Funny Opportunity - Seized!

[Ray]

I was presenting and vending at the Susquehanna Orchid Society Show at a commercial garden center in Lancaster PA over the weekend, and that gives folks the opportunity to ask for help.

Last year a lady asked how she could get her phal to bloom. "It has at least a dozen spikes, but never any flowers." She had the aerial roots beautifully staked straight up.

This year, a couple came in with a laundry list of complaints - root rot, loss of leaves, insects, mites, sunburn, etc., etc. - and wanted to know if there was a treatment that would help them eliminate all those issues. I pointed to the RoundUp. (When we all stopped laughing, we had a more helpful, serious discussion about the culture.)

[jerrymeola]

Ray

I always enjoy your posts. These experiences can be repeated with any grower that does shows.

It really displays why hobbyist, especially beginners, should join orchid societies and buy from orchid growers directly rather than groceries or big box stores that give no advice or bad advice.

As much as I like this forum, the advice here is not a substitute to one on one discussion with someone with thousands of orchids, from which to draw suggestions. Often the advice here is from a very limited sample or second hand repeated information.

Many times the questioned asked is improperly formed. The women who could not flower her Phal would have gotten advice on light, temperature and water totally missing the problem.

[Daethen]

Great story, Ray. Must have been a hoot.

Jerry, I think the first thing that would have been done had the women stated her question here was people asking her for pictures so that we could all see what may be going on. We would then have been able to inform her that she was staking the roots.

[jpyerry]

That is funny, I think it might be the first time I've heard a joke concerning orchids (and plants in general) that could be characterized as dark humor, I like it.

Justin

[Leafmite]

That is just too funny! Thanks for the laugh!
Leafmite

[NancyH]

Thats a great story Ray, I certainly can relate...Thanks. Nancy

[orchids4me]

I have to agree with Jonada. We do always ask for pics on here, and there are also many experienced growers here with excellent advice. OS meetings are great to be apart of but many of those OS members are also a part of this forum as well as you both are Ray and Jerry. So that comment about the forum and information here was a bit of a low blow to some of the other more experienced growers on here. I'm not calling my self one of them but have learned from them on this forum and this does include you Ray and Jerry. So I will defend the ones that are experienced and there are many on here other than you 2 as well.
My 2 cents on this anyways.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by orchids4me

I have to agree with Jonada. We do always ask for pics on here, and there are also many experienced growers here with excellent advice. OS meetings are great to be apart of but many of those OS members are also a part of this forum as well as you both are Ray and Jerry. So that comment about the forum and information here was a bit of a low blow to some of the other more experienced growers on here. I'm not calling my self one of them but have learned from them on this forum and this does include you Ray and Jerry. So I will defend the ones that are experienced and there are many on here other than you 2 as well.
My 2 cents on this anyways.

What in the world are you commenting on? This does not seem to apply to this thread at all.

[Brooke]

To Jerry's post.

Brooke

[SarinahL]

Originally Posted by Ray

What in the world are you commenting on? This does not seem to apply to this thread at all.

As much as I like this forum, the advice here is not a substitute to one on one discussion with someone with thousands of orchids, from which to draw suggestions. Often the advice here is from a very limited sample or second hand repeated information.

I think she means Jerry's message, see above..?

[Ray]

Now that I reread it, I can see how he might have been taken that way, but he IS right - online discussion and photos are not a substitute for first-hand, face-to-face interaction.

However, just because one has "thousands" of orchids doesn't mean they are all-knowing.

[orchids4me]

Originally Posted by Ray

Now that I reread it, I can see how he might have been taken that way, but he IS right - online discussion and photos are not a substitute for first-hand, face-to-face interaction.

However, just because one has "thousands" of orchids doesn't mean they are all-knowing.

Now this is true Ray but not everyone has the opportunity to have the one on one with orchid growers or vendors or even a work schedule that allows them to go to local OS meetings so forums and pic diagnosis is all they have as a source for help with learning. But I do feel there is nothing worng with people buying from big box stores especially if they are starting out and learning how to grow orchids. I do agree the information given by these stores is usually and mostly incorrect but many do seek info on the web and find forums like here and get set on the right track to grow them. There are many members here that are very experienced growers and some species specific, and many mambers here do belong to OS groups. So when he took a shot at the info available here seemed like he was saying its all below standard or not perfect but not in those exact words and the only good info comes from vendors and os meetings in direct face to face. Well not everyone has that luxury and there is nothing wrong with most of the info here as along as its correct and if its not some one comes along and corrects it. So I felt we were being put down as a group on this forum by his comment, we all start some where and many of the experienced members help us all along including you and Jerry.
Just felt under attack and bellittled by his comment so I wanted to defend everyone who wasn't here to defend themselves. Wording and preception made him sound like he was putting us down.
Thank you for re reading it Ray

[Andrew]

Jerry might have taken Ray's post off on a tangent that Ray didn't intend but I do agree with Jerry's comments.

[jpyerry]

Originally Posted by orchids4me

Now this is true Ray but not everyone has the opportunity to have the one on one with orchid growers or vendors or even a work schedule that allows them to go to local OS meetings so forums and pic diagnosis is all they have as a source for help with learning. But I do feel there is nothing worng with people buying from big box stores especially if they are starting out and learning how to grow orchids. I do agree the information given by these stores is usually and mostly incorrect but many do seek info on the web and find forums like here and get set on the right track to grow them. There are many members here that are very experienced growers and some species specific, and many mambers here do belong to OS groups. So when he took a shot at the info available here seemed like he was saying its all below standard or not perfect but not in those exact words and the only good info comes from vendors and os meetings in direct face to face. Well not everyone has that luxury and there is nothing wrong with most of the info here as along as its correct and if its not some one comes along and corrects it. So I felt we were being put down as a group on this forum by his comment, we all start some where and many of the experienced members help us all along including you and Jerry.
Just felt under attack and bellittled by his comment so I wanted to defend everyone who wasn't here to defend themselves. Wording and preception made him sound like he was putting us down.
Thank you for re reading it Ray

I totally agree with the part about not being able to attend local OS meeting. Being that I work in EMS, I am forced to work on the weekends. Unfortunately, my local OS meets on weekends, exactly when I am working. If it weren't for my job, I would probably be a very active member of my local orchid society. It really is too bad because I would really like to meet more people that share my interests locally.

[orchids4me]

Originally Posted by jpyerry

I totally agree with the part about not being able to attend local OS meeting. Being that I work in EMS, I am forced to work on the weekends. Unfortunately, my local OS meets on weekends, exactly when I am working. If it weren't for my job, I would probably be a very active member of my local orchid society. It really is too bad because I would really like to meet more people that share my interests locally.

Jperry, I'm in the same boat...work wed thru sun grave/swing and graveyards mixed and ours is on a thurs starts same time my shift does so part of my poit in my argument... I knew I wasn't the only on, and I feel same as you do

[lmartiny]

I think this was just misunderstanding of written word that can happen so often now with e-mails, texts, forums, etc. The written word can sometimes lack a certain inflection that verbal communication has. I don't go to OS meetings, etc. But I sure do enjoy a one on one discussion with an orchid person. Regardless, I can kill a big box or grower grown orchid. I don't discriminate.