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Let's try this again...

15 years ago

Well after losing >160 orchids over the winter from a serious virus outbreak, associated disapointment and neglect, I've started to get back into the 'kids.

Of my 170+ orchids I had last Ocotber, I saved 7. 4 mini-vandiaceous types that were separated from my other orchids, a nice green and white paph that I had at the office and couple of cool growers that I had in another area. Anything that was in the grow room was eventually Kev'ed.

Anyhow, after March back surgery and some recovery I got the bug again last month. Ordered from Oak Hill and got the 10 seedling species special (asked for under-lights types), the 10 species/hybrids paph seedling special and also ordered 8 assorted phal species, again mostly seedlings. As you can see, I've tried to stick with smaller (well smaller than large Oncs and Catts) indoor capable orchids. Got a few large growers in the seedling species special, but it'll be fun to grow them for a while anyhow.

With the lack of orchids I was able to completely clean the grow room, light carts and orchidarium/terrarium. Reduced lights (turned off 5-85watt CFLs, 1-55 watter and am only using 1 or the 3 tiers of my light cart for orchids (currently growing wave petunias, zinnias and marigolds on the other 2 levels). Was also able to give a smaller light cart away to SIL. Thus it should be a little cheaper to cool the house this summer also.

Feels kind of good to be back to a more 'simplistic' approach with the orchids, less watering time, no real worries with mounties any longer, everything now has ample room, did I mention much less watering time!!! We'll see how long I can stay at around 30-40 'em.

Good to be back...

Bob

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Comments (7)

triciami5
15 years ago
Good Luck, and they are so much fun I am sure you will enjoy them too!!! Tricia
whitecat8
15 years ago
Hey Bob,

Good to hear from you after all this time, but goodness gracious, you've had a lot on your plate.

That's too bad about losing your collection, regardless of the advantages of more space, lower utility bill, etc.

Let us know where the pendulum stops on its latest swing.

Whitecat8
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westoh Z6
Original Author
15 years ago
WC8,

It was a challenging winter and early spring for sure. When I think about the @50 phals I lost, it just crushing, expecially the violacea species and crosses.

The money lost wasn't the issue, it was the time (7-8 years) I had invested into the collection and the favorite plants lost. Packing diseased and dieing orchids into garbage bags on the weekends was really tough the first couple of times, but after that I knew it "had" to be done and it became a cleansing sort of thing ;-(

This time, I hope to skip some of the newbie experiences of trying a little bit of everything. I now know what I like and can grow, so at least I should have a more focused collection.

Bob
whitecat8
15 years ago
Bob, throwing out all those orchids sounds painful, and I get how it could be cleansing, too.

Will you be able to replace some of those violaceas and crosses? I've got a hybrid from Big Leaf, if you're interested -

Phal. Dragon Tree Eagle 'Dragon Tree #1' (Penang Girl [violacea x venosa] x Black Eagle [Coral Nosa (Coral Isles x venosa) x George Vasquez (Luedde-violacea back-crossed to violacea, I think*)]).

* "Back crossing Luedde- violacea to violacea produced phal. George Vasquez which was registered by Arthur Freed Orchids Inc. in 1974." 6th paragraph, http://www.phoenixorchids.com/article003.htm

It may not be pure enough for you, :) but you can email me if you like. My GW email seems to be working.

WC8

Here is a link that might be useful: Phal. Dragon Tree Eagle 'Dragon Tree #1'
orchid527
15 years ago
Bob,

Sorry to hear about the loss of so many plants. How did you determine that virus was the problem?

Mike
littlem_2007
15 years ago
hello, Bob, I am sorry to hear of your challenges. It must have been painful. In one sense, I can understand how it would be nice to start over with a semblance of order and control. In my enthusiam from the time I started collecting orchids, I have been buying whatever took my fancy without any regard to my growing conditions. So now my collection is such a hodge podge.. Good luck with your new collection. Sounds like you are in control again.
sue
westoh Z6
Original Author
15 years ago
Mike,

I never tested anything, but it was pretty obvious that something 'really, really' bad went through the collection. Started as nectrotic spots on leaves of a couple of newer plants early last fall, those got much worse and spread to those entire plants. By the time I realized there was something bad wrong, it had spread to others. (Very cramped indoor conditions). It seemed the phals got hit first and hardest, even though they continued to spike and bloom. Between some back problems and the virus, I somewhat neglected things and then had some insect/mite issues as well. By December/January, I realized things weren't going to improve and I thought it best to start ditching everything if I was to ever grow 'kids again. I tried to save some special plants, but then I decided that I did not want to risk bringing in any new ones if the any of the older possibly diseased plants were still around. I ended up taking the nuclear approach and destroyed everything that was in the grow room last fall.

Not positive it was a virus, but it looked and acted like one. Anyhow, one way or the other the plants were toast and weren't going to improve under my care...

Bob

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