I would definitely contact the rangers if it is in the Fakahatchee. The ranger guided tour only goes to one selected site, and not the other known sites for the ghost orchid. If not in the Fakahatchee, why not contact NORP? Native Orchid Restoration Project, they are working with florida native orchids to restore and repopulate. They have the smithsonian and universities studying myco fungus and other aspects necessary to re-introduce native orchids. They are also doing pollination studies, last time I talked with the president. IF you decide to pollinate on your own, be aware of some items. First, if the plants are on public land, it's a crime to "disturb" them due to their endangered status. No big deal unless you are caught, LOL!! Second, if it's a stand that NORP is using, you may be interfering in a research project. So mark them in some way so that any possible researchers know they were hand pollinated. They'll cuss you out, but you won't be there so who cares?? I'd use GH wire around the stem, obvious to anyone who happens on them. Third, don't just pollinate the "pretty ones". Who knows what the natural pollinators want, a healthy population is a mixture of cute and not so cute. *G* Some background - I was involved with a project on Tolumnia bahamensis on the east coast, had permits and everything. Similar to NORP, but less formal. The point man moved and our permit expired, and Atlanta botanical garden came in and glamored the rangers. Now I can't get back in, 3 years work lost! If I had talked the others into going with NORP, no problem. Learned my lesson, trying to help you keep in contact with the population for years, not get frozen out like I was. Makes you longtime legal if you go with NORP, *G*. ps for bob in austin - there was an article in aos mag/rag in March 2003 on leafless orchids. And *someone* even got paid for his flight to texas to speak at Dallas, Ft Worth and Austin to give a talk on leafless in 2004. Ask around and get a copy of the article, or email me for a copy. ps for all - Oak Hill had a special on leafless, don't see it now. But email greg and ask for it, who knows?? Here is a link that might be useful: NORP

What Bruce said. A good way to keep from overwatering is the skewer test --- take a bamboo skewer, stick it in the soil, if soil comes out on it, don't water. No soil, water thoroughly. Let dry out again before watering thoroughly again. Sounds also like you may have had damping off fungus. To prevent this, bottom water. Also, set up a small fan to circulate the air. To deter fungus gnats, sprinkle a bit of cinnamon around the seedlings. To kill fungus gnat larvae, water the plants with a 4:1 water to hydrogen peroxide(3%) solution. It does sound a bit late to start long season peppers like ghosts. An option for you could be to buy 6 plant minimum from Cross Country Nurseries. Reasonably priced and every seedling I've seen from them are in excellent condition after being shipped. Good luck. Kevin This post was edited by woohooman on Mon, Apr 14, 14 at 12:26

That was my first thought upon experiencing the smell but 1. we stacked the flooring in the room for 10 days before installation and there was only a mild toasted smell from it, 2. it took me a month or so to install it and there was no smell then, 3. the room was finished for about 2 months before the odor appeared 4. the floor was pre-finished so is sealed when installed (unless the sealer is the source) and 5. when I put my nose to the floor I don't detect the smell, it seems to float in the upper air of the room, generally nearer to one wall. By the way, the tales of stinking sheetrock from China had me worried but that smell is reputed to be sulfurous and detectable right away. We used Benjamin Moore low VOC paint which was recommended to me by a paint chemist friend who does not work for Benjamin Moore. It has gotta be an animal but 1. the walls are now more sealed then they ever were- how did it get in? 2. the smelliest wall is the shared bathroom wall and there is no hint of odor in the bathroom 3. it is not a consistent smell, sometimes it is gone for days, sometimes it stinks all day and all night, sometimes I smell it, tell my wife to come smell and she detects nothing only a minute later. I am beginning to doubt my sanity. Again, a very sour pungent odor, like BO from a New York City cabbie wafting off the plastic seats.

I think in this case, I had made that foggy look in the paint job to the extent that using the icy glass was overkill and maybe a clearer glass would have been better