Re: Sorry off topic .. orchids

Joel enquiried about what I *assume* is a dendrobium orchid ...

>I have a dent. orchid which was blooming when I purchased it during the
>winter.

In orchid growers terminology, your "dent. orchid" (if its a dendrobium, or 
other non-terrestrial orchid) is doing what is referred to as "throwing a 
kiki" ... also known as making other plants.  This is quite common with 
"Dendrobs", particularly if they feel their lives are being threatened -- due
to wrong humidity, too hot, too cold, bad vibes, *or* if smokers are allowed
in/near your greenhouse! 

>Question:  I assume that those with roots will eventually be able to be cut
>of and placed in orchid media.

Yes; eventually the new "kiki"'s roots grow long enough to thrive independently
When they are about 3/4" to 1" long, wash your hands thoroughly -- 
particularly if you have even touched tobacco, and then proceed to "pluck" 
this new plant  off of its parent plant. You do this by holding the new kiki
*firmly* at it base with one hand, while you hold the "parent stalk" with the
other hand, and pull gently. NOTE: pull at the base, not further up, or the 
kiki may break. As for an orchid "media", I make up my own orchid medium but
combining *sterile* orchid bark (which you can get in various sizes from most
good nurseries, with a THOROUGHLY damp cymbidium mix OR "sharp builders sand".
As for the size of the bark to buy, I would use a 3 or 4" pot (depending on 
the size of the parent), & put some clean gravel in the bottom of it, and then
plant the kiki in about 3 to 4 inches of FINE orchid bark (if this parent 
orchid were no more than 12 to 14" tall). If the parent plant is 18" to 24" 
tall, I'd go with Medium grade orchid bark and put a layer of gravel on top 
of it until the plant has "settled in" for a couple of months. As it grows,
be sure to note if its rigid or sagging. If it isn't truly rigid, it should
be staked.

Feed regularly with Peters Prof. Fertilizer for Orchids, mixed at the exact
strength mentioned on the label.  Orchids are very sensitive to chemicals
& while you MIGHT use a Cup of Peters 20-20-20 to a 5-gal bucket of water 
when using a proportioner, for orchids, I go "half strength". 

To prepare orchid bark for repotting, I usually do a wheelbarrow load at a 
time. I put a bag of bark (or half a bag) into my "rotting" wheel barrow
and then proceed to give it a major "blast" of the hottest water that comes
out of my kitchen faucet, and the greatest water pressure possible... This 
means I hook up my patio hose to the kitchen faucet & then place a "high 
pressure" nozzel on the end of the hose. Then I turn on the HOT water all
the way, and start spraying the medium. I usually have an "apprentice" (or
son or husband) stand there with a hoe and "stir" the bark making sure that 
every surface has been thoroughly soaked. Then I let it cool down. After each
transplanting session, I water down all newly-plants orchids with a 
fungicide/anti-bacterial agent known as PHYSAN. This saves a LOT of money in 
lost plants over the course of a few years.

I've been "seriously considering" doing an "Orchid Repotting Workshop" this 
summer if there is enough interest. I used to repot for people, but even at 
$20/hr plus materials, it wasn't worth my time to go to all that work for 
just one person ... unless they had 20 to 30 plants ... and then I wouldn't 
do it on general principles, unless this person was over 70 and offered 
dark chocolate from Sees ...  I'd rather show people how to do their own so
they would be paying attention to the general health of their orchids. (Mine
are not in good shape at the moment, but that is mostly because of a lack of
ability to maintain the greenhouse while my health was being critically 
challenged for about 5 years.) 

Hope this answers your questions... You could also take you plant to a mtg
of one of the S.F. Bay Area Orchid groups once the kiki's roots are over 1"
long and have someone there "pluck off" your little gem for you and tell you
what to do with it ... just be sure it isn't being handled by a smoker --
the tobacco mosaic virus is very contageous and really takes its toll.

g'night!

lyn dearborn


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"We did not weave the web of life.  We |        Lyn Dearborn 
are merely a strand in it.  Whatever   | Master Gardener/Naturalist
we do to the web, we do to ourselves"  | Native Basketry Instruction
  --"Walk gently on Mother Earth" --   | Reiki Practitioner & Dowser
-- Aaniin Anishinaabeg -- Mikinaak --  |   dearborn@bengaltech.com
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