Category: Culture

VITAMINS: Useful to Orchids

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted almost 8 years ago Fungi provide niacin (nicotinic acid) which enhances the growth of seedlings; folic acid (a water-soluble vitamin) and thiamine (vitamin B/l) also stimulate growth; four combinations cited; refer t... Read More

VOLCANIC CINDERS: As Potting Medium

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted almost 8 years ago Popular in Hawaii; a godsend to some; dry, epiphytic species love it; wet rain-forest plants do not take to it as well; the rougher the cinders the more water is absorbed and the better the plants ... Read More

VOLCANIC ROCK: For Paphiopedilum Potting Mixes

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted almost 8 years ago It does two things, it holds moisture, and after the mixes break down it keeps the mix open and apart. A77-710; used for all types of plants; up to 75% of the mix can be volcanic rock; a profession... Read More

VOLCK OIL SPRAY: As a Spreader-sticker for Sprays

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted almost 8 years ago Do not use it; use DuPont wetter-sticker, or Rohm & Haas spreader-sticker No.1956, or General Chemical Phylac, or some other. A74-300 Read More

WARDIAN CASES: Hermetically Sealed Model

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted almost 8 years ago It can reproduce any climate from desert to swamp by adjustment; native terrestrial cymbidiums bloom without watering; refer to A69-1068+ Read More

WARDIAN CASES: Lights Necessary for Case 5ft. X 4 X 3

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted almost 8 years ago Use as many 40-watt fluorescent tubes as possible, maybe four, plus two 25-watt incandescents to provide red light; place the plants two to six inches from the lights; a small fan or blower is nece... Read More

WARDIAN CASES: Thirty Plants Under One Fluorescent Tube

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted almost 8 years ago Resulted in the plants turning white and yellow from lack of light mainly; needed are four fluorescent tubes four ft. long; the plant leaves should be three inches below the lights, A63-303; A69-424 Read More

WASHING PLANTS: Mineral Deposit on Leaves

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted almost 8 years ago Whitish calcium deposit can be removed with chemicals; use hydrochloric acid, 2.5 percent solution, which is a 27 percent industrial strength diluted with tenfold amount of water, and apply with a ... Read More

WATER (GENERAL): Bath Water Used on Plants

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted almost 8 years ago It can be only if the detergent used was mild baby shampoo; soaps might be harmful, joined with calcium and magnesium would result in precipitates in the rooting media. A77-527 Read More

WATER (GENERAL): Electrical Conductance

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted almost 8 years ago Many water departments in municipalities supply the rates of electrical conductance in their analyses; less than 25 X 10-5 Mhos is excellent quality for growing orchids; 25 to 75 X 10-5 Mhos is goo... Read More