Aaargh! And what a beauty! Color of a chestnut.

Aaarrgh about snapping it off...it is a really nice bloom!
Bree, these "Just add Ice - Phals" pop up in the supermarkets around here and some of us have "ranted a bit" about that from time to time.
Talking to the lady, she didn't seem to know anything about the icy watering practice or about keeping Phals for that matter, (she is a manager of sorts nowadays) but - I came to the conclusion that it is simply an advertisement gimmick and not a cultural advice.

Great....

I still think it's a great gimmick for making unknowing people buy orchids and kill them off faster. Then buy more.

The phals and dens in grocery stores and at Wal-Mart are so often on Death Row already, I'm sure a lot of people just buy them as they would buy cut flowers, and throw them away when they're done. IF the blooms last a month or two, it's better value than cut flowers that last a week or 10 days. Putting ice on them once a week would just hasten the dying process, wouldn't you think?

But, if mass production of disposable orchids employs 1000 people in parts of the US I guess it's good business even if the plants go to waste. Sad for us orchid lovers, though.

Ouch! I would rather they have jobs in facilities that mimic Holland's operations. Tricking consumers to employ people doesn't sit right with me.

Me either, but the consumers need to be smart and not buy disposable stuff, too. Lots of our money goes to China for disposable and junky stuff that ends up in the landfill.

At least most of the money for these orchids stays in the US. Maybe . . . when Jim and I did an orchid hunt in Apopka in February, one of the sellers had a truck there being unloaded. It was filled with boxes of bare-root orchids. Each box must have had 200 orchids in it, and there were over 100 boxes, I'm sure. They had all come from Thailand. So, not all of the mass-grow orchid operations get their wholesale stock from US sources either.

When a US grower can employ 10 people at $7.50/hr and a Thai grower can employ 100 people at 75 cents/hr. who's going to be able to grow more orchids? We need to buy from the US grower to keep our money in this country even though his orchids are a bit more expensive. Not that many people are willing to do that.

Potinara Hoku Gem 'Freckles' is opening today and I want you to know that I bloomed her without the use of a single ice cube.

Jim

And it shows!
Nice color, Jim! Hoku Gem is a cutie.

Thanks, Ursula. I hear thunder, the skies are black and radar shows big storms heading my way. That's not what I need just now. The garden is still either soggy or completely under water. It's a wild ride.

Jim

This storm came through here on its way to you, Jim. It's a doozy, too! Hope it passes you quickly.

We were going sailing today, but I wimped out because my back was hurting. Glad I did, too. DH just called to say they got caught out on the bay with heavy winds, rain and lightning. Everybody capsized, and it took them a couple of hours to rescue all the boats/crews. Our boat has some damage, but will be ok.

Freckles is just lovely.

We were pounded for about an hour but it has moved on. Nothing left but some far off lightening. I don't want to know where the lake edge is tonight. I've been sitting out in the OC with a glass of port watching the electric skies and listening to the frogs. They seem happy about all of the rain.

Jim

bree, bummer of an event with your "Worldly" paph, it is a beauty. I think we can all relate to this situation, I know I certainly can many times over.

Jim, lovely 'Freckles' on your Hoku Gem. I thought at first the spots might be water spots, thrown up by the roots of your plant as it dances merrily in the ice water.

Phal Salu Spot #14


Paphiopedilum Nightshadow (Laser x Ruby Leopard)


Phalaenopsis Brother Goldsmith, I have had this plant for over 5 years and has been a regular bloomer but this is the first time it has exhibited any peloric tendencies. On the main stem the petals away form the main stem exhibit the peloric growth but on the branches both petals exhibit this trait. This is the largest spike the plant has produced. I have found Phals are a bit like mushrooms and do much better in low light. I have moved several to a window facing due North but with unobstructed view of sky and they are doing much better than when they were near south facing window.

Very nice, Ken.
The peloric Phal sure is interesting! Perhaps the lower light brought it out?
Pretty color on the Paph!

Beautiful, Ken. I especially like the paph. Do you think those phals might have to 'migrate' back towards the south-facing window as the days get shorter up there in the Great White North?

I am from BC so I was talking to friends up there recently about the very long days of summer, and short grey days of winter. I do remember going to work and coming home in darkness in the winter time and only seeing the light of day when I went out at lunch. IF I ever had to move back there, I'd need supplemental grow lights both for me and for the orchids.

Mine are getting an excellent rainwater rinse again today. Hope Jim still has his head above water!

I only have one thing to say, Elaine. "Glugg". We were pounded yet again today. It has knocked several mangos and avocados from the trees. The good news is they are ripe so I have spent part of the day bending over the kitchen sink with mango juice dripping off my elbows. The avocados are smallish this year but yummy delicious. Life is wet but good.

Ken, I really like that last Phal. Unusual color and beautiful. The slipper is great as well. I wish we would hear more from you.

Jim

Mmm, life is good when the mangoes are ripe! Ours finished up a few days ago. Usually I get fed up with "sharing" with the squirrels, raccoons and rats, and pick about the last 20 fruit from the tree. Let them ripen up on the kitchen counter, eat one for breakfast every day, and if too many get ripe at once, I have a killer recipe for fat free mango ice cream. Tree mail me if you want it. Very easy.

My 'chids are cowering under the overhangs, and the patio table again now, waiting out this next round of rain. The ones up in the trees just seem to love it. I'm guessing they dry out fairly fast up there so never stay too soggy. My little Encyclia tampensis is up there with the brassavolas and Laelia anceps, and it has a seed pod! I made a tiny net bag so that I can catch the seeds when they release, and will plant them up on the branch to see if I can make that work. Or maybe I should suspend a raft with some sphagnum on it under the pod?

Thanks all.

No Elaine, I keep plants there all year long, they get cycled out as they bloom. That area seems especially good for setting spikes particularly during those short winter days. Your Howeara Lava Burst 'Puanani' looks great, it must be a large plant as the spikes seem pendant. My little Howeara Lava Burst 'Puanani' is just starting to bloom on short upright Spikes.

Jim, is there any chance you might have 'electric' eels in the lake with all that 'lightning' and rain? We could use some rain too as the lawns are getting quite brown in places and I heard a farmer today say the corn fizzling.

Still raining lightly here and they are calling for more tomorrow. It is too hot and soggy to do anything outside. I'll have to wait until things dry out before trying to repair the garden. Fourteen years here and I've never seen anything like this. I went out to pick some mangos off the ground and was ankle deep in water. Both the mangos and avocados are super tasting this year.

I don't think growing orchids from seed is viable unless you have a lab and lots of techical assistance.

Jim

Yoicks, watch out for water moccasins and gators when you're out there wading around, won't you!! No eels, Ken, electric or otherwise, and we can only hope the snakes get zapped if the lightning does hit the lake. Snakes and bugs are the two worst things about living in Florida, just my opinion. But we do all coexist.

Jim, there's a benefit to all that water around your mango tree - the raccoons and squirrels can't get to the fruit before you do! Hm, maybe I'll build a moat around my tree next summer . . .

Hm, you don't think the little native tampensis seeds itself out in the wilds, huh? Well, no harm in trying anyway. I'm mystified as to how the heck it got itself pollenated, since it was in the pool cage the whole time it was in bloom.

We sure got hot and soggy today when we went over to the Sailing Squadron to put away the boat. It had seaweed stuck in the rigging 'way up the mast, and everything was salty and a mess. Plus there was no wind, because of course we wanted to get it cleaned up and the cover on before the rain came. Pphheeww!! We were cooked by the time we finished.
The little mauve Spathoglottis actually stood still for the picture for once.