News from Oak Hill Gardens

April Newsletter

In This Issue

April Monthly Special

Growing Tip of the Month

Quick Links

Photos and Information

Mounted Plant Special

Upcoming Orchid Events!

Issue: # 11

April 2008

Dear Orchid Lover,

Tis' the busy season around here at Oak Hill. March and April are chock full of beautiful orchid shows. Springtime also marks the receipt of some very interesting orchid species imported from all over the globe. They have been potted or mounted, but most of them will need to be established before being offered up. However, there are many varieties which will grow out quickly, enabling us to add them to the website in just a couple of months. Stay tuned for that!

The monthly special for April consists of some Angraecoids native to Madagascar that were imported a couple of months ago! They are looking very nice! Check out the special below, or shortcut to it now by clicking on the Aerangis luteo-alba photo!

Farther down in this months letter, Liese again offers up some additional spring re-potting advice. We have ramped on the repotting here at Oak Hill, too! Now is the time!

The Illinois Orchid Society Show is this coming weekend at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, IL. If you can, go see the show and stop by the Oak Hill Greenhouse (we are about an hour west of the Botanic Garden). If you don't have time to stop out and want us to bring something to the show specifically for you, please let us know!

We can also take "pre-orders" for the Ann Arbor, MI show on the 12-13th of April. Perhaps something from our currently budded/spiking list? Click below, then scroll down to see it!

Budded/Spiking Plant Page

Sedirea japonica - currently in bud!
(fragrant!)

April Monthly Special
Aerangis Species on Sale Four different species of these charming Angraecoids are being offered up this month for special prices. The more you buy, the more you save! Click on the link below or the photo to see about this offer! April Aerangis Special

Growing Tip of the Month - by Liese
Spring Means Repotting Time! Spring seems to have finally arrived! With the exception of a few chilly days and cold nights, we are mostly into warm, sunny spring. This is the perfect time to re-pot your orchids! Most orchids will start their new growth process this time of year. It is the perfect time to give those new roots some fresh media. Be sure to use a clean, hard bark mix. Soft bark usually means lots of dust and rapid breakdown. This will make for a mix that will hold too much moisture, which can cause root rot! We suggest potting your orchids into fresh media at the very least every two years. Some orchids are faster growing and require re-potting every year. The Phalaenopsis and Paphiopedilum genera both like fresh media more frequently; we repot them yearly. Don't forget about your mounted orchids! They also like to see fresh media (new/additional sphaghnum moss) every couple of years. It is best to do all of your re-potting now in spring before the severe heat of summer sets in. Keep the media a bit on the drier side for 2-3 weeks after repotting. This allows air to get to the new root growth, thus causing the the roots to grow out faster as they search for moisture! Also be careful not to "over-pot" your orchids. Give the root system a bit of extra room to grow. However, giving them too big of a pot will cause the media to stay wet for too long - leading to root rot. Re-potting your orchids into fresh media now will allow them to root in quickly and prompt maximum growth out of them during this critical season! Now go form some calluses on those tender thumbs of yours! Good luck, Liese

Let us know if we can be of service to you! We appreciate your support of our family operation!

Hermann, Liese and Greg
Oak Hill Gardens