by Susan Taylor
Originally published in BellaOnline
Orthene will prevent thrips. A preventative spraying of Orthene 75%, wettable powder or in aerosol, on maturing flower buds will prevent thirp damage, as well as aphids and ants. If insects are found on the open flowers, the same chemical can be used to eradicate the infestation, without damaging the flowers. Other insecticides WILL damage the flowers and should not be used. Use Orthene spray as recommended on the label. If using the aerosol, spray from at least a foot away from the flowers. In addition, Orthene 75% does not leave any unsightly residue.
Remove dried sheaths from Cattleya Alliance orchids. Always remove the dried sheathing from pseudobulbs to prevent buildup of moisture, and as a hiding place for insects. This also provides more surface for photosynthesis activity. Insects, particularly scale insects, find Cattleya Alliance plants attractive.
Cut open bud sheaths to eliminate flower bud rot. Bud sheaths often collect water insidecausing the new buds to rot. Cut the top off the sheath will to eliminate this problem. Sometimes, a sheath will form without a bud ever forming, or due to breeding some orchids, will form a sheath, then many months later form the flower buds.
Soak used pots in water and bleach to kill viruses and diseases. Recycle used pots by soaking in a strong bleach solution for at least twenty minutes to kill any viruses or diseases. Use ½ cup bleach per gallon of water.
Take problem plants out of their pots and put in an empty clay pot. Water and fertilize as normal. This will force any eyes that are on the plant to grow and make new roots. Then the plant can be repotted. This will save you the time and expense of using mix on a plant that will never make it.
Frequently I am asked by an orchidist how to tell whether or not he/she is doing a good job of growing his/her plants. Actually, this is a good question, because often times we look at our plants and wonder how well they are thriving, but have nothing for comparison. It is relatively easy to tell whether your plants are up to par or not. Color is always a good positive factor because the intensity of green will vary among genera, with some well grown plants dark green and some almost yellow green. But there is an excellent indicator that everyone can use to evaluate plants.
This species is a small sized, hot growing, pendant growing epiphyte from Malaysia and Borneo in shady, humid, lowland and swampy riverine forests low down on trees often near or on branches overhanging stream banks at elevations of sealevel to 200 meters with an erect to ascending, short stem completely enveloped by persistant leaf-bearing sheaths and carrying pendulous, broad, rounded, light green leaves that blooms in the summer and fall on a suberect or arcuate, 2 3/4″ [7 cm] long, racemose or paniculate, few flowered inflorescence with a flattened, fractiflex rachis and small ovate bracts and has only 2 to 3, highly fragrant flowers open at a time. The inflorescence on older plants can rebloom year after year so do not cut off green viable inflorescence.
Vanda cristata Lindl. 1833
This plant has long been one of my favourites. It is a terrestrial and loves warm growing conditions. It is the national flower of Panama where it grows as a terrestrial in loamy soil and humus pockets among rocks. Cultural notes suggest that it prefers hot conditions with 30-50% light. It grows exceptionally well in North Queensland conditions with little attention to cultural niceties. The plant grows with an enormous egg shaped pseudobulb which on my mature plants have been 12 to 15 cm across and 15 to 20 cm high. The long arching single leaf is about 15 cm wide at the middle tapering at each end. The leaf has many transverse corrugations that remind you of the immature growth on palm leaves.
Eurychone rothschildiana is a Ugandan species which looks like a Phalaenopsis, and can be grown like a one. They have beautiful large, oval, wavy, stiff olive green leaves with green flowers that have a broad curved lip that is blackish green inside with a white edge. Sepals and petals are white with lime green. This flower develops a wonderful fragrance of cinnamon in the morning, after having been opened for a few days. Flowers are about 1.5″ across. This plant prefers to be grown in New Zealand sphagnum moss in clay pots, although it does equally well mounted, as long as you water daily. Repot before flowering in the spring, usually March through April. This plant is a warm grower, and should be treated like Phalaenopsis, so protect it from cold nights during the wintertime.