NEWS & NEW DEVELOPMENTS

NEWS - CULTURE - NOTICES - NEW REGISTRATIONS etc.

NEW Email address. As a result of ISP amalgamations we have had our Email address changed.  This is the new address: glenorchids@nex.net.au.

NURSERY EXPANSION:

The first stage of our nursery expansion has been completed. New growing houses have been erected to cater for an enlarged range of stock. Stock is now in the process of being resorted and relocated and that will interfere with the collation and release of certain of our catalogues.

Due to our highway upgrade progress will be interrupted because of the need to replace our entire water supply system, phone and electricity supply. Work is due to be completed around March 2009.

DENDROBIUM SPECIOSUM ENTHUSIASTS.   Our Dendrobium flask lists will now  include a comprehensive range of  Den speciosum crossings from superb parents.

NEW ILLUSTRATED STOCK LISTS.  We are now issuing a separate illustrated lists  in PDF format (only) of newly flowered clones that we intend to use for breeding and/or cloning. Also we will be producing a colour photo sheet of newly flowered items to those who need them. All clients need to do is to advise us that they wish to received them. (See below for how to get a free copy of Adobe's FREE PDF file reader).

COOL CATTLEYAS:     For some years we have been testing the possibilities of breeding cold growing Cattleyas suitable for show/pot plant sales/cut flowerproduction.

We now have a comprehensive range of breeding stock that have survived for many years without winter heat and some (by accident or design) are flowering twice a year.

Our parent plants are grown cold in an unheated structure from the day they are deflasked. Our minimum winter overnight temperature rarely exceeds -4 deg C (+/-). but interior temperatures are usually no lower than 1 deg C.

Another aspect of this program was to produce "Cattleyas" that produce (at least) ten flowers however, we have already exceeded that figure and expect to double it in time.

Our first crosses have reached mature size and are breeding. The first mature clone to flower in 2004 in a 200mm pot produced 3 flowering pseudo-bulbs each with 17 flowers, others had 25 plus flowers. That more than matches many Cymbidiums used for cut flower production. The potential of such plants should be obvious.

This will obviously require an extension of the racemes but that is also being taken into consideration.

Our immature C. Chocolate Treats "Orange Glow" has already produced 25 flowers per raceme as well as solid flower substance - its flowers have lasted on the plant for at least 8 weeks.

We are endeavouring to get plants on the way but heavy ordering for flasks will cause delays in their release.

We have already acquired substantial numbers of suitable breeding plants and we will increase production of cold tolerant and high production varieties. A selection will eventually be cloned.

POLYCARBONATE ROOFING:    Gale force winds removed the roof of our Cattleya house during 2004 so we used the opportunity to test a polycarbonate roofing in preparation for our rebuilding program..

Instead of using normal clear panels we used a pale "Smokey grey" tinted panel because it was suggested this would filter out harmful UV light and not require shadecloth to be added in summer.  The trade name for the panel colour is "Bronze Tint".

The results have surprised us!

No shadecloth was added and on sunny days the interior temperatures reached 51deg C.

Up to mid-2007 no foliar damage occurred to Cattleyas, Cymbidiums, Paphs, Aust Dendrobiums, Oncidiums and some other genera tested under this material.

Growth was exceptional and flowering times advanced up to 2 months.

The number of new growths on Cattleyas increased in spite of the fact that no artificial heating was provided at any time. In fact some clones were producing new leads before the current one was mature.

One panel of clear polycarbonate was included for comparison purposes and plants under this sustained foliar damaged in September and had to be covered with shadecloth. Some plants are indicating they may flower twice a year.

The additional benefit was that no shadecloth was required effectively reducing the cost of the roofing. Although for a larger building some shading might be desirable in some regions.

pH.   In conjunction with other growers we have been conducting research into the effects of pine bark particle size on potting media pH with some interesting results.

Briefly, those who are using pinus bark (especially 10 mm and less) should run regular pH checks on the substrate and adjust the pH to within the range of pH 7.0 and pH 6.5.

Our testing on plants from various sources has produced a pH reading as low as pH 2.9 at the bottom third of the pots and pH 3.9 to pH 4.5 in the middle third.  Needless to say the root system was badly damaged in all samples where the pH was below pH 4.5.

The lowest pH readings came from 5 to 10 mm particle size bark.

The first indication of pH damage is leaf tip die-back and back bulb defoliation.

When the pH level was raised to and maintained between pH 6.5 and pH 7.25 the root system growth rate had to be seen to be believed.

We used Calcium Hydroxide (bricklayers lime/Ca (OH)₂ ) at approx. 1 level teaspoon on a 150mm pot, 2 level teaspoons per 200mm pot and a level dessertspoon per 250 mm pot. Regular applications will be necessary - spacing will depend on watering volume, local temperatures, potting medium, fertilizer acidity and growing environment.

Tests by others indicated that while the pH is maintained at near neutral levels a Cymbidium could  be grown standing in a tray of water and the plant and root growth rates will be exceptional.

The various tests were conducted on plants grown in either pine bark or Coconut husk chips.

For our tests we used Calcium Hydroxide to control the pH level.

COELOGYNE: We have also acquired a bulk lot of this genus from various sources and expect this will form the nucleus of a future breeding range.

The plants have recovered from the move and are starting to flower again. Propagation by division has commenced.

COCONUT FIBRE AS A POTTING MEDIUM:   The use of coconut husk chips (CHC's/Coir) is being heavily promoted and used worldwide.

Our long term testing has convinced us to grow our entire stock in this material and we are now importing it by the container load in three different sizes and can supply wholesale and retail orders.

We started testing this product in 2002 and the results were rather unsatisfactory. However information on its use was not available at that time.

We now understand the material and its shortcomings a lot better, plus the quality of the product we are importing is pre-washed and better graded. The product we are importing needs only to be soaked in water to be rehydrated and it is ready to use compared to earlier versions that needed at least 3 changes of water before it could be used.

Costwise hobby users will find it much less expensive than most commercial pine bark sources but bulk users will save less. CHCs decompose very slowly (greater than 5 years) and need not be discarded during repotting.

We have compiled an information handout on its use that is now available by email in PDF format on request

Our tests are on display to visitors.

CENTRE LEAF ROT:  If you have had the centre of a new shoot suddenly rot then we have found a simple treatment for this condition that will work if applied promptly. Remove the damaged leaves and then pour some fresh (dry) Calcium Hydroxide (aka Hydrated Lime, Bricklayers Lime) into the centre of the new growth. A teaspoonful is enough. Don't water it in and keep water out of the growth for a week or so.

GLENWOOD SEEDLING REGISTRATIONS: 

Cymbidiums:

Clients wishing to register any of our crossings may do so but our prior consent and a photo is required (sent by e-mail will do) so we can confirm flowering is correct. Please contact us for the information required by the registrar, and to check if we have not already allocated a name for the cross.

CYMBIDIUM SPIKE & FOLIAGE HABIT. Back around the early 1980's we decided we had to make a series of crosses that would produce genetics for erect, tall, thick racemes with flowers clear of the foliage that virtually needed no staking. We could also see the need to reduce the size of Cymbidium foliage. Hybrids made with this philosophy in mind are now flowering in profusion and are being used in our breeding program. Ultimately this characteristic will be spread throughout future generations of our seedlings.

CATALOGUES BY E-MAIL. Our office in now organized to distribute all catalogues by e-mail.

This is creating huge savings for us, and therefore our clients.

The cost of producing, printing and mailing printed catalogues is now prohibitive and since all costs must be recovered from plant sales we have been forced to review our methods of distributing lists.

So, no more printed catalogues and no faxed copies either- our fax phone number has been cancelled.

We can provide much more information in emailed documents - we can also include colour photos of stock.

If your Orchid Society has access to an e-mail address ask your society secretary to request copies for members.

See the catalogue request form in our "Catalogues" Page.

Clients should now include an e-mail address in any correspondence to us so we can record it.

We propose issuing all illustrated catalogues in PDF formats.

For those who do not have ADOBE PDF reader software it is available free on CD's supplied with computer magazines or downloaded from the Internet (it's 5.6 megabytes!). If your are connected to Broadband we can supply.

ORCHID SOCIETY VISITS:   Club visits are welcome.

THINKING OF VISITING US!

There is usually something to see in flower all year round.

Feb/March . Flowering is somewhat sparse but we usually have Native Dendrobiums, Cattleyas, Oncidiums and Zygopetalums in flower. The occasional Cymbidium is also likely during March.

April/May is the start of our Oncidium, Cattleya and Zygopetalum flowering season with the first flush of Cymbidiums in flower.

June/Oct is our main flowering season for Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, Cymbidiums and Zygopetalums.

Oct/Nov. Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, late Cymbidiums, Oncidiums, Sarcochilus and Zygopetalums flowering.

Dec/Jan. Some Cyms, summer Oncidiums, Zygopetalums and a few Cattleyas and other genera are in flower.

AFRAID TO BUY PLANTS IN FLASK ?

LIKE TO TRY IT?

IT'S EASY...TRY OUR FLASK TRIAL OFFER.

(Offer available within Australia only)

We include comprehensive instructions on how to handle them.

Price for a flask of 10 seedlings inc. postage and GST is $24.00 if paid by cash, cheque or postal order, $27.00 if paid by Credit Card, or $20.00 if collected ex-lab.  Limited to ONE flask once only per client. Price is subject to change without notice

The choice of cross must be ours but you may nominate your preference(s) from our current seedling flask catalogues and we will endeavour to supply it. The plants will be shipped interstate in flask by surface mail, ex-flask within Victoria.