Dactylorhizas 2012

[winwen]

I never asked for any kind of guarantees!
I just asked for facts.
Of course there maybe facts which are irrelevant for customer-expectations but then again they might be not. Facts often wont allow for any prediction but they stand for themselves and how they are being judged should be left to the customer.

I mean, as long as such labels like FS are solely based on the (valuable) estimation of the seller, some additional facts for the customers would never do any harm!

[Slug Killer]

Ok, if a plant that produces a new tuber, bulb or corn has flowered the year before it does not mean the newly formed bulb, tuber or corn will flower for you and any such claims are an estimated guess, fact.

If you can think of a better way of selling dormant bulbs, etc I'm all for it. The only other way is to sell plants potted and not until flowering growth is showing which shortens the selling season and will therefore force prices up and can only be sold at shows as postage would be to risky.

[winwen]

Oh, I changed my posting while you were writing your new one......

I think we are quite close together now, in that additional facts wont allow for any predictions. The same is true for seller-estimations, but since there can't be any guarantees and facts stand for themselves, the customer should also be given the possibility to rate these facts for himself.

That would be my suggestion for a "better way of selling". Just a brief additional description based on facts about the plant would do it!

[Jeff Hutchings]

This has been a useful discussion from both sides of the fence. I think Maren's system is ideal for pleione but has limitations for other species. I have experienced the same size problem when buying from growers, particularly with dactylorhiza and those with oval tubers. Dactylorhiza are often sold by year of growth which tells little if there has been a problem in the previous year. This can create problems when buying in hundreds, especially if they are for a meadow planting where you want large plants.


Jeff

[mark smyth]

Until yesterday I hadnt outed any nurseries and didnt intend to. Like others I'd rather buy a plant that had flowered rather but a tiny plant that ould flower.

No more mail order orchids for me. I'll accept those that are still owed by two nurseries

[mark smyth]

Here's the variegated Dactylorhiza fuschii. I dont know why it's so late this year.

[mark smyth]

Some self sown Dactylorhizas.

Should I move those in the pot in to 1L pots of their own?

1. Dactylorhiza seedlings in a pot that had a Geum that died
2. seedling in to a trough
3&4 seedling in a miniature Hosta crown
7. seedling in an Iris
8. seedlings in the crown of Geranium Rozanne

[angie]

Well, they certainly feel at home in your garden, seeing all over the place. I hope mine start seeding around. You must always get such a lovely display from your Dactylorhiza  .

Angie 

[mark smyth]

yes a good show when they were all in one place - the front garden only. Most are now in a bed for Colchicums and orchids with some here and there in troughs

[mark smyth]

more babies that I noticed today

[mark smyth]

3, 4, 9, 10 and 11 are in troughs that were made and planted in July 2009. How long has it taken for these seedlings to get to this size? I dont remember seeing them last year

[Stephen Vella]

Mark they are like weeds..not known to be like this here in Australia and I don't know why.. Maybe its your high rainfall but I found that I would get a 2% germination rate in a general potting mix that is bark fines type.your variegated Dact is fascinating
Cheers

[fredg]

I had Dactylorhiza maculata popping up like weeds for years.
I don't even know where the seed came from, I'm in town.

I finished up with several pots and a 6ft run in troughs.


Then in 2009 the Dactylorhiza lurgi got in.
Not one of the plants pictured survived.




All I have left of the originals are some which were in pots in the greenhouse.
All the ones kept outside, and some acquired in 2009 and 2010 perished.

Beware the lurgi

[ChrisB]

Wow, what a shame.  Hard to believe....

[ronm]

What is the Lurgi please?