Orchids: June Orchids in 2009, 1 by RUK

RUK wrote:
I had ( notice the past tense!) a Maudiae-type Paph which flowered fine during the indoor season, it was most of the time missing flower parts or was deformed whenever it flowered outside during hot summer months.

Now if cultural conditions might be the reason to cause deformities on leaves or blooms, it would be nice to figure out what to change? As an example - I am growing 2 Phrag kovachii hybrids, the leaves showed a strange deformity, long deep ridges along the whole length. Looking at the habitat conditions,
http://www.phragmipediumkovachii.com/PKculture/PK-culture-ha...
my medium (and water/fertilizer) didn't contain the amounts of Calcium these plants surely need. I ate some Oysters, cleaned and crushed the shells and mixed them into the medium. I find the difference in the new growth striking. Compare the 2 fans!
Nothing different was done to the plant besides the addition of Oyster shells (containing Calcium carbonate).




This message was edited Jun 2, 2009 10:04 AM