"Ploidy issue" is saying that perhaps a plant has extra sets of Chromosomes that cause abnormal growth in the leaves or even abnormal flowers. Most orchids are 2n where one set of chromsomes comes from the pod parent and the other set from the pollen parent. Where there are extra sets of Chromosomes eg 3n, 4n, 5n ......sometimes the flowers are superior. Possibly an issue with some orchids in the foliage Department but the cause of pleated leaves is much more likely to be lack of moisture described by Brooke in the post above.

Hi Margaret, No, you're right, none of those require a cloche, especially since a couple of them are pretty big and would require quite a cloche! Most of those (all, except the Iwanagara) are a part of the Oncidium family, the Colmanara and the Beallara having been bred with other related genera to make the flowers more colourful and bigger. They will all need at least medium light, warm to intermediate temperatures (cooler fall and winter nights are appreciated) and moderate humidity (40-50% -- IMO, this is only really crucial when the flowers are developing and opening; I don't think it matters all that much the rest of the time). Water year-round, letting the media just dry completely between waterings. Let it dry a little bit longer when your plant is not in active growth, and don't fertilize either. (Oncidiums are sympodial orchids, which means they produce successive growths, or pseudobulbs. A new pseudobulb will come from the base of the most recently matured growth, which is likely the largest one and the one where the spikes came from.) As for your Cattleya, just think more: high light, warm temperatures and more drying time. They actually like a couple of dry days between waterings. Now, as to determining light levels... this is a thorny issue that can stir up any number of debates at the drop of a pin. I'll start by asking you which part of the US you're in, whether you grow inside or outside, and what direction (East - morning sun, South - all day sun, West - afternoon sun, or North - bright light but no actual direct sun) your windows or yard faces. I'm also enclosing below for your reading pleasure a link to culture sheets produced by the Canadian Orchid Congress, which I find very good. Julie Here is a link that might be useful: Canadian Orchid Congress Culture Sheets

I hate that my rings get caught where the smaller and fatter rods connect. (I finally saw your gel stain question, btw)

Hi Meg, I own a custom window treatment business and fabricate them myself (most of the time!) So as a window treatment seamstress/designer I can see how this could happen. I had it happen to me not long ago but didn't forsee that I would have a problem with the drapes until I test hung them in my workroom. At that point I realized that they looked like I hadn't pleated them correctly because the colors in the plaid weren't lining up the same horizontally across the 2 widths. What I wound up having to do was to turn the 2nd panel upside down (it was non directional buffalo plaid) and so that when the panel was pleated the correct dominant colorway would show horizontally across both panels. I know this is too much information! I don't think your fabricators would be able to do that because your pattern would be different - the leaves would be on the bottom instead of the top. Do you know if the sheers were 118" railroaded? Or were they a 54" width? I can't imagine that a reputable drapery company would use a workroom who doesn't do the basics - like cutting drapery widths at the same repeat!!! I will be anxious to see how they resolve your problem.