Question:
For the last time, Patrick.
Oh, I bet he could trick you into saying it ANOTHER last time if he wants to. -paggers There is no such thing as your "carnivorous Parrot Plant from Ceylon". The plant you describe does not exist and never did. You would never have seen it in any book on carnivorous plants either because it does not exist. You insist the only carnivorous plant from Sri Lanka (Ceylon) that even comes close to your description (Nepenthes distillatoria) isn’t it.
– "Flowers are commonly badly designed, inartistic in color, & ill-smelling." -Ambrose Bierce Visit the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.angelfire.com/grrl/paghat/gardenhome.html#top
Response:
So you’re convinced that he’s just another troll playing around? He has yet to prove he has any real interest in carnivorous plants.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For the last time, Patrick. Oh, I bet he could trick you into saying it ANOTHER last time if he wants to. -paggers There is no such thing as your "carnivorous Parrot Plant from Ceylon". The plant you describe does not exist and never did. You would never have seen it in any book on carnivorous plants either because it does not exist. You insist the only carnivorous plant from Sri Lanka (Ceylon) that even comes close to your description (Nepenthes distillatoria) isn’t it. — "Flowers are commonly badly designed, inartistic in color, & ill-smelling." -Ambrose Bierce Visit the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.angelfire.com/grrl/paghat/gardenhome.html#top
Response:
Which one of these could I use for politicians? O.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dear Patrick, You have heard wrong. Genuine carnivorous plants occur in six different plant families. Three families have leaves that act as fly paper or active traps. Droseraceae (Drosera, Drosophyllum, Dionaea, Aldrovanda) Byblidaceae (Byblis) Lentibulariaceae (Utricularia, Genlisea, Pinguicula) Pitcher plants are found in three very different plant families. Sarraceniaceae (Sarracenia, Darlingtonia, Heliamphora) Nepenthaceae (Nepenthes) Cephalotaceae (Cephalotus) Spiny desert plant are not carnivorous. There are no carnivorous plants among the monocots. Some bromeliads have a water filled leaf crown but they are not carnivorous. Many plant have glandular hairy leaves and/or stems that trap insects and are mistaken for carnivorous plants. Never heard of the "Madagascar Parrot plant". Is it a common name for a species of Nepenthes? See the carnivorous plant home page for more info. http://www.carnivorousplants.org/ I know about 5 basic kinds of carnivorous plants. Venus fly traps, Pitcher plants, Sundews, Butterworts, & Bladderworts. Are there others? I don’t mean subspecies of the abve, like different types of Sundews or Pitcher plants. I heard that there is something called the Madagascar Parrot plant which is insectivorous. Does anyone know about this? Where can I get the information. What about the Century plant. Is that carnivorous? Thanks in advance for the information. — Patrick D. Rockwell
Response:
For the last time, Patrick. There is no such thing as your "carnivorous Parrot Plant from Ceylon". The plant you describe does not exist and never did. You would never have seen it in any book on carnivorous plants either because it does not exist. You insist the only carnivorous plant from Sri Lanka (Ceylon) that even comes close to your description (Nepenthes distillatoria) isn’t it.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "Patrick I know about 5 basic kinds of carnivorous plants. Venus fly traps, Pitcher plants, Sundews, Butterworts, & Bladderworts. Are there others? I don’t mean subspecies of the abve, like different types of Sundews or Pitcher plants. I heard that there is something called the Madagascar Parrot plant which is insectivorous. Does anyone know about this? Where can I get the information. What about the Century plant. Is that carnivorous? Thanks in advance for the information. I never heard of carniverous Century plant (Agave sp), nor a carniverous Parrot Plant; but my not hearing of them doesn’t mean much. Several epiphytic succulents like the Century Plant may in fact feed on insects [snip] I just remembered something! When I first read about the carnivorous Parrot Plant, I read it in a science book in 1967 when I was eleven years old. But I think that it wasn’t from Madagascar, but from Ceylon! Any carnivorous plants there? I saw a picture in this science book which looked like a wide bird beak sitting on the ground ready to snap shut on anything that stepped into it. 
A bit remensicent of some of the man-eating plants that you might have seen depicted in various sci-fi, horror, fantasy films. As for the Century Plant, I recently saw an old black & white move called "The Thing From Another World", in which one of the characters discussed intelligence in animals, and said that the Century Plant could trap insects and small rodents to digest them, but I guess that’s not true. -Patrick- Do you mean the parrot pitcher plant from Florida? Sarracenia psittacina? It does not snap shut, no pitcher plants do. I think you can find information and a picture in the cp faq at www.sarracenia.com No, the one that I saw looked different. Of course, it was years ago, and I think that I only saw it in that one book. At most, I might have seen it referenced again in another book about carnivorous plants. But I’m sure that what I saw was from Sri Lanka (or Ceylon as it was listed in the book), not Florida.
Response:
Which one of these could I use for politicians?
How about Nepenthes rajah? It has been reported to trap rats and small reptiles. Politicians shouldn’t stretch the diet too much.
Response:
Why bother? Think anthrax!!
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Which one of these could I use for politicians? O. Dear Patrick, You have heard wrong. Genuine carnivorous plants occur in six different plant families. Three families have leaves that act as fly paper or active traps. Droseraceae (Drosera, Drosophyllum, Dionaea, Aldrovanda) Byblidaceae (Byblis) Lentibulariaceae (Utricularia, Genlisea, Pinguicula) Pitcher plants are found in three very different plant families. Sarraceniaceae (Sarracenia, Darlingtonia, Heliamphora) Nepenthaceae (Nepenthes) Cephalotaceae (Cephalotus) Spiny desert plant are not carnivorous. There are no carnivorous plants among the monocots. Some bromeliads have a water filled leaf crown but they are not carnivorous. Many plant have glandular hairy leaves and/or stems that trap insects and are mistaken for carnivorous plants. Never heard of the "Madagascar Parrot plant". Is it a common name for a species of Nepenthes? See the carnivorous plant home page for more info. http://www.carnivorousplants.org/ I know about 5 basic kinds of carnivorous plants. Venus fly traps, Pitcher plants, Sundews, Butterworts, & Bladderworts. Are there others? I don’t mean subspecies of the abve, like different types of Sundews or Pitcher plants. I heard that there is something called the Madagascar Parrot plant which is insectivorous. Does anyone know about this? Where can I get the information. What about the Century plant. Is that carnivorous? Thanks in advance for the information. — Patrick D. Rockwell
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I know about 5 basic kinds of carnivorous plants. Venus fly traps, Pitcher plants, Sundews, Butterworts, & Bladderworts. Are there others? I don’t mean subspecies of the abve, like different types of Sundews or Pitcher plants. I heard that there is something called the Madagascar Parrot plant which is insectivorous. Does anyone know about this? Where can I get the information. What about the Century plant. Is that carnivorous? Thanks in advance for the information. I never heard of carniverous Century plant (Agave sp), nor a carniverous Parrot Plant; but my not hearing of them doesn’t mean much. Several epiphytic succulents like the Century Plant may in fact feed on insects [snip] I just remembered something! When I first read about the carnivorous Parrot Plant, I read it in a science book in 1967 when I was eleven years old. But I think that it wasn’t from Madagascar, but from Ceylon! Any carnivorous plants there? I saw a picture in this science book which looked like a wide bird beak sitting on the ground ready to snap shut on anything that stepped into it. A bit remensicent of some of the man-eating plants that you might have seen depicted in various sci-fi, horror, fantasy films. As for the Century Plant, I recently saw an old black & white move called "The Thing From Another World", in which one of the characters discussed intelligence in animals, and said that the Century Plant could trap insects and small rodents to digest them, but I guess that’s not true. -Patrick- Do you mean the parrot pitcher plant from Florida? Sarracenia psittacina? It does not snap shut, no pitcher plants do. I think you can find information and a picture in the cp faq at www.sarracenia.com
No, the one that I saw looked different. Of course, it was years ago, and I think that I only saw it in that one book. At most, I might have seen it referenced again in another book about carnivorous plants. But I’m sure that what I saw was from Sri Lanka (or Ceylon as it was listed in the book), not Florida.
Response:
None-the-less, what you read as a child about man eating plants is completely fictitious from badly written SCI-FI and does nothing toward understanding or appreciating genuine carnivorous plants. Trying to find out more about a plant that doesn’t exist is a waste of time. The real thing is far more interesting.
[sigh!] |-( Ok, one last time. The book that I saw the plant in was a SCIENCE BOOK, NOT a SCIENCE FICTION book. And I only compared the look of the plant to a tv depiction of a man-eating plant. The SCIENCE BOOK in question described the plant as being an insectivorous plant from Ceylon (Now Sri Lanka). – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Like the Walrus said, There is the parrot pitcher plant from Florida (Sarracenia psittacina) but it does not have active traps. http://www.sarracenia.com/galleria/g252.html http://www.sarracenia.com/faq.html BTW, wasn’t Paul the walrus? — electric walrus If that is what your "Parrot Plant" is, there is no such thing. The Asiatic species of Nepenthes do not have active traps. You shouldn’t watch bad science fiction movies, they have really badly made "man-eating plants" and really bad science advice written by hack writers. Someone your age should know better. The reality of carnivorous plants is far more interesting. I didn’t say that I believe in man eating plants, or in what I see in science fiction/fantasy/horror, nor did I say anything about taking advice from hack writers. My reference to man eating plants in the sci-fi/fantasy/horror genre was only a comparison to the photo that I saw in the science book.I know that I read about this. I was wrong about the country when I said Madagascar, and for all I know, I could be wrong about the name "Parrot Plant" but I’m sure that is what I read. BTW, Ceylon is now Sri Lanka. Thanks for the correction. "Patrick I know about 5 basic kinds of carnivorous plants. Venus fly traps, Pitcher plants, Sundews, Butterworts, & Bladderworts. Are there others? I don’t mean subspecies of the abve, like different types of Sundews or Pitcher plants. I heard that there is something called the Madagascar Parrot plant which is insectivorous. Does anyone know about this? Where can I get the information. What about the Century plant. Is that carnivorous? Thanks in advance for the information. I never heard of carniverous Century plant (Agave sp), nor a carniverous Parrot Plant; but my not hearing of them doesn’t mean much. Several epiphytic succulents like the Century Plant may in fact feed on insects [snip] I just remembered something! When I first read about the carnivorous Parrot Plant, I read it in a science book in 1967 when I was eleven years old. But I think that it wasn’t from Madagascar, but from Ceylon! Any carnivorous plants there? I saw a picture in this science book which looked like a wide bird beak sitting on the ground ready to snap shut on anything that stepped into it. A bit remensicent of some of the man-eating plants that you might have seen depicted in various sci-fi, horror, fantasy films. As for the Century Plant, I recently saw an old black & white move called "The Thing From Another World", in which one of the characters discussed intelligence in animals, and said that the Century Plant could trap insects and small rodents to digest them, but I guess that’s not true. -Patrick-
Response:
An for the last time, I said comparing it to some silly plant in a bad science fiction does not help in identifying it. No science book would say a plant from Ceylon (= Sri Lanka) actively catches animals because no such plant is found on the island. The only carnivorous plant native to Sri Lanka that remotely resembles your "Parrot Plant" is Nepenthes distillatoria. Is that your plant?
No, it sure doesn’t look like it. The photo that I saw was a top view that looked like an open beak on the ground. My impression was that it was supposed to snap shut as soon as something walked over it. http://www.borneoexotics.com/Species%20Data/dist.htm http://www.easycarnivores.co.uk/shop/en-gb/dept_4.html
http://biologicalservers.8m.com/cgi-bin/i/botanic/hidro_botanic/Nepen… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – stillatoria.jpg If you had done a google search, you would have found it yourself. None-the-less, what you read as a child about man eating plants is completely fictitious from badly written SCI-FI and does nothing toward understanding or appreciating genuine carnivorous plants. Trying to find out more about a plant that doesn’t exist is a waste of time. The real thing is far more interesting. [sigh!] |-( Ok, one last time. The book that I saw the plant in was a SCIENCE BOOK, NOT a SCIENCE FICTION book. And I only compared the look of the plant to a tv depiction of a man-eating plant. The SCIENCE BOOK in question described the plant as being an insectivorous plant from Ceylon (Now Sri Lanka). Like the Walrus said, There is the parrot pitcher plant from Florida (Sarracenia psittacina) but it does not have active traps. http://www.sarracenia.com/galleria/g252.html http://www.sarracenia.com/faq.html BTW, wasn’t Paul the walrus? — electric walrus If that is what your "Parrot Plant" is, there is no such thing. The Asiatic species of Nepenthes do not have active traps. You shouldn’t watch bad science fiction movies, they have really badly made "man-eating plants" and really bad science advice written by hack writers. Someone your age should know better. The reality of carnivorous plants is far more interesting. I didn’t say that I believe in man eating plants, or in what I see in science fiction/fantasy/horror, nor did I say anything about taking advice from hack writers. My reference to man eating plants in the sci-fi/fantasy/horror genre was only a comparison to the photo that I saw in the science book.I know that I read about this. I was wrong about the country when I said Madagascar, and for all I know, I could be wrong about the name "Parrot Plant" but I’m sure that is what I read. BTW, Ceylon is now Sri Lanka. Thanks for the correction. In article
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "Patrick I know about 5 basic kinds of carnivorous plants. Venus fly traps, Pitcher plants, Sundews, Butterworts, & Bladderworts. Are there others? I don’t mean subspecies of the abve, like different types of Sundews or Pitcher plants. I heard that there is something called the Madagascar Parrot plant which is insectivorous. Does anyone know about this? Where can I get the information. What about the Century plant. Is that carnivorous? Thanks in advance for the information. I never heard of carniverous Century plant (Agave sp), nor a carniverous Parrot Plant; but my not hearing of them doesn’t mean much. Several epiphytic succulents like the Century Plant may in fact feed on insects [snip] I just remembered something! When I first read about the carnivorous Parrot Plant, I read it in a science book in 1967 when I was eleven years old. But I think that it wasn’t from Madagascar, but from Ceylon! Any carnivorous plants there? I saw a picture in this science book which looked like a wide bird beak sitting on the ground ready to snap shut on anything that stepped into it. A bit remensicent of some of the man-eating plants that you might have seen depicted in various sci-fi, horror, fantasy films. As for the Century Plant, I recently saw an old black & white move called "The Thing From Another World", in which one of the characters discussed intelligence in animals, and said that the Century Plant could trap insects and small rodents to digest them, but I guess that’s not true. -Patrick-
Response:
An for the last time, I said comparing it to some silly plant in a bad science fiction does not help in identifying it.
Sure it does! The primary source on the carniverous wisteria is Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s weird tale "The Giant Wisteria." If not for that story we wouldn’t even know that giant carniverous wisterias existed. And what about Ray Bradbury’s "Boys! Raise Giant Mushrooms In YOUR Cellar!" Would you have known about world-conquering killer mushrooms without Ray Bradbury to tell you? And if so, I bet you have nobody to thank but John Collier whose 1932 tale "Green Thoughts" reveals all one needs to know about carniverous orchids, as plagiarised for the film(s) Little Shop of Horrors. Or Edith Nesbit’s 1923 tale of "The Pavillion" is very revealing about man-eatint vines. You can’t rely on no damn science book for that! Oh, oh, what about Hal Pink’s "The Screaming Plant." We might all be planting mandrakes in our gardens & getting killed by them if not for Hal Pink’s warning! And if not for Robert E. Howard’s "Garden of Fear" how could be possibly know that flowers can become vampires. Would we know there are giant man-eating flowers in the North Carolina wilderness if Manly Wade Wellman hadn’t reported about them in "Come into my Parlor"? I think not! The truth is out there, but scientists know they’ll be hunted down by the government & their brains sucked out (ah, but but what sort of plant!) if they told too much. Heck, we even owe Barry Pain a debt of gratitude for warning us about "The Tree of Death" which produces one giant seed with tentacles that must eat a human being in order to germinate. And if not for Howard Pease’s 1919 tale of "The Wizard of Glororum" however would we know that pitcher plants can grow to a size large enough to devour a man. And who but Jack Snow would have had the nerve to warn us about "The Seed," of an African plant that only germinates its seed in the stomach of a virgin, to her unhappy end. We know only from Carl Jacobi that a walking stick made from The Death Tree can carry out an act of vengeance, as unfolds in "The Cane." And because I doubt you ever read anything by the obscure Neville Kelvington, you are most assuredly at risk of being eaten by the very giant plant described in Trezbound’s diary in the "Meshes of Doom." -paghat the ratgirl — "Flowers are commonly badly designed, inartistic in color, & ill-smelling." -Ambrose Bierce Visit the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.angelfire.com/grrl/paghat/gardenhome.html#top
Response:
An for the last time, I said comparing it to some silly plant in a bad science fiction does not help in identifying it. No science book would say a plant from Ceylon (= Sri Lanka) actively catches animals because no such plant is found on the island. The only carnivorous plant native to Sri Lanka that remotely resembles your "Parrot Plant" is Nepenthes distillatoria. Is that your plant? http://www.borneoexotics.com/Species%20Data/dist.htm http://www.easycarnivores.co.uk/shop/en-gb/dept_4.html http://biologicalservers.8m.com/cgi-bin/i/botanic/hidro_botanic/Nepen… stillatoria.jpg If you had done a google search, you would have found it yourself. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – None-the-less, what you read as a child about man eating plants is completely fictitious from badly written SCI-FI and does nothing toward understanding or appreciating genuine carnivorous plants. Trying to find out more about a plant that doesn’t exist is a waste of time. The real thing is far more interesting. [sigh!] |-( Ok, one last time. The book that I saw the plant in was a SCIENCE BOOK, NOT a SCIENCE FICTION book. And I only compared the look of the plant to a tv depiction of a man-eating plant. The SCIENCE BOOK in question described the plant as being an insectivorous plant from Ceylon (Now Sri Lanka). Like the Walrus said, There is the parrot pitcher plant from Florida (Sarracenia psittacina) but it does not have active traps. http://www.sarracenia.com/galleria/g252.html http://www.sarracenia.com/faq.html BTW, wasn’t Paul the walrus? — electric walrus If that is what your "Parrot Plant" is, there is no such thing. The Asiatic species of Nepenthes do not have active traps. You shouldn’t watch bad science fiction movies, they have really badly made "man-eating plants" and really bad science advice written by hack writers. Someone your age should know better. The reality of carnivorous plants is far more interesting. I didn’t say that I believe in man eating plants, or in what I see in science fiction/fantasy/horror, nor did I say anything about taking advice from hack writers. My reference to man eating plants in the sci-fi/fantasy/horror genre was only a comparison to the photo that I saw in the science book.I know that I read about this. I was wrong about the country when I said Madagascar, and for all I know, I could be wrong about the name "Parrot Plant" but I’m sure that is what I read. BTW, Ceylon is now Sri Lanka. Thanks for the correction. "Patrick I know about 5 basic kinds of carnivorous plants. Venus fly traps, Pitcher plants, Sundews, Butterworts, & Bladderworts. Are there others? I don’t mean subspecies of the abve, like different types of Sundews or Pitcher plants. I heard that there is something called the Madagascar Parrot plant which is insectivorous. Does anyone know about this? Where can I get the information. What about the Century plant. Is that carnivorous? Thanks in advance for the information. I never heard of carniverous Century plant (Agave sp), nor a carniverous Parrot Plant; but my not hearing of them doesn’t mean much. Several epiphytic succulents like the Century Plant may in fact feed on insects [snip] I just remembered something! When I first read about the carnivorous Parrot Plant, I read it in a science book in 1967 when I was eleven years old. But I think that it wasn’t from Madagascar, but from Ceylon! Any carnivorous plants there? I saw a picture in this science book which looked like a wide bird beak sitting on the ground ready to snap shut on anything that stepped into it. A bit remensicent of some of the man-eating plants that you might have seen depicted in various sci-fi, horror, fantasy films. As for the Century Plant, I recently saw an old black & white move called "The Thing From Another World", in which one of the characters discussed intelligence in animals, and said that the Century Plant could trap insects and small rodents to digest them, but I guess that’s not true. -Patrick-
Response:
Check out www.californiacarinvores.com or The Carnivorous Plant FAQ at http://www.sarracenia.com/faq.html There are many other sorts of carnivorous plants. If by Century Plant you mean species of Agave, I don’t believe they are carnivorous. M. Reed. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I know about 5 basic kinds of carnivorous plants. Venus fly traps, Pitcher plants, Sundews, Butterworts, & Bladderworts. Are there others? I don’t mean subspecies of the abve, like different types of Sundews or Pitcher plants. I heard that there is something called the Madagascar Parrot plant which is insectivorous. Does anyone know about this? Where can I get the information. What about the Century plant. Is that carnivorous? Thanks in advance for the information. — Patrick D. Rockwell
Response:
None-the-less, what you read as a child about man eating plants is completely fictitious from badly written SCI-FI and does nothing toward understanding or appreciating genuine carnivorous plants. Trying to find out more about a plant that doesn’t exist is a waste of time. The real thing is far more interesting. Like the Walrus said, There is the parrot pitcher plant from Florida (Sarracenia psittacina) but it does not have active traps. http://www.sarracenia.com/galleria/g252.html http://www.sarracenia.com/faq.html BTW, wasn’t Paul the walrus? — electric walrus – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If that is what your "Parrot Plant" is, there is no such thing. The Asiatic species of Nepenthes do not have active traps. You shouldn’t watch bad science fiction movies, they have really badly made "man-eating plants" and really bad science advice written by hack writers. Someone your age should know better. The reality of carnivorous plants is far more interesting. I didn’t say that I believe in man eating plants, or in what I see in science fiction/fantasy/horror, nor did I say anything about taking advice from hack writers. My reference to man eating plants in the sci-fi/fantasy/horror genre was only a comparison to the photo that I saw in the science book.I know that I read about this. I was wrong about the country when I said Madagascar, and for all I know, I could be wrong about the name "Parrot Plant" but I’m sure that is what I read. BTW, Ceylon is now Sri Lanka. Thanks for the correction. "Patrick I know about 5 basic kinds of carnivorous plants. Venus fly traps, Pitcher plants, Sundews, Butterworts, & Bladderworts. Are there others? I don’t mean subspecies of the abve, like different types of Sundews or Pitcher plants. I heard that there is something called the Madagascar Parrot plant which is insectivorous. Does anyone know about this? Where can I get the information. What about the Century plant. Is that carnivorous? Thanks in advance for the information. I never heard of carniverous Century plant (Agave sp), nor a carniverous Parrot Plant; but my not hearing of them doesn’t mean much. Several epiphytic succulents like the Century Plant may in fact feed on insects [snip] I just remembered something! When I first read about the carnivorous Parrot Plant, I read it in a science book in 1967 when I was eleven years old. But I think that it wasn’t from Madagascar, but from Ceylon! Any carnivorous plants there? I saw a picture in this science book which looked like a wide bird beak sitting on the ground ready to snap shut on anything that stepped into it. A bit remensicent of some of the man-eating plants that you might have seen depicted in various sci-fi, horror, fantasy films. As for the Century Plant, I recently saw an old black & white move called "The Thing From Another World", in which one of the characters discussed intelligence in animals, and said that the Century Plant could trap insects and small rodents to digest them, but I guess that’s not true. -Patrick-
Response:
If that is what your "Parrot Plant" is, there is no such thing. The Asiatic species of Nepenthes do not have active traps. You shouldn’t watch bad science fiction movies, they have really badly made "man-eating plants" and really bad science advice written by hack writers. Someone your age should know better. The reality of carnivorous plants is far more interesting.
I didn’t say that I believe in man eating plants, or in what I see in science fiction/fantasy/horror, nor did I say anything about taking advice from hack writers. My reference to man eating plants in the sci-fi/fantasy/horror genre was only a comparison to the photo that I saw in the science book.I know that I read about this. I was wrong about the country when I said Madagascar, and for all I know, I could be wrong about the name "Parrot Plant" but I’m sure that is what I read. BTW, Ceylon is now Sri Lanka.
Thanks for the correction. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "Patrick I know about 5 basic kinds of carnivorous plants. Venus fly traps, Pitcher plants, Sundews, Butterworts, & Bladderworts. Are there others? I don’t mean subspecies of the abve, like different types of Sundews or Pitcher plants. I heard that there is something called the Madagascar Parrot plant which is insectivorous. Does anyone know about this? Where can I get the information. What about the Century plant. Is that carnivorous? Thanks in advance for the information. I never heard of carniverous Century plant (Agave sp), nor a carniverous Parrot Plant; but my not hearing of them doesn’t mean much. Several epiphytic succulents like the Century Plant may in fact feed on insects [snip] I just remembered something! When I first read about the carnivorous Parrot Plant, I read it in a science book in 1967 when I was eleven years old. But I think that it wasn’t from Madagascar, but from Ceylon! Any carnivorous plants there? I saw a picture in this science book which looked like a wide bird beak sitting on the ground ready to snap shut on anything that stepped into it. A bit remensicent of some of the man-eating plants that you might have seen depicted in various sci-fi, horror, fantasy films. As for the Century Plant, I recently saw an old black & white move called "The Thing From Another World", in which one of the characters discussed intelligence in animals, and said that the Century Plant could trap insects and small rodents to digest them, but I guess that’s not true. -Patrick-
Response:
I know about 5 basic kinds of carnivorous plants. Venus fly traps, Pitcher plants, Sundews, Butterworts, & Bladderworts. Are there others? I don’t mean subspecies of the abve, like different types of Sundews or Pitcher plants. I heard that there is something called the Madagascar Parrot plant which is insectivorous. Does anyone know about this? Where can I get the information. What about the Century plant. Is that carnivorous? Thanks in advance for the information. — Patrick D. Rockwell
Response:
I know about 5 basic kinds of carnivorous plants. Venus fly traps, Pitcher plants, Sundews, Butterworts, & Bladderworts. Are there others? I don’t mean subspecies of the abve, like different types of Sundews or Pitcher plants. I heard that there is something called the Madagascar Parrot plant which is insectivorous. Does anyone know about this? Where can I get the information. What about the Century plant. Is that carnivorous? Thanks in advance for the information.
I never heard of carniverous Century plant (Agave sp), nor a carniverous Parrot Plant; but my not hearing of them doesn’t mean much. Several epiphytic succulents like the Century Plant may in fact feed on insects but probably only those that incidentally die in the soilless invironments & arboreal settings of many epiphytes, so I’m not ruling it out, but I don’t think century plants are thus categorized. Your list appears to miss Aldrovanada (Waterwheels) which resemble pitcher plants; Cobra Lily (Darlingtonia, not jack-in-the-pulpit cobra lilies) which is one of the most garden-hardy of all carniverous plants; Byblis ("Rainbow Plant"); Drosophyllum (Dewy Pine); Genlisea ("Corkscrew Plant" with very pretty normal flowers); & Polypomphoolyx (Fairy Aprons). Shepard’s Purse (Capsella) are known to capture insects & there are several other "sticky" plants that catch but don’t seem to ingest prey & most overviews of carniverous plants will discuss several almost-carnivors. "Pitcher plant" is itself a catch-all name for the genera Sarracenia, Heliamphora, & Nepenthes…so that is not a matter of "subspecies" at all, there being many species in each genus before ever getting round to subspecies & hybrids. There are a very few bromiliads ("air plants") that include species adapted to ingest insects that drown in their centers; I don’t have a list of the species but they occur in the genera Catopsis & Brocchinia (not all in these genera are carniverous & those which are are not completely dependent on insects to obtain nutrients). There may be other epiphytic plants that to some extent do this, I’ve not read enough about them to know for sure. There is a species of Utricularia bladderwort that lives inside the aforementioned Brocchinia, where its only nutirient source is the insects that drown in the Brocchinia, so it looks like two epiphytic plants at once are feeding off the same insects! You should obtain J. & P. Pietropaulo’s CARNIVEROUS PLANTS OF THE WORLD. In the mean time you can find out a bit in a hurry at www.sarracenia.com which site has info on more than just Sarracenia spp. -paghat — "Flowers are commonly badly designed, inartistic in color, & ill-smelling." -Ambrose Bierce Visit the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.angelfire.com/grrl/paghat/gardenhome.html#top
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I know about 5 basic kinds of carnivorous plants. Venus fly traps, Pitcher plants, Sundews, Butterworts, & Bladderworts. Are there others? I don’t mean subspecies of the abve, like different types of Sundews or Pitcher plants. I heard that there is something called the Madagascar Parrot plant which is insectivorous. Does anyone know about this? Where can I get the information. What about the Century plant. Is that carnivorous? Thanks in advance for the information. I never heard of carniverous Century plant (Agave sp), nor a carniverous Parrot Plant; but my not hearing of them doesn’t mean much. Several epiphytic succulents like the Century Plant may in fact feed on insects [snip] I just remembered something! When I first read about the carnivorous Parrot Plant, I read it in a science book in 1967 when I was eleven years old. But I think that it wasn’t from Madagascar, but from Ceylon! Any carnivorous plants there? I saw a picture in this science book which looked like a wide bird beak sitting on the ground ready to snap shut on anything that stepped into it. A bit remensicent of some of the man-eating plants that you might have seen depicted in various sci-fi, horror, fantasy films. As for the Century Plant, I recently saw an old black & white move called "The Thing From Another World", in which one of the characters discussed intelligence in animals, and said that the Century Plant could trap insects and small rodents to digest them, but I guess that’s not true. -Patrick-
Do you mean the parrot pitcher plant from Florida? Sarracenia psittacina? It does not snap shut, no pitcher plants do. I think you can find information and a picture in the cp faq at www.sarracenia.com — electric walrus
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Dear Patrick, You have heard wrong. Genuine carnivorous plants occur in six different plant families. Three families have leaves that act as fly paper or active traps. Droseraceae (Drosera, Drosophyllum, Dionaea, Aldrovanda) Byblidaceae (Byblis) Lentibulariaceae (Utricularia, Genlisea, Pinguicula) Pitcher plants are found in three very different plant families. Sarraceniaceae (Sarracenia, Darlingtonia, Heliamphora) Nepenthaceae (Nepenthes) Cephalotaceae (Cephalotus) Spiny desert plant are not carnivorous. There are no carnivorous plants among the monocots. Some bromeliads have a water filled leaf crown but they are not carnivorous. Many plant have glandular hairy leaves and/or stems that trap insects and are mistaken for carnivorous plants. Never heard of the "Madagascar Parrot plant". Is it a common name for a species of Nepenthes? See the carnivorous plant home page for more info. http://www.carnivorousplants.org/ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I know about 5 basic kinds of carnivorous plants. Venus fly traps, Pitcher plants, Sundews, Butterworts, & Bladderworts. Are there others? I don’t mean subspecies of the abve, like different types of Sundews or Pitcher plants. I heard that there is something called the Madagascar Parrot plant which is insectivorous. Does anyone know about this? Where can I get the information. What about the Century plant. Is that carnivorous? Thanks in advance for the information. — Patrick D. Rockwell
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I know about 5 basic kinds of carnivorous plants. Venus fly traps, Pitcher plants, Sundews, Butterworts, & Bladderworts. Are there others? I don’t mean subspecies of the abve, like different types of Sundews or Pitcher plants. I heard that there is something called the Madagascar Parrot plant which is insectivorous. Does anyone know about this? Where can I get the information. What about the Century plant. Is that carnivorous? Thanks in advance for the information. I never heard of carniverous Century plant (Agave sp), nor a carniverous Parrot Plant; but my not hearing of them doesn’t mean much. Several epiphytic succulents like the Century Plant may in fact feed on insects [snip]
I just remembered something! When I first read about the carnivorous Parrot Plant, I read it in a science book in 1967 when I was eleven years old. But I think that it wasn’t from Madagascar, but from Ceylon! Any carnivorous plants there? I saw a picture in this science book which looked like a wide bird beak sitting on the ground ready to snap shut on anything that stepped into it. A bit remensicent of some of the man-eating plants that you might have seen depicted in various sci-fi, horror, fantasy films. As for the Century Plant, I recently saw an old black & white move called "The Thing From Another World", in which one of the characters discussed intelligence in animals, and said that the Century Plant could trap insects and small rodents to digest them, but I guess that’s not true. -Patrick-
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I know about 5 basic kinds of carnivorous plants. Venus fly traps, Pitcher plants, Sundews, Butterworts, & Bladderworts. Are there others? I don’t mean subspecies of the abve, like different types of Sundews or Pitcher plants. I heard that there is something called the Madagascar Parrot plant which is insectivorous. Does anyone know about this? Where can I get the information. What about the Century plant. Is that carnivorous? Thanks in advance for the information. I never heard of carniverous Century plant (Agave sp), nor a carniverous Parrot Plant; but my not hearing of them doesn’t mean much. Several epiphytic succulents like the Century Plant may in fact feed on insects [snip] I just remembered something! When I first read about the carnivorous Parrot Plant, I read it in a science book in 1967 when I was eleven years old. But I think that it wasn’t from Madagascar, but from Ceylon! Any carnivorous plants there? I saw a picture in this science book which looked like a wide bird beak sitting on the ground ready to snap shut on anything that stepped into it.
Sounds possibly like the lower pitcher of a Nepenthes. N.distillatoria is found in Sri Lanka. N.madagascariensis and N.masoalensis are native to Madagascar. Most other Nepenthes species are found in South Eastern Asia. FWIW the lids of Nepenthes do not shut when prey enters the trap. After opening, the lids only tend to close when humidity is low. Andrew
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If that is what your "Parrot Plant" is, there is no such thing. The Asiatic species of Nepenthes do not have active traps. You shouldn’t watch bad science fiction movies, they have really badly made "man-eating plants" and really bad science advice written by hack writers. Someone your age should know better. The reality of carnivorous plants is far more interesting. BTW, Ceylon is now Sri Lanka.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I know about 5 basic kinds of carnivorous plants. Venus fly traps, Pitcher plants, Sundews, Butterworts, & Bladderworts. Are there others? I don’t mean subspecies of the abve, like different types of Sundews or Pitcher plants. I heard that there is something called the Madagascar Parrot plant which is insectivorous. Does anyone know about this? Where can I get the information. What about the Century plant. Is that carnivorous? Thanks in advance for the information. I never heard of carniverous Century plant (Agave sp), nor a carniverous Parrot Plant; but my not hearing of them doesn’t mean much. Several epiphytic succulents like the Century Plant may in fact feed on insects [snip] I just remembered something! When I first read about the carnivorous Parrot Plant, I read it in a science book in 1967 when I was eleven years old. But I think that it wasn’t from Madagascar, but from Ceylon! Any carnivorous plants there? I saw a picture in this science book which looked like a wide bird beak sitting on the ground ready to snap shut on anything that stepped into it. A bit remensicent of some of the man-eating plants that you might have seen depicted in various sci-fi, horror, fantasy films. As for the Century Plant, I recently saw an old black & white move called "The Thing From Another World", in which one of the characters discussed intelligence in animals, and said that the Century Plant could trap insects and small rodents to digest them, but I guess that’s not true. -Patrick-
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Question:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – bit of wisdom: 1 is in pure bark; the other is in the ?peat/bark? mix (they came this way) Yup. That’s why I suggested that it might have once been a chunky bark mix that has broken down. All bark mixes will do this eventually. The problem becomes that when it does this, it gets heavier and the tiny particles pack down around the roots. This cuts off the air circulation to them which is so vital to the good health of the roots as well as the entire plant. And that’s when problems happen. We try to repot into new bark every year or two (depends on each individual growers conditions and what they actually use for their mix) to keep this from happening. i have *offiicial* orchid mix and will stop (have stopped) the misting, and will rePot them… Well, you don’t have to stop the misting altogether. Once a day is fine. And remember… if they are in the bathroom, they are going to be misted naturally every time someone takes a bath or shower. The only change I’d make to your routine (after repotting into a fresh mix) would be to your watering schedule. Don’t just measure the water and give a tiny bit. Don’t be afraid to take them to the sink and really douse them with water until you see the water pouring out the bottom of the pot. The white stuff on healthy roots (velamen) will turn bright green, telling you that those cells have absorbed moisture. This flushes excess salts out of the pot and makes for a healthier environment. When I water, I usually let the water run through the pot for a good minute or two, until I know that the bark is completely saturated right through. Then the plant can be left to dry out for the rest of the week, as it would do in nature. * * * * * Karen C. Southern CT / USDA Zone 6 Spammers be damned! I can’t be emailed from this account… "Gardeners know all the best dirt!"
Thank you VERY much for the advice and information! i appreciate it! sincerely Tanya
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – how often do you water? they require VERY little water btw i water mine ~ 1/3 cup max once per week ????? Mine get doused heavily twice a week during the summer and some of them have been living (and blooming) happily for 20+ years. Phals actually like things a bit on the moist side. Frequency of watering depends a lot on your conditions and the potting mix, but when you do water, water heavily to wet all the potting mix and to help flush accumulated salts. Bottom leaves can yellow and dies naturally as the plant ages, but often it is due to bad roots – either the potting mix has gotten too old or there too much / too much moisture around the roots. You can carefully dump the plant part way out of the pot to check the roots. If the roots are dead and/or rotten, the potting mix is probably bad and you should repot. I would use orchid sphagnum moss and a clay pot for a plant with damaged or no roots. deg
Hi i neglected to mention that the 2 phaelenopsis (spelling:) live in a *humid* bathRoom and get misted 2-3 times per day (avoiding the crowns) Plus 1 is in a mix of bark and peat (?) SOOOooo i imagine the above explains the <low frequency and <small amount of water they get more clearly sincerely Tanya
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<< the 2 Phalaenopsis (sic) live in a *humid* bathRoom and get misted 2-3 times per day (avoiding the crowns) Plus 1 is in a mix of bark and peat I would recommend you repot both your plants into a more suitable mix. Some large garden centers sell orchid mix, or contact your nearest orchid club. Iris, Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40 "The trouble with people is not that they don’t know but that they know so much that ain’t so." Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw), 1818-1885
Hello Iris, Thanks a lot for the advice… both plants are in *orchid culture* (they came with it) (inOtherWords i did *not* rePot them <yet) i have orchid mix and will rePot them as per your suggestion much appreciated! sincerely Tanya
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how often do you water? they require VERY little water btw i water mine ~ 1/3 cup max once per week
????? Mine get doused heavily twice a week during the summer and some of them have been living (and blooming) happily for 20+ years. Phals actually like things a bit on the moist side. Frequency of watering depends a lot on your conditions and the potting mix, but when you do water, water heavily to wet all the potting mix and to help flush accumulated salts. Bottom leaves can yellow and dies naturally as the plant ages, but often it is due to bad roots – either the potting mix has gotten too old or there too much / too much moisture around the roots. You can carefully dump the plant part way out of the pot to check the roots. If the roots are dead and/or rotten, the potting mix is probably bad and you should repot. I would use orchid sphagnum moss and a clay pot for a plant with damaged or no roots. deg
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Hello Karen. thanks very much for answering! (below) bit of wisdom: i neglected to mention that the 2 phaelenopsis (spelling:) live in a *humid* bathRoom and get misted 2-3 times per day (avoiding the crowns) Plus 1 is in a mix of bark and peat (?) Of course, everyone grows orchids a bit differently according to each person’s individual growing conditions. But I’ve heard it stated that misting orchids is a little bit like masturbation!
<lol but seriously (FWIW) i did ask in the orchid newGroup re: misting and was told that it is fine as long as they can dry off but i’ll follow your suggestion… Orchids want to be watered completely and generously and then DRIED OUT! This is the reason why we put these epiphytic plants in very open mixes made up of various ingredients like fir bark chips, lava rock or whatever. I fear the mix you have your phals in was once like this and has now broken down. If so, misting 2-3 times a day is kind of flirting with disaster.
1 is in pure bark; the other is in the ?peat/bark? mix (they came this way) If these were my plants, I’d repot them immediately into some coarse commercial orchid mix (usually consists of fir bark/charcoal/large perlite) and cut out the misting in favor of a good, deep dousing with room-temperature water once a week or as necessary.
i have *offiicial* orchid mix and will stop (have stopped) the misting, and will rePot them… THANKS! sincerely Tanya – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – * * * * * Karen C. Southern CT / USDA Zone 6 Spammers be damned! I can’t be emailed from this account… "Gardeners know all the best dirt!"
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<< the 2 Phalaenopsis (sic) live in a *humid* bathRoom and get misted 2-3 times per day (avoiding the crowns) Plus 1 is in a mix of bark and peat I would recommend you repot both your plants into a more suitable mix. Some large garden centers sell orchid mix, or contact your nearest orchid club. Iris, Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40 "The trouble with people is not that they don’t know but that they know so much that ain’t so." Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw), 1818-1885
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<< We recently bought a Phalaenopsis or moth orchid and we keep it inside the house. It was blooming at the time, but since then the blooms have fallen off. I’ve been looking for a good resource on orchid care on the web, but with little luck. Most sites are very general. <<Can anyone tell me how/where to prune after the blooms go away? Using a sterile disposable razor blade, cut the flower stem off at its base. <<A white "fuzz" have developed on the plant and one of the two leaves has turned all yellow. I suspect you have mealy bugs. Use a good systemic insecticide & don’t fool around with ineffective soaps & home remedies. I use Orthenex. Use it now, as you will have to spray outside (it is not for indoor use). Follow the directions; spray about 3 times a week apart. In the unlikely event you have a fungus (which I doubt, as Phals usually don’t get powdery mildew), Orthenex will treat that too. You should be fertilizing regularly, as your plant needs to replace that yellow leaf. Iris, Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40 "The trouble with people is not that they don’t know but that they know so much that ain’t so." Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw), 1818-1885
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Hello all, We recently bought a Phalaenopsis or moth orchid and we keep it inside the house. It was blooming at the time, but since then the blooms have fallen off. I’ve been looking for a good resource on orchid care on the web, but with little luck. Most sites are very general. Can anyone tell me how/where to prune after the blooms go away? A while "fuzz" have developed on the plant and one of the two leaves has turned all yellow. Can anyone provide some help? Thanks! Dave M.
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http://www.imagine123.com/orchidtips/ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello all, We recently bought a Phalaenopsis or moth orchid and we keep it inside the house. It was blooming at the time, but since then the blooms have fallen off. I’ve been looking for a good resource on orchid care on the web, but with little luck. Most sites are very general. Can anyone tell me how/where to prune after the blooms go away? A while "fuzz" have developed on the plant and one of the two leaves has turned all yellow. Can anyone provide some help? Thanks! Dave M.
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Hello all, We recently bought a Phalaenopsis or moth orchid and we keep it inside the house. It was blooming at the time, but since then the blooms have fallen off. I’ve been looking for a good resource on orchid care on the web, but with little luck. Most sites are very general. Can anyone tell me how/where to prune after the blooms go away?
supposedly, you should cut the spike to 2 nodes below the lowest bloom…or you could cut it off at the origin…(many of the orchid people suggest cutting close to the origin… many use cinnamon (the spice) on the cut part A while "fuzz" have developed on the plant and one of the two leaves has turned all yellow.
what part of the plant is the white fuzz? how often do you water? they require VERY little water btw i water mine ~ 1/3 cup max once per week Can anyone provide some help? Thanks! Dave M.
Hi Dave, if noOne from this group can answer your questions, try the following ng: rec.gardens.orchid sincerely Tanya
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Question:
I am a newbie to this group and would like to follow your messages for a while, if I may, and perhaps post from time to time? I live in Maryland (in Zone 7) and am interested in gardening even though I have a black thumb! Thank you. —
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Welcome! BTW, there’s no such thing as a black thumb. All of us have made mistakes and experienced frustrations. From this, we eventually achieve succes. I’m in zone 7ish too, in No.CA. What are you interested in growing? What’s your garden like? I look forward to hearing about your experiences. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I am a newbie to this group and would like to follow your messages for a while, if I may, and perhaps post from time to time? I live in Maryland (in Zone 7) and am interested in gardening even though I have a black thumb!
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I am a newbie to this group and would like to follow your messages for a while, if I may, and perhaps post from time to time? I live in Maryland (in Zone 7) and am interested in gardening even though I have a black thumb! Thank you. —
There’s one such thing as a Black Thumb you haven’t taken the wrappings off yet. mouser Lord help me be the person my dog thinks I am.
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Welcome to the group! The more, the merrier! -Trillian – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a newbie to this group and would like to follow your messages for a while, if I may, and perhaps post from time to time? I live in Maryland (in Zone 7) and am interested in gardening even though I have a black thumb! Thank you. —
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Welcome to the group! I replied to this yesterday, but either I hit the wrong doodad and emailed it or it disappeared into cyberspace. Anyway- what I have to do with my indoor starts is to toughen them up outside gradually by carrying the pots out in the daytime and bringing them back in at night for a couple of weeks before I actually plant them outside. Something similar might help with your situation. Good luck!
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Welcome Karlman. — (o)_(o) / ,, , / Uhhhh,…ribbit. Please remove the "*" asterick at the beginning of my e-mail address to reply.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello Everyone, As you can guess, I am new to the group. I just wanted to drop a quick note to introduce myself. Anyway, I have been involved in gardening quite a while. My dad used to have a nursery business in Texas and I learned quite a lot. Now, the tables are turned. My wife and I moved up in the mountains of northern New Mexico and the climate has me totally screwed up as far as gardening goes. We are at approximately 8500ft elevation so it still gets cold at night. According to my neighbors, the winter this year was pretty mild (only got down to -13F) so I am guessing we are probably somewhere around zone 2 or 3 in my immediate area. I am hoping that people in similar climates will be able to offer tips and advice on gardening in both cold climates and high altitudes. Here’s a perfect example: I started some of my vegatable plants inside and finally the weather warmed up enough to move them out to the garden. Well, the day I planted them was the warmest day so far this year so I though I would be ok (this was 2 days ago). Needless to say, the nighttime temperature dropped to around 29F and I lost almost all of my plants. Live and Learn I guess. Karl
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Hi Karl welcome, the people in this group are the friendliest and most helpful . if they don’t know something , they will do all they can to find out. ther’s always someone here who can give great advice and suggestions. just ask anything. jacki z8 nw florida http://community.webtv.net/Bearz-Lady/BearzLady1LovesAll http://community.webtv.net/Bearz-Lady/Bearz_Ladyhomepage
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Thanks for the zone info. Are these zones you reported from the newer USDA zone maps? I am not sure but I had heard that the maps were being re-done. I’m not doubting you, of course, but I thought zone 4 was -20 to -10.
This is from the system that split the zones into A and B portions. That’s not especially new, as it took place quite some years ago. But all that really did is chop the zones into 5 degree intervals instead of 10. I haven’t heard of any newer USDA system, save a separate one for heat zones. And zone 5 is the -10 to -20 zone according to maps I’ve seen. Zone 4 goes -20 to -30. And that’s *Average* annual minimum. In an extreme winter, it can get considerably colder than that. Maybe I mis-read something or I have an outdated map??
It could be possible that you mis-read the map. Or that it was incorrect. The basic USDA system has been copied by everyone, and there’s no assurance that it is always copied accurately. I talked to a neighbor tonight that has lived in this area for 6 years. He said the coldest it had gotten since he moved here was -30 but it was only for 3 or 4 nights.
Again, that could be an extreme temperature, but it certainly isn’t out of the running for something that could happen sometimes in zone 4B or 5A. Even in 5B, on very rare occasions. Regards, Bill — "Those who do not learn the lessons of science fiction are condemned to live them."
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Thanks for the zone info. Are these zones you reported from the newer USDA zone maps? I am not sure but I had heard that the maps were being re-done. I’m not doubting you, of course, but I thought zone 4 was -20 to -10. Maybe I mis-read something or I have an outdated map?? I talked to a neighbor tonight that has lived in this area for 6 years. He said the coldest it had gotten since he moved here was -30 but it was only for 3 or 4 nights. Thanks, Karl Jemez Mountains, New Mexico 8500ft, Zone: ??
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello Everyone, As you can guess, I am new to the group. I just wanted to drop a quick note to introduce myself. Anyway, I have been involved in gardening quite a while. My dad used to have a nursery business in Texas and I learned quite a lot. Now, the tables are turned. My wife and I moved up in the mountains of northern New Mexico and the climate has me totally screwed up as far as gardening goes. We are at approximately 8500ft elevation so it still gets cold at night. According to my neighbors, the winter this year was pretty mild (only got down to -13F) so I am guessing we are probably somewhere around zone 2 or 3 in my immediate area. I think 4B is as far as it goes in that area of NM. 5A and 5B are also in the area, and more extensive. It gets cold sometimes in all those zones. If the temperature you quoted is the average annual temp, you’d be in 5B, which has the -10 to -15 range. But as you said that was mild, you might be looking at 5A (-15 to -20) or 4B (-20 to -25). Oh, and your Sunset zone? That would most likely be (dare I say it?): Zone 1, the zone of half the West… Regards, Bill I am hoping that people in similar climates will be able to offer tips and advice on gardening in both cold climates and high altitudes. Here’s a perfect example: I started some of my vegatable plants inside and finally the weather warmed up enough to move them out to the garden. Well, the day I planted them was the warmest day so far this year so I though I would be ok (this was 2 days ago). Needless to say, the nighttime temperature dropped to around 29F and I lost almost all of my plants. Live and Learn I guess. Karl — "Those who do not learn the lessons of science fiction are condemned to live them."
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Hello Everyone, As you can guess, I am new to the group. I just wanted to drop a quick note to introduce myself. Anyway, I have been involved in gardening quite a while. My dad used to have a nursery business in Texas and I learned quite a lot. Now, the tables are turned. My wife and I moved up in the mountains of northern New Mexico and the climate has me totally screwed up as far as gardening goes. We are at approximately 8500ft elevation so it still gets cold at night. According to my neighbors, the winter this year was pretty mild (only got down to -13F) so I am guessing we are probably somewhere around zone 2 or 3 in my immediate area.
I think 4B is as far as it goes in that area of NM. 5A and 5B are also in the area, and more extensive. It gets cold sometimes in all those zones. If the temperature you quoted is the average annual temp, you’d be in 5B, which has the -10 to -15 range. But as you said that was mild, you might be looking at 5A (-15 to -20) or 4B (-20 to -25). Oh, and your Sunset zone? That would most likely be (dare I say it?): Zone 1, the zone of half the West… Regards, Bill I am hoping that people in similar climates will be able to offer tips and advice on gardening in both cold climates and high altitudes. Here’s a perfect example: I started some of my vegatable plants inside and finally the weather warmed up enough to move them out to the garden. Well, the day I planted them was the warmest day so far this year so I though I would be ok (this was 2 days ago). Needless to say, the nighttime temperature dropped to around 29F and I lost almost all of my plants. Live and Learn I guess. Karl
– "Those who do not learn the lessons of science fiction are condemned to live them."
Response:
Hello Everyone, As you can guess, I am new to the group. I just wanted to drop a quick note to introduce myself. Anyway, I have been involved in gardening quite a while. My dad used to have a nursery business in Texas and I learned quite a lot. Now, the tables are turned. My wife and I moved up in the mountains of northern New Mexico and the climate has me totally screwed up as far as gardening goes. We are at approximately 8500ft elevation so it still gets cold at night. According to my neighbors, the winter this year was pretty mild (only got down to -13F) so I am guessing we are probably somewhere around zone 2 or 3 in my immediate area. I am hoping that people in similar climates will be able to offer tips and advice on gardening in both cold climates and high altitudes. Here’s a perfect example: I started some of my vegatable plants inside and finally the weather warmed up enough to move them out to the garden. Well, the day I planted them was the warmest day so far this year so I though I would be ok (this was 2 days ago). Needless to say, the nighttime temperature dropped to around 29F and I lost almost all of my plants. Live and Learn I guess. Karl
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Looking for a gardening group. Looks like I found one ;o) Please tell me, does this group have a faq or charter?
Not really. We prefer to wrangle endlessly. http://www.faqs.org/faqs/by-newsgroup/rec/rec.gardens.html is as close as it gets. I’d sure like someone to take up the torch. Nominate: 1. Are these seeds too old to plant? 2. What is the best gardening book? 3. I want to start gardening. What do I do?
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Hi Looking for a gardening group. Looks like I found one ;o) Please tell me, does this group have a faq or charter? — William Tasso – http://www.tbdata.com/
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Where is this gardening group you found? The rest of us are curious where it is!!! Would be interested in seeing that faq or charter you speak of.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Looking for a gardening group. Looks like I found one ;o) Please tell me, does this group have a faq or charter? — William Tasso – http://www.tbdata.com/
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Hi Looking for a gardening group. Looks like I found one ;o) Please tell me, does this group have a faq or charter? Where is this gardening group you found?
Hi Cereoid+1+ , so you’re the clown in this group then ;o) The rest of us are curious where it is!!!
look around. which ‘us’ exactly is that then? Would be interested in seeing that faq or charter you speak of.
I’ll take that as a ‘no’ then. – William Tasso – http://www.tbdata.com/
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?? not sure but we have aphids, blister beetles, perennials by the ton, veggies, fruit, trees, grasses, cacti, orchids, roses and more cat and dog and crappy neighbors to keep you reading into the next springtime. Welcome William to "wreck.gardens" home of real people and the occasional flamer and troll (we try to ignore them) madgardener one of the old folks around here
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Looking for a gardening group. Looks like I found one ;o) Please tell me, does this group have a faq or charter? — William Tasso – http://www.tbdata.com/
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Hi Looking for a gardening group. Looks like I found one ;o) Please tell me, does this group have a faq or charter? ?? not sure
just had a quick trawl round google – could have done that before I suppose, but it’s polite to ask ;o). Couldn’t find a reference to faq or charter so I guess I’ll just have to muddle on thru. but we have aphids, blister beetles, perennials by the ton, veggies, fruit, trees, grasses, cacti, orchids, roses and more cat and dog and crappy neighbors to keep you reading into the next springtime.
sounds about right. don’t forget vine weevils and slugs. oops, you already mentioned the neighbours. Welcome William to "wreck.gardens" home of real people and the occasional flamer and troll (we try to ignore them)
lol – all groups have those and thank you
– William Tasso – http://www.tbdata.com/
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There are all Bozos on this bus. Do you want to be the first stand up comic in the group?
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Looking for a gardening group. Looks like I found one ;o) Please tell me, does this group have a faq or charter? Where is this gardening group you found? Hi Cereoid+1+ , so you’re the clown in this group then ;o) The rest of us are curious where it is!!! look around. which ‘us’ exactly is that then? Would be interested in seeing that faq or charter you speak of. I’ll take that as a ‘no’ then. – William Tasso – http://www.tbdata.com/
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There are all Bozos on this bus.
The quote is "WE’re all bozos on this bus" (squeeka-squeeka). It’s a good motto. And surely you also know that, "Everything you know is false." -paghat — "Flowers are commonly badly designed, inartistic in color, & ill-smelling." -Ambrose Bierce Visit the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.angelfire.com/grrl/paghat/gardenhome.html#top
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That’s "WE’RE ALL BOZO’S ON THIS BUS" (Firesign Theater) <GBSEG madgardener who has an almost complete collection on
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – There are all Bozos on this bus. Do you want to be the first stand up comic in the group? Hi Looking for a gardening group. Looks like I found one ;o) Please tell me, does this group have a faq or charter? Where is this gardening group you found? Hi Cereoid+1+ , so you’re the clown in this group then ;o) The rest of us are curious where it is!!! look around. which ‘us’ exactly is that then? Would be interested in seeing that faq or charter you speak of. I’ll take that as a ‘no’ then. – William Tasso – http://www.tbdata.com/
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no, EVERYTHING YOU KNOW IS WRONG.. (where it’s hotter than heater in Hellmouth) <GBSEG madgardener
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – There are all Bozos on this bus. The quote is "WE’re all bozos on this bus" (squeeka-squeeka). It’s a good motto. And surely you also know that, "Everything you know is false." -paghat — "Flowers are commonly badly designed, inartistic in color, & ill-smelling." -Ambrose Bierce Visit the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.angelfire.com/grrl/paghat/gardenhome.html#top
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Question:
This is long…. WOW!! I didn’t expect to get as much feedback as I did. Thanks everybody. For those of you who believe in God, believe me when I tell you that he has spoken to me through at least three people this week. One, of which, is Jackie. God bless you! Did I mention that my hubby is a drunk, too? (Alcoholics have to go those meetings!!) I know the anxiety is the root of his problems. I have attended ALANON off and on for about 6 years in an attempt to find sanity in my insane life. ALANON, prayer(much prayer) and Effexor have helped me to get a handle on things. However, what has been revealed to me this week is the fact that I continue to try to "fix" my husband. I’ve been made aware this week of the fact that I have "control" issues. My situation lends itself to perpetuating MY sickness, thereby perpetuating or excascerbating (sp?) his. My hubby, Jeff, went through rehab last fall. He was sober for 4 months and did not take as much as a lorcet for pain or valium for nerves. His depression sank to its worst (he rarely left the house) and that is when the panic attacks started. He relapsed at Christmas ((heavy sigh)). He’s back to where he was before-falling down drunk each night. I know he’s in pain, I know he’s struggling and it hurts me so to see the one I love have his happiness hidden from him. This is the only way I know how to put it. Being the caregiver that I am, I am compelled to always say or do something to help him, encourage him, "fix" him. So it is extremely disappointing and frustrating when my attempts fail. That’s why I go to ALANON. So I’m torn between detaching and letting him suffer the consequences of his alcoholism and being compassionate enough to step in and help him when I know it his anxiety that prevents him from doing whatever it is that needs to be done. He hasn’t worked for over a year. He’s applied for disability due to his anxiety. He has nerve damage in his feet from the diabetes and drinking. He’s in constant pain which is only aggravated by the fact the medicine can’t work as he is drinking. Between the drinking and the anxiety, he keeps to himself which means that when I get home in the evenings, he goes outside to piddle around in the yard and in his workshop. He’s up most of the night and sleeps late in the day. This presents a problem as we have a 7 year old and I cannot afford daycare. So, maybe you can understand why I am low on compassion some days? So, to answer the question that I get from many people: Why do I put up with this? Why don’t I throw him out? Three little words: I love him. It wouldn’t be fair to throw him out because he had lupus or cancer, would it? Reading the posts in this thread have helped to reinforce the understanding that he’s dealing with a mental illness. BTW, I want to share with you where I was on September 11 as I feel that it shed a little light (on me) as to how one with panic or anxiety must feel much of the time. Jeff was in his last week at rehab and I came to participate in the family week. On Monday, the counselor gave me the task of writing down 5 things that Jeff did that hurt me and to express how I felt about it. As much as I had wanted to tell him how I felt in the past, I didn’t want to rub it in while he was getting help! But the counselor said that this would be the only time we "go backward" during the counseling. I did NOT want to do this. Jeff and I were waiting in the office for the counselor. I was clutching the handle to my purse. My knuckles were white. My stomach was cramping. My heart was beating hard. My throat hurt. My head hurt. My jaws hurt from clenching my teeth. I was stiff as a rod. That’s when the counselor came in and told us about the WTC and the Pentagon. I thought my head would explode! I cannot describe the fear that engulfed me at that moment. I wanted to puke. If that is how one with anxiety feels most of the time, GOOD LORD!!!!! My heart goes out to you all. Love, Blackbird
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:I don’t like to put him (or anyone) in an uncomfortable situation, but :I feel that he should put aside his fears (if possible) for this one :thing. Am I being realistic? Dear Blackbird, I know you mean well and want the best for your husband but why do "you" feel "he" *should* put his fears aside for this one situation? The worst thing anyone can do to me is pressure me by making me feel I should do something. in their lives and it causes alot of anxiety because it adds alot of pressure and guilt
Bingo! This pretty much sums it up for me. My worse anxiety comes from pressure and guilt. For years holidays were nightmares for me because my family felt I *should* be able to do all the festivities involved. For us, it was traveling to grandma’s, (a 2 hour ride) every xmas day. I did it for years, and every year I suffered for weeks/months before hand. The *pressure* to show up was horrid. Finally, 3 years ago, I just stopped. I refused to go because it just became to hard for me. Xmas day was spent with chest pains, palpitations, and just plain all around bad feelings. Now I have xmas at home with just my husband and my kids, and you know what? They love it. Turns out they hated traveling every xmas as well. Through theraphy with my wonderful pdoc I learned that I don’t *have* to do anything. The world won’t stop turning if I don’t show up at an event and my friends and family will adjust. And they have. I had to be honest and tell them that this was the way it is for me. Your husbanding missing his friends funeral will not take away from the value of their friendship when he was alive. A better way to handle this would be in a very supportive non-pressuring kind of demeanor…. by telling him, "I will be leaving to go to the funeral home at such and such a time, if you care to go you are more than welcome to join me, if you can`t….. I more than understand.
This sounds like perfect advice. Gina
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:I appreciate your input. I guess I try to hard to "help" him. I was :brought up by a mother and grandmother who stressed tradition and :manners. Etiquette was stressed in his home. Please believe me when I say I know you mean well. I can see how much you care for your Husband that you take the time to come here to learn about his disorder and how to deal with it. I wish more spouses and partners were like you ) I understand what you mean about etiquette, I was brought up the same way. Where I grew up there was a family down the road that we were close to, one of their daughters died in the WTC. They had a memorial service kind of thing for her. I was invited along with my Mother. I debated going……. felt the pressure of etiquette waying heavy on me and decide that for "me" it was better that I not go and I didn`t. I don`t feel guilty and know I did the right thing. If people think less of me, I don`t care. I showed my sympathy in other ways. Jackie ~~*The bad things of life were very transitory.It was the good things , the ribbed sand, the wind blowing over the white capped waves , the sunshine and the stars, that were so tough and durable*~~
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On 06/06/02 Anne was all: Would I judge my own child as harshly as I do myself? NEVER.
So true. For almost anyone I love I would say that’s very true. Excellent point. Jason
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Hi, Blackbird: Jackie has given you an excellent reply. I just wanted to say "Welcome" and that the situation you describe is a very typical one for panic sufferers. It is so nice that you care enough about your husband to ask our advice. xo Anne (SRV fan!)
Also it might be worthwhile to look into this website with useful links: http://panicdisorder.about.com/cs/forfriendsfamily.htm Philip (also SRV fan) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –
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Hi Blackbird, Glad you felt comfortable reaching out here, and hope you continue to! Your post "struck" me in a way that others have addressed, but having been faced w/ several funeral situations in the past 2 years, I (probably egotistically) thought it might help if I shared a bit about my choices, and the reasons for them. Yes, I have PD and agoraphobia; I also am a huge believer in etiquette and courtesy. In addition, I do not like funerals–not because of the crowds, etc. but because I find them horribly depressing and troubling. I saw the body of a man I’d adored who’d worked for my Dad many years ago; it was necessary to walk by it to get into the church. I’d been away at college when Mac had gotten ill w/ cancer; the last time I’d seen him alive, I’d been up on a 20 foot scaffold painting a garage door at my dad’s warehouse. I was terrified (I hate heights), and I told Mac I couldn’t walk out on the board. Mac gruffly replied, "Goddam it, Charla, I’m here and your father would kill me if I let anything happen to you, so get your ass out there!" (Let me clearly state Mac was a jewel, and this was not abusive; it gave me the courage to do something I didn’t think I could:). When Mac died, he was emaciated. I’d heard this, and I have always avoided "visitations"–I know they are comforting for some folks, but they have the opposite effect on me; I prefer to remember people alive (just MHO). When I saw his body, so, so skinny, and *not* looking like the Mac I’d known, and realized I would have to walk by it, I began shaking. I did it; got through the funeral, etc. but it breaks my heart that I have to carry that image of Mac now, when I’d've been so much better off to remember him at the bottom of that stupid scaffold. Last summer, I lost a dear, dear friend, Marcene, who used to be my dad’s office manager, but was so much more to me (this was 2 weeks after my dad’s wife died, and less than a year & 1/2 after my dad died). In fact, the last time I talked to her was the night before Jane died; and she left the message on my machine that Jane had died (I still cannot erase that message; because it’s all I have of her voice). When I heard she had been diagnosed w/ terminal cancer, I truly couldn’t handle it. I immediately tried to think of something I could do to let her know, one last time, how much I loved her—ended up going to a flower shop & ordering an orchid (Marce was a lady, and an extraordinary one—no simple rose for her:), and dictating my message to her to the kind woman who helped me get the flower sent. I also called once a day, to check in with her family & ask them to tell her I loved her. I agonized over the funeral; I knew it would be open-casket, and I couldn’t bear that, but I love her family, and I didn’t want to be hurtful to them. Marcene knew how I felt about "viewings", and she gave me the answer in her amazing, precious way—I was at the memorial for Jane, my Dad’s wife, and suddenly I saw a small woman in a navy suit standing back from my table, patiently waiting to speak to me. It was Jan, Marcene’s daughter. As soon as I could politely excuse myself, I went to her; she took me to a quiet spot and pulled something wrapped in tissue from her purse, and said, "Mom wanted me to come here now, and give this to you so you would never forget her." I unwrapped the tissue, and there was a beautiful crystal turtle (Marce collected turtles, and I used to always give her turtles). To describe my feelings at that moment is impossible, but I can tell you I went to the house after the funeral service, and, more importantly, the turtle sits in a special place in my living room, on a shelf that is a memorial of sorts to my mother and others I’ve loved. Now I’m facing the imminent death of another dear friend, also to cancer. I’ve visited him in the hospital, and his wife called last night to tell me they’d soon be ready to have me come to their house and visit for a day. My driving has been *very* shaky lately, but I guarantee I’ll face that fear and go when she calls and says it’s time, because I believe with all my heart, that it’s what you give and express to a person in life that matters. You say your husband was a friend to this man; that, to me, is the highest form of respect and love. It’s tough when we face these dilemmas of etiquette, but please give yourself credit for loving your husband enough to come here, instead of passing judgment. He’s fortunate to have you… Best, Charla*) & The Boys ^..^< — Who can believe that there is no soul behind those luminous eyes! ^..^< ~Theophile Gauthier
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What I meant to say in my previous post was that etiquette was NOT stressed in his home as it was in mine.
Etiquette, tradition and manners are not universally the same. Within my family a viewing or an open casket are not the rituals we use when dealing with the passing of family or friends, and if I were faced with the choice of attending any such service it would be hard for me even without the anxiety. I don’t think it shows a lack of manners or etiquette not to attend, maybe your husband can find another way to remember your neighbour? Vashti
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What I meant to say in my previous post was that etiquette was NOT stressed in his home as it was in mine. Blackbird
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On 06/06/02 Anne was all:
LOL! Love your quote line. And in the same spirit — Jason was like: I seem to have this great talent at beating myself to a pulp over shortcomings (real or imagined) and I can literally go days and weeks not catching myself doing it. … Eventually I lash out, become silent and finally isolate myself.
You are certainly not alone in this. And you’re right, when we hate ourselves, we tend to isolate ourselves from the very relationships and activities and even *thoughts* that could pull us out of our funks. I’m glad you brought this up today, because for a long time it hasn’t occurred to me that I am terribly hard on myself sometimes. Many of us are. Would I judge my own child as harshly as I do myself? NEVER. xxoo Anne
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Jackie, I appreciate your input. I guess I try to hard to "help" him. I was brought up by a mother and grandmother who stressed tradition and manners. Etiquette was stressed in his home. As it is, we’ve resolved to him staying home. I will go alone. Thanks again. Blackbird
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…. various other shortcomings I am quick to remind myself of much the same way some cruel person would whip some poor animal.
Jason, I just wanted to isolate the above phrase from your reply to Blackbird, because I think we all do this to some extent, and it relates back to the "accepting yourself" thread. Thanks for saying it so well. xo Anne
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On 06/06/02 Anne was all: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – …. various other shortcomings I am quick to remind myself of much the same way some cruel person would whip some poor animal. Jason, I just wanted to isolate the above phrase from your reply to Blackbird, because I think we all do this to some extent, and it relates back to the "accepting yourself" thread. Thanks for saying it so well. xo Anne
Thanks Anne. I think without doubt this has been one of my biggest problems. I think from it so much of my anxiety and depression stems. I seem to have this great talent at beating myself to a pulp over shortcomings (real or imagined) and I can literally go days and weeks not catching myself doing it. I think that’s when I’m my sickest. Eventually I lash out, become silent and finally isolate myself. It’s a tough hole to crawl out of. Of course this insight is really easy for me to see right now, what being out of the hole somewhat at present. I also think it’s very important for loved ones to understand how completely impossible it can be to come out of this or hell, even see it when you’re in the middle of it and often just being present and doing nothing but waiting to do something is all they can help with. In other words , for friends and family, just being there sometimes can be everything. I wish I had an answer. Looking at it from their perspective it seems almost as hard as asking me to just snap out of it. Take care, Jason
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Howdy and welcome Blackbird, Since you said any input would be appreciated I’ll try to put in something useful. I was faced with a similar situation last year. My best friend died very unexpectedly which sent me and all of our mutual friends and his family into a frenzy to get the word out and organize everything. At that time I had barely touched on the fact that I suffered from panic/anxiety and refused to go to the reception/viewing whatever as it seemed A a bit morbid to me and B a bit closed in with lotsa people, a situation at that time I avoided at all costs and hardly understood why. (I still tend to avoid such at all costs just less frequently when I am able and now I have some understanding as to why) I attributed it to a flaw in character and various other shortcomings I am quick to remind myself of much the same way some cruel person would whip some poor animal. Anyway, the mere implication that I was being less than a good friend (and there were some) I found to make the discomfort I was already inflicting on myself multiply. In time I realized that my friend would most assuredly have done the same were the situation reversed as his poor soul was trapped in a body that had anxiety and agoraphobia I can only have nightmares about. He hadn’t left his house in months at the time of his death, which I’m sure played no small part. Anyway, I don’t have an answer to your question, only my experience which was to deal with it as best I could with my limited knowledge of my situation at the time. I find the old "confront your fears" head on version of therapy to be a very slow and tedious process, at least from what I am able (or willing) to do. Small victories (however small) have been something to hold onto and use to remind myself of progress, to me a funeral or viewing would be a huge victory and (some days) impossible. I hope that some of this rambling makes sense. Your post just struck a note with me and I hope my reply didn’t serve to confuse more. Best wishes to you and your husband. Jason "It’s like they chopped off your arms and legs, dipped you in plastic, then screwed you all back together again and stuck you on a pedestal. It’s really quite exquisite." – Kramer
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Hi Blackbird, I also say "WELCOME!" and ditto to everything that Jackie and Anne said. It is really caring and admirable that you come here to learn and ask for our advice on this one. It’s such a good idea I might suggest to my boyfriend that he come here to learn about anxiety when he is having trouble understanding me. In answer to your question: If someone who is close to me says I "should" do something when I have already told them that it makes me anxious, I have a number of responses: 1. I feel like they’re not really listening when I say "that makes me very anxious" OR I feel that they don’t understand what it is like to experience that kind of anxiety, and they’re not really trying to understand (even if that’s not the case) 2. The occurrence of 1 makes me feel more anxious. 3. Feeling that I am failing to meet an obligation or that I am unable to do something that I "should" makes me feel sad, possibly even depressed. I feel bad enough about my anxiety as it is without feeling like a failure as well. I totally agree with what Jackie suggested. If he goes to the funeral home it HAS to come from him – from his own desire to go and his own determination to overcome his anxiety about it. When you put pressure on him as you have described, it is likely that you are putting him in a no-win situation. Why? – He will have a lot more anxiety to overcome in order to go to the funeral home. – If he goes to the funeral home it will be VERY difficult for him, but he won’t feel as positive about the achievement because he will feel that it was something he was forced to do, not something that he chose to do. Choosing to do something is much more powerful than having no choice. In this situation he will feel that he went out of fear of letting people down and possibly upsetting you. He will feel much better about himself if he has overcome his own anxiety, compared to other people overwhelming him. – If he does not go he will feel anxiety over not going, disappointing you and possibly disappointing the family of his departed friend, and possibly the friend as well (if he believes in spirits ect.). This will not help his self esteem or his progress towards overcoming his anxiety. I totally agree that you shouldn’t pressure him at all. Be understanding of what he is experiencing. Support him in whatever he decides to do. Try not to be upset with him if he is unable to go. I am sure that whatever he does will be the best that he can do, and you can’t ask more than that. Perhaps even give him the option to drive to the funeral home and park in the street outside, look at the building, think about his friend and drive home again. I know it can be difficult to understand for people who don’t experience this kind of anxiety. Don’t expect it to be rational – it’s usually not. It seems to be important to YOU that HE goes to the funeral home, but on the grand scale of life it’s really not THAT important. There is more than one way to say goodbye to a loved one. This is between your hubby and the memory of his friend. Let him say goodbye in whatever way is right for him. The best thing you can do for him is to hold him and tell him that you love him, and that you will love him no matter what he decides to do. I wish you and you husband many happy years together, – Cath. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m a lurker here as my hubby has anxiety/panic/depression. I want to know if your spouse/significant other asks you to do something you don’t want to do, but you know you should, do you do it anyway? Does it make things worse for you? Is facing your fears by doing things you don’t like/are afraid of a step toward healing? Here’s the situation: Our neighbor passed away. My husband was acquainted with him more than I and thought highly of him. Many family members of this man live in our neighborhood. I feel we should go to either the funeral home for visitation or to the funeral. I know my husband really can’t handle funerals so I suggested we go to the funeral home. I told him we’d only be there a few minutes (30 minutes MAX). He doesn’t want to but agreed that the funeral home would be better than the funeral itself. I don’t like to put him (or anyone) in an uncomfortable situation, but I feel that he should put aside his fears (if possible) for this one thing. Am I being realistic? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks, Blackbird
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Hi Blackbird, This one is a really tough call. If it were something simple like the grocery store or mall I’d say that slowly facing the fear diminishes the fear in that one gains positive experiences. A funeral or wake is a whole other ballpark. For me going to either doesn’t reduce my fear of funeral homes, it hasn’t made the fear worse either. But I can say that, sheesh, I don’t want to scare you, after I went to the last funeral of a dear friend I had a horrible time getting the image out of my mind. I can only speak from my experience. Jess "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear." -Ambrose Redmoon
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m a lurker here as my hubby has anxiety/panic/depression. I want to know if your spouse/significant other asks you to do something you don’t want to do, but you know you should, do you do it anyway? Does it make things worse for you? Is facing your fears by doing things you don’t like/are afraid of a step toward healing? Here’s the situation: Our neighbor passed away. My husband was acquainted with him more than I and thought highly of him. Many family members of this man live in our neighborhood. I feel we should go to either the funeral home for visitation or to the funeral. I know my husband really can’t handle funerals so I suggested we go to the funeral home. I told him we’d only be there a few minutes (30 minutes MAX). He doesn’t want to but agreed that the funeral home would be better than the funeral itself. I don’t like to put him (or anyone) in an uncomfortable situation, but I feel that he should put aside his fears (if possible) for this one thing. Am I being realistic? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks, Blackbird
The previous post was quite good, I believe. However, I just want to add that I indeed dislike funerals because of my beliefs. They are quite alienating and when my grandmother died last year, I found my anxiety at a high level during the funeral. As an atheist, I don’t believe in the religious aspect of the funeral. And as for the way the funeral was, I really don’t think my grandmother would’ve tolerated people gathering around all gloomy in some strange place (funeral home) to be all upset. Although, I never did express it, I really wanted to drag my entire family out of there and go to her house to watch videos and talk about our good memories of her and how she was like a second mother to me. Anyway, a bit off track, but in my experience, funerals CAN be a tough time for anyone – not just people with anxiety/panic conditions. They can be quite alienating. I wouldn’t force him to go. I bet that he will probably WANT to go at some point, but will not want the added pressure of having to be there for x minutes.
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Hi, Blackbird: Jackie has given you an excellent reply. I just wanted to say "Welcome" and that the situation you describe is a very typical one for panic sufferers. It is so nice that you care enough about your husband to ask our advice. xo Anne (SRV fan!)
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:I don’t like to put him (or anyone) in an uncomfortable situation, but :I feel that he should put aside his fears (if possible) for this one :thing. Am I being realistic? Dear Blackbird, I know you mean well and want the best for your husband but why do "you" feel "he" *should* put his fears aside for this one situation? The worst thing anyone can do to me is pressure me by making me feel I should do something. People with anxiety disorders get really hung up on the shoulds in their lives and it causes alot of anxiety because it adds alot of pressure and guilt. A better way to handle this would be in a very supportive non-pressuring kind of demeanor…. by telling him, "I will be leaving to go to the funeral home at such and such a time, if you care to go you are more than welcome to join me, if you can`t….. I more than understand. If you decide to join me I assure you that we will leave if you start to feel too anxious. If it makes you feel more comfortable we can be the first ones there when the funeral home opens so there is less people". By giving your Husband "outs", assuring him he can leave at any time and by making it less stressful by getting there first so there are less people he might just be willing to try it. Take care Jackie ~~*The bad things of life were very transitory.It was the good things , the ribbed sand, the wind blowing over the white capped waves , the sunshine and the stars, that were so tough and durable*~~
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I’m a lurker here as my hubby has anxiety/panic/depression. I want to know if your spouse/significant other asks you to do something you don’t want to do, but you know you should, do you do it anyway? Does it make things worse for you? Is facing your fears by doing things you don’t like/are afraid of a step toward healing? Here’s the situation: Our neighbor passed away. My husband was acquainted with him more than I and thought highly of him. Many family members of this man live in our neighborhood. I feel we should go to either the funeral home for visitation or to the funeral. I know my husband really can’t handle funerals so I suggested we go to the funeral home. I told him we’d only be there a few minutes (30 minutes MAX). He doesn’t want to but agreed that the funeral home would be better than the funeral itself. I don’t like to put him (or anyone) in an uncomfortable situation, but I feel that he should put aside his fears (if possible) for this one thing. Am I being realistic? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks, Blackbird
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Question:
Tony, Home Depot carries a bulb for plants that runs about $7.00 each. I’ve used them and like them for low light plants(Plals. in particular). I think they are made by GE and they have an orange sleeve on them. Someone else on this site reccommended them some time ago. Bob
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – of wisdom: I would like to build a special enclosure for them most of the time like an acrylic box or something for them to grow in with a MH light or something. I know orchids need to be well ventilated so would a few fans in the sides work. If anyone has any info about anyone doing anything like this could you please share it with me. <snip BTW the reaason I need this enclosure is because of the low level of light in my house. There are trees all over my property and hardly any light gets in. Low (or even no) light shouldn’t really be a problem if you install good quality grow lights. I grow all my orchids in my basement under regular florescent fixtures (el cheapos from Home Depot) with very good quality daylight bulbs in them. Does the daylight bulb come with the florescent fixture or I have to buy them separately, if so what is the daylight bulb called, what’s its name etc…. I am novice and want to build a shelf with light for my orchids but don’t know what light I need, they all look the same to me in the light store . Thanks alot. They are suspended from the ceiling tiles in the normal fashion and create a very evenly bright light. My benches sit directly under them. I hang my few vandas directly from the fixture so they are just under the light. My paphs, phals and one or two other oddball orchids I keep around here sit up on the benches, directly underneath the bulbs but roughly 3-to-4 feet below them. All or most of my leafy tropicals and potted citrus trees sit clustered throughout the space and around the orchid benches on the floor, creating a nice little microclimate. All seem to enjoy the evenly bright light, which is on a cycle of 12 hours on/12 hours off, all winter long. In the summer, every plant in this place goes ***outside*** (because I need a break!) in various locations around my yard, according to the conditions each individual plant likes. This setup has worked really well for me for about 3 years that I’ve been growing orchids. ‘Course, I’m mostly growing the hardy guys that get by on lower light levels, so your mileage may vary. But I don’t think you have to go all out and get into serious debt or start building things right away just because you want to grow orchids. The right plant in the right place works wonderfully. Even my vandas (which people have warned me are miserably hard to grow) have grown well and even rewarded me with blooms by hanging them just inches from the ceiling fixture during winter and then putting them out in the yard for the summer. It’s probably not the optimal way to grow orchids, but it works…for me! Hope this helps… * * * * * Karen C. Southern CT / USDA Zone 6 Spammers be damned! I can’t be emailed from this account… "Gardeners know all the best dirt!"
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We are Orchid. You will be assimilated. Your uniqueness will be added to our own. Resistance is futile. Hold still while I inject you with pollinia nanoprobes….. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi. My name is Patrick Kelly and I have been looking for a new hobby recently. I have been considering a few things and orchids are one of them. I would like to build a special enclosure for them most of the time like an acrylic box or something for them to grow in with a MH light or something. I know orchids need to be well ventilated so would a few fans in the sides work. If anyone has any info about anyone doing anything like this could you please share it with me. Thank you. BTW the reaason I need this enclosure is because of the low level of light in my house. There are trees all over my property and hardly any light gets in. Also has anyone ever tried using aeroponics to grow orchids. If you know of any good beginner sites out there please share. Thank you.
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I hope you took note Patrick – YOU WERE WARNED. Orchids are not a gentle hobby. THEY ARE A FEVER, AN ADDICTION. Welcome, the gods need new blood. SuE – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi. My name is Patrick Kelly and I have been looking for a new hobby recently. I have been considering a few things and orchids are one of them. I would like to build a special enclosure for them most of the time like an acrylic box or something for them to grow in with a MH light or something. I know orchids need to be well ventilated so would a few fans in the sides work. If anyone has any info about anyone doing anything like this could you please share it with me. Thank you. BTW the reaason I need this enclosure is because of the low level of light in my house. There are trees all over my property and hardly any light gets in. Also has anyone ever tried using aeroponics to grow orchids. If you know of any good beginner sites out there please share. Thank you.
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I would like to build a special enclosure for them most of the time like an acrylic box or something for them to grow in with a MH light or something. I know orchids need to be well ventilated so would a few fans in the sides work. If anyone has any info about anyone doing anything like this could you please share it with me.
Anyone ever tried the Phototron for orchids?
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We all tried to tell Patrick last week it is an ADICTION – and very infectious. Very easy to transmit to other unsuspecting parties. But aint it fun. SuE – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Last fall, I took pity on a reject in the clearance isle at Lowes… went to book store and read quickly the requirements of an orchid… had an old 55 gallon fish takk stand that had groow lights mounted already… Trip to the local Walmart for a bag of pea gravel, filled plastic tray with gravel and water. and placed orchid on top… and waited…. Working on my THIRD stand this week with 2 shelves and lights on each. this will give me 6 sets of flourecent lights now, on 6 shelves… and 65 plants… its VICE…
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – of wisdom: I would like to build a special enclosure for them most of the time like an acrylic box or something for them to grow in with a MH light or something. I know orchids need to be well ventilated so would a few fans in the sides work. If anyone has any info about anyone doing anything like this could you please share it with me. <snip BTW the reaason I need this enclosure is because of the low level of light in my house. There are trees all over my property and hardly any light gets in. Low (or even no) light shouldn’t really be a problem if you install good quality grow lights. I grow all my orchids in my basement under regular florescent fixtures (el cheapos from Home Depot) with very good quality daylight bulbs in them.
Does the daylight bulb come with the florescent fixture or I have to buy them separately, if so what is the daylight bulb called, what’s its name etc…. I am novice and want to build a shelf with light for my orchids but don’t know what light I need, they all look the same to me in the light store . Thanks alot. They are suspended from the – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – ceiling tiles in the normal fashion and create a very evenly bright light. My benches sit directly under them. I hang my few vandas directly from the fixture so they are just under the light. My paphs, phals and one or two other oddball orchids I keep around here sit up on the benches, directly underneath the bulbs but roughly 3-to-4 feet below them. All or most of my leafy tropicals and potted citrus trees sit clustered throughout the space and around the orchid benches on the floor, creating a nice little microclimate. All seem to enjoy the evenly bright light, which is on a cycle of 12 hours on/12 hours off, all winter long. In the summer, every plant in this place goes ***outside*** (because I need a break!) in various locations around my yard, according to the conditions each individual plant likes. This setup has worked really well for me for about 3 years that I’ve been growing orchids. ‘Course, I’m mostly growing the hardy guys that get by on lower light levels, so your mileage may vary. But I don’t think you have to go all out and get into serious debt or start building things right away just because you want to grow orchids. The right plant in the right place works wonderfully. Even my vandas (which people have warned me are miserably hard to grow) have grown well and even rewarded me with blooms by hanging them just inches from the ceiling fixture during winter and then putting them out in the yard for the summer. It’s probably not the optimal way to grow orchids, but it works…for me! Hope this helps… * * * * * Karen C. Southern CT / USDA Zone 6 Spammers be damned! I can’t be emailed from this account… "Gardeners know all the best dirt!"
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You said it right, Sue! I think I finally transmitted it to my next door neighbor today. She works for a florist, and I showed her a particular Den today; she said "I didn’t know Dendrobiums could look like that!" Heheheh. Got her! Diana
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We all tried to tell Patrick last week it is an ADICTION – and very infectious. Very easy to transmit to other unsuspecting parties. But aint it fun. SuE Last fall, I took pity on a reject in the clearance isle at Lowes… went to book store and read quickly the requirements of an orchid… had an old 55 gallon fish takk stand that had groow lights mounted already… Trip to the local Walmart for a bag of pea gravel, filled plastic tray with gravel and water. and placed orchid on top… and waited…. Working on my THIRD stand this week with 2 shelves and lights on each. this will give me 6 sets of flourecent lights now, on 6 shelves… and 65 plants… its VICE…
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Hi. My name is Patrick Kelly and I have been looking for a new hobby recently. I have been considering a few things and orchids are one of them. I would like to build a special enclosure for them most of the time like an acrylic box or something for them to grow in with a MH light or something. I know orchids need to be well ventilated so would a few fans in the sides work. If anyone has any info about anyone doing anything like this could you please share it with me. Thank you. BTW the reaason I need this enclosure is because of the low level of light in my house. There are trees all over my property and hardly any light gets in. Also has anyone ever tried using aeroponics to grow orchids. If you know of any good beginner sites out there please share. Thank you.
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Patrick, DON’T DO IT!! It will be a monkey on your back forever! OK, now that the obligatory Surgeon General’s warning is out of the way…. Welcome to the group, and to the hobby. If you have the guts to learn, learn, and learn more – for the rest of your life, that is – you’ll thoroughly enjoy orchids. If you’re squeamish about killing plants, stay away. Lesson 1: READ BEFORE YOU BUY. Lots of sites (including mine) have lots of good basic culture info, which should lead you to hours of google searches and the library or book store. Lesson 2: BUY SOMETHING SUITED TO YOUR GROWING CONDITIONS. Most newbies buy something they like the looks of and then come crying when they can’t grow it. If you really analyze your conditions and compare the data with what the plants need, buying only those that match up well, you’ll be a lot better off. Lesson 3: ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS HERE, AND RESEARCH THE ARCHIVES VIA GOOGLE Those of us that frequent this group want to help, and most want to keep learning, too. Lesson 4: INVEST IN PLASTICS MANUFACTURERS If you really need to build tight enclosures, I can pretty much guarantee that you’ll need that "owner’s discount" to buy more and more and more….. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info!
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi. My name is Patrick Kelly and I have been looking for a new hobby recently. I have been considering a few things and orchids are one of them. I would like to build a special enclosure for them most of the time like an acrylic box or something for them to grow in with a MH light or something. I know orchids need to be well ventilated so would a few fans in the sides work. If anyone has any info about anyone doing anything like this could you please share it with me. Thank you. BTW the reaason I need this enclosure is because of the low level of light in my house. There are trees all over my property and hardly any light gets in. Also has anyone ever tried using aeroponics to grow orchids. If you know of any good beginner sites out there please share. Thank you.
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi. My name is Patrick Kelly and I have been looking for a new hobby recently. I have been considering a few things and orchids are one of them. I would like to build a special enclosure for them most of the time like an acrylic box or something for them to grow in with a MH light or something. I know orchids need to be well ventilated so would a few fans in the sides work. If anyone has any info about anyone doing anything like this could you please share it with me. Thank you. BTW the reaason I need this enclosure is because of the low level of light in my house. There are trees all over my property and hardly any light gets in. Also has anyone ever tried using aeroponics to grow orchids. If you know of any good beginner sites out there please share. Thank you.
I’m truly sorry that you are in need of this news group.;-) You still have a chance of escape if you do it now.<g Seriously – what better addiction could one have… Good luck! Kathy K.
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Run, Patrick, run! Get out now, before the orchid Gods have you in their clutches! Don’t look back, as you may turn to a pillar of dyna grow as you try to leave! In your sleep, dendrobiums and catts and encyclias and bulbophilums and other strangely named beings will wind into your hair and invade your dreams! LOL Diana
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Question:
Long Snip to save bandwidth Thank you for a very informative article on paph growing condtions. — Gideon Singer In Beautiful Vancouver BC Web site: members.shaw.ca/gsinger
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you hit the nail on the head Jerry thank you Rick
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I think you’re mixing up paphs and phrags – most phrags (except cadatum and it’s hybrids) DO like to sit in water during the summer months. Wouldn’t suggest it w/ paphs. i understand the concept of the pebbles and more humidity but i would swear that i have read somewhere about setting the entire pot in a tray of water about 1/2" deep. I’ll look again for the article. Rick message The idea is to set them on a tray full of wet pebbles (to increase surface area) in order to enhance the local humidity. The plant’s pot should not come in contact with the wet pebbles or the water. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! would you then suggest not having these plants sitting in trays of water during growth periods and just keeping an eye on them and keeping them watered? Rick in message
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Without knowing the details of the setup, I’d be concerned that the plant may have been sitting right in the water, keeping it too wet. In S/H culture, where there’s lots of air flow to the roots, they adapt just fine, but in most other media, that is not the case. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! Ray, what am I missing here? Isn’t this one of those green things that like to be sitting in a tray of water during it’s growth season? I read this and become leery of leaving my roths. and Victoria rageanes in trays. Also the same in semi hydro (similar to) seem to be lovin it! — Stress not over the little things; and the large ones will disappear! Rick~ wrote in message Dip the base in a rooting hormone, place it in a damp but airy medium in a plastic bag to keep the humidity high and pray. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! message Hi All, We have a paph which has had the potting medium soaking wet for a while now. Please don’t ask how it got that way!!! 
(( The root has rotted completely, but there is still lots of greenery up top. Is it possible to save this plant? All help would be appreciated. Please post answers to RGO, as my return address is fake to prevent spam. Thanks, Delphinus
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Ray/Rick That is what happened to our paph. The medium was moss and it just soaked up too much water. The roots just rotted. I’m happy to see that I started a thread that may prevent someone else from making the same mistake. Small consolation though. Delphinus – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Rick, That depends on the medium and the plant. If you’re talking an inert medium such as clay spheres, then the water can wick up into the medium, but it stays airy and won’t decompose. If you’re using a more traditional, organic medium, it can decompose, or become so soppy that the roots die. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! i understand the concept of the pebbles and more humidity but i would swear that i have read somewhere about setting the entire pot in a tray of water about 1/2" deep. I’ll look again for the article. Rick message The idea is to set them on a tray full of wet pebbles (to increase surface area) in order to enhance the local humidity. The plant’s pot should not come in contact with the wet pebbles or the water. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! would you then suggest not having these plants sitting in trays of water during growth periods and just keeping an eye on them and keeping them watered? Rick message Without knowing the details of the setup, I’d be concerned that the plant may have been sitting right in the water, keeping it too wet. In S/H culture, where there’s lots of air flow to the roots, they adapt just fine, but in most other media, that is not the case. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! Ray, what am I missing here? Isn’t this one of those green things that like to be sitting in a tray of water during it’s growth season? I read this and become leery of leaving my roths. and Victoria rageanes in trays. Also the same in semi hydro (similar to) seem to be lovin it! — Stress not over the little things; and the large ones will disappear! Rick~ in message Dip the base in a rooting hormone, place it in a damp but airy medium in a plastic bag to keep the humidity high and pray. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! message Hi All, We have a paph which has had the potting medium soaking wet for a while now. Please don’t ask how it got that way!!! (( The root has rotted completely, but there is still lots of greenery up top. Is it possible to save this plant? All help would be appreciated. Please post answers to RGO, as my return address is fake to prevent spam. Thanks, Delphinus
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I love Paphs but always had trouble with them until a couple of years ago, when I drastically changed my way of growing them. I’m a postgraduate science student and I decided to read a few scientific papers about soil and atmospheric conditions around India, South East Asia and Borneo. This is going to be a bit long-winded but I hope you like it. Most people overwater Paphs because they don’t understand how they grow in the wild. Paphs generally grow in very shallow soil or humus pockets where there is a a maximum of 1-2 inch layer of humus/leaf litter, but generally a lot less than this. Below this litter there is the ground rock and, as a result, the whole place has very good drainage. The humus is NOT soil and looks a lot more like half decomposed old plant debries, with lots of dry leaves and sometimes a bit of moss here and there. This stuff is full of air pockets and dries quite fast under tropical conditions, even during the rainy season when it rains for hours (generally in the late afternoon) as this is also the hot season and the compost will be barely moist the following day. The heat in the morning and noon dries the soil and creates a very humid atmosphere around the leaves while decreasing the humidity around the roots. Many Paphs need extremely good drainage, specially those sections containing lithophytes (as opposed to tropical woodland terrestrials) that grow on rocky hills and mountain slopes, where there is only a little humus in pockets among the rock faces of the hills/mountain slopes, hardly any large vegetation covering them (trees and such) and, as a result, good air movement that keeps the atmospheric humidity relatively low. To these species belong bellatulum and company as well as rothschildianum and company and they will rot in a question of a few days if the compost they grow in becomes stagnant. This is also the result of acidity (stagnant organic media become acidic very soon) as these species tend to come from limestone country or grow in ultramafic soil and as a result their roots can’t cope with the coupling of wet feet and the excesive acidity produced by bacteria decomposing the wet and dead organic matter (bark chips and Paph roots!!!). The fact that most Paphs are terrestrial misleads people into thinking that a good terrestrial mix for orchids is the best growing medium for them. WRONG!!! (at least in my humble opinion, that is). These media retain too much moisture and become sour (acidic) in no time once they start to break down. However, they can be used sucessfully if you are prepared to repot your Paphs every so often. Paphs actually like to be repotted and you’ll find that they will produce lots of new roots shortly after being repotted. If you prefer to repot only once a year or every two years then I recommend bark as a growing medium for Paphs. I have found that they don’t like to grow in a medium consisting only of inorganic material. I grow all of my Paphs in standard pots, which I fill to half of their hight with large gravel (nearly 1 inch in diameter, limestone is ideal for certain species, as already mentioned, but any type of stone will do) to provide good drainage and large air pockets. Then I put the Paph inside and fill around the roots with large grade bark pieces for all the medium to large species and medium grade bark for the small species. I do not compact the bark and leave large air pockets in this layer as well. The small species related to bellatulum (section brachipetalum, I think) also get a top dressing of medium gravel to keep the surface of the compost dry and help water to drain away from the crowns of the plants. Small Chinese species (micranthum and company) don’t need this extra protection. I don’t encourage moss on top of bark anymore as I’ve found that it accelerates the decomposition of the compost and makes it sour after only a few months (at least under my conditions). Strangely enough the roots of many orchids will grow happily in the moss but die once they penetrate in to the bark layer below after it has gone slightly sour. Several of the Paphs are potted in the way I described but with clear plastic pots instead of normal plastic pots and I water all the Paphs when I see that the lower part of the bark layer is nearly dry in those pots. This might take 4-6 days in summer (I live in Scotland and the max-min temperatures are 18-28 degrees C at that time) and every 10-12 days in winter (13-20 degrees C). Indian species such as Paph insigne an its relatives stay in a slightly cooler place and get watered every 15-17 days (10-17 degrees C). They are in a very bright place where they get about 2-3 hours of dappled sunshine in the late afternoon (which we only get in summer in this part of the world). All Paphs get repotted once a year at the end of May unless they are in bloom. The bark mix decomposes rapidly after one year and Paphs seem to hate mushy bark even if you keep it reasonably dry.. The surprise of my life has been the discovery of growing orchids in pure sphagnum moss. All my seedlings are now weened in the stuff when they come out of their flasks and those few plants that start to rot or I want to propagate are potted in it as well. Sphagnum has antibacterial properties and, even though it is acidic, it does not harm the roots of lime-loving plants. The harm is generally the effect of microbes that like acidic conditions and against which lime-loving plants have no defences, but these microbes can’t survive in living or fresh sphagnum (beware of old, dead, compacted sphagnum as it will decompose and harbour bacteria). I have several Paph seedlings growing in pure sphagnum and they love it. They have much better root systems than seedlings in bark mixes and, to my surprise, these are all seedlings of limestone lovers. The most surpising is Paph sanderianum, which grows like mad, as well as Paph St. Swithin, which always tended to rot before I started to treat my Paphs as "cactae that like a humid atmosphere". And that’s enough of my ramblings. Happy Growing Tony
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ray/Rick That is what happened to our paph. The medium was moss and it just soaked up too much water. The roots just rotted. I’m happy to see that I started a thread that may prevent someone else from making the same mistake. Small consolation though. Delphinus Rick, That depends on the medium and the plant. If you’re talking an inert medium such as clay spheres, then the water can wick up into the medium, but it stays airy and won’t decompose. If you’re using a more traditional, organic medium, it can decompose, or become so soppy that the roots die. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info!
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For those of us with GH humidity, this is quite a trick. I like the gutter guard support. Thanks. SuE – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I had this problem a while ago with my Paph. insigne. Many of you probably remember my ong winded worries over that occaision. Wel I treated it with fungicide as suggested, did up a pot of beautiful fresh bark, placed an inch of sphagnum moss over the top of the bark and stood the plant on top of the moss in the most humid portion of my bush-house available. OH…. The plant was held in place by a cylinder of plastic mesh called "gutter gaurd" inserted into the media 1" deep around the edge of the pot, and which extended about 6 inches above the pot. Well after many many many months of waiting, the plant has finally sent out new roots, the gutter gaurd has been removed, and the plant has sent out three new growths. Hip Hip Hooray!!! So my recommendation would be to try such a solution and see how you go. Unless there is a better solution already posted… ( the group is not propogating perfectly for me so I am missing some threads here and there… ) Kye.
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I had this problem a while ago with my Paph. insigne. Many of you probably remember my ong winded worries over that occaision. Wel I treated it with fungicide as suggested, did up a pot of beautiful fresh bark, placed an inch of sphagnum moss over the top of the bark and stood the plant on top of the moss in the most humid portion of my bush-house available. OH…. The plant was held in place by a cylinder of plastic mesh called "gutter gaurd" inserted into the media 1" deep around the edge of the pot, and which extended about 6 inches above the pot. Well after many many many months of waiting, the plant has finally sent out new roots, the gutter gaurd has been removed, and the plant has sent out three new growths. Hip Hip Hooray!!! So my recommendation would be to try such a solution and see how you go. Unless there is a better solution already posted… ( the group is not propogating perfectly for me so I am missing some threads here and there… ) Kye.
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I just found one of my paphs with questionable to no roots. It broke into several pieces when I unpotted it. There are four sections with lovely green leaves. Do I put them in water? Rooting hormone and the bag? Doesn’t sound like sphaghum would be good: I killed a lovely BLC that way. Can you recommend the appropriate course? With great thanks, Cherie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dip the base in a rooting hormone, place it in a damp but airy medium in a plastic bag to keep the humidity high and pray. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! Hi All, We have a paph which has had the potting medium soaking wet for a while now. Please don’t ask how it got that way!!! (( The root has rotted completely, but there is still lots of greenery up top. Is it possible to save this plant? All help would be appreciated. Please post answers to RGO, as my return address is fake to prevent spam. Thanks, Delphinus
Response:
I think you’re mixing up paphs and phrags – most phrags (except cadatum and it’s hybrids) DO like to sit in water during the summer months. Wouldn’t suggest it w/ paphs.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – i understand the concept of the pebbles and more humidity but i would swear that i have read somewhere about setting the entire pot in a tray of water about 1/2" deep. I’ll look again for the article. Rick message The idea is to set them on a tray full of wet pebbles (to increase surface area) in order to enhance the local humidity. The plant’s pot should not come in contact with the wet pebbles or the water. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! would you then suggest not having these plants sitting in trays of water during growth periods and just keeping an eye on them and keeping them watered? Rick message Without knowing the details of the setup, I’d be concerned that the plant may have been sitting right in the water, keeping it too wet. In S/H culture, where there’s lots of air flow to the roots, they adapt just fine, but in most other media, that is not the case. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! Ray, what am I missing here? Isn’t this one of those green things that like to be sitting in a tray of water during it’s growth season? I read this and become leery of leaving my roths. and Victoria rageanes in trays. Also the same in semi hydro (similar to) seem to be lovin it! — Stress not over the little things; and the large ones will disappear! Rick~ in message Dip the base in a rooting hormone, place it in a damp but airy medium in a plastic bag to keep the humidity high and pray. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! message Hi All, We have a paph which has had the potting medium soaking wet for a while now. Please don’t ask how it got that way!!! (( The root has rotted completely, but there is still lots of greenery up top. Is it possible to save this plant? All help would be appreciated. Please post answers to RGO, as my return address is fake to prevent spam. Thanks, Delphinus
Response:
Hi All, We have a paph which has had the potting medium soaking wet for a while now. Please don’t ask how it got that way!!! (( The root has rotted completely, but there is still lots of greenery up top. Is it possible to save this plant? All help would be appreciated. Please post answers to RGO, as my return address is fake to prevent spam. Thanks, Delphinus
Response:
Dip the base in a rooting hormone, place it in a damp but airy medium in a plastic bag to keep the humidity high and pray. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info!
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi All, We have a paph which has had the potting medium soaking wet for a while now. Please don’t ask how it got that way!!! (( The root has rotted completely, but there is still lots of greenery up top. Is it possible to save this plant? All help would be appreciated. Please post answers to RGO, as my return address is fake to prevent spam. Thanks, Delphinus
Response:
Ray, Thanks for your advice. We will give it a try and hope for the best. Delphinus – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dip the base in a rooting hormone, place it in a damp but airy medium in a plastic bag to keep the humidity high and pray. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! Hi All, We have a paph which has had the potting medium soaking wet for a while now. Please don’t ask how it got that way!!! (( The root has rotted completely, but there is still lots of greenery up top. Is it possible to save this plant? All help would be appreciated. Please post answers to RGO, as my return address is fake to prevent spam. Thanks, Delphinus
Response:
Ray, what am I missing here? Isn’t this one of those green things that like to be sitting in a tray of water during it’s growth season? I read this and become leery of leaving my roths. and Victoria rageanes in trays. Also the same in semi hydro (similar to) seem to be lovin it! — Stress not over the little things; and the large ones will disappear! Rick~ message – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dip the base in a rooting hormone, place it in a damp but airy medium in a plastic bag to keep the humidity high and pray. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! Hi All, We have a paph which has had the potting medium soaking wet for a while now. Please don’t ask how it got that way!!! (( The root has rotted completely, but there is still lots of greenery up top. Is it possible to save this plant? All help would be appreciated. Please post answers to RGO, as my return address is fake to prevent spam. Thanks, Delphinus
Response:
Without knowing the details of the setup, I’d be concerned that the plant may have been sitting right in the water, keeping it too wet. In S/H culture, where there’s lots of air flow to the roots, they adapt just fine, but in most other media, that is not the case. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info!
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ray, what am I missing here? Isn’t this one of those green things that like to be sitting in a tray of water during it’s growth season? I read this and become leery of leaving my roths. and Victoria rageanes in trays. Also the same in semi hydro (similar to) seem to be lovin it! — Stress not over the little things; and the large ones will disappear! Rick~ message Dip the base in a rooting hormone, place it in a damp but airy medium in a plastic bag to keep the humidity high and pray. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! Hi All, We have a paph which has had the potting medium soaking wet for a while now. Please don’t ask how it got that way!!! (( The root has rotted completely, but there is still lots of greenery up top. Is it possible to save this plant? All help would be appreciated. Please post answers to RGO, as my return address is fake to prevent spam. Thanks, Delphinus
Response:
would you then suggest not having these plants sitting in trays of water during growth periods and just keeping an eye on them and keeping them watered? Rick message – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Without knowing the details of the setup, I’d be concerned that the plant may have been sitting right in the water, keeping it too wet. In S/H culture, where there’s lots of air flow to the roots, they adapt just fine, but in most other media, that is not the case. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! Ray, what am I missing here? Isn’t this one of those green things that like to be sitting in a tray of water during it’s growth season? I read this and become leery of leaving my roths. and Victoria rageanes in trays. Also the same in semi hydro (similar to) seem to be lovin it! — Stress not over the little things; and the large ones will disappear! Rick~ message Dip the base in a rooting hormone, place it in a damp but airy medium in a plastic bag to keep the humidity high and pray. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! Hi All, We have a paph which has had the potting medium soaking wet for a while now. Please don’t ask how it got that way!!! (( The root has rotted completely, but there is still lots of greenery up top. Is it possible to save this plant? All help would be appreciated. Please post answers to RGO, as my return address is fake to prevent spam. Thanks, Delphinus
Response:
The idea is to set them on a tray full of wet pebbles (to increase surface area) in order to enhance the local humidity. The plant’s pot should not come in contact with the wet pebbles or the water. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info!
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – would you then suggest not having these plants sitting in trays of water during growth periods and just keeping an eye on them and keeping them watered? Rick message Without knowing the details of the setup, I’d be concerned that the plant may have been sitting right in the water, keeping it too wet. In S/H culture, where there’s lots of air flow to the roots, they adapt just fine, but in most other media, that is not the case. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! Ray, what am I missing here? Isn’t this one of those green things that like to be sitting in a tray of water during it’s growth season? I read this and become leery of leaving my roths. and Victoria rageanes in trays. Also the same in semi hydro (similar to) seem to be lovin it! — Stress not over the little things; and the large ones will disappear! Rick~ message Dip the base in a rooting hormone, place it in a damp but airy medium in a plastic bag to keep the humidity high and pray. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! Hi All, We have a paph which has had the potting medium soaking wet for a while now. Please don’t ask how it got that way!!! (( The root has rotted completely, but there is still lots of greenery up top. Is it possible to save this plant? All help would be appreciated. Please post answers to RGO, as my return address is fake to prevent spam. Thanks, Delphinus
Response:
i understand the concept of the pebbles and more humidity but i would swear that i have read somewhere about setting the entire pot in a tray of water about 1/2" deep. I’ll look again for the article. Rick message – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The idea is to set them on a tray full of wet pebbles (to increase surface area) in order to enhance the local humidity. The plant’s pot should not come in contact with the wet pebbles or the water. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! would you then suggest not having these plants sitting in trays of water during growth periods and just keeping an eye on them and keeping them watered? Rick message Without knowing the details of the setup, I’d be concerned that the plant may have been sitting right in the water, keeping it too wet. In S/H culture, where there’s lots of air flow to the roots, they adapt just fine, but in most other media, that is not the case. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! Ray, what am I missing here? Isn’t this one of those green things that like to be sitting in a tray of water during it’s growth season? I read this and become leery of leaving my roths. and Victoria rageanes in trays. Also the same in semi hydro (similar to) seem to be lovin it! — Stress not over the little things; and the large ones will disappear! Rick~ in message
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dip the base in a rooting hormone, place it in a damp but airy medium in a plastic bag to keep the humidity high and pray. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! message Hi All, We have a paph which has had the potting medium soaking wet for a while now. Please don’t ask how it got that way!!! (( The root has rotted completely, but there is still lots of greenery up top. Is it possible to save this plant? All help would be appreciated. Please post answers to RGO, as my return address is fake to prevent spam. Thanks, Delphinus
Response:
Rick, That depends on the medium and the plant. If you’re talking an inert medium such as clay spheres, then the water can wick up into the medium, but it stays airy and won’t decompose. If you’re using a more traditional, organic medium, it can decompose, or become so soppy that the roots die. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info!
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – i understand the concept of the pebbles and more humidity but i would swear that i have read somewhere about setting the entire pot in a tray of water about 1/2" deep. I’ll look again for the article. Rick message The idea is to set them on a tray full of wet pebbles (to increase surface area) in order to enhance the local humidity. The plant’s pot should not come in contact with the wet pebbles or the water. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! would you then suggest not having these plants sitting in trays of water during growth periods and just keeping an eye on them and keeping them watered? Rick message Without knowing the details of the setup, I’d be concerned that the plant may have been sitting right in the water, keeping it too wet. In S/H culture, where there’s lots of air flow to the roots, they adapt just fine, but in most other media, that is not the case. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! Ray, what am I missing here? Isn’t this one of those green things that like to be sitting in a tray of water during it’s growth season? I read this and become leery of leaving my roths. and Victoria rageanes in trays. Also the same in semi hydro (similar to) seem to be lovin it! — Stress not over the little things; and the large ones will disappear! Rick~ in message Dip the base in a rooting hormone, place it in a damp but airy medium in a plastic bag to keep the humidity high and pray. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! message Hi All, We have a paph which has had the potting medium soaking wet for a while now. Please don’t ask how it got that way!!! (( The root has rotted completely, but there is still lots of greenery up top. Is it possible to save this plant? All help would be appreciated. Please post answers to RGO, as my return address is fake to prevent spam. Thanks, Delphinus
Response:
thank you for all your replies and valuable info Rick
That is one way some people kill phrags…. and swear by it. Paphs do not want so much moisture. Most Phrags need to have more air than I can give them with the pot sitting in water. I do grow some in the semi-hydro (see Firstrays.com) suggested by Ray. SuE
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – i understand the concept of the pebbles and more humidity but i would swear that i have read somewhere about setting the entire pot in a tray of water about 1/2" deep. I’ll look again for the article. Rick message The idea is to set them on a tray full of wet pebbles (to increase surface area) in order to enhance the local humidity. The plant’s pot should not come in contact with the wet pebbles or the water. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! would you then suggest not having these plants sitting in trays of water during growth periods and just keeping an eye on them and keeping them watered? Rick in message
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Without knowing the details of the setup, I’d be concerned that the plant may have been sitting right in the water, keeping it too wet. In S/H culture, where there’s lots of air flow to the roots, they adapt just fine, but in most other media, that is not the case. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! Ray, what am I missing here? Isn’t this one of those green things that like to be sitting in a tray of water during it’s growth season? I read this and become leery of leaving my roths. and Victoria rageanes in trays. Also the same in semi hydro (similar to) seem to be lovin it! — Stress not over the little things; and the large ones will disappear! Rick~ wrote in message Dip the base in a rooting hormone, place it in a damp but airy medium in a plastic bag to keep the humidity high and pray. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! message Hi All, We have a paph which has had the potting medium soaking wet for a while now. Please don’t ask how it got that way!!! (( The root has rotted completely, but there is still lots of greenery up top. Is it possible to save this plant? All help would be appreciated. Please post answers to RGO, as my return address is fake to prevent spam. Thanks, Delphinus
Response:
That is one way some people kill phrags…. and swear by it. Paphs do not want so much moisture. Most Phrags need to have more air than I can give them with the pot sitting in water. I do grow some in the semi-hydro (see Firstrays.com) suggested by Ray. SuE – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -i understand the concept of the pebbles and more humidity but i would swear that i have read somewhere about setting the entire pot in a tray of water about 1/2" deep. I’ll look again for the article. Rick message The idea is to set them on a tray full of wet pebbles (to increase surface area) in order to enhance the local humidity. The plant’s pot should not come in contact with the wet pebbles or the water. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! would you then suggest not having these plants sitting in trays of water during growth periods and just keeping an eye on them and keeping them watered? Rick message Without knowing the details of the setup, I’d be concerned that the plant may have been sitting right in the water, keeping it too wet. In S/H culture, where there’s lots of air flow to the roots, they adapt just fine, but in most other media, that is not the case. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! Ray, what am I missing here? Isn’t this one of those green things that like to be sitting in a tray of water during it’s growth season? I read this and become leery of leaving my roths. and Victoria rageanes in trays. Also the same in semi hydro (similar to) seem to be lovin it! — Stress not over the little things; and the large ones will disappear! Rick~ in message Dip the base in a rooting hormone, place it in a damp but airy medium in a plastic bag to keep the humidity high and pray. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! message Hi All, We have a paph which has had the potting medium soaking wet for a while now. Please don’t ask how it got that way!!! (( The root has rotted completely, but there is still lots of greenery up top. Is it possible to save this plant? All help would be appreciated. Please post answers to RGO, as my return address is fake to prevent spam. Thanks, Delphinus
Response:
Question:
UGH!!!!!! Just rub it in why dont you?????? But thats ok, I will just sit back, with my feet up in my little word of Cyp. deprivation slowly going crazy while I try and track down some fool in Ozzie land that does have some species Cyps up for grabs… Kye.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The lawns?? I have a few pushing up through the concrete floor of the basement… — Reka ;-) http://www.rolbox.it/hukari/index.html "I hate flowers – I paint them because they’re cheaper than models and they don’t move." –Georgia O’Keeffe Oh Kye they are everywhere…..we have to spray to keep them from invading the lawns <grin.
Response:
Ok here’s a new question for you orchid lovers. Today I went to take pictures of the Cyp. acaule that I found. In my excitement I forgot to take fresh batteries. I’ll go back tomorrow and try again. While I was there I found isotria medeoloides. I only found one in bloom but there were several immature plants. From what I read about this plant it is very rare and endangered. It’s a small interesting flower and if I wasn’t an orchid lover would never had paid it much attention. So here’s the question. Should I tell someone in the horticulture world that I have found this? Is there an official group who should be aware of this? Gene
Response:
Hi Gene, I medeloides is, indeed, rare, but it seems that there’s a consensus in the wild-orchid-watching community that they’re not quite as rare as once thought…they’re just very overlooked. It’s also possible that you’re seeing I. verticilata, which is larger and more common. I don’t know the finer points of ID’ing either one (they don’t grow anywhere nearby). Your best bet would probably be to leave your locality secret unless you discover that something is going to happen to disturb it (like ever encroaching development). – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ok here’s a new question for you orchid lovers. Today I went to take pictures of the Cyp. acaule that I found. In my excitement I forgot to take fresh batteries. I’ll go back tomorrow and try again. While I was there I found isotria medeoloides. I only found one in bloom but there were several immature plants. From what I read about this plant it is very rare and endangered. It’s a small interesting flower and if I wasn’t an orchid lover would never had paid it much attention. So here’s the question. Should I tell someone in the horticulture world that I have found this? Is there an official group who should be aware of this? Gene
Response:
Gene, I have no knowledge of the plants’ situation or status, but assuming your understanding is correct: The best thing – in my opinion – is to photograph the daylights out of the plants and their habitat, and DO NOT disclose the location to anyone. Then publish the photos as broadly as possible as a means of drumming up support for the protection of the area. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info!
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ok here’s a new question for you orchid lovers. Today I went to take pictures of the Cyp. acaule that I found. In my excitement I forgot to take fresh batteries. I’ll go back tomorrow and try again. While I was there I found isotria medeoloides. I only found one in bloom but there were several immature plants. From what I read about this plant it is very rare and endangered. It’s a small interesting flower and if I wasn’t an orchid lover would never had paid it much attention. So here’s the question. Should I tell someone in the horticulture world that I have found this? Is there an official group who should be aware of this? Gene
Response:
And post LOTS of pics to A.B.P.O and send heaps to my inbox… I’m having orchid photo withdrawals ever ince my drive crash… Kye. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Gene, I have no knowledge of the plants’ situation or status, but assuming your understanding is correct: The best thing – in my opinion – is to photograph the daylights out of the plants and their habitat, and DO NOT disclose the location to anyone. Then publish the photos as broadly as possible as a means of drumming up support for the protection of the area. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info! Ok here’s a new question for you orchid lovers. Today I went to take pictures of the Cyp. acaule that I found. In my excitement I forgot to take fresh batteries. I’ll go back tomorrow and try again. While I was there I found isotria medeoloides. I only found one in bloom but there were several immature plants. From what I read about this plant it is very rare and endangered. It’s a small interesting flower and if I wasn’t an orchid lover would never had paid it much attention. So here’s the question. Should I tell someone in the horticulture world that I have found this? Is there an official group who should be aware of this? Gene
Response:
I returned to the site tonight to verify the identity. Unfortunately, it is isotria verticillata. The flower is almost 2 inches long. The sepals are dark purplish and the stem is purple near the ground. The good news is that I found it in two locations as well as another site of Cyp. acaule. The few flowers of Isotria were in pretty poor shape. Seed capsules were beginning to form. I’ll return in a week or so to see if some of the immature plants bloom when they open but the looked quite small. Gene
Response:
Kye, I placed three pics out on ABPO for you. Enjoy. Gene
Response:
I returned to the site tonight to verify the identity. Unfortunately, it is isotria verticillata. The flower is almost 2 inches long. The sepals are dark purplish and the stem is purple near the ground. The good news is that I found it in two locations as well as another site of Cyp. acaule. The few flowers of Isotria were in pretty poor shape. Seed capsules were beginning to form. I’ll return in a week or so to see if some of the immature plants bloom when they open but the looked quite small.
It’s unlikely that the other plants will bloom…they are likely seedlings, which in Pogonia-types, look like a scaled down version of the adult plant, minus the bloom stem part. Finding an I. verticillata is nothing to sneeze at either…they are very lovely plants. —Prem www.premdesign.com
Response:
UGH I hate my server… I missed them, would you mind e-mailing them to me please ??? Kye.
Response:
Never mind… I checked it again, they were there. I love the Cyp. Acaule pix…. E-Gads you Americans are lucky to have the Cyps growing so nice and handy at this time of the year… Mind you, us Aussies have one or two nice orchids as well… )) Kye
Response:
Oh Kye they are everywhere…..we have to spray to keep them from invading the lawns <grin. Gene
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Never mind… I checked it again, they were there. I love the Cyp. Acaule pix…. E-Gads you Americans are lucky to have the Cyps growing so nice and handy at this time of the year… Mind you, us Aussies have one or two nice orchids as well… )) Kye
Response:
The lawns?? I have a few pushing up through the concrete floor of the basement… — Reka ;-) http://www.rolbox.it/hukari/index.html "I hate flowers – I paint them because they’re cheaper than models and they don’t move." –Georgia O’Keeffe – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Oh Kye they are everywhere…..we have to spray to keep them from invading the lawns <grin.
Response:
Question:
– Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info!
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a new orchid grower. Mu husband bought me this den at home depoit in Jan, the flowers have died off and I cut the stems back. Nowwww it looks as if there are new stems coming back or maybe more leaves growing. What i was wondering was if there is a new bloom coming does it come up threw the center of the plant or could it come out threw the side. Also when you see orchids in the store there is always two in a pot. Is one a male and one a female and if so which one blooms Thanks for your help
Response:
Jackie, In reverse order – I believe the reason you see two plants in a pot is simply to make it a larger and showier. For the most part, orchid flowers carry both male and female structures which are fused into the single "column" in the middle (as opposed to the separate pistils and stamens in other flowers). There are some orchids that can produce male or female flowers, depending on the growing conditions, but the dendrobium is not one. Dendrobiums grow pseudobulbs on a short rhizome, so new growth will look like it starts at the base of an older pseudobulb. Depending on the type of den you have, the ‘bulbs can look like tall "canes" or be short and fat. Occasionally, dendrobiums can start to form a new plantlet called a "keiki" (Kay-kee – Hawaiian for baby) on other parts of the canes. Once they get leaves and roots, they may be snapped off and potted up on their own. If you plants are the type that send their inflorescence from the very top of the cane, it is possible that they can do so again, but it’s a bit soon for that, and I think you’d be able to tell the difference pretty readily between that and a keiki. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info!
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a new orchid grower. Mu husband bought me this den at home depoit in Jan, the flowers have died off and I cut the stems back. Nowwww it looks as if there are new stems coming back or maybe more leaves growing. What i was wondering was if there is a new bloom coming does it come up threw the center of the plant or could it come out threw the side. Also when you see orchids in the store there is always two in a pot. Is one a male and one a female and if so which one blooms Thanks for your help
Response:
I am a new orchid grower. Mu husband bought me this den at home depoit in Jan, the flowers have died off and I cut the stems back. Nowwww it looks as if there are new stems coming back or maybe more leaves growing. What i was wondering was if there is a new bloom coming does it come up threw the center of the plant or could it come out threw the side. Also when you see orchids in the store there is always two in a pot. Is one a male and one a female and if so which one blooms Thanks for your help
Response:
Question:
Brian, First, sounds like quite a plant! Let me answer the cane question with a description of one of my own plants, Den. Canary Diamond. This is a rangy plant, lots of canes. Many of the old canes are bare and shrivelled. I recently checked the plant over very well, and found that two of the old canes were soft. That tells me that they are rotting, and I got rid of them, cutting back until I got all rotted material. I treated the cuts with cinnamon and the plant is doing fine. But the canes that are shrivelled and firm I left alone. As long as they are not harming the plant in any way, they may be of some use in holding nutrients. Just my opinion. Diana
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have recently purchased a Den. Polka ‘Orange Tower’. The plant has 7 canes, one is 18" tall with leaves on the top 6-8", four of which are approximately 18" tall and completely leafless. There are two canes which are still green, but *very* shriveled, one of which is only 3" and the other 6" tall (one of the leafless 18" canes is in this condition, too). All stand without requiring staking. The plant has flowered, and appears to be sending out more flower nodes, at the base of the "leafed" cane and on two of the least shriveled of the 18" canes. The plant had 3 keikis, one of which was on the shakiest of the 18" canes. But enough description. Is it ever appropriate to cut canes from a dendrobium? If so, when should one do it? I would like to encourage some new growth from this plant, and I love the blooms, but I don’t want to do something stupid and set myself back by years in regard to either blooming or recovery to blooming size after pruning. (The keikis have been removed and potted, on the advice of the grower where I bought the plant [Floradise Orchids in Gordonsville, VA. An absolutely *fabulous* greenhouse!]) What say the sages of rec.gardens.orchids? Brian
Response:
I have recently purchased a Den. Polka ‘Orange Tower’. The plant has 7 canes, one is 18" tall with leaves on the top 6-8", four of which are approximately 18" tall and completely leafless. There are two canes which are still green, but *very* shriveled, one of which is only 3" and the other 6" tall (one of the leafless 18" canes is in this condition, too). All stand without requiring staking. The plant has flowered, and appears to be sending out more flower nodes, at the base of the "leafed" cane and on two of the least shriveled of the 18" canes. The plant had 3 keikis, one of which was on the shakiest of the 18" canes. But enough description. Is it ever appropriate to cut canes from a dendrobium? If so, when should one do it? I would like to encourage some new growth from this plant, and I love the blooms, but I don’t want to do something stupid and set myself back by years in regard to either blooming or recovery to blooming size after pruning. (The keikis have been removed and potted, on the advice of the grower where I bought the plant [Floradise Orchids in Gordonsville, VA. An absolutely *fabulous* greenhouse!]) What say the sages of rec.gardens.orchids? Brian
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Question:
Taking its cue from Kew? K Barrett – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – While AJ’s listing of collections (of all sorts) is quite incluysive, it errs in regard to the Missouri Botanical Garden, whose orchid collection is extensive … just not on public display beyond a small display off the lobby. If you want to see a better representation of the collection, you need to attend the annual orchid show (first weekend in February to mid-March). Organization: Nyx Net, Free Internet access (www.nyx.net) Newsgroups: rec.gardens.orchids i have a general question…I want to know where we have the best orchid collections in conservatories or arboretum etc. in the USA. Good question. I understand the Atlanta Botanic Gardens just put up their orchid/tropical greenhouse. It should be a pretty jewel in short time. There’s nowhere like the ABG for insectivorous plants, either. Their Ron Gagliardo is an expert at tissue culture, particularly as regards to insectivorous plants, and he’s no slouch at orchids, either. Longwood has a pretty good orchid house, and a fair number of nepenthes and sarracenias, to boot. Also one of the few places that has a decent victoria water lily display. Nicely done. I was surprised to find a tropical collection in Madison, WI when I was there. Nothing huge, but nicely done with what they had to work with. Interestingly, Grand Junction, Colorado has a little niche as well- way out in the middle of nowhere, with one butterfly and one tropical room. Very nice people there. Phipps, although it’s been a while since I’ve been in Pittsburgh, was nice. The Climatron at the Missouri Botanic Gardens is not to be missed, although their orchid collection is virtually non-existant. The ‘Mo also has a good victoria waterlily collection. I know the Morton Arboretum doesn’t have any orchids (nice trees, though). Interestingly, the Desert Botanic Garden here in Phoenix has one orchid- an encyclia that is doing distressingly well, lashed to a ponytail palm and afforded marginal shade. I think it bloomed last year. Boyce Thompson Arboretum, on the other hand, has none. I got behind the scenes at Denver, where Nick Snakenberg has been doing a very good job at shaping up the collection there. I won’t comment too much on Marie Selby or Fairchild any others in FL, since the last time I was there was 1985 (when Jones and Scully were still around- *sniff*). Ditto with California. But the National Aquarium (where I got a behind-the-scenes look several years ago) at Baltimore is very nice. The greenhouse on the roof is well-done, as is their work with poison arrow frogs. The National Aquarium in Washington, DC, on the other hand, is a dark pit in the basement of an antiquated building that… words fail me. I’d go again if I could. I don’t think Albuquerque has finished their tropical greenhouse yet. If done as well as their Mediterranean house and their desert room, it’ll be a winner. Other places I’d see again include the St. Louis Zoo (the penguin exhibit, right up from the electric eel- a must-see- is right up their with their tufted frogmouth, or whatever that bird is called). The science museum in St. Louis was free (when I was there), and VERY well-done. (Memo to self, skip the Phoenix science museum.) The Carnegie Museum and its Bronto- er, uh… whatever they call it now, sauropods, scarred me for life when shown them as a child and repeatedly through adolescence. Enough trauma there is probably what drove me to my degree in geology. I understand the aquarium at New Orleans is one of- if not the- best in the US. Didn’t see it when I was there, still regret it. The Albuquerque aquarium is interesting, yet mildly deranged, fitting the city perfectly. I’m missing a couple of botanic gardens and arboreta in there that I’ve seen, I know. One in Galveston escapes me- HUGE fish in the tropical room, including some real Amazonians, like red-tailed catfish (WOW). I’ve seen a few, many during a period in my life when I was a card-carrying member of the American Association of Botanic Gardens and Arboreta (AABGA), which’ll get you in for free at many places, and reduced rates at the rest (except for Madison, which had never heard of it before). The only place I’d never go again is North Dakota. Not that they have a botanic garden, but North Dakota really sucks. Montana’s nice. Cheers, -AJHicks Chandler, AZ
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hi all, i have a general question…I want to know where we have the best orchid collections in conservatories or arboretum etc. in the USA. thanks m d
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They are all in sunny Florida. Mick
Response:
i have a general question…I want to know where we have the best orchid collections in conservatories or arboretum etc. in the USA.
Good question. I understand the Atlanta Botanic Gardens just put up their orchid/tropical greenhouse. It should be a pretty jewel in short time. There’s nowhere like the ABG for insectivorous plants, either. Their Ron Gagliardo is an expert at tissue culture, particularly as regards to insectivorous plants, and he’s no slouch at orchids, either. Longwood has a pretty good orchid house, and a fair number of nepenthes and sarracenias, to boot. Also one of the few places that has a decent victoria water lily display. Nicely done. I was surprised to find a tropical collection in Madison, WI when I was there. Nothing huge, but nicely done with what they had to work with. Interestingly, Grand Junction, Colorado has a little niche as well- way out in the middle of nowhere, with one butterfly and one tropical room. Very nice people there. Phipps, although it’s been a while since I’ve been in Pittsburgh, was nice. The Climatron at the Missouri Botanic Gardens is not to be missed, although their orchid collection is virtually non-existant. The ‘Mo also has a good victoria waterlily collection. I know the Morton Arboretum doesn’t have any orchids (nice trees, though). Interestingly, the Desert Botanic Garden here in Phoenix has one orchid- an encyclia that is doing distressingly well, lashed to a ponytail palm and afforded marginal shade. I think it bloomed last year. Boyce Thompson Arboretum, on the other hand, has none. I got behind the scenes at Denver, where Nick Snakenberg has been doing a very good job at shaping up the collection there. I won’t comment too much on Marie Selby or Fairchild any others in FL, since the last time I was there was 1985 (when Jones and Scully were still around- *sniff*). Ditto with California. But the National Aquarium (where I got a behind-the-scenes look several years ago) at Baltimore is very nice. The greenhouse on the roof is well-done, as is their work with poison arrow frogs. The National Aquarium in Washington, DC, on the other hand, is a dark pit in the basement of an antiquated building that… words fail me. I’d go again if I could. I don’t think Albuquerque has finished their tropical greenhouse yet. If done as well as their Mediterranean house and their desert room, it’ll be a winner. Other places I’d see again include the St. Louis Zoo (the penguin exhibit, right up from the electric eel- a must-see- is right up their with their tufted frogmouth, or whatever that bird is called). The science museum in St. Louis was free (when I was there), and VERY well-done. (Memo to self, skip the Phoenix science museum.) The Carnegie Museum and its Bronto- er, uh… whatever they call it now, sauropods, scarred me for life when shown them as a child and repeatedly through adolescence. Enough trauma there is probably what drove me to my degree in geology. I understand the aquarium at New Orleans is one of- if not the- best in the US. Didn’t see it when I was there, still regret it. The Albuquerque aquarium is interesting, yet mildly deranged, fitting the city perfectly. I’m missing a couple of botanic gardens and arboreta in there that I’ve seen, I know. One in Galveston escapes me- HUGE fish in the tropical room, including some real Amazonians, like red-tailed catfish (WOW). I’ve seen a few, many during a period in my life when I was a card-carrying member of the American Association of Botanic Gardens and Arboreta (AABGA), which’ll get you in for free at many places, and reduced rates at the rest (except for Madison, which had never heard of it before). The only place I’d never go again is North Dakota. Not that they have a botanic garden, but North Dakota really sucks. Montana’s nice. Cheers, -AJHicks Chandler, AZ
Response:
While AJ’s listing of collections (of all sorts) is quite incluysive, it errs in regard to the Missouri Botanical Garden, whose orchid collection is extensive … just not on public display beyond a small display off the lobby. If you want to see a better representation of the collection, you need to attend the annual orchid show (first weekend in February to mid-March). – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Organization: Nyx Net, Free Internet access (www.nyx.net) Newsgroups: rec.gardens.orchids i have a general question…I want to know where we have the best orchid collections in conservatories or arboretum etc. in the USA. Good question. I understand the Atlanta Botanic Gardens just put up their orchid/tropical greenhouse. It should be a pretty jewel in short time. There’s nowhere like the ABG for insectivorous plants, either. Their Ron Gagliardo is an expert at tissue culture, particularly as regards to insectivorous plants, and he’s no slouch at orchids, either. Longwood has a pretty good orchid house, and a fair number of nepenthes and sarracenias, to boot. Also one of the few places that has a decent victoria water lily display. Nicely done. I was surprised to find a tropical collection in Madison, WI when I was there. Nothing huge, but nicely done with what they had to work with. Interestingly, Grand Junction, Colorado has a little niche as well- way out in the middle of nowhere, with one butterfly and one tropical room. Very nice people there. Phipps, although it’s been a while since I’ve been in Pittsburgh, was nice. The Climatron at the Missouri Botanic Gardens is not to be missed, although their orchid collection is virtually non-existant. The ‘Mo also has a good victoria waterlily collection. I know the Morton Arboretum doesn’t have any orchids (nice trees, though). Interestingly, the Desert Botanic Garden here in Phoenix has one orchid- an encyclia that is doing distressingly well, lashed to a ponytail palm and afforded marginal shade. I think it bloomed last year. Boyce Thompson Arboretum, on the other hand, has none. I got behind the scenes at Denver, where Nick Snakenberg has been doing a very good job at shaping up the collection there. I won’t comment too much on Marie Selby or Fairchild any others in FL, since the last time I was there was 1985 (when Jones and Scully were still around- *sniff*). Ditto with California. But the National Aquarium (where I got a behind-the-scenes look several years ago) at Baltimore is very nice. The greenhouse on the roof is well-done, as is their work with poison arrow frogs. The National Aquarium in Washington, DC, on the other hand, is a dark pit in the basement of an antiquated building that… words fail me. I’d go again if I could. I don’t think Albuquerque has finished their tropical greenhouse yet. If done as well as their Mediterranean house and their desert room, it’ll be a winner. Other places I’d see again include the St. Louis Zoo (the penguin exhibit, right up from the electric eel- a must-see- is right up their with their tufted frogmouth, or whatever that bird is called). The science museum in St. Louis was free (when I was there), and VERY well-done. (Memo to self, skip the Phoenix science museum.) The Carnegie Museum and its Bronto- er, uh… whatever they call it now, sauropods, scarred me for life when shown them as a child and repeatedly through adolescence. Enough trauma there is probably what drove me to my degree in geology. I understand the aquarium at New Orleans is one of- if not the- best in the US. Didn’t see it when I was there, still regret it. The Albuquerque aquarium is interesting, yet mildly deranged, fitting the city perfectly. I’m missing a couple of botanic gardens and arboreta in there that I’ve seen, I know. One in Galveston escapes me- HUGE fish in the tropical room, including some real Amazonians, like red-tailed catfish (WOW). I’ve seen a few, many during a period in my life when I was a card-carrying member of the American Association of Botanic Gardens and Arboreta (AABGA), which’ll get you in for free at many places, and reduced rates at the rest (except for Madison, which had never heard of it before). The only place I’d never go again is North Dakota. Not that they have a botanic garden, but North Dakota really sucks. Montana’s nice. Cheers, -AJHicks Chandler, AZ
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i have a general question…I want to know where we have the best orchid collections in conservatories or arboretum etc. in the USA.
FWIW, if you go to Fairchild specifically looking for orchids, you won’t be very happy, to put it mildly. It’s absolutely worth a trip for everything else, and if you go when the naturalized ones in the trees are in bloom that would be an added bonus. But for orchid collections per se you can do better in almost any hobbyist’s greenhouse. Michael
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How cuet of yew to think of that, Kath! ;-) Reka http://www.rolbox.it/hukari/index.html "I hate flowers – I paint them because they’re cheaper than models and they don’t move." –Georgia O’Keeffe – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Taking its cue from Kew?
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The best one I’ve seen is at Marie Selby gardens in Sarasota, FL. Maybe when the AOS collection comes of age in a couple years that’ll be something to see as well. Haven’t been to Longwood but it sounds like a wonderful place. Definitely on the list along with the Brooklyn Botanical Garden and the Atlanta (Fuqua) Botanical Garden. RJ
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I agree with Michael. I was at Fairchild just 2 weeks ago. They had one small room with both orchids and bromeliads. And although they do a fantastic job of identifying all other plants on their grounds, I was hard pressed to find an ID on any of the orchids that they had attached to the trees outside. If you didn’t know that they were orchids you wouldn’t see them. What a shame.
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I know you asked about the USa but living in Northern NH, the closest orchid collection for me is at the Botanical Gardens of Montreal. Touring through their several greenhouses hooked me. Tamra – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – hi all, i have a general question…I want to know where we have the best orchid collections in conservatories or arboretum etc. in the USA. thanks m d
Response:
One of the volunteers at the AOS did a nice series of articles in ‘Orchids’ on botanical gardens world wide, but the AOS Homepage lists several in the US too. http://orchidweb.org/gardens.html K Barrett – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – i have a general question…I want to know where we have the best orchid collections in conservatories or arboretum etc. in the USA. Good question. I understand the Atlanta Botanic Gardens just put up their orchid/tropical greenhouse. It should be a pretty jewel in short time. There’s nowhere like the ABG for insectivorous plants, either. Their Ron Gagliardo is an expert at tissue culture, particularly as regards to insectivorous plants, and he’s no slouch at orchids, either. Longwood has a pretty good orchid house, and a fair number of nepenthes and sarracenias, to boot. Also one of the few places that has a decent victoria water lily display. Nicely done. I was surprised to find a tropical collection in Madison, WI when I was there. Nothing huge, but nicely done with what they had to work with. Interestingly, Grand Junction, Colorado has a little niche as well- way out in the middle of nowhere, with one butterfly and one tropical room. Very nice people there. Phipps, although it’s been a while since I’ve been in Pittsburgh, was nice. The Climatron at the Missouri Botanic Gardens is not to be missed, although their orchid collection is virtually non-existant. The ‘Mo also has a good victoria waterlily collection. I know the Morton Arboretum doesn’t have any orchids (nice trees, though). Interestingly, the Desert Botanic Garden here in Phoenix has one orchid- an encyclia that is doing distressingly well, lashed to a ponytail palm and afforded marginal shade. I think it bloomed last year. Boyce Thompson Arboretum, on the other hand, has none. I got behind the scenes at Denver, where Nick Snakenberg has been doing a very good job at shaping up the collection there. I won’t comment too much on Marie Selby or Fairchild any others in FL, since the last time I was there was 1985 (when Jones and Scully were still around- *sniff*). Ditto with California. But the National Aquarium (where I got a behind-the-scenes look several years ago) at Baltimore is very nice. The greenhouse on the roof is well-done, as is their work with poison arrow frogs. The National Aquarium in Washington, DC, on the other hand, is a dark pit in the basement of an antiquated building that… words fail me. I’d go again if I could. I don’t think Albuquerque has finished their tropical greenhouse yet. If done as well as their Mediterranean house and their desert room, it’ll be a winner. Other places I’d see again include the St. Louis Zoo (the penguin exhibit, right up from the electric eel- a must-see- is right up their with their tufted frogmouth, or whatever that bird is called). The science museum in St. Louis was free (when I was there), and VERY well-done. (Memo to self, skip the Phoenix science museum.) The Carnegie Museum and its Bronto- er, uh… whatever they call it now, sauropods, scarred me for life when shown them as a child and repeatedly through adolescence. Enough trauma there is probably what drove me to my degree in geology. I understand the aquarium at New Orleans is one of- if not the- best in the US. Didn’t see it when I was there, still regret it. The Albuquerque aquarium is interesting, yet mildly deranged, fitting the city perfectly. I’m missing a couple of botanic gardens and arboreta in there that I’ve seen, I know. One in Galveston escapes me- HUGE fish in the tropical room, including some real Amazonians, like red-tailed catfish (WOW). I’ve seen a few, many during a period in my life when I was a card-carrying member of the American Association of Botanic Gardens and Arboreta (AABGA), which’ll get you in for free at many places, and reduced rates at the rest (except for Madison, which had never heard of it before). The only place I’d never go again is North Dakota. Not that they have a botanic garden, but North Dakota really sucks. Montana’s nice. Cheers, -AJHicks Chandler, AZ
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