Welcome everyone to Wade's Orchids!
My latest YouTube video will always be here.
My latest YouTube video will always be here.
Wade's Orchid Blog:
Wow, where did the time go??? As I type this I am revising the plant listing and ordering information. Please read the info on the HOW TO ORDER tab. I am now invoicing through Square which will allow you more security in your card sales. Along with this, if you are comfortable with my shipping we can dramatically reduce the number of emails back and forth. I will also be doing videos again very soon. My camera was misplaced and... well... it's an embarrassing story. :) The shows are over so I will be able to devote time to doing mail order. My apologies for being so late with the plant listing but it is impossible to have a listing with the way my inventory fluctuates during shows. My next speaking engagement is May 10th at the North Jersey Orchid Society (thanks to Bill Stender!) on The Culture And Care Of Bulbophyllums. I will be accepting orders to bring to the meeting as well as bringing lots of things to tempt you.
It is December 20th with nightly temperatures dipping into the 20s and teens and Christmas 5 days away. I would like to take the time to thank all of you who have joined me in this journey. I feel truly blessed in finding so many incredible people in the orchid world. Everywhere I turn I find friendship and kindness that transcends the stress and problems we have in our lives. All of you are a part of it and responsible for it. Thank you all for the incredible joy and satisfaction that I find every day in my life. I hope that I have been able to return some of it to you.
I will be speaking at the Greater Cleveland Orchid Society on Sept. 18! The topic will be Bulbophyllums. Can't wait!!!
It's August and time to finish repotting your plants. It seems impossible but by the end of the month many of our plants will stop root growth and gather any additional nutrients for cooler conditions. It's also time for Wade's Orchids Open House. I have so many new plants to celebrate this and I'm really excited. Because I'm only one person it will be difficult to impossible to fill a pile of orders while the open house is in progress so these plants will be offered online the day after the open house - August 21st. I guarantee that you won't want to miss them! As always, I am here to help with your problems and celebrate your accomplishments. Please contact me with any problems you have. Also, I LOVE to see photos of the plants you are blooming!
The new Spring 2017 listing is out!!! I'd like to thank all of your for your patience and kindness. I have had a very busy time lately and apologise for being a bit late in getting this to your hands.
It's been a long winter and it seems I only remember the cold days! But spring is here and a new listing is forthcoming. It's March 29th and I promise I will have a current listing available in the coming week. It will not have the number of new plants that I had hoped for but I'll change that in the coming weeks. One cultural note: Anyone who has Catasetinae remember not to start watering until the roots are 3" - 5" long. This is the time to repot them if you can do so without disturbing the roots. They can break very easily when they are young.
I'd like to thank all of you who attended the Susquehanna Orchid Society show at Hershey Conservatory. It was a fantastic show and reports are that we had a total of over 2000 in attendance! The next event is a speaking engagement at Central Jersey Orchid Society. The topic is Warmth Tolerant Masdevallias. Early February finds us locked in winter but the sun is becoming stronger and the lengthening days foretell the upcoming warming of spring. Look for your orchids to begin new growth. If you are growing Catasetums remember not to begin any water until the roots are a few inches long. Remember that if you pay attention to your plants there will be no secrets. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions and I'll help to the best of my ability. COME ON SPRING!!!
Here is a link to the upcoming Susquehanna Orchid Society Show. I am very excited to be a vendor here. The conservatory has just been completed. https://www.facebook.com/events/340616062946855/
December is upon us and many orchids enter a dormant period - especially members of the Catasetinae and certain sections of Dendrobiums, Even if not dormant, I cut back on water for all the plants because in my area I get very little sun in December and January. Also, the night temperatures in the greenhouse are in the mid 50s so there is very little growth. If you would like to offer gifts to your orchid growing friends we have gift certificates available in any domination that you would like ($10.00 and up). I will be visiting the North Jersey Orchid Society show in Rutgers on January 15th. If you're there and see me please say "Hi". Finally, I would like to thank all of you for your friendship and kindness. Have a wonderful holiday season and Merry Christmas.
It is November 17th and I've made the decision to stop shipping until spring (probably the beginning of April). This is always difficult to do because I really hate to disappoint people who want plants but it has to be done. I would sincerely like to thank all of you who have ordered plants from me and I hope to offer a good selection of species and hybrids to help your collection to grow and diversify. So many of you are more friends than customers and I feel honored to be able to say that. I wish you all holidays filled with those who love you and many blooms to brighten the dreary days of winter. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.
November has arrived and we know it will leave us much colder than when it arrived. The last day of shipping will be Nov. 23rd but that is weather permitting. For those of us in the north windows and vents are shut and our plants just will not dry like they used to. Be aware of fungal and bacterial issues which plague all of us at one time or another. Fungal spores remain in the growing area longer because there is precious little air exchange and can proliferate. Snow mold is a topic that comes up very often. Although hydrogen peroxide is touted as a cure it doesn't seem to be strong enough to really defeat many of the fungus problems. I use two tools. The first is Physan 20. This is a powerful chemical but if used properly it is safe. I have never seen any problems with the plants that it has been used on. The big thing is to keep your plants and pets safe from one another. The other tool is more air movement. Add another fan. Even if you think you have good air movement add another. Here's hoping you and your orchids have great holidays.
As October approaches many of us who have orchids outside need to bring them in for the winter. Even though they may not be visible, it's necessary to treat the plants to rid them of any pests that may have made your tasty orchids their home. While the plants are still outside it's good to spray them with a comprehensive insecticide. A thorough dunking (about 10 minutes) in a solution of water, insecticide, and a bit of dish detergent just before moving them in and they will be ready for the winter inside. If you are like me, your collection is always growing and adding another level (or two) of lights may be necessary. I will be having one more update of my listing and another special in the beginning of October. Shipping will continue into November with the final date depending on the weather.
The September listing is out. Please note that there are many additions to both the plants and the the photo section. There are now photos of many of the plants that are for sale.
I want everyone to know that I'm working on posting the updates and special for August. Because this is a one person operation, there are sometimes more things to do than hours to do them. If I don't get the update done tonight it will be out tomorrow by mid morning. Thanks all!
July!!! Half of the year has gone but let's celebrate what we have. Almost everything should be growing now and though the flush of spring blooms have passed there are plenty of wonderful orchids that are just starting to show off. This month's special is a celebration of Cattleyas - mostly miniatures to compact growers. Exceptional parentage should make these plants the future stars of many collections and will garner many awards!
It's June 3rd and the sale is back on and extended until June 30th. There has been a lot of work done in the greenhouse. Something that I have to do is to repot and establish all the plants that I bring in for sale. One of my goals when deciding to sell plants was to try to have all my plants in good quality media and established so that you get the plants in the best possible condition. This past month I potted up around 200 plants .
I'd like to take a moment to thank all of you who have purchased the Paphs that were on sale. They are now sold out. I am trying to get more but it's not real promising.
The first special is officially over! Thanks to all of you who ordered and were patient with me while I was overwhelmed with orders! Now for the good news... I have another special that will be starting May 13th (yes, Friday the 13th) and running until Friday, June 10th. Also, a new feature is if you go to "CONTACT" you will see that there is a form (scroll down) to send me an email or request to be put on the email listing. There is so much that I am working on to make life easier for all of us. All it takes is time and money.
April!!!! The new list is up - FINALLY! I am glad that I waited until now for beginning shipments. Last week we had more than one night in the 20s or lower thanks to a cold front that brought the jet stream along with temperatures plummeting. Now it's 70s and clear sailing.. er, shipping. :)
As I write this there is snow on the ground but today is March 4th and it will be only a bit over a month until shipping resumes. A new listing will be out by April 16th with shipping starting Monday, April 18th (weather permitting). If you do not currently receive my email listings please drop me an email at wadeh1954@gmail.com and I will add you to the list. I promise that the upcoming list will have plenty of new additions to entice you! I'd like to give a shout out to my friend, Christopher Bevins, and the Central Jersey Orchid Society. I delivered a project plant to 20 of their growers at their meeting and visited David and Joan Rosenfield who is the CJOS president and also an award winning grower of Dendrochilums as well as many other orchid genera. David is also the author of many articles that have appeared in Orchids Magazine (the publication of the American Orchid Society. Thank you Chris, David, and all the members of the CJOS for a wonderful and memorable trip!
January 2016 Happy New Year to all! I know that Christmas eve I had visions of orchids dancing in my head. But it's a new year and my thoughts as well as some of yours are turning to purchases of orchids to dance in their collections! I can assure you that there will be many surprises in store when the Pennsylvania winter is over and shipping becomes possible again. At this point I am looking at the end of April for this. Speaking of winter, it seems that almost all of us are being hit by a fungal rot hitting a plant or two in our collections. This is known as black rot and is caust by Pythium ultimum and Phytophthora cactorum. This is something that is easily identifiable. Large black or dark brown spots or blotches appear on a leaf and quickly spread. Sometimes it can be brought under control by cutting the leaf off at least 1/2" below the affected area using a sterilized instrument. A fungicide is also a good idea, maybe not to cure what has happened but to prevent the rot from showing up on other leaves of the plant. Isolating the plant is also advisable to prevent the spread to other plants in the collection. Sometimes the bacteria has progressed so far that the entire leaf falls off in a few days. This problem is not usually fatal unless the rot progresses into the psuedobulbs or reaches the growing point of the plant. The best cure for this problem is prevention. First, make sure your leaves are dry by evening. This fungus is all around us but needs a cool, moist place to really start multiplying and enter the plant. Also, increased air movement helps plants dry more quickly after watering.
December!!! What a wonderful year it's been! The greenhouse has been operating over a year and performing admirably! A year ago I had no intention of selling plants - at least not this soon. But some of you who saw my seedlings requested a list of things I might want to sell and my retirement income was not prepared for the amount of propane required to heat the greenhouse so here we are. :) There has been an outbreak of snow mold in many collections. This seems to be difficult to control by using hydrogen peroxide. I suggest if you have this problem to go to your garden store and get a fungicide. Specticide makes an Immunox fungicide that should work well but there are other brands also. If at all possible apply this outside and then bring the plant back in. Also, make sure that some of the fungicide goes into the potting media. If this is a severe case you may need to repot the plant. While treating for fungus, keep the plant on the dry side and try to increase air flow.
It's November and shipping has stopped until spring. I'd like to thank everyone who has made this possible. It has been a wonderful first year and I am already gearing up for spring. I will have a brand new selection of 2" seedlings that will be joining what I have. I also will be offering more blooming size plants and will be expanding into new genera. If you can, get in touch and stop in. New friends and old are always welcome! Also don't forget to check out my YouTube and Facebook sites!
I received an email that I felt deserved to have the answer shared. The person said that they had purchased an orchid and wondered if it should be repotted. Here is my answer:
What to do with any new orchid can be puzzling. After seeing too many that I waited on start to decline I've come to a personal conclusion that if you are not sure of the condition of the root system and if the plant is actively growing it is a good idea to at least take it out of the pot and look at the roots. Waiting until signs appear on the plant can cause a severe setback and sometimes a loss of the plant.
This is always a difficult decision. I think that the important thing to consider is the part about the plant being in active growth. The consideration is because most species and some hybrids have a very defined growing season and unless the plant is in active growth (meaning green root tips and/or new growths forming) any roots that are damaged will not be replaced. Monopodial orchids (ones that grow from a rhizome and then put out a new growth) like Cattleyas only form new roots from the base of active growths. Therefore, no active growth means no new roots to replace those that are injured. If you have doubts about the plant in question though, you have no choice. This is why I always send my plants in good potting media and do everything possible to assure that there are plenty of good, active roots.
Tips for July: July is here and the weather is heating up. As the temperature climbs plants can become very stressed. Leaves can burn and plant transpiration is at its max. Here are a few tips to help you help your orchids through the summer months. Provide increased shade as necessary. This is the most direct way to combat the sun's heat. Whether it's shade cloth in the greenhouse, a sheer curtain in the house, or moving an outdoor plant into a more densely shaded area. Another method is to increase air movement. The longer you know me, the more you will hear me proclaim the advantages of air movement. In addition to keeping plant tissue cooler it also keeps it dry which prevents bacterial and fungal growth. The drying process dramatically cools the plant's leaves which brings up the next tool in our arsonal. Provide misting for your plants. This should not be construed as watering and the water should evaporate in 15 minutes or less which brings up a downside to misting. It needs to be repeated on a regular basis as its effects only last a short period of time. Another thing to be aware of is to make certain that the water does evaporate. Otherwise bacteria and/or fungus can become a problem very quickly.
I hope these thoughts have helped you provide the environment your orchids need to thrive. Remember that paying attention to your plants can make the difference between healthy plants and those destined for the compost pile.
Tips for June: Everything is growing as much as it can this month. We see especially new growth on the Cattleya species beginning now. Most things can be repotted now without any problems or setbacks. Try to invest in good quality bark. It lasts longer and many times good bark promotes good bacteria in the mix. This month is also a good one for pests and other problems. Fungus can sometimes develop in pots and will lead to the mix breaking down very quickly.
Also mealy bugs, scales, and other insects can seem to pop up out of nowhere. Alcohol is good for mild spot treatment but real infestations may need the proper insecticides. If you are in the home make up a small batch and take any plants to be sprayed outside in the shade for a few days or place them in a bag after spraying so the odor does not permeate the house. If you use a bag make sure the plant has dried before placing inside. Remember to spray under the leaves.
Slugs and snails often reside where they cannot be seen but their damage is very noticeable. I had a flower spike completely chewed through one night. Some people use a saucer of beer to lure them in and drown them. I am not saying that it doesn't work but I don't waste good beer! :) There are products on the market that are very effective. Just be sure that you stay away from products with methaldehyde if pets are nearby.
Check back for more tips and suggestions as well as updates of the plant list. Happy growing, Wade
Wow, where did the time go??? As I type this I am revising the plant listing and ordering information. Please read the info on the HOW TO ORDER tab. I am now invoicing through Square which will allow you more security in your card sales. Along with this, if you are comfortable with my shipping we can dramatically reduce the number of emails back and forth. I will also be doing videos again very soon. My camera was misplaced and... well... it's an embarrassing story. :) The shows are over so I will be able to devote time to doing mail order. My apologies for being so late with the plant listing but it is impossible to have a listing with the way my inventory fluctuates during shows. My next speaking engagement is May 10th at the North Jersey Orchid Society (thanks to Bill Stender!) on The Culture And Care Of Bulbophyllums. I will be accepting orders to bring to the meeting as well as bringing lots of things to tempt you.
It is December 20th with nightly temperatures dipping into the 20s and teens and Christmas 5 days away. I would like to take the time to thank all of you who have joined me in this journey. I feel truly blessed in finding so many incredible people in the orchid world. Everywhere I turn I find friendship and kindness that transcends the stress and problems we have in our lives. All of you are a part of it and responsible for it. Thank you all for the incredible joy and satisfaction that I find every day in my life. I hope that I have been able to return some of it to you.
I will be speaking at the Greater Cleveland Orchid Society on Sept. 18! The topic will be Bulbophyllums. Can't wait!!!
It's August and time to finish repotting your plants. It seems impossible but by the end of the month many of our plants will stop root growth and gather any additional nutrients for cooler conditions. It's also time for Wade's Orchids Open House. I have so many new plants to celebrate this and I'm really excited. Because I'm only one person it will be difficult to impossible to fill a pile of orders while the open house is in progress so these plants will be offered online the day after the open house - August 21st. I guarantee that you won't want to miss them! As always, I am here to help with your problems and celebrate your accomplishments. Please contact me with any problems you have. Also, I LOVE to see photos of the plants you are blooming!
The new Spring 2017 listing is out!!! I'd like to thank all of your for your patience and kindness. I have had a very busy time lately and apologise for being a bit late in getting this to your hands.
It's been a long winter and it seems I only remember the cold days! But spring is here and a new listing is forthcoming. It's March 29th and I promise I will have a current listing available in the coming week. It will not have the number of new plants that I had hoped for but I'll change that in the coming weeks. One cultural note: Anyone who has Catasetinae remember not to start watering until the roots are 3" - 5" long. This is the time to repot them if you can do so without disturbing the roots. They can break very easily when they are young.
I'd like to thank all of you who attended the Susquehanna Orchid Society show at Hershey Conservatory. It was a fantastic show and reports are that we had a total of over 2000 in attendance! The next event is a speaking engagement at Central Jersey Orchid Society. The topic is Warmth Tolerant Masdevallias. Early February finds us locked in winter but the sun is becoming stronger and the lengthening days foretell the upcoming warming of spring. Look for your orchids to begin new growth. If you are growing Catasetums remember not to begin any water until the roots are a few inches long. Remember that if you pay attention to your plants there will be no secrets. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions and I'll help to the best of my ability. COME ON SPRING!!!
Here is a link to the upcoming Susquehanna Orchid Society Show. I am very excited to be a vendor here. The conservatory has just been completed. https://www.facebook.com/events/340616062946855/
December is upon us and many orchids enter a dormant period - especially members of the Catasetinae and certain sections of Dendrobiums, Even if not dormant, I cut back on water for all the plants because in my area I get very little sun in December and January. Also, the night temperatures in the greenhouse are in the mid 50s so there is very little growth. If you would like to offer gifts to your orchid growing friends we have gift certificates available in any domination that you would like ($10.00 and up). I will be visiting the North Jersey Orchid Society show in Rutgers on January 15th. If you're there and see me please say "Hi". Finally, I would like to thank all of you for your friendship and kindness. Have a wonderful holiday season and Merry Christmas.
It is November 17th and I've made the decision to stop shipping until spring (probably the beginning of April). This is always difficult to do because I really hate to disappoint people who want plants but it has to be done. I would sincerely like to thank all of you who have ordered plants from me and I hope to offer a good selection of species and hybrids to help your collection to grow and diversify. So many of you are more friends than customers and I feel honored to be able to say that. I wish you all holidays filled with those who love you and many blooms to brighten the dreary days of winter. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.
November has arrived and we know it will leave us much colder than when it arrived. The last day of shipping will be Nov. 23rd but that is weather permitting. For those of us in the north windows and vents are shut and our plants just will not dry like they used to. Be aware of fungal and bacterial issues which plague all of us at one time or another. Fungal spores remain in the growing area longer because there is precious little air exchange and can proliferate. Snow mold is a topic that comes up very often. Although hydrogen peroxide is touted as a cure it doesn't seem to be strong enough to really defeat many of the fungus problems. I use two tools. The first is Physan 20. This is a powerful chemical but if used properly it is safe. I have never seen any problems with the plants that it has been used on. The big thing is to keep your plants and pets safe from one another. The other tool is more air movement. Add another fan. Even if you think you have good air movement add another. Here's hoping you and your orchids have great holidays.
As October approaches many of us who have orchids outside need to bring them in for the winter. Even though they may not be visible, it's necessary to treat the plants to rid them of any pests that may have made your tasty orchids their home. While the plants are still outside it's good to spray them with a comprehensive insecticide. A thorough dunking (about 10 minutes) in a solution of water, insecticide, and a bit of dish detergent just before moving them in and they will be ready for the winter inside. If you are like me, your collection is always growing and adding another level (or two) of lights may be necessary. I will be having one more update of my listing and another special in the beginning of October. Shipping will continue into November with the final date depending on the weather.
The September listing is out. Please note that there are many additions to both the plants and the the photo section. There are now photos of many of the plants that are for sale.
I want everyone to know that I'm working on posting the updates and special for August. Because this is a one person operation, there are sometimes more things to do than hours to do them. If I don't get the update done tonight it will be out tomorrow by mid morning. Thanks all!
July!!! Half of the year has gone but let's celebrate what we have. Almost everything should be growing now and though the flush of spring blooms have passed there are plenty of wonderful orchids that are just starting to show off. This month's special is a celebration of Cattleyas - mostly miniatures to compact growers. Exceptional parentage should make these plants the future stars of many collections and will garner many awards!
It's June 3rd and the sale is back on and extended until June 30th. There has been a lot of work done in the greenhouse. Something that I have to do is to repot and establish all the plants that I bring in for sale. One of my goals when deciding to sell plants was to try to have all my plants in good quality media and established so that you get the plants in the best possible condition. This past month I potted up around 200 plants .
I'd like to take a moment to thank all of you who have purchased the Paphs that were on sale. They are now sold out. I am trying to get more but it's not real promising.
The first special is officially over! Thanks to all of you who ordered and were patient with me while I was overwhelmed with orders! Now for the good news... I have another special that will be starting May 13th (yes, Friday the 13th) and running until Friday, June 10th. Also, a new feature is if you go to "CONTACT" you will see that there is a form (scroll down) to send me an email or request to be put on the email listing. There is so much that I am working on to make life easier for all of us. All it takes is time and money.
April!!!! The new list is up - FINALLY! I am glad that I waited until now for beginning shipments. Last week we had more than one night in the 20s or lower thanks to a cold front that brought the jet stream along with temperatures plummeting. Now it's 70s and clear sailing.. er, shipping. :)
As I write this there is snow on the ground but today is March 4th and it will be only a bit over a month until shipping resumes. A new listing will be out by April 16th with shipping starting Monday, April 18th (weather permitting). If you do not currently receive my email listings please drop me an email at wadeh1954@gmail.com and I will add you to the list. I promise that the upcoming list will have plenty of new additions to entice you! I'd like to give a shout out to my friend, Christopher Bevins, and the Central Jersey Orchid Society. I delivered a project plant to 20 of their growers at their meeting and visited David and Joan Rosenfield who is the CJOS president and also an award winning grower of Dendrochilums as well as many other orchid genera. David is also the author of many articles that have appeared in Orchids Magazine (the publication of the American Orchid Society. Thank you Chris, David, and all the members of the CJOS for a wonderful and memorable trip!
January 2016 Happy New Year to all! I know that Christmas eve I had visions of orchids dancing in my head. But it's a new year and my thoughts as well as some of yours are turning to purchases of orchids to dance in their collections! I can assure you that there will be many surprises in store when the Pennsylvania winter is over and shipping becomes possible again. At this point I am looking at the end of April for this. Speaking of winter, it seems that almost all of us are being hit by a fungal rot hitting a plant or two in our collections. This is known as black rot and is caust by Pythium ultimum and Phytophthora cactorum. This is something that is easily identifiable. Large black or dark brown spots or blotches appear on a leaf and quickly spread. Sometimes it can be brought under control by cutting the leaf off at least 1/2" below the affected area using a sterilized instrument. A fungicide is also a good idea, maybe not to cure what has happened but to prevent the rot from showing up on other leaves of the plant. Isolating the plant is also advisable to prevent the spread to other plants in the collection. Sometimes the bacteria has progressed so far that the entire leaf falls off in a few days. This problem is not usually fatal unless the rot progresses into the psuedobulbs or reaches the growing point of the plant. The best cure for this problem is prevention. First, make sure your leaves are dry by evening. This fungus is all around us but needs a cool, moist place to really start multiplying and enter the plant. Also, increased air movement helps plants dry more quickly after watering.
December!!! What a wonderful year it's been! The greenhouse has been operating over a year and performing admirably! A year ago I had no intention of selling plants - at least not this soon. But some of you who saw my seedlings requested a list of things I might want to sell and my retirement income was not prepared for the amount of propane required to heat the greenhouse so here we are. :) There has been an outbreak of snow mold in many collections. This seems to be difficult to control by using hydrogen peroxide. I suggest if you have this problem to go to your garden store and get a fungicide. Specticide makes an Immunox fungicide that should work well but there are other brands also. If at all possible apply this outside and then bring the plant back in. Also, make sure that some of the fungicide goes into the potting media. If this is a severe case you may need to repot the plant. While treating for fungus, keep the plant on the dry side and try to increase air flow.
It's November and shipping has stopped until spring. I'd like to thank everyone who has made this possible. It has been a wonderful first year and I am already gearing up for spring. I will have a brand new selection of 2" seedlings that will be joining what I have. I also will be offering more blooming size plants and will be expanding into new genera. If you can, get in touch and stop in. New friends and old are always welcome! Also don't forget to check out my YouTube and Facebook sites!
I received an email that I felt deserved to have the answer shared. The person said that they had purchased an orchid and wondered if it should be repotted. Here is my answer:
What to do with any new orchid can be puzzling. After seeing too many that I waited on start to decline I've come to a personal conclusion that if you are not sure of the condition of the root system and if the plant is actively growing it is a good idea to at least take it out of the pot and look at the roots. Waiting until signs appear on the plant can cause a severe setback and sometimes a loss of the plant.
This is always a difficult decision. I think that the important thing to consider is the part about the plant being in active growth. The consideration is because most species and some hybrids have a very defined growing season and unless the plant is in active growth (meaning green root tips and/or new growths forming) any roots that are damaged will not be replaced. Monopodial orchids (ones that grow from a rhizome and then put out a new growth) like Cattleyas only form new roots from the base of active growths. Therefore, no active growth means no new roots to replace those that are injured. If you have doubts about the plant in question though, you have no choice. This is why I always send my plants in good potting media and do everything possible to assure that there are plenty of good, active roots.
Tips for July: July is here and the weather is heating up. As the temperature climbs plants can become very stressed. Leaves can burn and plant transpiration is at its max. Here are a few tips to help you help your orchids through the summer months. Provide increased shade as necessary. This is the most direct way to combat the sun's heat. Whether it's shade cloth in the greenhouse, a sheer curtain in the house, or moving an outdoor plant into a more densely shaded area. Another method is to increase air movement. The longer you know me, the more you will hear me proclaim the advantages of air movement. In addition to keeping plant tissue cooler it also keeps it dry which prevents bacterial and fungal growth. The drying process dramatically cools the plant's leaves which brings up the next tool in our arsonal. Provide misting for your plants. This should not be construed as watering and the water should evaporate in 15 minutes or less which brings up a downside to misting. It needs to be repeated on a regular basis as its effects only last a short period of time. Another thing to be aware of is to make certain that the water does evaporate. Otherwise bacteria and/or fungus can become a problem very quickly.
I hope these thoughts have helped you provide the environment your orchids need to thrive. Remember that paying attention to your plants can make the difference between healthy plants and those destined for the compost pile.
Tips for June: Everything is growing as much as it can this month. We see especially new growth on the Cattleya species beginning now. Most things can be repotted now without any problems or setbacks. Try to invest in good quality bark. It lasts longer and many times good bark promotes good bacteria in the mix. This month is also a good one for pests and other problems. Fungus can sometimes develop in pots and will lead to the mix breaking down very quickly.
Also mealy bugs, scales, and other insects can seem to pop up out of nowhere. Alcohol is good for mild spot treatment but real infestations may need the proper insecticides. If you are in the home make up a small batch and take any plants to be sprayed outside in the shade for a few days or place them in a bag after spraying so the odor does not permeate the house. If you use a bag make sure the plant has dried before placing inside. Remember to spray under the leaves.
Slugs and snails often reside where they cannot be seen but their damage is very noticeable. I had a flower spike completely chewed through one night. Some people use a saucer of beer to lure them in and drown them. I am not saying that it doesn't work but I don't waste good beer! :) There are products on the market that are very effective. Just be sure that you stay away from products with methaldehyde if pets are nearby.
Check back for more tips and suggestions as well as updates of the plant list. Happy growing, Wade
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