On 20/12/2014 15:35, Pam Moore wrote:
On Sat, 20 Dec 2014 11:20:13 +0000, David
wrote:


Got round to putting canes in to support the flower spikes today and I
had miss counted One has 4 spikes and the other has 6, though 2 only
have 4 buds each, should be open well for Xmas.
A lot of the orchids are in need of re potting so will have to get some
orchid compost. time to shop around.
David @ a wet side of Swansea Bay



I had a bad batch of orchid compost a couple of years ago and lost a
couple of plants before I realised what was wrong. The compost tended
to drain poorly, even though it was exactly the same type I'd previously
used with success, so I'm much more wary these days. I sometimes buy a
bag of bulb compost (light mix, free draining and 'sweetened' with
charcoal, usually) to mix with the proprietory orchid compost, and this
has worked well. It mixes well with the bark, allowing the roots
contact with the compost, but doesn't impede drainage.

Well I got my 2 sacks of orchid compost and took a load of pics which I
will post later when I have time.
Got home last night and as I thought the Cymbidiums are in flower

http://s240.photobucket.com/user/taf...7ca00.jpg.html
http://s240.photobucket.com/user/taf...f28eb.jpg.html
David @ a mild side of Swansea Bay

lovely orchids David. A good advert for your care plan!
My first-in-15-years flower is well on its way to opening.

Thanks Pam hope yours are out for Xmas.
What I didn't say was when I re to the mix.
David.
PS
I'll be back ay Wyevale in the New Year to see if they have any reduced
after Xmas.

On 20/12/2014 11:20, David wrote:

Got round to putting canes in to support the flower spikes today and I
had miss counted One has 4 spikes and the other has 6, though 2 only
have 4 buds each, should be open well for Xmas.
A lot of the orchids are in need of re potting so will have to get some
orchid compost. time to shop around.
David @ a wet side of Swansea Bay



I had a bad batch of orchid compost a couple of years ago and lost a
couple of plants before I realised what was wrong. The compost tended
to drain poorly, even though it was exactly the same type I'd previously
used with success, so I'm much more wary these days. I sometimes buy a
bag of bulb compost (light mix, free draining and 'sweetened' with
charcoal, usually) to mix with the proprietory orchid compost, and this
has worked well. It mixes well with the bark, allowing the roots
contact with the compost, but doesn't impede drainage.

Well I got my 2 sacks of orchid compost and took a load of pics which I
will post later when I have time.
Got home last night and as I thought the Cymbidiums are in flower

http://s240.photobucket.com/user/taf...7ca00.jpg.html

http://s240.photobucket.com/user/taf...f28eb.jpg.html

David @ a mild side of Swansea Bay



Lovely pics, David! I hope they last well for you. Are they scented?
I have a beautiful yellow mini-Cymbidium with magnificient scent, but
it's certainly not going to be in flower for Christmas. I'm not too
worried. I'll settle for good health over flowering any day.
You were very lucky to grab those just before they flowered. Your
instincts were spot on.
--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay

On 20/12/2014 18:10, Spider wrote:
On 20/12/2014 11:20, David wrote:

Got round to putting canes in to support the flower spikes today and I
had miss counted One has 4 spikes and the other has 6, though 2 only
have 4 buds each, should be open well for Xmas.
A lot of the orchids are in need of re potting so will have to get some
orchid compost. time to shop around.
David @ a wet side of Swansea Bay



I had a bad batch of orchid compost a couple of years ago and lost a
couple of plants before I realised what was wrong. The compost tended
to drain poorly, even though it was exactly the same type I'd previously
used with success, so I'm much more wary these days. I sometimes buy a
bag of bulb compost (light mix, free draining and 'sweetened' with
charcoal, usually) to mix with the proprietory orchid compost, and this
has worked well. It mixes well with the bark, allowing the roots
contact with the compost, but doesn't impede drainage.

Well I got my 2 sacks of orchid compost and took a load of pics which I
will post later when I have time.
Got home last night and as I thought the Cymbidiums are in flower

http://s240.photobucket.com/user/taf...7ca00.jpg.html


http://s240.photobucket.com/user/taf...f28eb.jpg.html


David @ a mild side of Swansea Bay



Lovely pics, David! I hope they last well for you. Are they scented?
I have a beautiful yellow mini-Cymbidium with magnificient scent, but
it's certainly not going to be in flower for Christmas. I'm not too
worried. I'll settle for good health over flowering any day.
You were very lucky to grab those just before they flowered. Your
instincts were spot on.


Pardon?
These are the ones I re-potted in the spring and have grown on in the
glasshouse with minimal shading.
They look as if they may need re-potting again in the spring the way
they have grown.

On 20/12/2014 19:55, David wrote:
On 20/12/2014 18:10, Spider wrote:
On 20/12/2014 11:20, David wrote:

Got round to putting canes in to support the flower spikes today and I
had miss counted One has 4 spikes and the other has 6, though 2 only
have 4 buds each, should be open well for Xmas.
A lot of the orchids are in need of re potting so will have to get
some
orchid compost. time to shop around.
David @ a wet side of Swansea Bay



I had a bad batch of orchid compost a couple of years ago and lost a
couple of plants before I realised what was wrong. The compost tended
to drain poorly, even though it was exactly the same type I'd
previously
used with success, so I'm much more wary these days. I sometimes buy a
bag of bulb compost (light mix, free draining and 'sweetened' with
charcoal, usually) to mix with the proprietory orchid compost, and this
has worked well. It mixes well with the bark, allowing the roots
contact with the compost, but doesn't impede drainage.

Well I got my 2 sacks of orchid compost and took a load of pics which I
will post later when I have time.
Got home last night and as I thought the Cymbidiums are in flower

http://s240.photobucket.com/user/taf...7ca00.jpg.html



http://s240.photobucket.com/user/taf...f28eb.jpg.html



David @ a mild side of Swansea Bay



Lovely pics, David! I hope they last well for you. Are they scented?
I have a beautiful yellow mini-Cymbidium with magnificient scent, but
it's certainly not going to be in flower for Christmas. I'm not too
worried. I'll settle for good health over flowering any day.
You were very lucky to grab those just before they flowered. Your
instincts were spot on.


Pardon?
These are the ones I re-potted in the spring and have grown on in the
glasshouse with minimal shading.
They look as if they may need re-potting again in the spring the way
they have grown.



Sorry, David! Somehow I persuaded myself they were newish purchases
(probably after all the Burnhams' discussion), so my fault for such a
hasty post twixt rushing around earlier. They're still great orchids,
though.
--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay

On 20/12/2014 22:31, Spider wrote:
On 20/12/2014 19:55, David wrote:
On 20/12/2014 18:10, Spider wrote:
On 20/12/2014 11:20, David wrote:

Got round to putting canes in to support the flower spikes today
and I
had miss counted One has 4 spikes and the other has 6, though 2 only
have 4 buds each, should be open well for Xmas.
A lot of the orchids are in need of re potting so will have to get
some
orchid compost. time to shop around.
David @ a wet side of Swansea Bay



I had a bad batch of orchid compost a couple of years ago and lost a
couple of plants before I realised what was wrong. The compost tended
to drain poorly, even though it was exactly the same type I'd
previously
used with success, so I'm much more wary these days. I sometimes
buy a
bag of bulb compost (light mix, free draining and 'sweetened' with
charcoal, usually) to mix with the proprietory orchid compost, and
this
has worked well. It mixes well with the bark, allowing the roots
contact with the compost, but doesn't impede drainage.

Well I got my 2 sacks of orchid compost and took a load of pics which I
will post later when I have time.
Got home last night and as I thought the Cymbidiums are in flower

http://s240.photobucket.com/user/taf...7ca00.jpg.html




http://s240.photobucket.com/user/taf...f28eb.jpg.html




David @ a mild side of Swansea Bay



Lovely pics, David! I hope they last well for you. Are they scented?
I have a beautiful yellow mini-Cymbidium with magnificient scent, but
it's certainly not going to be in flower for Christmas. I'm not too
worried. I'll settle for good health over flowering any day.
You were very lucky to grab those just before they flowered. Your
instincts were spot on.


Pardon?
These are the ones I re-potted in the spring and have grown on in the
glasshouse with minimal shading.
They look as if they may need re-potting again in the spring the way
they have grown.



Sorry, David! Somehow I persuaded myself they were newish purchases
(probably after all the Burnhams' discussion), so my fault for such a
hasty post twixt rushing around earlier. They're still great orchids,
though.


Plants that size at Burnham would have been £30.00+

"David" wrote
Plants that size at Burnham would have been £30.00+


If you want a standard Cymbidium instead of the smaller flowered ones then
you will pay the same or even double that for a flowering plant.

http://www.mcbeansorchids.co.uk/acat...m_orchids.html

http://www.mcbeansorchids.co.uk/acat...seedlings.html

They look the same but the flowers are two or three times the size of the
ones you normally see in the sheds etc. Very impressive if you have the
room.
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

On Sat, 20 Dec 2014 11:20:13 +0000, David
wrote:


Got round to putting canes in to support the flower spikes today and I
had miss counted One has 4 spikes and the other has 6, though 2 only
have 4 buds each, should be open well for Xmas.
A lot of the orchids are in need of re potting so will have to get some
orchid compost. time to shop around.
David @ a wet side of Swansea Bay



I had a bad batch of orchid compost a couple of years ago and lost a
couple of plants before I realised what was wrong. The compost tended
to drain poorly, even though it was exactly the same type I'd previously
used with success, so I'm much more wary these days. I sometimes buy a
bag of bulb compost (light mix, free draining and 'sweetened' with
charcoal, usually) to mix with the proprietory orchid compost, and this
has worked well. It mixes well with the bark, allowing the roots
contact with the compost, but doesn't impede drainage.

Well I got my 2 sacks of orchid compost and took a load of pics which I
will post later when I have time.
Got home last night and as I thought the Cymbidiums are in flower

http://s240.photobucket.com/user/taf...7ca00.jpg.html
http://s240.photobucket.com/user/taf...f28eb.jpg.html
David @ a mild side of Swansea Bay