[OGD] Bleach for sterilizing pots.
Cody, Answers to part of your questions can be found in the OGD archives. >From May 7 to 20, 2005, Dr. Bert Pressman wrote seven OGD posts on >sterilizing pots etc. in 10% chlorine solutions. If you can not find these posts, I gladly forward them to you by e-mail. peter ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
[OGD] Algae
Cody, I am sorry to hear you want to get rid of all algae on the plants. The spores are in the air as well as in the water. Your addition of chlorine to the water will be less than what the municipality adds, so you might just injure your plants with fresh chlorine. I believe your problem stems from too wet an environment for the plants, not free running algae. Let the surface dry a bit more and this might reduce your algae problem. If you try to get rid of it you might get rid of the fungus also, and this will set your plants back if not starve them outright. In the trees where most of the orchids live, algae and fungi are both present and necessary for healthy plant growth. The less interference the better. T Jennings ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
Re: [OGD] Coelogyne mossiae
Hi guys I bought a plant of Coelogyne mossiae from a local supplier and another from a supplier in New Zealand. Both are in flower now and look for all practical purposes identical. I do not think that either of them is a true Coelogyne mossiae as both plants (pure white with a transverse yellow green/lime green "bar" at the base base of the apical lobe of the lip extending onto the side lobes). I feel that both are a Coelogyne cristat hybrid as both have 3 fimbriate/hairy keels/lamellae/ridges on the basal part of the lip. Clayton's book "The Genus Coelogyne : A Synopsis" describes the lip of Coelogyne mossiae as having 2 keels which are entire on the lip and that the lip has two yellow-brown blotches on the lip. His drawing of the lip does not match my 2 plants and the drawing of the plant habit in Das Pflanzenreich does not look like my plant or Clayton's drawing of the lip. Claytons photo is taken from too far away and is iindistinct/out of focus to be of any use to me. So does anybody have access to the original description that they could please scan and send to me? Many thanks in advance. Keep well and kind regards Mike South Africa ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
Re: [OGD] active oxygen
Cody wrote: > >Hi, > > I've recently purchased a bleach substitute that I intend to use for > cleaning pots and possibly getting rid of algae in some of the pots that > have orchids in them. What the label on the jug says is that it uses > hydrogen peroxide as a bleaching agent, with no chlorine added. > My question to the group is this: can I use it in my fertigation system >to > control the algae growth in the pots that have orchids and algae growing >.. > Any advice or comments will be greatly appreciated. > >Cody Cruise >Wee-Gro Orchids >Abbotsford, BC > Hello Cody, There is a horticultural product called Zero-tol on the market that breaks down and becomes H2O2 (basically, this is not exact science so please don't correct me with formulas, I don't have a barrel of it in front of me (smile)) when used. It can be used in constant misting (actually intermittent misting to be exact) systems when rooting cuttings and we use it heavily on poinsettia cuttings under mist when the sun isn't out or very cloudy. It can be used on plants, and is often used on solid surfaces to do much of what you would like. I believe that food-grade h2o2 is used in the same capacity for people who are more organically inclined for growing plants. You could try a search for food-grade h2o2 and plants, and I believe you should get several hits that should also include what rate they suggest for different applications. I'm not sure if you would want to irrigate with zero-tol or h2o2 when it is bright or sunny, though the label may say otherwise and I have no idea how much you would want to use with orchids. I have used pharmacy h2o2 for spraying on mealybugs and I have used it on some orchids that didn't show ill effects, though I think some of the more tender ones I would spot-treat and maybe avoid using it on them at all, unless a very low rate is used. Pharmacy h2o2 is reported to have trace amounts of contaminants you wouldn't want in food or oral use, and food grade quality must be used for that. I don't know if the pharmacy grade trace contaminants would adversely affect orchids; again there may be some online articles that could explain that better. regards, charles -- charles ufford oriskany, ny usa ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
