March 2015 in y our orchid collection
brought to you by Motes Orchids


PROGRESS OF THE SEASON

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Winter appears to be definitely done with South Florida. During February stalled cold front after cold front has left the more northern areas exceptionally wet and the extreme south exceptionally dry. Apart for one scary brush with a freeze, February has been much warmer than usual. Warmth and wet have pushed many normally dormant plants into early growth. These plants will need to be feed and watered. Application of time release fertilizer (Dynamite or Nutri-cote) can take place early this year.

With the expectation of higher than usual temperature for early March comes the expectation of the problems with Thrips and mites which typically wait till later in the month. I could be a long season for these pests. It may still be possible to use cooking oil at 3 Tbs. per gal. to control these pests but caution must be taken to apply the oil when temperatures will stay below 85 degrees for several days after the application. The next cold front may give us the last opportunity for this solution. Be sure to water thoroughly the day before and to apply soap 7-10 days later. Other approved chemicals for control of Thrips and mites can be found in Florida Orchid Growing.

High temperatures grow our plants as well as pests. An early start to warm weather should be welcomed and greeted with an abundance of water and liquid fertilizer. This is the time of the year when Vanda roots sometimes dry so thoroughly that they behave like a cork in a wine bottle repelling water with their extreme dryness. Be sure that those Vanda roots have turned overall dark green when you have finished watering. If they have not turned green, come back and saturate them again.

There is still time to plant that last crop of tomatoes and have them vine ripe into June.


Martin Motes

President, Motes Orchids


IN THIS ISSUE

Tasks for March 

Watch out for mites

Spray for Thrips

Repot genera emerging from dormancy: catasetums, calanthes, and soft cane dendrobiums

Continue general re-potting of cattleyas, oncidiums, hard cane dendrobiums etc.

Make top cutting of teretes, semi-teretes and reed stem epidendrums

Move landscape plants gradually to brighter light

Apply time release fertilizer


 
 
 
 
 
 
events

 

UPCOMING FLORIDA ORCHID EVENTS

 

March 6-8- Englewood Orchid Society Show Englewood Methodist Church, 700 Dearborn St. Contact: Carol Nissen ccniessen@verizon.net 

March 6-8 -Martin County Orchid Show Martin Co. Fairgrounds Bldg. G, 2616 SE Dixie Hwy. Stuart. Contact David Nickerson davidnickerson.environmental@gmail.com 

March 7 - Landscaping with Orchids 11:00 Motes Orchids 25000 SW 162 Ave. Redland

March 13-16- Fairchid Orchid Festival 10900 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables. Contact: Melana Davidson orchidiva@att.net 

Fri. March 13- Intro. to Orchid Growing at Fairchild Orchid Festival Corbin Bldg.11:00Am

March 20-22- Highlands County Orchid Show B.J. Harris Ag. Center, 4509 George Blvd. Sebring Contact Julia Newell jewelsinthenight@yahoo.com

March 20-22 Port St. Lucie Orchid Show, Pt. St. Lucie Community Center, 2195 SE Airoso Blvd. Contact Hellen Wagner hellenwagner@aol.com 

 March 21- Introduction to Orchid Growing in Florida 11:00 Motes Orchids 25000 SW 162 Ave. Redland

March 28-29- Jacksonville Orchid Show, Garden Club of Jacksonville, 1005 Riverside Ave. Contact Eric Cavin dirt2021@yahoo.com 

 March 28- Growing Dendrobiums in Florida 11:00 Motes Orchids 25000 SW 162 Ave. Redland

 



 

March Climate Data:  

March in Your Orchid Collection

Average high: 80.7

Average low: 64.0

Average mean: 72.4

Average rainfall: 2.56"

            Whilst March never comes in like a lion in South Florida, occasionally it slinks in like a bob cat. Frost is not unheard of in the first few days of the month. The more cold sensitive genera, hard cane dendrobiums, Phalaenopsis and vandas may well need some protection even into the middle of the month. Overall, however, March brings us some of the most ideal orchid growing conditions of the entire year. Dry air, low humidity and wide swings of day to night temperatures optimize both blooming and rooting of most orchids. In March, Nature gives orchidists growing outside a free sample of what life would be like with a covered green house. With little or no additional water falling from the sky and drying breezes acting like fans, we are in total control of our plants' water needs. Now, we can water properly: very heavily, and allow the plants to dry thoroughly in the near desert air before the next heavy application of water.

            The ideal growing conditions of March present a great opportunity to get our plants off to a superlative start on the new growing season. The virtuous among us, who have already re-potted their cattleyas and other sympodials as they have finished blooming across the winter, can smile serenely, assured of their place in orchid heaven. For us few reprobate it is still not too late to catch up with virtue. In addition to flowered-out plants, now is also the time to replant those genera which are breaking or ready to break their dormancy; i.e. catasetums, Mormodes, calanthes and those Himalayan Dendrobium species that have finished flowering. Now is also an excellent time to re-pot those hard cane dendrobiums that need it, with the reminder that they really don't like to be disturbed and relish their roots being crowded in the pot. For those commercially mass produced plants grown in peat based mixtures, repotting is necessary in any case as the peat mix will not last out the summer and will likely rot all the roots. Hopefully these will have rooted so thoroughly that the roots have formed a solid mass that can be shifted undisturbed to a new only slightly larger pot. Otherwise the roots will need to be washed clean of soft medium and lightly trimmed. Rock, tree fern, coconut husk, charcoal/wood chip mixes are best replacement media for the long haul. All of these materials have a life expectancy of several years before they break down in South Florida's wet humid summers.

            Attention to fertilizer in March will pay high dividends later on. As many sympodial orchids are commencing their growth cycle, now is a good time to apply slow release fertilizer to last the season. The 13-13-13, 180 day formula marketed at Home Depot as 'Dynamite' (Nutri-cote in commercial sizes) is the best available to hobby growers. Its plastic coating is superior to others and relatively unaffected by heat, an especially important consideration in South Florida. Applied now it will be exhausted by September when we want to slow our plants down in anticipation of bloom and dormancy. The wide temperature swings of March also maximize the effectiveness of high phosphorous 'Bloom Booster' fertilizer. The extra phosphorous in these formulas probably does not really stimulate flowers (most likely the opposite) but does help rooting. Two applications a week apart will speed the rooting process. Return to regular 15-5-15 fertilizer weekly thereafter as the excess phosphorus in the "Bloom Booster" interferes with minor element absorption to an inordinate degree in our highly alkaline South Florida water.

            Vandaceous orchids should be breaking vigorous new roots in March. This is the ideal moment to top them if they have grown too tall and if they have three good roots on the top cutting. Conserving one or more leaves on the old plant's stump will insure a bountiful production of offshoots. Sliding the knife or shears down the stem before making the horizontal cut usually preserves an extra set of leaves. 43. Vanda cuttings made with care can conserve an extra set of leaves and the potential for more off shoots.. Now is also the ideal time to remove and reset offshoots of vandas and ascocendas. Again take care each has three or more roots and be sure you tie them firmly in their new container until they have rooted solidly.

            March is also the month for acclimatizing sun-loving plants to full sun. Vandas, dendrobiums and reed-stemmed epidendrums that have not been blooming as they should because they are in too deep shade can be gradually moved to more light. This is best done in two or three stages, moving the plants a short distance every few days and always keeping them with the same side orientated towards the sun. Without this gradual acclimatization, the bright clear sunlight of March can scorch even the most sun-loving of orchids.

            The chief blot on the otherwise nearly ideal growing scenario of March is Thrips. March is the month when we are asked most frequently "Why do my Vanda flower spikes grow � inch and then die?" The answer, like the answer to so many problems with orchids in South Florida, is Thrips. The hot dry weather of March favors Thrips which are ubiquitous in our landscapes. The drought of March drives them from their homes in our lawns and shrubberies to seek the cool lush oasis of our orchid collections. Most orchidists recognize the symptoms of Thrips on their flowers: the silvered, sand blasted appearance and the withering of the flower parts. Many do not recognize the earlier symptoms which show up on the root tips of vandas and ascocendas as a pitted ring at the point where the green growing root tip is maturing into white. Left unchecked, this damage will cause the root tip to wither. When Thrips pressure subsides and the root re-starts growth, a brown ring remains. Orthene (acephate) is the chemical of choice for Thrips because of its low toxicity and residual action. Knoxout and Malathion are recommended also by the Florida Department of Agriculture. A non-chemical solution is liquid dish soap applied at the rate of 2oz (6tbs) per gallon of water. Be sure to water the plants the day before applying soap and take care to drench the plants thoroughly, covering not only all the surfaces but penetrating into leaf axils and other nooks and crannies where the reclusive Thrips loves to loiter. Turf the Thrips out of your collection and you will get the growing season off to a good start.

                  


ORCHID-GROWING RESOURCES FOR YOU (OR A FRIEND)
  Dr. Motes brings over 50 years of experience growing orchids to bear on the problems confronting Florida orchid growers.
The follow-up volume that provides even more information about 
Dr. Motes' favorite topic: Vandas!


Mary Motes'  comic novel: a hilarious romp through an imagined world of orchids very similar to our own.


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