A
ALToronto
Guest
I recognize quite a few names from several other orchid forums that I also frequent - so hello again!
I've just graduated to paphs, from phals, catts and oncidiums. What brought me to paphs was a search for alkaline environment growing plants - limestone lithophytes. I have two passions - orchids and the one that pays for them. The latter is a mineral composite material that I've developed and that I make into custom architectural elements. This composite material has a much lower pH than concrete - 9 vs. over 12 - but it's still too high for most orchids. But at 9 (and getting lower, as I've made it my goal to do so), I think that some paphs will survive on it and in it.
I'm trying to make living walls that are self-sustaining and require minimal maintenance by using embedded sisal or hemp fibres to deliver water to plants that are mounted or planted at various locations on the wall. So I now have six little paph seedlings (all from Zephyrus Orchids in Hamilton, ON) that are about to embark on a new lifestyle. They are:
Micranthum
Taiwan x Sanderianum
Supardii x Philippinense
Hung Sheng Leopard x Stonei ( x2)
Leucochilum x Florida Red
And a delenatii which will be left behind to continue living in a more conventional way.
I also have a Doritis pulcherrima - any thoughts on letting it join the paphs?
Right now I'm just trying to absorb as much culture information as I can, and trying to figure out how to design my prototype 'rock' wall. Stay tuned for progress updates.
I've just graduated to paphs, from phals, catts and oncidiums. What brought me to paphs was a search for alkaline environment growing plants - limestone lithophytes. I have two passions - orchids and the one that pays for them. The latter is a mineral composite material that I've developed and that I make into custom architectural elements. This composite material has a much lower pH than concrete - 9 vs. over 12 - but it's still too high for most orchids. But at 9 (and getting lower, as I've made it my goal to do so), I think that some paphs will survive on it and in it.
I'm trying to make living walls that are self-sustaining and require minimal maintenance by using embedded sisal or hemp fibres to deliver water to plants that are mounted or planted at various locations on the wall. So I now have six little paph seedlings (all from Zephyrus Orchids in Hamilton, ON) that are about to embark on a new lifestyle. They are:
Micranthum
Taiwan x Sanderianum
Supardii x Philippinense
Hung Sheng Leopard x Stonei ( x2)
Leucochilum x Florida Red
And a delenatii which will be left behind to continue living in a more conventional way.
I also have a Doritis pulcherrima - any thoughts on letting it join the paphs?
Right now I'm just trying to absorb as much culture information as I can, and trying to figure out how to design my prototype 'rock' wall. Stay tuned for progress updates.
