Your ideas for the next summer plant project
 

If there is interest, I'm willing to organize the summer project this year. As I am going on vacation for 3 weeks as of August 4th, I preferable want it all wrapped up by then, so the process will be kept short and quick, if no one objects. Or we do it late august/september so that the spring and summer project are spaced further apart.

Anyway, I thought it could be nice to ask you all for ideas, and what you like. First I'll quickly explain how things are usually done, and the pros/cons.
*One project plant, intermediate grower: Many people like it this way, since we all grow the same thing. But with 35+ US participants, it has become a nightmare to find enough plants for all. The last project was a massive headache for me because of that. This option doesn’t seem feasible anymore unless we limit US participants at 20. I don’t like that.

* 3 plant project – cool, intermediate and warm: Guarantees enough plants for all, but some people don’t like that there are 3 separate projects going on.

*We also had a project that was a bit different. Everyone bought a Neo (didn’t matter which variety) and we had a photo contest for the best setup including the Neo. I’d love to do something similar to this again.

Opinions and ideas are welcome!

I personally think a three plant project with the cool/intermediate/hot is the best idea, as just choosing an intermediate grower would still exclude some growers. I was talking to silken a while back, and while I have conditions that are definitely made for warm growers, she has conditions suited for cool growers, and we both live in the same city.

What about choosing something that's very temp-tolerant and/or has lots of different forms so one species could suffice for all? Something like Den. moniliforme, Bro. sanguinea, Neo. falcata, or one of the rupicolous (former) Laelias might fit the bill. Some of the more commonly-grown Bulbos are surprisingly temperature tolerant as well, I've kept ones like rothschildianum and medusae in temp ranges from 48-85 F without any apparent stress. Could also be some good possibilities in Maxillaria, I've just started growing a few species but so far they seem incredibly easygoing...

--Nat

Could you explain what a project is please? What I am getting is that you send an orchid to people in the project and try to grow it the best. Is that what it is or am I not understanding correctly?

Lex, we all agree on what plant(s) the project contains. We then all purchase the plant(s) from where ever we find them. Then we all discuss how our plants are doing, how we are growing them, etc. That way we all help each other with problems and above all we all have an excuse to buy a new plant and some travelling companions for it so it will not be lonely in transit.

ok! Thanks Daethen! In that case I vote for phals! I dont have a very big allowance to buy another 20 dollar plant! Plus There is more than 35 phals at my home depot alone so we would not have troble finding enough phals for everyone! :biggrin: They are the only orchids I have and I only have 2 of them.

I totally understand the headaches involved in single plant projects. You could always do the 3 plant project, and that seems more and more feasible.
Another idea would be to pick a genera or family of plants, and maybe specify growing media/potting style. I was thinking something along the lines of Phals mounted, or maybe Vanda's in baskets, or something along those lines.
Another idea is for a member to buy a flask(s), and divy the plants from the flask into compots, and we each grow them out. The compots would have to be small, or we'd have to find a good number of flasks, but it could work. Though this would be a much longer project and poses issues for the purchaser...
Just a thought.

I like the idea of a flask project, if we could find the same crosses in flask on all sides of the pond.

Something I suggested on a previous thread: we all get a hybrid (maybe a new one) and grow it. Extra excitement as you don't know what the flowers are going to turn out like. With something like that doing it region by region might work better, though some crosses might be available in all regions. Might also fit with getting flasks...

(My seed grown Brassia hybrid (something or other Senne Stern) from Roelke might have a spike... I don't think so, but I'm keeping an eye on it!)

PS: for me it would be better to wait until the later time for various reasons!