HI there Orchid Fans

[Mr Speciosum]

I'm new to this forum but have been growing awkwards (OK, only some are) for about 11 years, and if you consider that planting some old Den. kingianum into your front garden is classed as 'growing', then you can make it 20. I'm now located in the North-West of Tazmania.

I tend to specialise in Aussie native Dendrobiums such as D. speciosum (hence the monicker) and Sarcochilus and hybrids thereof, plus anything else that I think I can grow without killing and might take the Judges fancy. Of late, the only flasks that I wil buy are native Dens and Sarcs, as the hybridisation of these is reaching new heights, particularly the Sarcs, otherwise I now try to only buy clones, as this restricts my collection size and increases the showbench to rubbish ratio.

Housing is taken care of by a 'reo' (mesh used in the reinforcing of concrete) tunnel house L 10m x W 4m x H 2m (oh! you guessed I am shorter than 2m tall, clever ) that is divided into two by polyethylene film. The 'hot' section is kept at 10*C minimum and the evap cooler cuts in at 30*C but the maximum temp recorded so far is 35*C in summer and 50% shadecloth. The 'cool' section is kept at 5*C minimum for the Sarcs and cool Dens and to as low a temp as I can manage in summer without a cooler, but by folding back the poly film cover off of 50% of the of the section and opening the door slightly. So far the max temp in this section has only reached 32*C.

I could ramble on ad-infinitum, but hey, I'd hate you to get the impression that I have a big mouth!

So, good growing to you, and if at first you don't suceed, try a different species .

[fred]

Hi Mr Speciosum

welcome to the forum

Tasmania hmmm North West that is the nice part of the state

I also live in the North West

nice to have you with us

I hope that you enjoy your stay here with us.

happy chatting

[pikevi]

Welcome to the forum, Mr Speciosum

I am wondering how Tasmania is blessed with good orchids, good people , good interests and good teachers!!!

[fred]

pikvie

I guess we here in Tasmania are just lucky

[kmarch]

I think Tasmanians are lucky in many respects, great wine and cheese, great forests. Too bad there are so many restrictions on getting orchids into the state.

[fred]

kmarch

you are so right.

We have been told in a Orchid meeting that bringing in orchid plants into the state will be even harder.

with the restrictions even tighter.

All the orchids coming into the state will have to be inspected.

Orchids in a flask will be exempt from inspection only.

so here to good old Tassie

http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf...UGULK?open#3.1

http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf...OS-6UTUXD?open

[Mr Speciosum]

Quite right fred, it will only get tighter! Quarantine Tas is supposed to be reviewing Import Regulation 19 i.e. Western Flower Thrip either this April or May and I've heard that ALL plants mentioned in IR19 (includes orchids) entering the state will be quarantined in the State and treated with pesticides, negating the need to get prior inspection and certification by the Dept of Primary Industry in the State of origin. This takes away the chance of any foul-up by the other States. Just recently they have hired 27 new Inspection Officers but I'm not sure when they will come online. The new system will also be 'user pays' so you can nearly guarantee the cost of importing plants from the mainland will just about double!

For a look to the future of Tas, just look what they did to Western Australia from April 1st this month. Although, having said that, the system still relies on the States to regulate. Nurseries now have to get certified to export intrastate at a cost of $800- I'm told, plus they now have to triple dip plants in three different chemicals....more cost to the nurseries. And you thought Methyl Bromide was tough on orchids! (yes, I know I'm not supposed to start a sentence with 'and', but hey...isn't this the new millenium?)

[Mr Speciosum]

Oh, nearly forgot.....thanks for the warm welcome!!

[kmarch]

Daryl, aka Mr Speciosum,

Since you are into D. speciosum, I was wondering if you read the extensive and excellent treatment of this species done by Peter Adams and published last year in The Orchadian?

[Mr Speciosum]

Hi kmarch,

I haven't read that article yet as I had resigned from all Aus Native Clubs when I moved inland in New South Wales about 9 years ago, but I'll try to get a copy of it. Thanks for the heads-up. I'm just starting to get back into the groove. Another good read on Den. speciosum is: 'see my next post, as I think this is post #5 and I can't add the link till post #6.....hehe.'

[Mr Speciosum]

OK....there we go, oh yes, that link to a good speciosum read:
http://members.optusnet.com.au/elanbee/Information.html



This is what happens to a good orchid when you shake the daylights out of it for 50 miles.......so much for symmetry!