Terrestrial Orchids 2018

[Janos]

Dear Hardy Orchid Growers,

We are doing research on bulbous plant viruses, mainly potyviruses and cucumber mosaic virus. I'd like to get in touch with hardy orchid growers Europe-wide who might have suspicious plants, both winter green and summer green species are interesting for us (including Pleione). I know, that most of you are working hard to keep your precious collection free of such diseases, discarding the plants as soon as you have suspicion. Next time if any of you see a suspicious plant please do not throw it away, but separate it from the rest and contact me by PM with a picture, because it can be interesting for our academic research.
For virus symptoms there is a collection of demonstrative pictures on the website of Paul Cumbleton http://www.pleione.info/pests--diseases.html 
We need intact plants, because  we will carry out several tests (including Transmission Electron Microscopy, PCR, inoculation of virology test plants) during the upcoming months. Samples are welcome whole year round, when there is no risk of frost, as freezing and thawing of plant material is bad for virus isolation. Samples will be planted at the virology glasshouse of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. We keep all our sources confidential!

With Best Regards,
Janos

[Yann]

Ophrys cretensis, the green one

[aldo]

Thelymitra Queen Adelaide

[Maggi Young]

Queen Adelaide is a very delicate colour. Very nice!

[Steve Garvie]

My first Ophrys speculum of 2018 photographed earlier today in rather poor light.

[Steve Garvie]

Ophrys lutea


Ophrys speculum


Orchis italica
]

Orchis anatolica

[sjusovare]

Nice pictures Steve, as always
I was wondering, have you tried soils such as pumice, akadama or kiryu for ophryses?

[Steve Garvie]

Thanks Julien.
I use a compost mixture comprising of pumice (3-8mm) with “Seramis” (actually I use a form of cat litter) and coarse perlite. I make up a 50:50 mixture of micro-waved loam and Scots Pine leaflitter and add a small amount of this (10% of final volume) to the pumice/cat litter/perlite. Finally I add some powdered dolomitic lime. I now get much less tuber rot and as long as I give a regular light feed the plants do well. I suspect that Akadama would work just as well, especially if mixed with a small amount of limestone grit.

[sjusovare]

Thanks, will try next year

[Tony Willis]

Paphiopedilum armeniacum

[Maggi Young]

Paphiopedilum armeniacum

Now  there's a good "acid" yellow.

[Tony Willis]

Paphiopedilum bellatulum

[Steve Garvie]

Nice-looking Paph. Tony!

[aldo]

Cynorkis guttata

[aldo]

Thelymitra glaucophylla