PLANT TALK-TALBOTT NURSERY AND POULTRY: John Talbott

19 JAN 2013 Blog #2

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Talbott-Nursery-And-Poultry/183749111771167#!/pages/Talbott-Nursery-And-Poultry/183749111771167

Dear teacherwin77358,

Q. I just received my seedling orchid and I am concerned it will not live as the roots are completely dried out and dead. The plant looks very unhealthy. Do you have healthier plants of this variety to send out?

A. First of all, one needs to remember that any reputable dealer worth his salt and selling most anything, would NEVER send a customer a product of inferior quality, since our most effective advertising is by word of mouth!! My 1^st and simplest fail-safe, as an entrepreneur, is to ask myself whether I would be interested in receiving the product (in this case an orchid)myself and, if I would be satisfied! In the case of Starter Orchids…(see above)...we send these and most orchids out bare-root with the root material enclosed in a paper towel. The roots are next to dry if not totally dry and probably need to be debrided upon arrival, then placed into a cup of water for 2-3 hours or sufficiently long enough for the roots to diffuse liquid from the cup into their plant root and top…making them once again turgid and ready to continue their life cycle processes. At this point the plant may or may not have (what looks like) much of a viable root system, but after placing in the soil mix the roots will begin to regenerate. After the refurbishing of water/liquid into the Orchid one needs to plant the Orchid in a good Orchid soil mix and water in…keep moist, but NOT WET….we have used Miracle Gro Orchid Mix or something similar….since we plant so many and use so much every year, we now buy a smooth landscapers prep mix by the 40 yard dump truck load from a local soil mix company right here in Greater New Waverly, Texas!!! We are lucky to have one so close….Don’t forget that whatever mix one uses, it need to provide a good anchor for the roots and heavy top of the plant(sometimes you need to use a plant stake with “bread tie” to hold the plant in place above ground), also it must hold some degree of moisture, but at the same time drain well. “Wet feet” and “kindness” kills more Orchids than most any other things I can think of… DON’T KILL AN ORCHID WITH KINDNESS….as Orchids are one of the hardiest plants on Earth, one need not “hover” around the plant anxious that it will recover and flourish….time will usually take care of all. Remember plants are different from animals in that they don’t show most changes readily and quickly….10-30 days is required to see the “turn-around” of most plant species!! HAPPY GROWING!!!!!!!!!!

JT of Talbott Nursery and Poultry—Greater New Waverly, Texas 77358

Below are several types of Orchid examples of both Starter age Orchids(six months to a year out of the flask) and Intermediate Orchids (usually 10 months to a year out of the flask) Cattleya, Phalaenopsis, Vandas, and Dendrobiums.