Recent content by spujr

I know, that's what I said 😅. I'm just repeating what one international grower told me which was not true. I don't think the USDA issues any import CITES documents.

Most vendors won't take the time to get an export CITES and phyto, even for large orders, it is just too much hassle for them. I also heard you as the customer would need to order a import CITES from USFDA along with the APHIS label. However, I reached out to the USFDA directly and was...

Nice color!

Welcome! I used to live and grow orchids in Colorado. The dry air makes it challenging to grow orchids but can be addressed with a humidifier and grow tent. All the best!

This is very helpful! I've been struggling with erwinia. Plants growing great and suddenly it appears and death. Been trying everything with no real success. Tested my pH and saw it was around 7.1 after adding fertilizer. Now waiting to get nitric acid to bring down the pH. It's a little hard...

Not sure if you're into awards but that MM seems a good candidate for a culture award!

No wonder you grow your plants under the stove 😉

I will soak compots and find that it helps prevent crown rot. I do occasionally flush to avoid salt build-up. However, I think oxygenated water is important to consider if soaking plants. I think an advantage of overhead watering is that you are oxygenating the water as it breaks up into...

When I look at these photos I'm always reminded of the WW2 fighter planes.

This is one of the best Bel Royals I've seen. If you ever get it big enough to divide (which given the vigor in this cross, isn't too long), let me know!

I'm using 20-20-20, with tap water. My water is pretty clean, only registering ~30 ųmol (going by memory on the UoM) with the TDS meter. My pH meter reads 6.3 after I add fertilizer. I read that over time, pH meters over estimates (produces more alkaline values than reality) even shortly...

The stance of the petals is really nice. Color good too. Probably a hybrid. 😋 Just kidding...

Do you find that you need to lower your pH after putting in your fertilizer? If so, what do you use?

Here's a photo of my philippinese var. laevigatum album next to one of the roths I have flowering. It's about as mini as you can get in multiflorals, though it remains to be seen if it gets larger with age.

I usually keep the plant well watered while it is in bloom and don't let the media totally dry out.