Hurricane Orchid Prep
With Irma threatening, we are republishing our advice for hurricane prep.
When a hurricane is looming one should run all the orchids as dry as possible to reduce the threat of fungus and bacteria. But contra-intuitively, just before the storm strikes one should saturate the orchids to the max. Now is the time to do that [Note: this piece was originally published the day before Matthew hit, so, water heavily the day before the hurricane makes landfall]. First, because we want the plants to be as heavy as possible to help prevent them being blown away or about. Second, because if one's water source is a well, electricity for the pump may be off for days or even weeks. Thoroughly watered plants will be much happier should this occur. Even if you are able to bring all your collection inside, water them thoroughly with two to three applications spaced a few minutes apart. They will be perfectly happy for a day or two without water and we will all have enough mess to deal with without watering orchids in the house.
Remember, wind velocity increases exponentially as height increases. Get your plants as close to the ground as possible but off the ground as flooding may saturate them with fungus and bacteria. Usually it is not wise to attempt to cover them with a tarp or shade cloth as the whipping of the cloth by the wind likely will cause more harm than the wind itself.
If you are growing under shade cloth, the cloth should be furled tightly to protect it. Bright burning sun is typical in the wake of a hurricane and shade will be invaluable If you are growing under trees be prepared for the possibility that the protective canopy will be destroyed. Have a plan to protect your plants from sun burn.
Good luck and please feel free to share this information with whomever may benefit from it.
The Success of Perr. Bangkok Sunset
Perreiraara Bangkok Sunset is a colorful vandaceous hybrid which succeeds nearly everywhere. Its success in southern shade houses, northern greenhouses and window sills, and under lights is attributable to its favorable plant architecture. The compact growth habit with broad, thick set leaves is an inheritance of the positive vegetative characteristics of its three ancestral species: Aerides houlletiana, Rhychostylis coelestis, and Vanda flabellata. Rhy. coelestis which ranges in color from blue to pink to white, is a relatively low light, compact plant with thick set leaves. Rhychostylis coelestis seedlings will bloom for the first time on plants which are 2” tall and 4” across. Crossed to V. flabellata, Rhy. coelestis yields Vandachostylis Thai Noi, a compact, free flowering, hybrid with a large colorful lip. Vanda flabellata contributes more than its lip color to this vigorous hybrid. The broad extremely flat leaves of this miniature Vanda, are exceptionally efficient light gatherers and confer this quality to its progeny making them well suited for lower light environments.
When Van. Thai Noi was crossed to Aer. houlletiana whose tolerance of low light is evident in its soft foliage, the versatile hybrid Perr. Bangkok Sunset was created. The broad flat leaves of Aer. houlletiana are spaced fairly far apart but this disadvantage was overcome by the compact vegetative habits of the other two species which also contributed their desirable upright spiking habit. Aerides houlletiana’s golden yellow color shines through this delightful miniature hybrid.
Not surprisingly, with such an array of low light miniatures in its background, Perr. Bangkok Sunset is itself parenting offspring that are blooming on plants with barely 2” of stem as we discovered in Thailand with the hybrid between it and V. Wilas.
Even crossed to the exceptional tall Renanthera storiei, Perr. Bangkok Sunset has yielded a compact free flowering brilliantly colored hybrid. The Thais are to be commended for their work with this hybrid. We at Motes Orchids are also committed to utilizing this versatile hybrid in new ways.
Choosing the right parents, and careful analysis of the breeding histories of various species is the key to creating compact low light hybrids, a major goal at Motes Orchids. The three species that makeup Perr. Bangkok Sunset are important elements in implementing this goal. They and several other diminutive species appear frequently in our hybrids, as we create delightful miniatures that can be enjoyed by all growers nearly everywhere.