BP SPECIES NEWSLETTER February 2013

 May 2012   June 2012   July 2012   August 2012  Sept 2012  Oct 2012  Nov 2012

January 2013

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  In FLASK.  Aerides quinquevulnerum 'Picturata" x quinquevulnerum  3N. 

Photo right  Aerides quinquevulnerum

Spathoglottis plicata "magenta bulbosa" x Kimballiana 4N 
Spathoglottis kimball x plicata "bicolor" 
Schomburgkia splendida 

In PLANTS.   Due to continuing potting, we suggest that you send your want list by email to ianbpon(at)speciesorchids.com   Please  substitute @  for (at) to avoid Spam..An email reply will advise current stocks of plants of interest. 

Bargain Buys   Some flowering size species in spike are listed.

Current list of Size C 80mm pot/basketpot seedlings.ready for next size pot.

 
Ready to replate. 

Dend canaliculatum nigrescens 649 C1L5
Cymbidium suave 519 B2R7
Cymbidium sparkesii 855 C2L8
Dipodium pictum

Laelia regineae 
Ency plicata alba "Cheroke"AM x self 

  Culture.    Habenarias. Easy to grow species.

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International payments.  Paypal, Western Union, Bank EFT.

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CITES. Flasks exempt.

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Seed   Email  now for a list of available species orchid seed.

Cloud Forest Institute.  Join Conservation of cloud forest.

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http://www.speciesorchids.com  Web Site. Full descriptions of species  flasks and plants plus photographs. Details on ordering, shipping and cultural notes.Links to other interesting sites. Articles on culture, habitat and notes about orchids.

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 Humour.  Have a laugh on us and Keep Smiling. 

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Highlighted species or subjects  are links to photos/articles. Just click on the subject. Items in this Newsletter may be reproduced provided source acknowledged. Do you know any orchid growers who may like to receive this newsletter? Why not forward this email to them now!  

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Recent germinations. 

Aerides quinquevulnerum 'Picturata" x quinquevulnerum  3N.  Multicoloured "Picturata" x larger well shaped triploid form for robust grower, heavy spikes.

Spathoglottis plicata "magenta bulbosa" x Kimballiana 4N Large heavy textured bright yellow Kimballiana x large well shaped magenta plicata.Photo right
Spathoglottis kimballiana  4N x plicata "bicolor" 8cm vivid yellow x yellow/ magenta bicolor.The "bicolor' may be a natural hybrid, originated in Mindanao Philippines, between kimballiana and a deep coloured form of plicata?.
Schomburgkia splendida . Venezuela Purple red flowers to 10 cm, lip paler.Tall spike.

.    .Top  Plants

 Click on  Bargain Buys  for current list of 80mm pot/basket pot seedlings. PLUS

.  Phalaenopsis stuartiana  photo left flowering size 

   Aerides lawrenceae and var Sanderiana fl/size  in spike.

   Aeranthes grandiflora fl/size

Top Ready to Replate. 

Dend canaliculatum nigrescens  Australian,white flower  tipped chocolate brown, lip marked purple.
Cymbidium suave Australian Clear green flowers, small growing species,fragrant
Cymbidium sparkesii  Australian. Deep maroon fls, white marks on lip, fragrant.
Dipodium pictum Malaya Pale yellow flowers spotted pink. Attractive leafy plant.
Laelia regineae . Brazil Minature rock grower. Fls to3cm, pale crystalline pink
Encyclia plicata alba "Cheroke"AM x self  . Cuba Tall spikes 6.5cm green fls, tipped purple, wine purple.Fragrant

Photos at   www.speciesorchids.com/photos.html  

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Top Culture.   

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HABENARIA.

The prime requisite for growing the deciduous terrestrials is to remove the pots from the orchid house in winter and let them dry out. A very occasional watering will prevent the tubers drying out too much or if the pots are left where they will get any natural rainfall, that is usually sufficient

This makes them an easy to grow species.which responds to attention when growing and when dormant, can be placed to one side with little needs. 

Before spring, the tubers can be repotted into fresh media. We use a mixture of potting mix, some leafmould and recycled crushed treefern,. keeping it porous and not soggy. An anual repot enables a count of increase in tubers and a corresponding pot size for available plants.

To understand their growing requirements, some insight into their natural conditions helps, as with all orchid species.

The larger leafed species of Habenaria ( Pectiellis, Peristylus) tend to come from rainforest areas, where there is ample leaf litter and nutrients to support larger more robust foliage. Habenaria susaneae, and the rhodocheila group are typical and are shade growers as well. Photo left Habenaria rhodocheila.

The species that inhabit more open grasslands and wetseason flats tend to have smaller foliage and grow in a heavier soil, subject to wet and dry seasons. In the wet, water flows across the flats.The Northern Australian species such as Habenaria propinquior, ochroleuca, Rumphii( Holtzei), triplonema, ferdinandii are typical.

So the larger leaf species will benefit from a more porous rich mix, and the smaller leafed species will tolerate a somewhat heavier mix, but with a shallower pot to improve the drainage which is essential. Many of these Habenarias grow in bright sunlight, lightly shaded by grass or light tree cover. Photo right Habenaria propinquior

A small pot of 10 cm or so is adequate In the Nursery multiple plants are grown in 20 cm shallow pots, well crocked.

On repotting, add a liberal sprinkling of processed fowl manure, blood and bone or similar slow acting fertiliser on top of the media and then lots of water. Repotting is done in Spring before the new leads start. While the plants are growing, they like a lot of water, but this should be decreased once the flowers have opened. After flowering, the plants should only be watered while the leaves are still green. Once the leave have dropped, stop watering.

Most Habenarias can be grown under similar light conditions to that of Dendrobium, short of sunburn. The mottled leaf species require more shade.

Avoid water dripping onto the foliage, as this tends to damage the leaves and causes them to blacken and rot, a problem with heavy rain. Spikes if very tall should be staked to support the often heavy head of flowers.

Habenaria rhodochila is a species of South East Asia, red flowered, with orange, yellow and pink colour forms. The foliage is mottled, and it is often a lithophyte and does well in a well drained media as described above that simulates the natural compost of leafmould and forest litter.

Habenaria myriotricha Photo left is a larger leafed species in a 15cm shallow pot in the Nursey mix.

  One grower uses a good quality potting mix from the supermarket, and repots yearly.

  Plants will produce extra tubers to provide a specimen pot and more flowers. Several plants in one pot will produce a showy exhibit, equal to any species. Further artciles on similar deciduous terrestrials grown in conjunction with Habenarias  at

Nervilias Care & culture       SundayCreek Orchids in the wild

Photo right Habenaria ochroleuca

Text & photo Ian Walters. May be reproduced provided source acknowledged.

More photos at   www.speciesorchids.com/photos.html  

  Top Seed.  of SPECIES orchids.

 Email to ianbpon(at)speciesorchids.com (Please  substitute @  for (at) to avoid Spam) for the latest

 list of seed available in packets enough to prepare 3 to 4 flasks. Cattleya, Dendrobium,  Oncidium, Laelia, Aerides with more added as harvested. All seed dated at collection, airmail post world wide and there is no restriction on orchid seed. Sowing Orchid Seed 

CONSERVATION BY PROPAGATION.  

  Conservation of cloud forest flora and fauna.   

Join Cloud Forest Institute THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT INITIATIVE PLEASE SEE "http://www.cloudforest.org" FOR MORE INFORMATION Join Cloud Forest Institute, a federally recognized 501(c)3 to fund a wildlife corridor in the Ecuadorian Tropical Andes and protect it - forever! The two parcels comprising of 840-acres of Cloud Forest in the Ecuadorian Paso Alto Range of the Andes in the Cambugan Watershed is home to jaguars, spectacled bears, over 300 species of ORCHIDS, and the highest number of endemic amphibian and  bird species in the WORLD. Concerned people are encouraged to make tax-deductible donations and create honorary groves in their name.  

CITES.  

Flasks are EXEMPT under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Title 50, Part 23, Subpart C, Appendix II. S 23.23 (d) (6) Specifically exempted: For orchidacea species: (i) in Appendix I, seedling or tissue cultures obtained in vitro, in solid or liquid media, transported in sterile containers.  

  International payments.     Top

  Paypal, 

  Paypal; International transfer of payments by credit card. Log onto "https://www.paypal.com" register, and follow the easy instructions. When making payments by Paypal, remember to add 4% for their transfer fee. Our Paypal address advised when applicable. Important Note; Due to high Bank fees, we recommend the use of Paypal or Western Union (http://www.westernunion.com/index_consumer.asp?country=US) transfers when sending international payments. It is quick and secure. 

Electronic Funds Transfer by Bank is also quick and secure, but check Bank fees for the service. Bank details emailed on request.  

Address letters to Ian & Pat Walters, NOT to the Nursery,  NOTE.  International MoneyGram is not available for collection here in North Queensland and cannot be accepted.   

   Top     Humour.     

KIDS;

  When I was six months pregnant with my third child, my three year
old came into the room when I was just getting ready to get into the
shower.
She said, 'Mummy, you are getting fat!'
I replied, 'Yes, honey, remember Mummy has a baby growing in her
tummy.'
'I know,' she replied, 'but what's growing in your bum?'
****

 A little boy was doing his math homework.
He said to himself, 'Two plus five, that son of a bitch is seven.
Three plus six, that son of a bitch is nine....'
His mother heard what he was saying and gasped, 'What are you doing?'
The little boy answered, 'I'm doing my math homework, Mum.'
'And this is how your teacher taught you to do it?' the mother asked
'Yes,' he answered.
Infuriated, the mother asked the teacher the next day, 'What are you
teaching my son in math?'
The teacher replied, 'Right now, we are learning addition.'
The mother asked, 'And are you teaching them to say two plus two, that
son of a bitch is four?'
After the teacher stopped laughing, she answered, 'What I taught them
was, two plus two, THE SUM OF WHICH, is four.'
*******
 One day the first grade teacher was reading the story of Chicken
Little to her class. She came to the part of the story where Chicken
Little tried to warn the farmer. She read, '.... and so Chicken Little
went up to the farmer and said, 'The sky is falling, the sky is
falling!'
The teacher paused then asked the class, 'And what do you think that
farmer said?'
One little girl raised her hand and said, 'I think he said:
'Holy Shit! A talking chicken!''
The teacher was unable to teach for the next 10 minutes.
****

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Ian and Pat Walters, Burleigh Park Orchid Nursery 54 Hammond Way, Townsville, Australia 4815  

Email us at  ianbpon(at)speciesorchids.com (Please  substitute @  for (at) to avoid Spam)

  http://www.speciesorchids.com/  Phone 0747 740 008 International 61 747 740 008