GREENHOUSE ETIQUETTE

(By Peg O’Neill)

• There have been times when all of us have been tempted to slap some visitor’s hand or even commit murder.  In view of this, I’d like to suggest a few rules of etiquette for visitors (all of us) in other greenhouses.
• This applies to women - leave all purses and floppy coats or capes outside.  How many times have you had a plant knocked off a bench because a purse or coat?
• It’s a good idea not to handle the plants unless asked by the owner.  All kinds of things can and do happen.
• Don’t fondle the blooms.  The owner often does, he’s privileged; and, of course, judges do to check for substance, texture, size and stance.  They are permitted to do this only in judging shows.  Flowers often can be bruised or broken inadvertently.
• Please do not touch the tags in the pots.  So often tags are not replaced properly, and the identification of the plant is lost.  Also, roots adhere to tags and can be broken as well as the tag itself.
• We know your children and mine are perfect and will not do any damage.  But, most kids are not interested and little fingers do touch.  For the sake of the owner, it is best to leave them outside or at home.
• Food and drink do not belong in the greenhouse.  Spills do occur, and, of course fruit of any kind can give off ethylene gas causing the flowers to wilt or buds to drop.
• Don’t smoke unless you are sure the owner doesn’t mind.  Lots of nonsmokers object to the smoke in the greenhouse and believe that the tobacco mosaic virus can be transmitted by smoke or by handling plants with nicotine on one’s hands.
• Don’t ask for seedlings or plant divisions. It puts owners in a difficult position; they may be uncomfortable saying “No” even though they don’t want to give away any plants. If plants are available they will be offered.

For peace of mind of the owner, try to abide by these rules of etiquette and be a good visitor.

Newcomers February 2009 meeting

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Sherry Radack’s greenhouses this month. Although she’s only been growing orchids for three years, she has many beautiful plants being grown hydroponically.

Sherry was kind enough to share some information about her techniques; here are her comments:

I grow mostly cattleyas. They are grown in Hydroton. I buy them in large bags from a store at 7730A Park Place Boulevard (near Hobby) Houston, Texas 77087, phone 713-641-4769. Previously I used PrimeAgra, a similar media sold by Ray Barkalow. More about him later.

Hydroton is made of clay. They are reusable. The strength for cleaning them after use is recommended to be one part bleach to one part water. I usually don't measure. I just rinse and rinse. I leave it over night. I rinse for a day.

Hydroton advertised that it will not release minerals into your solution. I have never done any tests to see if PH levels are affected.

The main advantage is that they allow the solution to drain freely so roots receive plenty of oxygen. I like this particular pellet because it is not round. If you buy round pellets, they roll all over the floor when you drop them.

Since pellets have no nutrients, I fertilize every time. I fertilize during growing season with Super Bloom and non growing season with 13-13-13. I use 1/4 tsp per gallon calculated for my siphon (which is

2/3 cup fertilizer for a five gallon container).

I also spray every week (since I had scale) with Bayer Multi-Insect Killer, according the bottle's direction.

I try to water once a week, which works well with the container system that I have adopted. This suggestion came from Ray Barkalow, who has a website with a lot of information on his website:

http://www.firstrays.com/

I buy the container from a friend who owns a restaurant. The containers are clear plastic. (I have bought bigger containers, which the store calls plastic ice buckets, from Arne's:

Arne's Warehouse & Party Store

- www.arneswarehouse.com - (713) 869-8321

To fashion the container to hold reservoir of water (to stretch out the water supply from weekend to weekend), I use a soldering gun and punch through two holes about 3/4 inch from the bottom. Then when I water, the solution runs freely through the container across the pellets, out the two holes, except for a little reservoir of water.

Somewhere I read that the roots will grow toward the water. You certainly saw evidence of that.The pellet are alleged to have a wicking action, but I am not sure about that part.

We have a wet wall in both greenhouses, which comes on at 80 degrees.

It works in conjunction with exhaust fans (size calculated by the size of the greenhouse), which turns on about 78 degrees. The exhaust fans then continue to run after the temperature drops below 80 so that the water wall dries out, thus minimizing mildew. We have oscillating fans on the walls, which run during the summer 24/7. The ceiling fans run during winter to bring down the hot air that rises to the top of the green. Also, in the summer time, we have a high rpm fan that hangs from the top of the rafters that blows the hot air through louvered vents (very high in the greenhouse) to the outside. (similar to venting an attic). We bought the supplies as follows: large exhaust fans and water wall came from Quiet Air, Houston, Texas; fans came from Grainger; high rpm fan to blow hot air through louvered vent came from Grainger; ceiling fans from Lowes; thermostats (110 volt) came from Grainger; 48 inch fluorescent fixtures came from Lowes; grow lights for fluorescent fixtures came from an electric supply store.

We bought the 55% shade cloth from BWI in Houston. It has to be suspended above the roof at least a foot above to allow ventilation of air between the cloth and the roof to dissipate heat. The windows are insulated with radiant sunlight barrier. The roof is polycarbonate.

UPCOMING NEWCOMERS MEETINGS

Meeting Time - 2 - 4 PM