Oak Hill Gardens
April Newsletter
Micro-Minis / Texas show pre-orders
In This Issue
Monthly Special Micro Minis
Growing Tip of the Month
Quick Links
Issue: # 27 April 2009
Greeting from Oak Hill Gardens!

One of the most frequent comments we get from growers (especially at orchid shows) is "I'd like to buy one, but I have no room!"  Well, this month that excuse will not be heard.  For April we have placed a special on micro-minis, the smallest of the miniature Oberonia cuneataorchids that we have to offer.  Everyone has room for these little cuties!  See the special, highlighted in the article below, or click on the photo or link immediatley below to see what's up.       Oberonia cuneata
 
 
CLASSES:  The response to our in-house orchid growing classes here at Oak Hill has been overwhelming!  So good that last month we had to park cars on the lawn -- big mistake.  A rainstorm of Biblical proportions occured during class time.  We quickly switched gears and changed the subject from "Re-potting Orchids" to "How to Build an Ark in a Hurry and on a Budget." Upon trying to exit the premises, four of our customer's cars got stuck in the soggy grass and muck (they must not have been paying attention in class....). 
 
Luckily, our sons Cam (age 18) and Jared (15) were both here to help push them out of the slop and onto the driveway.  The three of us looked like mud volleyball tournament losers when it was all finished.  We are grateful for the patience of those customers (and also for the one customer who stayed just to help out!).  Anyway, we will not be parking folks on the grass anymore.
                         orchid classes
Instead, we will be offering a second class on April 11th (Fertilizing and Pesticizing) at 1pm (the 10pm class is full due to parking lot size restrictions!).  Our May class is filling up, and we have added a June class, as well.  Click the icon above to check out the subject matter.  Contact us to register for the classes, if you are interested. 
 
PRE-ORDERS?  We will be participating in the 
Houston AOS Trustees Meeting show on April 24-26 and in the Ft. Worth Orchid Show the weekend before (April 18-19).  If you must have some orchids (including this month's special) and want to save on shipping and handling, let us know and we will bring plants directly to the show for you......
 
This month, Liese has written her "Tip of the Month" about how to treat for pests.  Scroll down to check it out!
 
See you at the shows!
 
Best wishes,
Greg
 
        April Monthly Special
 Ascocentrum pumilum       "Micro - Minis" Ascocentrum pumilum
 
Limited on growing space?  Do you enjoy adorable tiny-growing miniatures?  We have just what you need - and at  reduced prices!  This month we offer six different Haraella retrocalla"micro-minis," the smallest of the miniature plants that we have here at Oak Hill Gardens.  These plants bloom in a small size and stay small!  As usual, the more you buy, the more you save!  Check out the details at the link below.      Haraella retrocalla
 
     Growing Tip of the Month  -  by Liese
Liese      Dont let Bugs bug You!
 
Spring is finally here, as evidenced by the six inches of wet snow we received last Sunday.  Ah, Chicagoland!  Despite the weather, our plants are beginning to put out their new root and plant growth.  With the warmer spring weather will also come bugs!  Aphids, spider mite, scale and mealie bug will all attempt to squeeze their way into our plant collections.
 
Don't panic!  Bugs are just an annoyance that we must deal with if we are to continue to reap joy from our hobby!  They are usually easy to kill if found early.  One of the best things you can do is to scout your plants carefully every week or so, perhaps during the watering process.  Make sure to check the underside of the leaves and in the the nooks and crannys within the plants growth structure.  The bugs will tend to hide where they cannot be readily seen. 
 
If you see a bug, simply spray your plant or wipe off the leaves with isopropyl alchohol.  The Bayer brand "Rose and Flower" insecticide we carry (blue bottle) also works very well on most insects.  It comes pre-mixed, thus is "ready-to-spray" right out of the bottle.  We also carry "Bon-Neem," an insecticidal soap derived from Neem Oil which is non-poisonous and also "ready-to-use" without mixing.
 
If you have a plant that is heavily infested with insects, take it out of the pot and remove all of the media from the roots.  Dunk the plant, roots and all, in an insecticide solution (don't forget eye goggles and rubber gloves to protect yourself).  Swish the plants around to be sure that the liquid penetrates all crevices within the plant to ensure pest eradication.  Wash out the pot with a bleach solution and repot the orchid in fresh mix. 
 
If you have a widespread problem, we have a host of other pesticides, such as Orthene systemic liquid, Malathion, Systemic Granules, etc., which work well when used as directed.  Our pest control class (April 11th at 1pm) here at the Oak Hill Gardens will cover this topic in more detail. 
 
By watching your plant closely and catching sight of pesky bugs early enough, you can maximize your bug control efforts and add this to your ever-expanding list of orchid growing skills!
 
Good luck!
Liese
 
Happy Growing this Spring!
 
Sincerely,
 

Greg, Liese and Hermann