Comments for Orchid Karma :: An orchid blog http://www.orchidkarma.com My name is Karma, I am from Gothenburg, Sweden and I blog about my orchid obsession. Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:51:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Scent and the reproductive con-game of orchids by Karma http://www.orchidkarma.com/scent-and-the-reproductive-con-game-of-orchids/comment-page-1/#comment-1225 Karma Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:51:46 +0000 http://orchidkarma.com/?p=951#comment-1225 Thank you Fern! I am glad you like my blog! :) Yes, I do like keeping some orchids in hanging baskets, Vanda or Gongora for example. I also grow Dracula in hanging baskets because most of the flowers tend to come straight out of the bottom of the pots. Thank you Fern! I am glad you like my blog! :) Yes, I do like keeping some orchids in hanging baskets, Vanda or Gongora for example. I also grow Dracula in hanging baskets because most of the flowers tend to come straight out of the bottom of the pots.

]]> Comment on Scent and the reproductive con-game of orchids by Fern Henley http://www.orchidkarma.com/scent-and-the-reproductive-con-game-of-orchids/comment-page-1/#comment-1224 Fern Henley Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:06:26 +0000 http://orchidkarma.com/?p=951#comment-1224 In a Mobile, Alabama (The Bellingrath Gerdens) greenhouse the fragrance of a pink (?) orchid in a hang basket was heavenly and unforgettable. Do you like to have orchid in hanging baskets? Thanks for your lovely website. In a Mobile, Alabama (The Bellingrath Gerdens) greenhouse the fragrance of a pink (?) orchid in a hang basket was heavenly and unforgettable. Do you like to have orchid in hanging baskets? Thanks for your lovely website.

]]> Comment on Masdevallia (Alaticaulia) norae by Karma http://www.orchidkarma.com/masdevallia-alaticaulia-norae/comment-page-1/#comment-1218 Karma Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:26:56 +0000 http://www.orchidkarma.com/?p=3845#comment-1218 Tack! :) Tack! :)

]]> Comment on Masdevallia (Alaticaulia) norae by ZtorZillen http://www.orchidkarma.com/masdevallia-alaticaulia-norae/comment-page-1/#comment-1217 ZtorZillen Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:12:09 +0000 http://www.orchidkarma.com/?p=3845#comment-1217 Vad spännande att äntligen hitta en svensk som skriver blogg om orkidéer..inte för att jag är en expert eller så..men älskar mina orkidéer och tycker det är kul och skulle vilja lära mig mera ;) Bra blogg! Vad spännande att äntligen hitta en svensk som skriver blogg om orkidéer..inte för att jag är en expert eller så..men älskar mina orkidéer och tycker det är kul och skulle vilja lära mig mera ;) Bra blogg!

]]> Comment on The Masdevallia experiment: day 160 by Karma http://www.orchidkarma.com/the-masdevallia-experiment-day-160/comment-page-1/#comment-1214 Karma Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:30:17 +0000 http://www.orchidkarma.com/?p=1527#comment-1214 Sound like a plan Patrick! Good luck with your Masdevallia!! :) I can recommend one species that might do well for you, M norae (I just posted pictures of mine). It is a very temperature tolerant species in my experience. Sound like a plan Patrick! Good luck with your Masdevallia!! :) I can recommend one species that might do well for you, M norae (I just posted pictures of mine). It is a very temperature tolerant species in my experience.

]]> Comment on The Masdevallia experiment: day 160 by Patrick Bowen http://www.orchidkarma.com/the-masdevallia-experiment-day-160/comment-page-1/#comment-1213 Patrick Bowen Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:40:12 +0000 http://www.orchidkarma.com/?p=1527#comment-1213 Hey Karma, Well, unfortunately, both of the Masdevallia decumana perished. I really just did not have the proper enviornment for them, but I did so enjoy the flowers for 1-day. My warmer tolerant Hybrid Masdevallia are doing alot better, and even my Masdevallia tovarensis is in bloom and quite lovely! There is no leaf spotting, brown spot/black spot or any problems so far with any of the Hybrid Masdevallia I have acquired, so I think I shall stay clear of the 'cool' growers moving forward....... Hey Karma,

Well, unfortunately, both of the Masdevallia decumana perished. I really just did not have the proper enviornment for them, but I did so enjoy the flowers for 1-day. My warmer tolerant Hybrid Masdevallia are doing alot better, and even my Masdevallia tovarensis is in bloom and quite lovely! There is no leaf spotting, brown spot/black spot or any problems so far with any of the Hybrid Masdevallia I have acquired, so I think I shall stay clear of the ‘cool’ growers moving forward…….

]]> Comment on Finally a really bright idea by Karma http://www.orchidkarma.com/finally-a-really-bright-idea/comment-page-1/#comment-1212 Karma Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:20:43 +0000 http://www.orchidkarma.com/?p=3828#comment-1212 Thanks a lot Don. :) The braided wire I had was too thick to do this, I tried soldering it actually and it would not fit in the holes then. Thanks for the advice though! The new wire I got works beautifully now however, I am so happy. It is not quite as flexible perhaps, but it does not have to be. Hmmm... what orchids I have had the longest..? I had to rebuild my orchid collection when we moved back home to Sweden in 2007 as I did not have CITES for any of the ones I grew in the US. The first orchids I bought then was a handful from a Swedish seller (<a href="http://blog.akessonorkideer.se/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Åkesson Orkidéer</a>), she imports mainly from Vacherot in France. I remember a Cattleya intermedia v. orlata, Phragmipedium Grande, Paphiopedilum Dellaina and a Masdevallia Aquarius in one of those early orders... all these I still grow on my windowsill. M Aquarius have been blooming non-stop (really) since May 2008, P Grande is just in the process of opening its flowers as we speak, both C intermedia and P Dellaina are in bud right now... a bit late in the year for the Cattleya, but she refuses to rest for me... Thanks a lot Don. :) The braided wire I had was too thick to do this, I tried soldering it actually and it would not fit in the holes then. Thanks for the advice though! The new wire I got works beautifully now however, I am so happy. It is not quite as flexible perhaps, but it does not have to be.

Hmmm… what orchids I have had the longest..? I had to rebuild my orchid collection when we moved back home to Sweden in 2007 as I did not have CITES for any of the ones I grew in the US. The first orchids I bought then was a handful from a Swedish seller (Åkesson Orkidéer), she imports mainly from Vacherot in France. I remember a Cattleya intermedia v. orlata, Phragmipedium Grande, Paphiopedilum Dellaina and a Masdevallia Aquarius in one of those early orders… all these I still grow on my windowsill. M Aquarius have been blooming non-stop (really) since May 2008, P Grande is just in the process of opening its flowers as we speak, both C intermedia and P Dellaina are in bud right now… a bit late in the year for the Cattleya, but she refuses to rest for me…

]]> Comment on Finally a really bright idea by Don http://www.orchidkarma.com/finally-a-really-bright-idea/comment-page-1/#comment-1210 Don Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:45:08 +0000 http://www.orchidkarma.com/?p=3828#comment-1210 Hello Karma, Yeah, have to admire your passion for your orchids! I have some thoughts on your wiring problem. I think perhaps the braided wire should have been tinned. Tinning is just applying solder to the ends of the wire to make sure all wires in braid make a good connection. At any rate I think the only advantage of the braided wire would be flexibility. Want to say I really love your site and just curious to know which of your orchids you have owned the longest? Hello Karma, Yeah, have to admire your passion for your orchids! I have some thoughts on your wiring problem. I think perhaps the braided wire should have been
tinned. Tinning is just applying solder to the ends of the wire to make sure all wires in braid make a good connection. At any rate I think the only advantage of the braided wire would be flexibility. Want to say I really love your site and just curious to know which of your orchids you have owned the longest?

]]> Comment on The Masdevallia experiment: day 160 by Karma http://www.orchidkarma.com/the-masdevallia-experiment-day-160/comment-page-1/#comment-1202 Karma Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:04:32 +0000 http://www.orchidkarma.com/?p=1527#comment-1202 Well, I did tell you it could be a number of things causing your problems, and yes, it could most certainly be temperature related. Without seeing all the parameters of your setup it is hard for anyone to diagnose exactly why you have problems. You have to look at all the advice you get and see how it applies to you. For example, since M floribunda is doing well and M decumana is not, compare their natural growing conditions. Masdevallia decumana grows at elevations of 1000-2500 meters while M floribunda at 400 to 1500 meters. So, since M floribunda is found at lower altitudes it would generally be more tolerant to warmer temps. So, possibly temp could be a contributing factor. You do not say what temps you keep, I assumed you did keep at least intermediate (if not cool) temps if you try to grow M decumana... why I did not start off talking temp, but intermediate conditions does not only mean cooler temps during the day, that also means about 10 degrees or more diurnal temperature difference to keep happy plants. I have written more about this under "how I grow my orchids". In general, hybrinds are usually more forgiving than species, so perhaps you will do better with them. <i>By "dead spot" I meant someplace where the fan is not reaching, or is less efficient in the room/window because it may be blocked by other plants etc..</i> Well, I did tell you it could be a number of things causing your problems, and yes, it could most certainly be temperature related. Without seeing all the parameters of your setup it is hard for anyone to diagnose exactly why you have problems. You have to look at all the advice you get and see how it applies to you. For example, since M floribunda is doing well and M decumana is not, compare their natural growing conditions. Masdevallia decumana grows at elevations of 1000-2500 meters while M floribunda at 400 to 1500 meters. So, since M floribunda is found at lower altitudes it would generally be more tolerant to warmer temps. So, possibly temp could be a contributing factor. You do not say what temps you keep, I assumed you did keep at least intermediate (if not cool) temps if you try to grow M decumana… why I did not start off talking temp, but intermediate conditions does not only mean cooler temps during the day, that also means about 10 degrees or more diurnal temperature difference to keep happy plants. I have written more about this under “how I grow my orchids”. In general, hybrinds are usually more forgiving than species, so perhaps you will do better with them. By “dead spot” I meant someplace where the fan is not reaching, or is less efficient in the room/window because it may be blocked by other plants etc..

]]> Comment on The Masdevallia experiment: day 160 by Patrick Bowen http://www.orchidkarma.com/the-masdevallia-experiment-day-160/comment-page-1/#comment-1201 Patrick Bowen Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:25:34 +0000 http://www.orchidkarma.com/?p=1527#comment-1201 Hey Karma, Ya know, I am totally baffled over this. I'm getting alot of different answers from people regarding my problem - some say "TOO WARM" while others say "TOO WET", or not enough Air - but Yes, I do run my small 8-inch oscillating fan 24/7 which is more than adequate for the size of my Windowsill that I'm growing the Masdevallia on. I monitor my Temps and Humidity 24/7 and my readings are in line with those that Masdevallia require. The one Masdevallia that has done very poorly is the Masdevallia decumana, which has lost all but one of its leaves. However, the Masdevallia floribunda's (I have 2 of these) do not appear to be bothered with these 'black spots'. All of the other Masdevallia I have just acquired are all Hybrids, with the exception of Masdevallia tovarensis which arrived today. The positive is that I do not mist my plants. I never have. It causes problems and leaf spot. What is a "dead spot" ?? . . . I have not been using Distilled water for the Masdevallia. But I do use Distilled water for all of my Phragmipediums. The Masdies are too new to fertilize, so I have not applied any fertilizer to them as yet. What do ya think... ? - Patrick Hey Karma,
Ya know, I am totally baffled over this. I’m getting alot of different answers from people regarding my problem – some say “TOO WARM” while others say “TOO WET”, or not enough Air – but Yes, I do run my small 8-inch oscillating fan 24/7 which is more than adequate for the size of my Windowsill that I’m growing the Masdevallia on. I monitor my Temps and Humidity 24/7 and my readings are in line with those that Masdevallia require. The one Masdevallia that has done very poorly is the Masdevallia decumana, which has lost all but one of its leaves. However, the Masdevallia floribunda’s (I have 2 of these) do not appear to be bothered with these ‘black spots’. All of the other Masdevallia I have just acquired are all Hybrids, with the exception of Masdevallia tovarensis which arrived today.

The positive is that I do not mist my plants. I never have. It causes problems and leaf spot. What is a “dead spot” ?? . . .

I have not been using Distilled water for the Masdevallia. But I do use Distilled water for all of my Phragmipediums. The Masdies are too new to fertilize, so I have not applied any fertilizer to them as yet.

What do ya think… ?

- Patrick

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