Newly Posted Articles

HEATING: Emergency

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted over 7 years ago Water will flow till it freezes and as it freezes it releases heat, so saturate the greenhouse with water when the emergency heater conks out on the coldest night; keep it going until heating is re... Read More

VIRUS CONTROL BY FLAME OR HEAT: Control by Heat Treatment

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted over 7 years ago While heat-treating sugar cane before planting should work to inactivate the virus, no one has applied it to orchids successfully. A74-502; has been tried by Lawson at Beltsville. OWD Read More

BEGINNERS: Best Plants for South Florida

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted over 7 years ago In South Florida the first choices would be vandas, cattleyas, ascocendas and dendrobiums (evergreen or cane types) and secondly would be oncidiums (particularly equitants) and phalaenopsis. F84-147 Read More

POTS (GENERAL): Use of the Best Size for the Plant

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted over 7 years ago Plants with a rapid growth rate require a considerable increase in size on repotting and not a gradual increase to accommodate an accelerated growth rate; too-small or pot-bound pots reduce the gro... Read More

POTS, PLASTIC: Soaking to Kill Virus

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted over 7 years ago Use Clorox one part to water nine parts; clean the pots of loose dirt before soaking because dirt impairs the viricidal properties of the Clorox. A72-1100 Read More

POTS, PLASTIC: Transparent

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted over 7 years ago Recommended as the solution to the inspection of root development to provide for the key cultural element -- optimum watering; refer to A60-520+ Read More

LIME: Oyster Shell, Its Characteristics

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted over 7 years ago It is calcium carbonate lime; ground up shells comes in coarse type for chicken scratch or flour type used by many orchid growers. C74-51 Read More

POTS: Air-cone Type

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted over 7 years ago Pots with an empty space in the bottom-center designed to reduce sogginess; they provide good drainage and the condition of the roots and the mix can be "viewed" fairly well. OD88-19 Read More

HEATING: Emergency Systems

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted over 7 years ago An alarm system described, as well as three types of emergency heating apparatus; refer to A64-121+ Read More

XEROPHITIC ORCHIDS: Some Examples

Author is Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler), posted over 7 years ago The genera include Angraecopsis, Cyrtorchis, Jumellea, Microcoelia, Rangaeris, Tridactyle and Ypsilopsis; plus Oncidium onusturn and Epidendrum boothianum. A80-1140 Read More