B
Botabill
Guest
I just recently asked a question with regards to well water vs. rain water in the slipper orchid culture forum and got some great advice. Dot suggested I introduce myself so I will in this area.
I live in Peterborough Ontario Canada. I've had phalaenopsis orchids for probably 20 years. I started collecting them long before you would see them in any of the big box stores and I would travel quite far to pick up new ones.
In those days they were mostly species not the standard varieties we see in almost every store today. Sorry to say that I lost my early phalaenopsis species partly due to limited space and my being drawn the lure of the more impressive modern phalaenopsis. Now I would gladly trade the phalaenopsis I have for those old lost species.
About 7 years ago I attend the SOOS orchid show in Toronto and discovered the vast varieties of paphs available so I switched my obsession from phalaenopsis to paphs. I had always been enchanted by the wild slipper orchids I'd occasionally encountered on walks in the woods of our province.
The way I keep my paphs is not under well controlled conditions. They simply live in the house under similar conditions the phalaenopsis had received. They do get about twice as much watering. We heat with a wood stove located in our basement and so our air is quite dry. Light is provided on the main floor via large south facing windows in the living room. In the basement I have an area lighted with 600 watt Metal Halide light source. All the plants are in a coarse bark commercial mix.
Around May 24th, our last frost date, I move all the orchids outside to summer under the shade of a big elm tree. Sad to say they pretty much fend for themselves right through to our first threatened frost in the fall as summer gardening takes precedence. Strange to say but some of my paph thrive under my abuse. Not so strangely some don't. Here are the lists.
THRIVE: Paphiopedilum spicerianum x Pacific Shamrock; glaucophyllum X glanduliferum; spicerianum; Pacific Glen X Winston Churchill
DO WELL ENOUGH: Paphiopedilum Gloria Naugle; Norito Hasegawa; armeniacum X malipoense
DON’T THRIVE: Paphiopedilum concolor X bellatulum; Maudiae; Michael Koopowitz; micranthum
I have just begun potting the ones who are struggling in a home mix a home made mixture containing sphagnum moss, charcoal, pine tree needle litter, well rotted horse manure, oyster shell and orchid fir bark. This may kill rather than cure them but it is a last ditch effort.
I also have had one Phragmipedium orchid, Sedinii ‘Blush’. It’s been with me since early 2010 and it seems to be one the types that enjoy living with me. It gets bigger every year and blooms every autumn. It is potted in sphagnum moss.
That’s my introduction. Hope I haven’t overdone it. Cheers!
Botabill
I live in Peterborough Ontario Canada. I've had phalaenopsis orchids for probably 20 years. I started collecting them long before you would see them in any of the big box stores and I would travel quite far to pick up new ones.
In those days they were mostly species not the standard varieties we see in almost every store today. Sorry to say that I lost my early phalaenopsis species partly due to limited space and my being drawn the lure of the more impressive modern phalaenopsis. Now I would gladly trade the phalaenopsis I have for those old lost species.
About 7 years ago I attend the SOOS orchid show in Toronto and discovered the vast varieties of paphs available so I switched my obsession from phalaenopsis to paphs. I had always been enchanted by the wild slipper orchids I'd occasionally encountered on walks in the woods of our province.
The way I keep my paphs is not under well controlled conditions. They simply live in the house under similar conditions the phalaenopsis had received. They do get about twice as much watering. We heat with a wood stove located in our basement and so our air is quite dry. Light is provided on the main floor via large south facing windows in the living room. In the basement I have an area lighted with 600 watt Metal Halide light source. All the plants are in a coarse bark commercial mix.
Around May 24th, our last frost date, I move all the orchids outside to summer under the shade of a big elm tree. Sad to say they pretty much fend for themselves right through to our first threatened frost in the fall as summer gardening takes precedence. Strange to say but some of my paph thrive under my abuse. Not so strangely some don't. Here are the lists.
THRIVE: Paphiopedilum spicerianum x Pacific Shamrock; glaucophyllum X glanduliferum; spicerianum; Pacific Glen X Winston Churchill
DO WELL ENOUGH: Paphiopedilum Gloria Naugle; Norito Hasegawa; armeniacum X malipoense
DON’T THRIVE: Paphiopedilum concolor X bellatulum; Maudiae; Michael Koopowitz; micranthum
I have just begun potting the ones who are struggling in a home mix a home made mixture containing sphagnum moss, charcoal, pine tree needle litter, well rotted horse manure, oyster shell and orchid fir bark. This may kill rather than cure them but it is a last ditch effort.
I also have had one Phragmipedium orchid, Sedinii ‘Blush’. It’s been with me since early 2010 and it seems to be one the types that enjoy living with me. It gets bigger every year and blooms every autumn. It is potted in sphagnum moss.
That’s my introduction. Hope I haven’t overdone it. Cheers!
Botabill