Orchid Care OrchidTalk Orchid Forum Links Nursery

Welcome to OrchidTalk Orchid Forums


The Friendliest Orchid Community on the Internet!


  •  » Learn to Repot your Orchids
  •  » Learn Orchid Care Tips and Secrets
  •  » Find the perfect Orchid for your Growing Environment
  •  » Chat with Orchid Growing Professionals

OrchidTalk - "Bringing People Together to Grow Orchids Better!"


Let us help you grow your Orchids better; Join our community today.


YES! I want to register an account for free right now!


Register or Login now to remove this advertisement.

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 11 to 19 of 19

Thread: OK, so what’s this all about?

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #11
    Real Name
    Rob Parsons
    My Grow Area
    Under Lights
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Phragmipedium
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Gender
    Male
    Location
    Winnipeg, MB, CANADA
    Posts
    933
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by TundraKev
    If you do decide to try the fridge and you have a frost free model, be careful. Since frost free refrigerators operate on the principle of pulling moisture out of the interior of the fridge (that's why they're frost free), they will also pull the moisture our of anything you store in them. I've heard stories of people having their bulbs severely dehydrated by this.

    I leave mine out until early to mid October and then dig the entire plant and put the whole thing in an open paper bag. You must let the foliage ripen naturally before removing. Once all the foliage is brown and crispy, I take it off and store the bulb again in a paper bag. Do not use plastic, because the bulb can rot very easily.
    How about using plastic just for the time it's in the fridge? The frost free environment (i.e. removing moisture) combined with cool temps should prevent rot, yet the plastic should retain some moisture to prevent desiccation.

    I'd be interested in your thoughts.

    Cheers,

    Rob

  2. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    MN
    Posts
    971

    Default

    Rob

    You're right. The colder the better for preventing rot. I stored some lilies in my fridge all winter in dry peat in plastic containers with tight fitting lids. It worked perfectly. I think I checked them once or twice all winter and did not have any rot.

    Kev

  3. #13
    My Grow Area
    Greenhouse
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    All types
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Missouri
    Posts
    4,831
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    RSJ . I am with you I did have quite a few and never got them to rebloom after the first time , gave them to a friend when we moved . I have one I grew from seed don't remember what I crossed with what it is about 6 years old , I tried the cool down ect . and got 0 they don't like me . I enjoyed the pictures Gin

  4. #14
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    MN
    Posts
    971

    Default

    Forgot we were talking about amaryllis here. I still don't think the fridge would be a good idea for them - other things yes, but not these. Some bulbs will start to rot if kept too cold. Amaryllis do not need or want real cold temps for their dormancy. I think around 50 F is probably ideal. I would have to check that.

    I spent some time in Israel and remember seeing amaryllis grown year round as garden plants. At least the part of Israel I was in did not have real cold winters.

    Gin

    Light, light, light for these pups. I've bloomed 'em from seed in four years. That seems to be about the norm for these.

  5. #15
    My Grow Area
    Greenhouse
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    All types
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Missouri
    Posts
    4,831
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    I'll give more light , Thanks . when I lived in So. Ca. they grew and bloomed in the yard . Gin

  6. #16
    Real Name
    Loventana Lo
    My Grow Area
    Outside 24/7.
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Too many to mention
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Hong Kong
    Posts
    984
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    I've been growing these since 1991 but due to limited space I only have 4 varieties in 4 huge pots. Here in Hong Kong, the winter get cold to as low as 30's to 40's but only for a few days. Mostly, its high 50's to 70's, and they remain evergreen. Sometimes I force them to go dormant by cutting all the remaining leaves and stop watering and feeding. But sometimes its impossible to keep them dry all winter because they are not protected from the rain. Whether they get their dry rest period or not, they still bloom every year. So, I don't think rest period is the secret to get them to bloom, I think its the amount of sun and food they recieve when growing.

    Mine get full sun all year round and feed them twice a month.

  7. #17
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    MN
    Posts
    971

    Default

    Tanya

    I think you are right. I know the sun and fertilizer is very, very important for these. I also think storing them too cool could damage the flower buds inside the bulb. Did you know these form their buds inside the bulb 18 months before they bloom? I thought that was kind of a interesting fact.

    Kev

  8. #18
    Real Name
    Loventana Lo
    My Grow Area
    Outside 24/7.
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Too many to mention
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Hong Kong
    Posts
    984
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by TundraKev
    Tanya

    Did you know these form their buds inside the bulb 18 months before they bloom? I thought that was kind of a interesting fact.

    Kev
    I didn't know that Kev, and thanks for sharing it.

    Here's something else I don't know.

    Ever since I started growing these, I always pluck the flowers promptly whenever they started wilting. I don't want the plant to grow seedpods. I lay the spent flowers on top of the medium, thinking that the flowers will breakdown and go back into the soil. What surprises me is that the base/ovary part of the flower start swelling after couple of days. They will continue to grow until some critters eat them or they turn brown and shrivel.

    You can see from the pic what I am trying to say. These pods were nothing but a 'stem' when I plucked the flowers one week ago.

    Any explanation as to why these continues to develop despite the fact that they are not getting anymore nourishment from the plant? Where's the food coming from? The petals?

    Any info is much appreciated. This has been a puzzle to me for several years.
    Attached Images Attached Images  

  9. #19
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    MN
    Posts
    971

    Default

    Tanya

    That is so cool. Thanks. I have no idea why they do that or why they even can. We need Louis. He knows everything about plants.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
OrchidTalk --An Orchid Growers Discussion Forum brought to you by River Valley Orchidworks. A World Community where orchid beginners and experts talk about orchids and share tips on their care, cultivation, and propagation.