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Dear Customer,
First and foremost we would like to thank all of you who came to see us during the Chicagoland Orchid Festival. We had a great turnout here in Waunakee and also at our guest grower area at Hausermann's. Thanks for making it fun for us, and for continuing your support of the festival and Oak Hill Gardens. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we did; we are already looking forward to next year's event!
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Bulbophyllum
wendlandianum
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More New Offerings! This month we have added over 20 new plants to our orchid offerings. Check out the new offerings list to see some exciting species and hybrids.
Two (2) Specials for October: This month we are offering a special price on every single plant on the website! That's right, for the first time ever, we are taking 15% off of all plants listed on-line. In addition, we are offering a "Low Light Special," with discounts of 25% on six selected shade lovers. See the details in the article below.
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Pleurothallis stricta
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Kansas City, Here We Come!
Oak Hill Gardens will be participating in the Fall MAOC Orchid Show on October 27-28th in the Kansas City area (the Hilton Garden Inn in Independence, MO, to be exact). We hope to see you at the show, which will feature many popular orchid suppliers, as well as breathtaking exhibits by many midwest societies and vendors. Come join us in KC for world famous BBQ and orchids!
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Phal violacea v. Malaysia
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Liese 's "Growing Tip of the Month" focuses on "Roots": the where, when, why and what to do with them! See her article at the bottom of the newsletter.
We hope that you are enjoying the fall colors, wherever you may be!
From all of us at Oak Hill Gardens! |
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Specials of the Month - discounts on everything!
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Special #1: 15% off on all plants listed on website!
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Epidendrum porpax
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You read it right! For the first time ever we are taking 15% off of all plants listed on the website. Simply place your order and we will take care of the rest. The discount will not be immediately apparent on your acknowledgment. However, rest assured, we will manually make the 15% adjustment before we charge your card. Shipping charges will be based on the original retail price of the plants. See the details on our special page, linked below:
Special #2: Six Low Light Varieties for 25% off
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Cischweinfia sheehanae
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As if 15% weren't enough, on six selected shade-loving varieties we are offering a 25% discount (off of original retail prices.) Check out the "Low Light Special" on the page linked below:
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Growing Tip of the Month - by Liese
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Air Roots
In the jungles and rain forests throughout the world, orchids can be spotted growing on trees, high up in the canopy, with their roots grasping onto the bark and dangling down the trunks, swaying in the tropical breezes. Most orchids are epiphytic (tree dwellers). They sustain themselves with their long, fleshy, thick air roots that suck in moisture from the trees on which they grow, as well as from the moist tropical air.
As we grow these orchids in our home or greenhouse environment, we transition them into a more confined growing container....i.e. pots. We usually grow them in a coarse bark mix so that the air roots continue to get the moisture they require while still being exposed to the air that they love.
However, the growth habit of these orchids, whether growing on a tree or in a pot, remains the same. Air roots will continue to develop, many times growing on the top of the pot and trailing over the edge. Many times air roots even emerge from the leaf axil of the plant and grow straight out, or even up, before growing long enough to hang down.
These air roots should not be trimmed, if possible, but rather left alone to continue their natural growth habit. When lots of these air roots are visible, or when they get long and unruly, the plant can be repotted with the air roots tucked safely inside a new pot. When repotting, exceptionally long air roots can be trimmed to fit inside the pot. Shorter air roots can be wound around the inside of the pot and secured firmly in place by your potting media. If these air roots are trimmed, or become cracked while being potted, the plant will not suffer. The roots will actually branch out and continue to grow. It is always best to wet the roots thoroughly before re-potting.
Some varieties of orchids, such as Vanda and Aerides, produce air roots from their leaf axils as the plant grows taller. When these plants grow tall, and air roots have grown out from several leaf axils up the stem, the plant may be cut off. The top part, including the new air roots, can be potted. The bottom part will eventually branch out with new leaf growth and continue to flourish. This should always be done during the spring and summer, or during the plants active growth cycle.
Air roots are fun to watch growing out from your orchids. They have many different textures and thicknesses and grow
in odd and unique patterns. Healthy, long air roots are also a sign of a healthy, happy orchids. Being a true orchid geek....I love to watch the air roots emerge and take form when I see new root growth in Spring. It is a truly exciting time. Root growth is just one more interesting and intriguing aspect of this fascinating hobby.
Enjoy growing orchids!
Liese
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