A Bag of Orphans and I Saw Who!

16 years ago

I was on the roof this afternoon and had a bird's-eye view of my neighbour's friend throwing a giant shopping bag full of orphans into the shoppe! I saw "who" this time! Not sure if was the same source all these times. I think not considering the difference in care levels......mmmmm... maybe she can't deal with the 'chid care? She has a modest but decent collection. I can only hope.... ;-) I know her collection. She did not have so many phals, although anyone can go nuts and spree

I unpacked them. I have 6 orphan phals and 1 oncid or intergen:

Roots look pretty good on all of them. They are HD phals for sure. I am getting to be good at spotting HD vendor's potting/ re-potting techniques (leave the old spag in and add more), the lighting/colour.

I think I am going to have to open another "wing" of the Orchid Hospital. I had to build an Orchid Hi-Rise Ã la Scott this evening to accomodate! My lights are not all set up yet.

Gads!!!! I need more lights or an orchid nurse! Both!

Clara

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Comments (6)

jane__ny
16 years ago
OMG, I love your roof-top garden!

How do you have all these neighbors who grow orchids?? I don't know a soul (except in my club)who grows them. My neighbors and friends buy one in the supermarket, and kill them outright. Then they just throw them out.

How are you going to light all these plants? I wish I had your space.
sdahl
16 years ago
Gee, they don't look half bad! My daughter has given me some to "rehab" that were compost material several months before I got them.

I think it's delightful that people leave their little orphans on your doorstep knowing they'll get some TLC, rather than just tossing them in the trash bin. You might wind up with some real winners out of this!

PLEASE post pics of the orphans when they bloom! I'm very interested in seeing the rewards from all your excellent care.

Sharon
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claritamaria
Original Author
16 years ago
Jane we have a super HD not too far away. The 1st thing you see when you enter is a field of phals. That's where my neighbours are getting them. Huge double spikers in a rainbow of colours. When I wait in the checkout (which is like spending time in purgatory) I see an ocean of phal blooms waiting to be checked out. No one can resist. After the blooms go, people don't want them.

Last year HD carried more than phals; dens, paphs, cyms intergens etc. Some of the orphans have been tortured for about a year. (or 2)

I like this idea. I never know what they will look like. Kind of fun! I can't wait until the bloom :-) I am seriously concerned at the light situation. The owner of the building said he found numerous Flourescents in a basement. I am not keen on tubes but I may have to go that route.

I am thinking of setting up in the kitchen this winter. Its huge and empty. No windows though... an extra 26 plants is scary. Thinking of doing what Scott does with the tubes. Above, and sides. If you had no DH, you'd have plenty of room! ;-)

Sharon, awhile back I posted some phals from this summer. They were mainly rehabs,orphans or baby sits (for people who don't want an out of bloom phal around).... Link below. It was part of my classic series from this summer.

Clara

Here is a link that might be useful: Phal Orphans and rehabs
jane__ny
16 years ago
Your orphans are beautiful! In my next life, I will live in a huge space filled with plants and dogs running around. Light will stream in from every possible direction and there will be acres of green outside...

Now back to Twinkle. Are you saying that this plant is going to be in spike for another 3 months?? (I've already broken two of the seven spikes).

{{gwi:196487}}
claritamaria
Original Author
16 years ago
Nice plant & Pic Jane! I could live in your yard! Looks so pretty! When I contacted OHG since many of us were in the same boat with Twinkle. Their response:

"Be patient. Many varieties send out spikes (or sheaths, in the case of Cattleyas) prematurely, well before blooming season. The Twinkles bloom usually between Thanksgiving and Christmas, so it is way too early to expect buds at this time. Keep the plants on the cool side at night to provide some temperature fluctuation, and give good light. And don't stress out about it"

I also met with a couple from Canada a few weeks ago. G/H growers. Same story. They told me Twinkles can take months to bloom. They are a tease aren't they?

Thinking back on my winter outings to OHG and Hausermann's, I remember a sea of Twinkles being in bloom in winter and continuing into early spring. Mine developed a spike during the last bloom cycle. Thought for sure it would bloom, still sitting there. More spikes developed over the summer. There is just no way I have found to push Twinkle to bloom. Mine has been in full sun all summer. It's still outside since we have been experiencing summer weather and cooler nights. Not bringing the rest of the "roof rats" in until month's end.

Seems to be the summer pattern for many Oncids (species and Intergens) well anything with a bulb; throwing early and holding. Oncid "Ortho-novum" the parent of Twinkle is in the same condition. So is my Tenuifolia Many spikes/buds & holding. Same for 2 of my SB's. Wondering if the cooler early summer did that?

Don't feel bad about breaking spikes. They are tiny and sooo easy to break. I broke the top of one spike. Scotch taped it. It branched. Cut the taped part off. Looks like nothing ever happened. I was cutting the dead spikes off and accidentally cut a new one off ... What a "blonde moment"!

You'll have a really sweet flowers for the holidays! I bet that you'll have more spikes before bloom time. Mine has plenty of mature PB's that have not produced a spike yet. I took the opportunity to repot them into some cool pots. The roots really took off this summer.

Clara
jane__ny
16 years ago
Thanks Clara. Got this baby from Normans last winter and haven't repotted it. Planned to, but it was starting spikes in June(I think). It's in straight spagh, but is a water lover. The pot is that thin plastic and the wind blows the plant over all the time. It's been abused and knocked around, but keeps sending up more spikes. Definitely a 'masochistic' situation!

Full sun all summer. Did the same with Stinky Babe. Moved lots of plants back outside yesterday, to grab the warm weather. Summer in NY...

Jane

A Bag of Orphans and I Saw Who!

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