Summer 2010 plant project suggestions

[gnathaniel]

Originally Posted by flhiker

Well since you live near my 2nd favorite place in the country (Tsali recreation) I'll let you get away with it. If someone wants to research them they are welcome.

Thanks for the pass, Dave!

Tsali is a great place, I used to drive out to Murphy a lot for work and I love that whole area. Shining Rock Wilderness between Brevard and Waynesville is another truly amazing place you should check out. I try to get up there at least every other weekend during blueberry season.

--Nat

[marydaniellesantos]

Originally Posted by Izzie

I hope you have a greenhouse! Or a nice sunroom. Mmm...someday. I will have a splendiferous sunroom...

Lol. I'm in the process of turning my bedroom into my little orchid retreat. Lots of sun with several windows and an all glass door.

I just keep making more and more shelves to hold them all!

[marydaniellesantos]

Originally Posted by gnathaniel

Okay, not planning to participate (very little spare time and NO ROOM for more orchids!) so y'all feel free to trash these suggestions, but...

Dendrobium aberrans

Dendrobium lawesii

Cattleya (Sopronitis) cernua

Now I'm going to be really lazy and not even look these up on the suggested websites (pretty sure at least 2 of the 3 are widely available in both US and EU, though)... Is this going to get me in trouble or something?

--Nat

Is Ashville near Asheboro? If so my dad and step mum live there. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the zoo there.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by gnathaniel

Okay, not planning to participate (very little spare time and NO ROOM for more orchids!) so y'all feel free to trash these suggestions, but...

Dendrobium aberrans

Dendrobium lawesii

Cattleya (Sopronitis) cernua

Now I'm going to be really lazy and not even look these up on the suggested websites (pretty sure at least 2 of the 3 are widely available in both US and EU, though)... Is this going to get me in trouble or something?

--Nat

Nice choices!
I had researched both those dens yesterday, but I left the information in a notebook at work. The Den aberrans was available in EU and USA (I believe it met the price requirement) but not in canada. I don't remember for the other Den. I'll post the information monday morning, unless I go to the office to pick up the notebook.

The Soph is a very good choice! I have one of these, and the color of the blooms is simply amazing. It's easy to grow, but needs extremely strong light to flower. This is one orchid that I wouldn't mind getting a second one of!

[Izzie]

I've looked at those three before as well, but balked at the D aberrans and C cernua's need for high humidity. Though I've heard of the latter doing fine without. I love almost any hybrid with C. cernua in it. Or C. cernua and C. walkeriana..../drool

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Izzie

I've looked at those three before as well, but balked at the D aberrans and C cernua's need for high humidity. Though I've heard of the latter doing fine without. I love almost any hybrid with C. cernua in it. Or C. cernua and C. walkeriana..../drool

The Soph cernua does not really need high humidity. They prefer to be mounted, and don't like to ever go completely dry. In the summer that means I usually water it twice a day. Humidity is not particularily high where I live in France, yet the plant is thriving and blooming. I find light to be more of an issue for this one rather than humidity.

[Izzie]

Thanks for the tip Camille.

[gnathaniel]

Originally Posted by marydaniellesantos

Is Ashville near Asheboro? If so my dad and step mum live there. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the zoo there.

About 4 hours from each other, so no, not really. Asheville's in the mountains and Asheboro is in the Piedmont region near Greensboro. They're both named for Samuel Ashe, a state governor in the 1790s. The NC Zoo in Asheboro is great, though!

--Nat

[gnathaniel]

Originally Posted by Izzie

I've looked at those three before as well, but balked at the D aberrans and C cernua's need for high humidity. Though I've heard of the latter doing fine without. I love almost any hybrid with C. cernua in it. Or C. cernua and C. walkeriana..../drool

I don't think aberrans needs especially high humidity, though it certainly likes it. It's got fat pseudobulbs and leathery leaves so it should be fairly xeric-tolerant, though the roots need to stay moist most of the time. Mounted plants will appreciate higher humidity/more frequent waterings than potted, of course. One easy thing about this plant is that it needs fairly low light for a Den...

--Nat

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I was thinking of getting a Den aberrans. If this is an option, I'm in.

I have suspicions that this particular plant is not picky with humidity. I'd like to test it out. I love Dendrobiums in the section Latouria. I'd get all the Latourias if I could.