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Dear Oak Hill Gardens supporter,
It seems to me that, over the last few months, every other time I get in the van to drive somewhere I'm taking my life in my hands. Problem is, I can't see black ice and I can't control which way the other guy is gonna slide. I need a chauffeur and a helmet (or a Sno-Cat!).
 At the risk of jinxing the situation, I'll say that it looks like the worst of the stressful Midwest winter driving is behind us. This pleases me. The entire country has had a rough season, especially the Northeast. I must express my empathy to our good customers in New England. The weather has not been good here and there at the same time since November, and we are still holding orders for your region. Thank you for your patience. I promise we will get them out this month.
The above-mentioned weather has also
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Dendrobium farmeri
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prevented us from offering you a titillating monthly special since November (unless you find orchid mix and rhizome clips exciting...). Well, that's changing as of right now. We have a great March Special that features seven exciting species at special prices, as low as only $10.00 each
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Holcoglossum kimballianum
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(normally $15.00) if you buy six of them. See the special box below.
ORCHID SHOW 10% PRE-ORDER DISCOUNTS Oak Hill Gardens will be participating in two orchid shows in March, for which you may pre-order plants at a 10% discount. You save on the plants and forego the shipping cost as well. They are:
Ann Arbor Orchid Society Show (March 19-20, 2011) Matthaei Botanic Garden Illinois Orchid Society Show (March 26-27, 2011) Chicago Botanic Garden Glencoe, IL PRINTED CATALOG  Our 2011 printed color catalog was mailed two weeks ago via bulk mail. If you are on our mailing list, you should have received it by now. If you have not and would like us to mail you a copy, please reply to this e-mail newsletter and provide your mailing address.
Don't forget to scroll down to read Liese's thought provoking article on roots (and how they can be the root of the problem....)
Enjoy the beginning of Spring!
Greg
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March Special
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Dendrobium speciosum v. pendunculatum
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Manager's Special
We don't have a manager here at Oak Hill, but if we did this is the special that he/she would offer at this time. Seven (7) interesting and unusual species in the Dendrobium and Holcoglossum families are specially priced on a sliding downward scale, as usual. The more you buy, the more you save (up to 33%!). Check it out at the link below:
March Manager's Plant Special |
Growing Tip of the Month - by Liese
| |  Roots - Beautiful Roots!
I brought the plant into Greg's office and was showing him the interesting root growth. I found it fascinating - but by the look on his face I realized that he had just confirmed the fact that I am an orchid nerd.
Getting excited over root growth on a plant can only be understood by a true plant lover. That's why we only let Greg drive the truck and sweep the head house - period!
Watching the root growth on your plants can help you understand what your plant needs
and also also allows you to catch problems before they get out of hand. By the time the leaves of an orchid are dehydrated or wilted, the roots are usually either rotted or dried up. When you observe healthy roots, healthy leaves are usually present also.
Root growth slows down, and in many cases stops, during cold winter months, just like the plant growth. Here in Chicagoland, we see almost no new roots developing during November through February. Now, in early Spring, the roots begin to grow again. After the roots grow out, new plant growth begins.
Many orchids that go dormant (and die back to bulbs) will lose most of their roots during the winter "dry spell." When you stop watering your dormant orchids, those nice big fleshy roots also dry up. Now in spring, new plant growth will appear accompanied by beautiful new roots.
Sympodial orchids mainly send out new roots with the new growth, so most new root growth will be observed at the leading edge of the rhizome. When the plant is divided and the back bulbs potted, the new root growth, again, will be formed where the new growth appears, not on the old, dried-up back bulbs.
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Healthy Roots Save $$$
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Many new orchid growers cringe when they watch us re-pot a plant. Roots get cracked, shoved in a pot, surrounded by chunky bark that is crammed in around the roots. The plant is not harmed by this. Any point at which a root is cracked or trimmed has the potential for branching and continuing to grow. Trimming very long roots during re-potting is often a better option in order to avoid over-potting, which may cause excess water retention and lead to - you guessed it - rotted roots!
If you see one of your orchids with leaves that look limp or wilted, take the plant out of the pot and look at the roots. Many times the plant has been over-watered or the potting material has broken down and the roots are kaput. If this is the case, trim off any dead roots and re-pot the plant in fresh media into a small pot. A small pot will dry out quickly and the plant will produce new "water-seeking" roots.
New root growth takes weeks to appear, sometimes months. Orchids are generally slow-growing, and a badly dehydrated plant can sometimes take a year or more to recover. Do not pot a root-rotted plant into sphagum moss. Moss holds too much moisture and does not allow enough air to the roots. Epiphytic orchids, in the wild, grow in trees with their roots exposed to the air. They DO need moisture to grow. However, the air exposure to the roots is essential for good growth.
It is an exciting time of the year - if you're an orchid nerd like me - new roots are shooting out everywhere at Oak Hill Gardens! Spring can't be far behind!
A-Wop-bop-a-loo-lop a-lop-bam-boo!
Little Liese
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Thanks for your support!
Sincerely, 
Greg, Liese and Hermann |
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