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| April Newsletter |
Spring Checklist
April 2010
Issue #41 |
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| Welcome to Spring!
Every orchid show is an opportunity to learn something new. About two weeks ago I was working our sales booth at the Illinois Orchid Society show inside the Chicago Botanic Garden Conservatory. It was about 32 degrees outside, and, through the large windows behind my booth, the visitors could see heavy snow falling outside.
About 3-4 inches had fallen already that day when a woman approached the booth and, glancing at the orchids for sale, asked, "Do you every have to bring these inside?" I asked her where she lived. "About 15 minutes from here," is what she said. I explained that all of the orchids for sale at the show were tropical plants, and that, in this climate, they could be put outside in the summer months, but had to be grown inside from early fall to late spring. She hesitated for a moment and said, "That can't be true. I was on vacation in Hawaii over the Christmas Holiday and there were orchids just like these growing outside everywhere!"
I stand corrected......
Gastrochilus fuscopunctatus
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Psygmorchis pusilla
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This month we are offering a special on "Micro-Mini" orchids. Check out the box below to get a special deal on multiple tiny growers. Everyone has room for these little ones.
There are more opportunities to save $$$$ on shipping and handling in April, in particular if you live in New England or will be attending the AOS Trustees Meetings and Orchid Show in Oklahoma City at the end of this month. See the article below for details.
Liese weighs in with some sage advice on how to prepare your collection for the spring season. Her Grammy Award winning column, "Growing Tip of the Month", can be found at the bottom of the newsletter.
Enjoy your hobby!
Greg
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| Micro Miniature Special
Ascocentrum pumilum
 | The four species we have discounted this month are tiny orchids which bloom small and stay small. These are all blooming size plants which normally cost $15.00 each at retail. You can add them to your collection (even if your growing area is "full") for as little as $12.00 each, if you purchase four of them!
Haraella retrocalla
 | Check out the special at the link below!
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| Oak Hill Gardens
on the Road!
Save shipping and handling $$$$
Greg is "on the road" again in April to bring  you the plants you need and to save you money in doing so. Will you will be at one of the six lectures in the New England area between the 8th and 14th of April? If so, you still have until the end of the day on Monday April 5th to place a pre-order and save the shipping and handling charges normally associated with a "mail-order" from Oak Hill Gardens.
April 8th Twin States O.S. (Vermont)
April 10th Ocean State O.S. (Rhode I)
April 11th Cape and Islands O.S. (MA)
April 12th Maine O.S.
April 13th Massachusetts O.S.
April 14th Connecticut O.S.
The other major event of the month is the Spring AOS Trustees Meeting and Orchid Show in Oklahoma City. It takes place on April 29th through May 2nd at the Clarion Meridian Hotel in Oklahoma City. I'll see you there; let us know if we can bring you anything to the show.
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| Growing Tip of the Month - by Liese
Spring Checklist
Liese
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Spring is in the air here at Oak Hill. I saw the first robin hopping around our yard looking for that elusive worm. With the change in seasons, also comes change in our growing routines.
Sunnier, longer days in spring trigger our orchids into action. New root and plant growth begin. During this time, you should switch back to a higher nitrogen orchid food (such as 30-10-10) to help the new growth emerge strongly. If any of your orchids look like they might need a repot job, now is the perfect time to do it. As the plants move into their growing season, they will root in quickly now when they are in active growth. It is also a perfect time to re-mount any orchids you have that may be falling off of their plaques.
Watch for sunburn on your orchids this time of the years. The sun's intensity is much higher and leaf burn can occur quickly if leaves are not protected from the directly rays of the hot, mid-day sun. This is the time to put up shading on greenhouses and pull shut those sheer curtains in our south-facing windows.
The sunny, warm days of spring also wake up the hybernating bug population. Watch your plants for aphids, mealies, scale and mites. It's good to keep some bug spray on hand for when you might see one or more of these uninvited visitors. The Bayer products seem to work well to eliminate most of these pests.
Your watering schedule may change a bit also. If it is warm enough to open windows and let that fresth spring air inside, your plants may dry out a bit more quickly. However, as soon as the higher humidity of summer hits, back off on the watering and make sure your media dries out in between.
As you watch the spring surroundings turn to green, lush foliage, watch your orchids throw out new growths, leaves and roots. It's fun to see them growing out strongly after struggling through the long winter.
Happy Spring! |
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Thank your for your support during these difficult times. Take comfort and refuge in your wholesome hobby!
Sincerely,
Greg, Liese and Hermann |
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