Make that "secret to SUCH success..."

As we all know plants have their own lifestyle and we have to adjust to it as best we can. Oncidiums have many different environmental lives depending on each genus. For me they all get the same treatment and adjust or die. :-)

The formula I've come up with is bright light but no direct sun, very lose medium that can dry out quickly with frequent watering. I use RO water and add a variety of fertilizer mixes into my dosatron. CalMag and other lime along with fish or kelp fertilizer seems to give them the energy to grow big. I doubt if the medium matters much as long as the roots are free to breathe. In my greenhouse I also have constant air movement and I use no special chemicals against rot or bugs. The Sharry Babies tend to have brown leaf spots if they don't get enough lime. I believe the parentage grows on the sides of moist cliff rock containing lots of natural dolomite lime. So they get moisture, air and lime up there. I try to do the same. As time goes on, all will be housed in baskets. Here is a quick shot of some of them. My Sharry Baby 'Red Fantasy' are in another shadehouse. So far I have four different cultivars of Sharry Baby.

What a nice, huge greenhouse. Healthy orchids too! I would be embarrassed to show you my two (packed-to-the-gills) greenhouses.

Wonderful advise, Fred and an awesome greenhouse too!

WONDERFUL set-up there Fred! Your plants are gorgeous! I love the catt relaxing in the chair!
Thanks for the advise...I use calmag & fish fertilizer, sounds like I need to add lime to the mix!

Love the Onc. Sharry Baby, Fred and Ursula

I really like seeing how big these orchids can go and bloom! A nice goal to dream of

gorgeous , Fred... I'm with you on the 'adjust or die' concept!

It's hard to type while laying under these blankets but will make do. 37 degrees last night with a warm up promised for later in the week. I'm getting exercise by taking the dog on long walks. Went to the supermarket today and couldn't believe the prices. Florida is sounding pretty good to me.

Jim

Yeah, eat yer heart out, Jim. We will be eating turkey tomorrow at the Sailing Squadron with friends. Outdoor table with a view of the bay, sunny and 80deg. expected. Sometimes the napkins blow away, but c'est la vie.

Seriously, I have made it known to my rellies that they must come to us in the winter time. I just don't do cold weather any more unless absolutely necessary. Sure hope it warms up in Salt Lake City by the time my next grandchild is due, beginning of April.

I did bring Little Lulu and Lou Sneary indoors on Monday night, just so the blooms wouldn't blast. Here's Lulu hanging from the wine glass rack, waiting for a drink, I'm guessing.

Heh, Lulu sure looks happy hanging from the rafters!

We had a couple of nights in the row really hard frost, but we might hit the sixties F tomorrow! So far our Fall was very nice! But then knitting nice and warm Sweaters is one of my favorite pastimes in the evening. And - I pulled out my circular knitting machine and I am making Scarves for Christmas. So, as long as we don't have the exceptional cold weather as we had the last two Winters I am happy.

In the meanwhile - a single surprise bloom on a C. aclandiae on a plant which wants to live. It looked so miserable a couple of years ago, I almost pitched it.


And C. (Formerly Slc) Patricia Taaffe 'Neptune' opens a few buds

Jim, you need to talk your relatives into moving somewhere warm...not necessarily in your back yard..but someplace WARM!
Elaine...in the 'lets count our blessings'....how lucky you are to only have to worry about the napkins blowing away! LOVE it!
Usula...I just gave away ALL my stash of wool to a friend that sells things on Etsy... I may even give her my 5/8ths finished wool afgan to rework into something else...I am just saying 'NO' to cold!
If you ever want to get rid of that handsome gent that so beautifully showcases your plants..put my name on the list... I LOVE him!

Lindsey, nice and warm Florida!! I would have to switch to crocheting delicate tops....
We found that Rajasthani fellow some years ago strolling through NY City. He just had to come home with us. Glad you like him too!

He has great dignity, even with gorgeous orchids on his head. Patricia is just lovely, what a beautiful lip on there.

I made a prom dress out of rustly taffeta exactly the color of those petals a few years ago. Just hauled out the leftover pieces, and I think there's enough for a holiday dress for my 3yr. old granddaughter. She is at that 'girly' stage where she will only wear dresses with "go up" skirts so . . maybe a swishy circular skirt out of taffeta will be a fun thing for her.

It's so hard to find any gift for most of these kids - they have just about everything they want, I think.

My 11 year old grandson tells me "well grandma, there is always good old cash". This was after I told him the $399 remote controlled boat he wanted was not going to happen and he had to come up with another idea.

Ursula, please elaborate on the circular knitting machine. Sounds interesting and I do lots of scarves for nieces and friends.

My zygopetalum is about to open - maybe tomorrow.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!! With the holiday and then a show this weekend (in Maderia Beach--come see me!) I don't think I'll be back until next week sometime.
Hope you all have a wonderful holiday with loved ones and moist turkey!

Alice, I have the "Addi Express King size" with 46 needles. A circular tube, 300 rows/average length scarf takes a little bit over an hour to knit. Finish off, add fringes, you get the idea. I see it now also sold on amazon, but got mine a couple of years from a different supplier, can't recall the name right now. It was a great Christmas present!

Elaine, your sewing project sounds lovely!

Ursula thanks, I just watched a video on how the Addi works. Interesting. Not sure I can fit another piece of equipment into the house though, there is yarn stashed in every available nook and cranny now.

Alice, that thing is a great stash buster!

Happy Thanksgiving gardening friends!