ Ken Woodward ___ ____Newton, MA___

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Marla, I mow all the orchids together…. no botanical specimens/stuff gets any special treatment in my garden.  But, I detect something wrong here by the tone of your note.  How do you guys in Ideeho trim your orchids up? Well, gotta’ run… time to sharpen up the blade on my orchid tractor cuttin’ mo’chine. Mick Mick…… mowing orchids?!!  Somehow, that just sounds sickening and wrong! Do they like it?   What kind of orchids are we talking about here? Marla

Response:

Filed under: Orchid Botanical Garden

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