Hi from the UK

[Trithor]

Think I will stick to the chocolate bar!

 

[eteson]

Welcome from the tropics Rock Doctor!
BTW why rock doctor?

 

[Rock Doctor]

Ah the handle, it stems from me working in the construction industry with a particular specialisation in concrete and sometimes its repair hence rock doctor.

As for the collection it has rapidly expanded in all directions. I'm trying a bit of a scattergun approach to find which type suits me the best from cool temperature varieties to paphs and phrags. Although the slippers are my favourites there are some other species that have very unusual flowers or are scented, each have something that puts them all above the usual house plants. If i can get my slippers to produce a single flower i will have achieved something but hopefully with a few nudges in the right direction from you guys then I may achieve something better which is obviously something to aspire to.

 

[NYEric]

Buy them in bud!

 

[SlipperFan]

Buy them in bud!

Ah, but the challenge is to re-bloom them!

 

[SlipperKing]

Welcome from TX. Gary should be able to handle most of your questions so I have a question for you. Are you in a greenhouse?

 

[SlipperNewbie]

Welcome from Delavan WI, USA. Only a couple hours from where I'm originally from. Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. I just bought my 1st slipper orchid in-bloom. Currently having a little trouble getting my orchids to re-bloom (and having to wait for a few to reach blooming size), except the easy phals.

 

[Carper]

That was quick Dave and nice to see you've now joined the best slipper forum! I've learned more from this crowd since I started and there's one or two members that have really got me on the right tracks, they know who they are and I won't embarrass them. Covering the many topics that come with growing slippers, you'll get some answers on here and it shouldn't be long before your collection grows and your posting the blooms!!

Gary
UK

 

[Rock Doctor]

Gary,

I couldn't resist the urge to join. How's the new aquisition settled down?

Growths on the Franz and Toro are still growing but the days are getting noticably shorter and the conservatory is getting cooler so will set the grow tent up this weekend. Got myself a pen for testing Ec of water and feed, I'll get a pH tester in the near future, it' next on my list. I' repot the Eric Young this weekend as well.

Dave

 

[Carper]

Dave,

Both the sandy and spiderman are all potted up and they're getting the usual settling in treatment. I'm hoping to see new root growth within the next few weeks and I'm hopeful both will bloom at some point next year. Even though we're getting to this point of the year, I'm looking towards next spring already and those longer days!

Gary

 

[Brabantia]

Welkom from Belgium!

 

[Rock Doctor]

Thanks Brabantia. I have some nephews who live in Belgium but I'm trying to think where. They used to live in Opwek. I think that's how you spell it.

Rick, no unfortunately I don't have a greenhouse yet. I will be over wintering my orchids in a grow tent with a T5 grow light a heater mat and fan for air circulation. The orchids will be on trays above expanded clay pellets.

Gary I'll be repotting a phrag Eric Young tomorrow in some orchiata and a Masdevallia Collossus in some fresh NZ Sphagnum moss. Then I'll be moving some of the intermediate temperature phrags, paphs and phals to the grow tent....the forcasts for warmish days but temperature is now falling away at night. Then when I've finished the orchids it'll be time for pruning the shrubs and trees and filling the green waste bin lol

 

[Carper]

Just had a day at having a tidy up. Pruned everything in the garden in prep for the winter. Removed all greenhouse shading and thoroughly scrubbed greenhouse roof! There seems a lot of light in there now even though the sun has lost a lot of it's strength so temps should be safe, but will monitor. I just hope my plants don't think it's spring and start spiking!!:rollhappy:

All set for winter in there now with a back up heater.

Let me know how your plants settle in Dave

Gary
UK

 

[Rock Doctor]

Gary, the small growth on the Hsingying Franz is now not so small, it must now be around 1.5 inches or so. The Mount Toro is just about to put out a new leaf on one of the newer growths. Two new growths on the Phrag Paul Eugene Conroy are really motoring and Phrag Garren Weaver and Pearcei are both having growth spurts on the new growths. The Venustrum has also started to pick up with leaves growing well and new growth putting out a new leaf. First impressions of the grow tent are that it is really good although I will need a bigger one. If things go to plan and my youngest son moves out, I might get one of the large 2 meter ones with two T5 light units for the slippers and use my small tent for the Masdevallias and Draculas. Hopefully I can get the growth to translate to blooms. The heater mat is also good as with the trays of clay pellets it keeps the humidity up and the paphs and phrags look as though they really appreciate a little warmth coming up to the roots.

 

[GuRu]

Hello Dave and a warm welcome from Germany.

 

[JeanLux]

Welcome from Luxembourg!!!! Jean

 

[karenjordan]

Welcome. I am also a newbie to the forum an I am from New York

 

[Rock Doctor]

Thanks everyone.
Karenjordan, I remember visiting NY in 2003 when I finished a project in Bangladesh on my way back to the UK. I stayed with a friend in New Hampshire and we visited NY for a weekend. I remember the snow being quite deep on the sidewalks and I was a little concerned that my flight from Boston would be cancelled. The cold was a real shock to the system having lived in Bangladesh for 3 years.