tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51896975468141011182024-03-26T23:37:20.387-07:00Epiphytes and EconomicsXerographicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978832439622230018noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5189697546814101118.post-67301626287062616042023-11-13T08:44:00.000-08:002023-11-13T08:44:26.350-08:00diversity and productivity sitting in a tree <div>reply to my thread about <a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=52711.0">florida natural farming</a> (fnf)...</div><div><br /></div><div>****************************</div><div><br /></div>when i was a kid i would religiously read the peanuts comic strip. lucy would often offer to balance a football so that charlie brown could kick it. each time, at the very last second, she would pull it away and he would fall flat on his back. <br />
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fnf has several large inga trees and each time he says that they are going to finally fruit, but every time, at the very last minute, they trick him. it’s a bit entertaining and endearing. <br />
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i don’t think that i’ve ever heard fnf mention that fruit trees near the ingas grow extra fast, which is interesting because check this out…<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBMPC5cZe4pJvHoRLC16FQivIOrQsmCurAiorm3lYBZbL3AWjGVuGSzrMx9tBetJ6o01gO2Z0cWarS9U7HwA6AAIvOCh5ZJDZ-R9sQYWUvEtZ0T9XUXZaSAN2L1-pDpMqUiX3kwcnnb-yBmFtUWUDYjV2yTbeVN9BaM8J1IV3g_lPjkmEEOTxntnA8Ck/s1324/Screenshot%202023-11-03%202.30.36%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="715" data-original-width="1324" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBMPC5cZe4pJvHoRLC16FQivIOrQsmCurAiorm3lYBZbL3AWjGVuGSzrMx9tBetJ6o01gO2Z0cWarS9U7HwA6AAIvOCh5ZJDZ-R9sQYWUvEtZ0T9XUXZaSAN2L1-pDpMqUiX3kwcnnb-yBmFtUWUDYjV2yTbeVN9BaM8J1IV3g_lPjkmEEOTxntnA8Ck/w400-h216/Screenshot%202023-11-03%202.30.36%20PM.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br />the cacao on the left isn’t growing anywhere near any ingas, while the cacao on the right is growing in an inga alley. fake news? the slide is from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH7Ht9_OJaw">this video on inga alley cropping</a>, which i only recently learned about thanks to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycorrhiza">the wikipedia article on mycorrhiza</a>. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inga_alley_cropping">here’s the wikipedia article on inga alley cropping</a>.</div><div><div>
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naturally i was quite curious if it has ever been discussed here on tff, and it has been, albeit briefly…<a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=25702.0">about the inga genus</a>. in that 2017 thread there were only 4 participants, one of which was pineislander. he was there. where were we? not there. <br />
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one time, nearly a decade ago, at an orchid show i started talking with a random guy. he mentioned something about the orchidboard, and i told him that i was on there as well. i asked him what his username was. when he said what it was, i realized that he was the guy on there who told me to go f myself because he thought <a href="https://www.orchidboard.com/community/advanced-discussion/81676-protect-ghost-orchid.html">my views on orchid conservation</a> were heretical. <br />
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flauro01, hint matthew 5:38? nope, i didn't turn my other cheek, i quickly lost all interest in talking with the guy and exited stage left. if i had been a little forgiving then i'm sure that i would have learned some useful stuff from him. <br />
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i only made 1 comment on fnf's videos, and he deleted it. in his video he said something about being overwhelmed trying to do everything on his own, so i commented that i’ve met a lot of young and enthusiastic plant people via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/VillageGreenThumbs">my local facebook plant group</a> who have been more than willing to lend a hand in my garden. my comment wasn't even vaguely negative or critical, so the fact he deleted it was very off-putting. fortunately, in this case, being so much older and wiser (hah) i just barely managed to turn the cheek and i continued to watch his videos, and i’ve learned useful stuff from them.<br />
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sure, it would greatly help fnf's cause if he was more like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hwKZfbE-No">fff planting garcinias together with an enthusiastic young person</a>, but that's just not who he is. just like most of us don't regularly video document our garden efforts, endeavors and experiments. we all have room for improvement. <br />
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in my book, fnf's shortcomings are eclipsed by his crazy cool achievement of growing such a wide variety of crazy cool plants without any irrigation. so it's awesome to see him back on this forum again. if we can all try to turn the cheek, then there's lots of useful stuff that we can learn from each other, such as whether ingas actually do help nearby fruit trees grow faster, via mycorrhizae. <br />
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in the wikipedia entry on mycorrhizae there’s a section on orchids. orchids are unique in that their seeds do not contain the energy that they need to germinate (<a href="https://epiecon.blogspot.com/2017/04/growing-orchids-from-seed-is-easy.html">exceptions to the rule</a>). on the one hand, this allows the incredibly small seeds to travel considerable distances on the wind, but on the other hand, the only way that they can germinate is if they get lucky enough to land on a spot where they will be penetrated by a suitable mycorrhizae. the orchid seed will take the energy it needs to germinate from the fungus, but it doesn't kill it. the fungus takes up residence in the roots of the seedling. if the orchid seedling is growing on a tree (epiphyte!), then as its roots grow longer and more numerous, this will help the fungus colonize the tree and more of its spores will spread to other trees, which will help to germinate the orchid's seeds. <br />
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here's my 2014 attempt to illustrate orchid roots facilitating fungi colonization of its tree...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/7432/11726199533_5c6126a5dd_h.jpg"><img alt="https://live.staticflickr.com/7432/11726199533_5c6126a5dd_h.jpg" border="0" height="300" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7432/11726199533_5c6126a5dd_h.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />in 2011 i sowed a bunch of different orchid seeds on my deodar cedar tree here in the los angeles area that has orchids and other epiphytes growing on it. i was hoping that some of their roots contained the helpful fungus and it had spread all over the tree, but i wasn’t holding my breath. so it was a very surreal surprise, to say the least, when i noticed several tiny green boogers (aka protocorms) magically appear on the sunny side of the tree on completely barren bark...<br />
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/6193/6104404673_f85c4a93a6_h.jpg"><img alt="https://live.staticflickr.com/6193/6104404673_f85c4a93a6_h.jpg" border="0" height="268" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/6193/6104404673_f85c4a93a6_h.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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i immediately started to inspect every inch of the tree and found several dozen protocorms. what was rather fascinating, is that all of the protocorms were located within 1/2" of the roots of the mature orchids on the tree. evidently, in my dry conditions, that was as far as the helpful fungus could travel from its moist home inside the succulent orchid roots. <br />
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it turned out that all the orchid seeds that germinated on my tree were from laelia anceps, an orchid native to mexico. another fascinating thing is that the orchid roots in the above picture were from a dendrobium speciosum, which is a distantly related orchid native to australia. the two orchids are so distantly related that they can't be crossed. i also found laelia anceps protocorms growing right next to roots of vanda tricolor, a distantly related orchid native to indonesia. these two orchids are even more distantly related, given that their forms are completely different (sympodial vs monopodial). <br />
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where was the fungi from? was it just 1 variety? in any case, it’s important to appreciate that the fungi facilitated an exchange of resources between very distantly related orchid species. <br />
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<a href="https://epiecon.blogspot.com/2018/06/update-on-orchid-seeds-that-germinated.html">it took nearly a decade for the 1st laelia anceps seedling to bloom</a>. <br />
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a couple years ago i removed a division from the 2nd laelia anceps seedling to bloom on my tree and i sent it to my online friend keith in tampa so that he could attach it to his tree in order to try to innoculate it with the beneficial fungi in the orchid’s roots. he actually recently upgraded to a real life friend when i met him in person. a couple months ago i visited florida for the 1st time and he was nice enough to give my friend and i a garden tour. keith is so cool. he's young but already so knowledgeable. he's trying to select coconuts for cold tolerance. and he has a big vanilla (pompona?) vine growing on his tree…<span><a name='more'></a></span><br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUl2cqC0LwkaAsmNgwQDhXiImerUU3CeV0R08jz7ECVcKAxgaNML_kMCRAI8S_pk3MYB_GOw1L5sLAaiEpq-1MFF1SGzomNkDUt9a7HH1peUgxL510e9HxLwV9Ts_9vVPLODrsXRzFQ0jEj4GhyHGwrZ8971ctWWXZ4hpIiAt0MS56ytk472Rj44N6zU/s911/20230917_115509.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="683" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUl2cqC0LwkaAsmNgwQDhXiImerUU3CeV0R08jz7ECVcKAxgaNML_kMCRAI8S_pk3MYB_GOw1L5sLAaiEpq-1MFF1SGzomNkDUt9a7HH1peUgxL510e9HxLwV9Ts_9vVPLODrsXRzFQ0jEj4GhyHGwrZ8971ctWWXZ4hpIiAt0MS56ytk472Rj44N6zU/s16000/20230917_115509.jpg" /></a></div>
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the vine flowered and he successfully pollinated it. unfortunately he forgot to save some seeds for us to test if they are also an exception to the rule of no stored energy, but i managed to turn the other cheek, hah.<br />
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i don't think that fnf has any vanillas or coconut palms? keith only has 1 garcinia. if only there was a super fungi that could facilitate the exchange of resources between them.<br />
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does this forum function as a super fungi? well, honestly, the <a href="https://www.ourfigs.com/">ourfigs forum</a> software is far more super at facilitating communication. when i visit that website, in the upper right corner i can see a red notification number indicating how many…<br />
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1. of my subscribed threads (<a href="https://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-home/1433044-root-knot-nematode-grafting-experiment-success">example</a>) have been replied to since my last visit<br />
2. times i've been quoted<br />
3. times i've been tagged (ie @epiphyte) <br />
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when i click on the red number it takes me to a page with a list of links to the relevant content. it's an incredibly useful feature because it greatly facilitates communication. <br />
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here, on the other hand, if i mention k-rimes, will he notice it buried underneath this avalanche of text and pics? <br />
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flauro01 doesn't think it's useful to donate to this forum, hint john 3:16. imagine the democratic version... god loved the world so much that he voted for it. in this case, nobody would be a christian. nobody would have any conclusive evidence of god's love for humanity. <br />
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imagine being at a huge botanical garden. after hours of walking around trying to look at every plant, you sit on a bench, which has a plaque, "in loving memory of elmer lorenz". you're sitting on tangible evidence of someone's love for elmer lorenz. <br />
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let’s say that you donate $5 to this forum in loving memory of fnf. ok, he's still alive. even better. your personal sacrifice helps to pay for an upgrade of this forum's software, so not only would the red notification greatly facilitate communication, but it would also be tangible evidence of your love for fnf. <br />
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if we don't know what's truly important to each other, then resources won't be distributed accordingly. <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110821210224.htm">this is equally true for plants and fungi</a>. for a lot more info, presented in an accessible manner, check out this youtube video… <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jj30rNzyOM">A Peek Into the Wood-Wide Web: How Plants and Fungi Communicate Underground</a>. <br />
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k-rimes is correct that we can't completely dry farm here in desert southern california, unless we only want to grow things like catalina cherries and figs. but the fascinating question is, how much less would we have to water our eugenias and garcinias if we stood on fnf's shoulders? roblack already alluded to this. <br />
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i recently dug up a big jacaranda tree that had been in a pot. it had thoroughly rooted itself to the ground, which was a problem because it was pressing against a wood fence. right next to the jacaranda was a plain green ti-plant (cordyline fruticosa) which, surprisingly, turned out to have big succulent storage organs. here's perhaps a quarter of it next to the jacaranda roots...<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKM9TwJbr-Rq9A_ZoWMXMaEItrsO665WDXDKmu40mht1Uc5oN09x8bTVtawlRTBz0UUSvUXQ1ZO9RuelJeM2xkN9y8dt4dBPri3GDFDtMsYCcFBlRU6Xud90ao5OYow6JZqLQckr3Ov9AYVy1ZLS0VIZWXSkQKbS6RPJLgpT2AdULF5poMwdDbz5roOw/s911/20231029_150953.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKM9TwJbr-Rq9A_ZoWMXMaEItrsO665WDXDKmu40mht1Uc5oN09x8bTVtawlRTBz0UUSvUXQ1ZO9RuelJeM2xkN9y8dt4dBPri3GDFDtMsYCcFBlRU6Xud90ao5OYow6JZqLQckr3Ov9AYVy1ZLS0VIZWXSkQKbS6RPJLgpT2AdULF5poMwdDbz5roOw/w480-h640/20231029_150953.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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wikipedia calls it a "rhizome" but it seems more like a tuber (it’s edible?). for the sake of comparison, here are my two spondias tuberosa seedlings that i bought from <a href="https://www.bellamytrees.com/plants">bellamy trees</a> in august...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68Yc9LHFjzUiaygWgxCXgSwuyt2jZRailijvF4ksNLbesaiq8UkHipwjBaSjmXHrsYdFHH6VPwf1Kau7F2SayMzBHRgwlGAAcxDf309qdWPB9rvLNJZKGy4ArBfJBa8-HzFP26rN4b_xp-dZBDlcIf0rIv7DVYwpVn6MeuVh9IURLzDl2BSPm_hCFRbI/s911/20231015_134438.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68Yc9LHFjzUiaygWgxCXgSwuyt2jZRailijvF4ksNLbesaiq8UkHipwjBaSjmXHrsYdFHH6VPwf1Kau7F2SayMzBHRgwlGAAcxDf309qdWPB9rvLNJZKGy4ArBfJBa8-HzFP26rN4b_xp-dZBDlcIf0rIv7DVYwpVn6MeuVh9IURLzDl2BSPm_hCFRbI/w480-h640/20231015_134438.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />despite the presence of a white irrigation pipe, the jacaranda and cordyline were in an area that i never watered, but the jacaranda roots definitely reached distant areas that i did water, albeit irregularly. so did fungi facilitate an exchange of resources between the jacaranda and cordyline? when the jacaranda did have access to a lot of water, it should have traded some water, sugars and lipids to fungi for nitrogen, phosphorus and other minerals. then the fungi would have traded water and the rest to the cordyline for sugars and lipids. when the jacaranda did not have access to a lot of water, then it should have "bought" some from the fungi, which would have bought it from the cordyline.</div><div>
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a couple days after digging up the jacaranda and cordyline, i dug up a volunteer camphor tree that was also pressing against the same wood fence. it was a couple feet away from a tangerine tree. in between the two trees was an ornamental shrub from africa, rotheca myricoides, that i had planted as a cutting before the camphor volunteered. i spent some time removing dirt from around the roots of all 3...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkx0C3Lmt-aSMujLKlN3431X5WDYiQQ3mp_u9EXGP7wLmfyv8ItV-EsB3agiftYiEE4EUnvQ4FweSne7V1SeXmhM7wr5usx6kIi-8s9-MMi8MjyY7WtNs5t8o3p445Cx96mSUfrNkKhYnlwOk5LyKh4Paqn5gtNNRrxitOqgglj1ZWGqId10NI_nc9tTg/s1282/20231031_170803.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1282" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkx0C3Lmt-aSMujLKlN3431X5WDYiQQ3mp_u9EXGP7wLmfyv8ItV-EsB3agiftYiEE4EUnvQ4FweSne7V1SeXmhM7wr5usx6kIi-8s9-MMi8MjyY7WtNs5t8o3p445Cx96mSUfrNkKhYnlwOk5LyKh4Paqn5gtNNRrxitOqgglj1ZWGqId10NI_nc9tTg/w640-h454/20231031_170803.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />is it a coincidence that the rotheca was growing directly on one of the camphor's main roots, and one of rotheca's main roots was tightly wrapped around the camphor's tap root? it might not be obvious from the pic but the rotheca's roots are quite succulent. it's more obvious in this pic of the mother plant from 2 years ago...<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2ZLlBC1UDK3Ufbu6oOpdndk9gPA17sB5E0zsQvtEERLp-67z57DHvaRBp2IPvTZcRU4tbU91ELCfr8A6_MKUSOalxLDjV8ca37lalOT6H9BcC4iiIbymOoKW5D6-dD1FOjpMt29wMlYQnwSK9ikwCEgyub98PX_Pbac-3w85rJcTyZffVDEJj2IbHoE/s911/20210302_172823%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2ZLlBC1UDK3Ufbu6oOpdndk9gPA17sB5E0zsQvtEERLp-67z57DHvaRBp2IPvTZcRU4tbU91ELCfr8A6_MKUSOalxLDjV8ca37lalOT6H9BcC4iiIbymOoKW5D6-dD1FOjpMt29wMlYQnwSK9ikwCEgyub98PX_Pbac-3w85rJcTyZffVDEJj2IbHoE/w480-h640/20210302_172823%20(1).jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />it had been growing in a big pot right next to the house. an elm tree volunteered in the same pot and i kept kicking the can down the road (my superpower). the result was the most intimate and loving embrace possible between a tree and a shrub. <br />
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the elm and the camphor were by far the fastest growing volunteer trees in my garden, and they were both right next to a rotheca, coincidence? the volunteer trees were good at collecting water, when it was available, and producing energy, while the rotheca was good at storing water.<br /><blockquote>
The truth of the principle, that the greatest amount of life can be supported by great diversification of structure, is seen under many natural circumstances. In an extremely small area, especially if freely open to immigration, and where the contest between individual and individual must be severe, we always find great diversity in its inhabitants. For instance, I found that a piece of turf, three feet by four in size, which had been exposed for many years to exactly the same conditions, supported twenty species of plants, and these belonged to eighteen genera and to eight orders, which shows how much these plants differed from each other. So it is with the plants and insects on small and uniform islets; and so in small ponds of fresh water. Farmers find that they can raise most food by a rotation of plants belonging to the most different orders: nature follows what may be called a simultaneous rotation. Most of the animals and plants which live close round any small piece of ground, could live on it (supposing it not to be in any way peculiar in its nature), and may be said to be striving to the utmost to live there; but, it is seen, that where they come into the closest competition with each other, the advantages of diversification of structure, with the accompanying differences of habit and constitution, determine that the inhabitants, which thus jostle each other most closely, shall, as a general rule, belong to what we call different genera and orders. - Charles Darwin, <a href="http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/origin/chapter4.html">The Origin of Species</a> </blockquote><blockquote>
Cadotte's experiment showed for the first time that species with the greatest evolutionary distance from one another have the greatest productivity gains. "If you have two species that can access different resources or do things in different ways, then having those two species together can enhance species function. What I've done is account for those differences by accounting for their evolutionary history," Cadotte says.<br />
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[...] Distantly related plants are more likely to require different resources and to fill different environmental niches -- one might need more nitrogen, the other more phosphorus; one might have shallow roots, the other deep roots. So rather than competing with one another they complement one another. - <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130513152830.htm">Productivity Increases With Species Diversity, Just as Darwin Predicted </a></blockquote>
<blockquote>Among men, on the contrary, the most dissimilar geniuses are of use to one another; the different produces of their respective talents, by the general disposition to truck, barter, and exchange, being brought, as it were, into a common stock, where every man may purchase whatever part of the produce of other men's talents he has occasion for. - Adam Smith, Wealth of Nations</blockquote>
<blockquote>It is hardly possible to overrate the value, in the present low state of human improvement, of placing human beings in contact with persons dissimilar to themselves, and with modes of thought and action unlike those with which they are familiar. Commerce is now what war once was, the principal source of this contact. Commercial adventurers from more advanced countries have generally been the first civilizers of barbarians. And commerce is the purpose of the far greater part of the communication which takes place between civilized nations. Such communication has always been, and is peculiarly in the present age, one of the primary sources of progress. To human beings, who, as hitherto educated, can scarcely cultivate even a good quality without running it into a fault, it is indispensable to be perpetually comparing their own notions and customs with the experience and example of persons in different circumstances from themselves: and there is no nation which does not need to borrow from others, not merely particular arts or practices, but essential points of character in which its own type is inferior. Finally, commerce first taught nations to see with good will the wealth and prosperity of one another. Before, the patriot, unless sufficiently advanced in culture to feel the world his country, wished all countries weak, poor, and ill-governed, but his own: he now sees in their wealth and progress a direct source of wealth and progress to his own country. It is commerce which is rapidly rendering war obsolete, by strengthening and multiplying the personal interests which are in natural opposition to it. And it may be said without exaggeration that the great extent and rapid increase of international trade, in being the principal guarantee of the peace of the world, is the great permanent security for the uninterrupted progress of the ideas, the institutions, and the character of the human race. — J.S. Mill, Considerations on Representative Government</blockquote>darwin and smith both noticed the connection between diversity and productivity. smith knew that for people this was because of trade, but neither of them knew that the same was true of plants of fungi. the current division of labor between economics and biology is… questionable. <br />
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an elm tree and camphor tree are definitely dissimilar to a rotheca shrub, just like a jacaranda and cordyline are definitely dissimilar. they can benefit from each other's considerable differences, thanks to fungi facilitating trade between them, at least in theory. <br />
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fnf has numerous variegated cassava / tapioca plants (manihot esculenta) growing in his garden. these also have large tuberous roots. the closest fruit tree seedlings should grow faster, at least in theory. just like the fruit tree seedlings near the ingas should grow faster, at least in theory.<br />
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the theory is sound, but correlation doesn't mean causation. of course it would be nice to have more data. <br />
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anyone ever heard of the miyawaki method? it's basically a way to quickly grow forests. one of its main tenets is to densely plant the seedlings. they say that the competition for light results in 10x faster growth. the thing is, reaching light depends on resources, and resources are more better distributed by underground markets that are densely packed, given that plants and fungi aren't as good at long distance trade as we are. my jacaranda and cordyline were practically growing on top of each other, same with the camphor and rotheca, and the elm and the rotheca. <br />
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the main problem with the miyawaki method is that another of its main tenets is to only plant natives. this is completely counterproductive given that there’s far less difference in plants within a country than there is between countries. less difference means less productivity. <br />
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for most of us in california, garcinias are painfully slow. if we only grew achachas next to <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1scmiPRvpwz0cYNXyVCDv4B_zRPD15tIxMsON4rhR2Lc/edit?usp=sharing">the most suitable plants native to bolivia</a>, then the achachas wouldn’t grow nearly as fast as they would if we planted them next to the most suitable plants in the entire world, in theory at least. needless to say that the entire world is far more diverse than even the most diverse country. <br />
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it will be interesting to see whether plants that store moisture below ground will be more suitable trading partners for garcinias than plants that store moisture above ground. the vanilla growing on keith’s tree doesn’t have any sort of tubers, but the leaves, stem and roots are relatively succulent. a big vanilla plant can certainly store quite a bit of water. <br />
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since 2020 i’ve been growing vanilla chamissonis (brazil) outside in a pot. earlier in the year i attached it to the base of an evergreen pear tree, pyrus calleryana. here’s a recent pic…<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUltp9WwjWgpwnNH66ZrOTqrYooqabRO98E8-fgcR1UgCLZxukMXsSl5X3p9o5H9WWWJ1fXUcASbX5jQUb9aAUvEEYxLK_XM5clplexVcastg3Zq_Ey4X-_qP_xgBtGn7RpesJElan0eb5UukOiQ2NVSm8lgCV2ERy02DrjkPWk147uQRmbHdtWfX81FI/s911/20231012_174919.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUltp9WwjWgpwnNH66ZrOTqrYooqabRO98E8-fgcR1UgCLZxukMXsSl5X3p9o5H9WWWJ1fXUcASbX5jQUb9aAUvEEYxLK_XM5clplexVcastg3Zq_Ey4X-_qP_xgBtGn7RpesJElan0eb5UukOiQ2NVSm8lgCV2ERy02DrjkPWk147uQRmbHdtWfX81FI/w480-h640/20231012_174919.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />the vine on the left, which is currently around 3' long, is new. <br />
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i also have a variegated monstera deliciosa (thai constellation) growing on a noid ficus tree…<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZz8rheB8kmmsPiD3ElpdBaVOuVnCLoNFF7Y-0_cQnNx03kJWenr34iWnW5v5oiyvcWymAaVZU4Ax1MAn-zak2nUeZuuM4t45tuThqPthSrYbMav9JGFUab1MlyOHnnoRLawCvZ_nagMtLDLVMS3bfI1yRV2PlZkDDy4lPm8J4AKNprfPXF64cGA5nIpU/s911/20231013_204214.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZz8rheB8kmmsPiD3ElpdBaVOuVnCLoNFF7Y-0_cQnNx03kJWenr34iWnW5v5oiyvcWymAaVZU4Ax1MAn-zak2nUeZuuM4t45tuThqPthSrYbMav9JGFUab1MlyOHnnoRLawCvZ_nagMtLDLVMS3bfI1yRV2PlZkDDy4lPm8J4AKNprfPXF64cGA5nIpU/w480-h640/20231013_204214.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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the monstera roots are relatively thick, long, succulent and numerous. <br />
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if a monstera, vanilla and dragon fruit were all growing on the same tree, then they’d all be a lot happier together than they would be growing separately? denser diversity means a better market, which means a better distribution of resources, which results in greater productivity. <br />
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for a while now i’ve been collecting aroids so i really love that fnf is growing a bunch of rare ones up his trees. sadly he’s the exception rather than the rule among rare fruit growers in suitable climates. seems like satya is also exceptional, i’d sure love to see some aroids in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/oshogardenflorida">his videos on youtube</a>.<br />
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hemiepiphytes are wonderful, but they aren’t nearly as wonderful as epiphytes. i brought some of my favorites to florida. in the hotel room i made 8 bundles (<a href="https://epiecon.blogspot.com/2021/04/the-epiphytic-bundling-method.html">epiphyte bundling method</a>) by attaching the epiphytes to a dense pad of sphagnum moss using fishing line…<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3hGhsGi1esMqu2fyEItwtnhAtQ-TZBpcFrStDPzot9jSpNzXw144AU-axRKwwp2TD_cyJOMcQoVcV3dvOtfu9V39woy0eD31SvGoqdWb_G8PrUpFGYZUAhjyQ7onUR5DhYkhXekfy2qr_sb_Zb6eFwfejHss56rOd4ZcupNMd2Gse0WUgZ46GPr4o-o/s1215/20230916_022447.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1215" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3hGhsGi1esMqu2fyEItwtnhAtQ-TZBpcFrStDPzot9jSpNzXw144AU-axRKwwp2TD_cyJOMcQoVcV3dvOtfu9V39woy0eD31SvGoqdWb_G8PrUpFGYZUAhjyQ7onUR5DhYkhXekfy2qr_sb_Zb6eFwfejHss56rOd4ZcupNMd2Gse0WUgZ46GPr4o-o/w640-h480/20230916_022447.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />here’s the list of plants that i included in the bundles…<br />
<br />
anthurium lanceolatum<br />
anthurium scandens <br />
anthurium scandens xerophytic form<br />
columnea joel* <br />
columnea orange sherbet*<br />
columnea erik hybrid*<br />
columnea schiedeana x joel?* (seeds i sowed on the mounts)<br />
echeveria rosea x coccinea* <br />
epithechea orange blaze* - (psh. mariae x epi. radicans) x epi. cinnabarinum<br />
kohleria inaequalis* <br />
microgramma nitida<br />
microgramma vacciniifolia<br />
kalanchoe orangery* <br />
kalanchoe uniflora*<br />
kalanchoe wilma*<br />
rhodospatha red hybrid<br />
sinningia piresiana x leucotricha?* (seeds i sowed on the mount)<br />
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*pollinated by hummingbirds <br />
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i gave the bundles to keith so that he could attach them to his trees. his main tree was already more diverse than most of his neighbor's entire gardens. unlike here in california, the epiphytes on keith's tree have the potential to colonize his neighbor's trees and so on. i should have included some live green moss on the bundles…<br />
<blockquote>Preliminary experiments indicate that the ability of the bark to absorb and retain moisture is multiplied several times by the fungus. The added absorbing and retaining capacity enables bryophytes to become established. Other experiments have shown that epiphytic liverworts, mosses, and ferns increase the power of the bark to absorb and retain water still further. - William T. Penfound and Faith Pennebaker Mackaness, A Note concerning the Relation between Drainage Pattern, Bark Conditions and the Distribution of Corticolous Bryophytes</blockquote>here's a pic i took after partially unpacking the brazilian guava seedlings that i recently received from giant gecko...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBcmsp2X9utVFDR8u4D2E5sKnr5Pe4BqAvRQ_ID0q6PM0YvRm90nUeX1ZHXEFx2ftY5iaGIgVJ-9N34HgUYx0VhXy_7TOrxGY-VGO7rQvChY79_s5p86GDkeb0TBXl5AKEVPBwjj79xgtuohVymM4mWq8LHSJWlwyQJuD_oUIfdyWUNFE6VNvlrUk1Bk/s1343/20231025_193732.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1343" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBcmsp2X9utVFDR8u4D2E5sKnr5Pe4BqAvRQ_ID0q6PM0YvRm90nUeX1ZHXEFx2ftY5iaGIgVJ-9N34HgUYx0VhXy_7TOrxGY-VGO7rQvChY79_s5p86GDkeb0TBXl5AKEVPBwjj79xgtuohVymM4mWq8LHSJWlwyQJuD_oUIfdyWUNFE6VNvlrUk1Bk/w640-h434/20231025_193732.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />the seedlings didn't come from brazil, he sowed the seeds himself and in media which might have been sterile. so no fungi? well, sadly it's too small to see, but i did notice that there was some live green moss starting to grow in a few of the pots. if moss colonized the pots then chances are good that some fungi also colonized the pots. but what were the chances that there was a variety of fungi that i didn't already have? the chances were pretty good since, according to wikipedia, there might be around 3 million different species of fungi. for many years now i've been collecting and spreading moss around my garden in order to try and maximize fungal diversity. <br />
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here’s some moss growing on the succulent roots of a cattleya orchid growing on my cedar tree…<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTBo9x2k2gykFgfxwrCnpv02VPYPwPCH6w4Mg_fXatr0QMMg3bC-AJoTeUPj3HwyzcxdvAMRtoFLfa2Sws_h4pibJdsEb3oCW3NXOBlHyp8GhiCUahw_-1kgAFQE4fAFwinvPTaC42IbFyVTKX_t7EHAx75K421-RHGuxfaYlZcJ6C2GEo96C0kK8cB4/s617/20170914_105458.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="617" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTBo9x2k2gykFgfxwrCnpv02VPYPwPCH6w4Mg_fXatr0QMMg3bC-AJoTeUPj3HwyzcxdvAMRtoFLfa2Sws_h4pibJdsEb3oCW3NXOBlHyp8GhiCUahw_-1kgAFQE4fAFwinvPTaC42IbFyVTKX_t7EHAx75K421-RHGuxfaYlZcJ6C2GEo96C0kK8cB4/w640-h376/20170914_105458.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>also on the cedar tree, there’s a relatively succulent fern, lemmaphyllum microphyllum, from japan growing on a big bunch of sphagnum moss, with live moss struggling to colonize the hard bark…<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MLjXRClaJLeU5vstdyDjomOEFpHdok2O-O4giQte_PGco1O4EZxoJ_FVHEZGaXP27Xep1DNiIVlfIp3VlV3x7yXQYhLoyepDetjfgkpQol3VG8rA67brzPmrE50nUk9DMoaUf9RK2o6nzS6bHQ0CFgxqqST1trLZhz74uZBNC1c7zo9BUJIDUdaxweI/s1002/20180725_185036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="1002" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MLjXRClaJLeU5vstdyDjomOEFpHdok2O-O4giQte_PGco1O4EZxoJ_FVHEZGaXP27Xep1DNiIVlfIp3VlV3x7yXQYhLoyepDetjfgkpQol3VG8rA67brzPmrE50nUk9DMoaUf9RK2o6nzS6bHQ0CFgxqqST1trLZhz74uZBNC1c7zo9BUJIDUdaxweI/w640-h448/20180725_185036.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />earlier in the year i received 2 luc's garcinia seedlings from abimael777 in puerto rico...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnYdFXsnj3V2U2_Lyy9jPRm0mJpsVl4EqZQqChB2LJooWNhzZ38ve0vZRTqe1lXuWqY7I9QifYSI501TG8YhYXT1Vvw-IyUwkFfHDaocitsv-rRQ1vayVCgskrUOTkn-j18C07g2C7mgW34H9FniAMKY3r7y3SjwGg22mGNVLaR7lFctHybwz1uJNDTs/s911/20230311_235515.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="836" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnYdFXsnj3V2U2_Lyy9jPRm0mJpsVl4EqZQqChB2LJooWNhzZ38ve0vZRTqe1lXuWqY7I9QifYSI501TG8YhYXT1Vvw-IyUwkFfHDaocitsv-rRQ1vayVCgskrUOTkn-j18C07g2C7mgW34H9FniAMKY3r7y3SjwGg22mGNVLaR7lFctHybwz1uJNDTs/w588-h640/20230311_235515.jpg" width="588" /></a></div><br />there wasn't any moss on the medium, but given that the seedlings were relatively large and from puerto rico i was pretty sure that there was some fungi. so i took all the medium that fell off the garcinia roots and thoroughly mixed it into a big batch of medium to use for other fruit trees. <br />
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fnf definitely doesn't do this... because microplastics... he throws away all the medium that comes with the plants he buys. personally i'm pretty sure that he’s throwing the baby out with the bath water, but i could be wrong. the durian that he recently bought from larafarms most likely had fungi within its roots, and i'm guessing that even a thorough washing of the roots wouldn't remove the fungi, but what are the chances that it would be happy in the exact spot where the durian was planted? <br />
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a year ago i visited costa rica for the 1st time. i stayed at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/paraiso_volcano_lodge/">paraiso volcano lodge</a> which is at the base of miravalles volcano in guanacaste province. for most of the drive from the airport to the lodge, the habitat was dry forest, so the trees were mostly naked, then i started seeing more and more tillandsias on them. next, on the living fences, i spotted more and more orchids and then more and more ferns growing on them. by the time we arrived at the lodge the living fences were covered in an amazing variety of epiphytes…<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEght5ovFbDiBy3Je08CTp00CYDHNVb1AO0Dkse_lywiqkhhka0UaeCq4wschiE2bzVXFBw94-8VlUe49Lb8dG5QODPLTInfDjGs5BuQ8vHfawzxrPM5re2u1dl2KbF2F19HIf8wGbjAm-nYOkS9T1tAHjytV9qiNq4P3Noe81t2ZgOm-jvRbJ6xjzkbtQE/s924/20221117_071921.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="693" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEght5ovFbDiBy3Je08CTp00CYDHNVb1AO0Dkse_lywiqkhhka0UaeCq4wschiE2bzVXFBw94-8VlUe49Lb8dG5QODPLTInfDjGs5BuQ8vHfawzxrPM5re2u1dl2KbF2F19HIf8wGbjAm-nYOkS9T1tAHjytV9qiNq4P3Noe81t2ZgOm-jvRbJ6xjzkbtQE/w480-h640/20221117_071921.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />moss, miniature fern (microgramma) and miniature orchid (pleurothallis). it was definitely a rain forest.<br /><blockquote>
Within a forest, total bark surface greatly exceeds that of ground area and can be more densely packed with plants. Rooting media in canopies are also diverse, although whether more or less so than soil is unclear. In effect, tree crowns may be especially permissive habitats that foster dense species packing for vascular and nonvascular plants alike. - David Benzing, Vascular Epiphytes</blockquote>fnf grows an impressive variety of plants on the ground without any irrigation, but there’s at least twice as many species he could grow on his trees without any irrigation. any given tropical dry forest (tdf) only has a few species of epiphytes, but since there are so many tdfs all over the world, there’s a huge number of epiphytes capable of tolerating relatively dry conditions. <br />
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in theory, dense epiphyte bundles of diverse species should facilitate the exchange, via fungi, of water, nutrients and other resources, which should result in greater productivity. i’m sure in florida, especially with the help of hemiepiphytes, epiphytes can also exchange resources with the trees that they are growing on.</div><div><br /></div><div>each epiphyte species supports a wide range of organisms. for example, here in socal i have a 7’ inga in the ground that i’ve attached several epiphytes to, including a few bromeliads…<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQoXzjFS7VyfxeVVCZOFn5ho2dA1vENMvf1OZCnRVQTkfTuPgOuPElMGCkoxfEutppjUbSGkuIIha-VqNL2tx5iMuGnjXbp77RSVE3756gR9feTzu-Mu_hs8F9y1Klda0J9Lr1jq-EVKjAW3VD1d7YkYyRfPhpmnIyH7MbOR04vquJ8jmPgtbIBzIHmA/s1232/20231009_001018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1232" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQoXzjFS7VyfxeVVCZOFn5ho2dA1vENMvf1OZCnRVQTkfTuPgOuPElMGCkoxfEutppjUbSGkuIIha-VqNL2tx5iMuGnjXbp77RSVE3756gR9feTzu-Mu_hs8F9y1Klda0J9Lr1jq-EVKjAW3VD1d7YkYyRfPhpmnIyH7MbOR04vquJ8jmPgtbIBzIHmA/w640-h480/20231009_001018.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />if you look closely you can see a native tree frog. it’s easier to see the frog next to this brom…<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSS6jtUfQV0qCnTPOXRFhMPbppf2IStKly_NxFI_MbACs6CUIbf7UIVVLW2ODBTEJSGrCok4hKx7n7VuUAH8XGoN1koIvIRvHOFMB8vUVUI-7FRXzdDJqHqHrBq_fcsQKcBg7d0wFqy2XgvmkeZSxgyXZvICrXx_ipr6S_9T2cbno3oMPaAtxpUNt2Bk/s911/20230813_011114.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSS6jtUfQV0qCnTPOXRFhMPbppf2IStKly_NxFI_MbACs6CUIbf7UIVVLW2ODBTEJSGrCok4hKx7n7VuUAH8XGoN1koIvIRvHOFMB8vUVUI-7FRXzdDJqHqHrBq_fcsQKcBg7d0wFqy2XgvmkeZSxgyXZvICrXx_ipr6S_9T2cbno3oMPaAtxpUNt2Bk/w480-h640/20230813_011114.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />even though these frogs are native to socal they are naturally drawn to the water that is held in the center of the broms. <br />
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one frog was drawn to some hoya australis (an epiphyte) flowers in order to feed on the pollinators attracted by the flower’s strong nocturnal fragrance. unfortunately for the frog, a praying mantis had the same idea…<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGekWplMNVf11vYabaL55WTpLVbXEhVlij9UIZ5x_7rf1Wqr0nnEekI4mvesrgf-tjxv8nskGJE6UYbmhMk7jNShM5zJF1nc3ua5br5kuihVAgwNX_L361v5MzCZj6eAcODdQESaGNnRV3WlmbXKvM2rDpV4rg80lv1Q9zDLRnyLbsTFD3trZzDtlbpE/s911/20231019_231858.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGekWplMNVf11vYabaL55WTpLVbXEhVlij9UIZ5x_7rf1Wqr0nnEekI4mvesrgf-tjxv8nskGJE6UYbmhMk7jNShM5zJF1nc3ua5br5kuihVAgwNX_L361v5MzCZj6eAcODdQESaGNnRV3WlmbXKvM2rDpV4rg80lv1Q9zDLRnyLbsTFD3trZzDtlbpE/w480-h640/20231019_231858.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />more life, and death, and nutrient cycling, and growth happens when trees have more epiphytes. fnf has a bunch of broms, which is cool, but they are all on the ground, so it’s only 2 dimensional diversity instead of 3 dimensional diversity. <br />
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in one video fnf remarked that the brom flowers are often visited by hummingbirds. here’s a pic i took of a hummingbird visiting one of my tillandsia aeranthos in bloom…<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-fJCnlfvEL_lS57r9BpOjPE4yhx3sGbxuKjpt0qBVBIQ7pEqqyLSS5zokFzuf4bf5uThoQN_jt9a-zNPGc3CEBTYJUJ7O1Tk91xvC26kW3GadsbaoM8UNsa0-9c185AY_0NRGXj9jeRL8VGce4djLbg0t6lDRES8PoAqbwztqJ2XnU_TJcGvnXSzo4Y/s1380/09-05-05%20Orchid%20Photos%20017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1380" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-fJCnlfvEL_lS57r9BpOjPE4yhx3sGbxuKjpt0qBVBIQ7pEqqyLSS5zokFzuf4bf5uThoQN_jt9a-zNPGc3CEBTYJUJ7O1Tk91xvC26kW3GadsbaoM8UNsa0-9c185AY_0NRGXj9jeRL8VGce4djLbg0t6lDRES8PoAqbwztqJ2XnU_TJcGvnXSzo4Y/w640-h428/09-05-05%20Orchid%20Photos%20017.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />not sure exactly why, maybe because of the hummingbirds, but out of all my tillandsias, aeranthos is by far the best at volunteering in my garden. it has volunteered all over my cedar tree, well, wherever it gets watered by drip and/or by hand. when they bloom i often see hummingbirds hovering up and down the tree visiting each of the flowers. i'm curious why i haven’t seen or heard of this tillandsia naturalizing in florida. <br />
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one of the most fascinating relationships between an epiphyte and another organism is that of ant plants, such as the orchid myrmecophila. it has big hollow pseudobulbs that ants live in. i didn’t think that this would happen with my myrmecophilas here in socal, so it was a shock when i cut off some old dried pseudobulbs and ants poured out of them…<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQG_sObSLnH-DUviOuCZCO1K9ojlV3HxmxgcV_hpSTPa_fm9jPHVm0LdiwljArrG_z0mziJyNV1Z6XKRe-Uw0whlsO6z7_M6I8r_VFPjlL0kYOkDr-z8ZJ8_DVIk3fG0XSit0xKEKlRsNyKayGsxA0AhZ6trXNBnaYe4gYbeqKC-a-zPc2_lN42mlYSK0/s1232/20181009_135200.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1232" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQG_sObSLnH-DUviOuCZCO1K9ojlV3HxmxgcV_hpSTPa_fm9jPHVm0LdiwljArrG_z0mziJyNV1Z6XKRe-Uw0whlsO6z7_M6I8r_VFPjlL0kYOkDr-z8ZJ8_DVIk3fG0XSit0xKEKlRsNyKayGsxA0AhZ6trXNBnaYe4gYbeqKC-a-zPc2_lN42mlYSK0/w640-h480/20181009_135200.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />ants from argentina were living in an orchid from mexico. admittedly, ants are a big pain in the butt because they are so good at farming pests such as aphids, scale and mealybugs, but more of these pests also means more of their predators…<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsP6PzXGr6ISdUGQ4afkmZhpHGfTAHyUbuksrKtObL7iVLOSgpRaCE3XxiiLgMUFam2HnE9j9FPWs6eCbcY2AMJDNDmKjiUdvkpRp-KuMTcEWaBnn2EDuUdrtRQzuZkI-rbD5YIxsiTL4aYxp71hgwZQCpb_1QaXje6Sxo6QrrI5Kyr-qITUxR0SKp88/s924/20190807_162557.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="636" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsP6PzXGr6ISdUGQ4afkmZhpHGfTAHyUbuksrKtObL7iVLOSgpRaCE3XxiiLgMUFam2HnE9j9FPWs6eCbcY2AMJDNDmKjiUdvkpRp-KuMTcEWaBnn2EDuUdrtRQzuZkI-rbD5YIxsiTL4aYxp71hgwZQCpb_1QaXje6Sxo6QrrI5Kyr-qITUxR0SKp88/w440-h640/20190807_162557.jpg" width="440" /></a></div><br />recognize the predator? i only learned this year that it’s probably a hoverfly larvae. it’s eating green aphids that were eating the buds of an encyclia orchid. here’s a hoverfly larvae eating yellow aphids eating a new tendril of a hoya fungii…<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzHLCsCu50MwWBwIn4ZWufq18Se6o4zqhR2xpnnoEpBOZaFaHyGQz8WWatqCvJbv5C6Uj69tx1feRVjwMbPWFrkaC0iidKLPTpX6Z9kDStGHdYJEWtutCMWfASY_a2kferbD-iH7eTK2PzMbvn6yBBwLz4O69f6krKuwoCWFsTYduKytMx3QgqGFpKwk/s1560/20210929_021300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="715" data-original-width="1560" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzHLCsCu50MwWBwIn4ZWufq18Se6o4zqhR2xpnnoEpBOZaFaHyGQz8WWatqCvJbv5C6Uj69tx1feRVjwMbPWFrkaC0iidKLPTpX6Z9kDStGHdYJEWtutCMWfASY_a2kferbD-iH7eTK2PzMbvn6yBBwLz4O69f6krKuwoCWFsTYduKytMx3QgqGFpKwk/w640-h293/20210929_021300.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />here’s a beetle eating an isopod on some sphagnum moss attached to a tree…<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5mXxl8clMB85w9GpEd6KgE9Ku_-d41Y22OSaODxWhjdFAfP6GkN1z2lzxA1vcwHmLjlHfPxF2fDtdjTFmvUxKij18fnE8vIHI6_i_OwgrCRvTkKSJzec7iXetAeLQywIZAq5b3lKUCyp-_AR-x0E29BNXctQWQnFQuaatKQxg7YG4kTCtQECMIlhbMw/s1189/20200419_225722.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1189" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5mXxl8clMB85w9GpEd6KgE9Ku_-d41Y22OSaODxWhjdFAfP6GkN1z2lzxA1vcwHmLjlHfPxF2fDtdjTFmvUxKij18fnE8vIHI6_i_OwgrCRvTkKSJzec7iXetAeLQywIZAq5b3lKUCyp-_AR-x0E29BNXctQWQnFQuaatKQxg7YG4kTCtQECMIlhbMw/w640-h490/20200419_225722.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
here’s an alligator lizard in microgramma vacciniifolia fern (brazil) and kalanchoe uniflora (madagascar) probably following a fresh slug trail…</div><div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPGJp7nIeeUqK2v58AKwPGxMuzn7TI8vUKJ1ds96Jxq-Ie4IbI2yriIdvydkGIh0fEjgfTM7hsDy2iatT7edyS5f8EJv5la0Qibf-dhTclaKzR3hSB2fV_0eE_1C4jNFYqqPZ-FpLintDK7Bsi4_harx7R8u-Ryy3cES8rKmkekGG81QKwMEEXlwroPA/s911/20161111_134634.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPGJp7nIeeUqK2v58AKwPGxMuzn7TI8vUKJ1ds96Jxq-Ie4IbI2yriIdvydkGIh0fEjgfTM7hsDy2iatT7edyS5f8EJv5la0Qibf-dhTclaKzR3hSB2fV_0eE_1C4jNFYqqPZ-FpLintDK7Bsi4_harx7R8u-Ryy3cES8rKmkekGG81QKwMEEXlwroPA/w480-h640/20161111_134634.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />if you want wolves you need to have enough mice, rabbits, deer, moose and so on. we all want more options…<br /><blockquote>
One would think that man could find enough variation in the orchid family, as it occurs in nature, to more than satiate his taste for variety. Yet man's appetite for variety is never appeased. He has produced over two times as many hybrids, in the past 100 years that he has been engaged in orchid breeding, as nature has created species in her eons of evolutionary effort. - Calaway H. Dodson, Robert J. Gillespie, The Botany of Orchids</blockquote>in <a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=52705.0">this thread</a> hammer524 asked how many vendors were at previous sales of the san diego crfg chapter. we all want more vendors. plants also want more vendors. fungi also want more vendors.<br /><blockquote>
Dry forests would surely support richer canopy-based floras if Tillandsia extended beyond tropical America. - David Benzing, Vascular Epiphytes</blockquote>hummingbirds should also extend beyond tropical america. there’s riches in niches. <br />
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in summary, a denser and more diverse network will discover and capture more resources, such as pineislander finding the thread about inga alley cropping. then it’s a matter of correctly determining how the resource should be distributed. if pineislander has noticed that garcinias grow faster when they can easily trade with ingas, then he should have <a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=50244">the opportunity to easily trade a donation (to this forum) for the option to direct more of our attention</a>, which hopefully includes that of fnf and keith, to his observation. whether a resource is attention or ideas or nitrogen, its distribution should be determined by sacrifice rather than by votes, because then and only then, will productivity and progress be maximized. <br /></div><br /></div>
Xerographicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978832439622230018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5189697546814101118.post-50162125763599739192023-05-17T23:28:00.014-07:002024-03-26T08:44:31.756-07:00random pics relevant to fruit<p>the tropical fruit forum doesn't have a function to upload pics. just how useful is this function anyways? the correct answer can only be determined by each forum member using their donations (to the forum) to communicate their own personal perception of this function's usefulness. in the meantime, i'll use this entry to post pics for use on the forum.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><br /></p><p>********************************</p><p>pic</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvCruSwBdFUpHBhaO89L_GHUdk7EwO-kJbZSPT8LSMq3v4Q_Htan2bRi4VsZ7_FS9A9k6djZ0sy5Q5nm9JJoroJcLWJJsXY0X02VENg7YN5o1Aghvgi6rcDEhFAARtJ6TRU79r0mtuKbLYkE4RU4hqjgmxE_rl45Dw15BzPuBw5VPs73WC-p91EXW1HQ/s1560/20231119_181708.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="1560" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvCruSwBdFUpHBhaO89L_GHUdk7EwO-kJbZSPT8LSMq3v4Q_Htan2bRi4VsZ7_FS9A9k6djZ0sy5Q5nm9JJoroJcLWJJsXY0X02VENg7YN5o1Aghvgi6rcDEhFAARtJ6TRU79r0mtuKbLYkE4RU4hqjgmxE_rl45Dw15BzPuBw5VPs73WC-p91EXW1HQ/s320/20231119_181708.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>pic</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WgVEl91v8RYZBgPdkUIAJTJYVhM7AqkXo0kx0FW48yvnGzMjTvvvT8j5-xSY8fHpZXapS-o3mFfwnAGzEjJ4-DNaxKirmrZLtWZonoE0MDeLjjjZB9uIyXrExjmnUo8_KI_vIFQ5Cdzz8ydVx054LFjbwrbXe4puHMjxLxUAPcS76_twnHIR8x9YLh4/s1215/20240220_132938.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1215" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WgVEl91v8RYZBgPdkUIAJTJYVhM7AqkXo0kx0FW48yvnGzMjTvvvT8j5-xSY8fHpZXapS-o3mFfwnAGzEjJ4-DNaxKirmrZLtWZonoE0MDeLjjjZB9uIyXrExjmnUo8_KI_vIFQ5Cdzz8ydVx054LFjbwrbXe4puHMjxLxUAPcS76_twnHIR8x9YLh4/s320/20240220_132938.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>pic</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4bWvRqsVfz2XwZGI4LwFf_q5wz6SyMtBJsbSkEUDzuYe_8LkEZD2jkI0vHSMR82aGo_ZS2I414ypJ1e3v_4kqYQmFs5PvyHXOCSb45_xD_oU4WGRhZ4mz32FOHv0WA412A0wsU1pWMVFP0L0fxuwB2KDKmC5iVIkwBifVekKf4VyrD2Cp_bqQERVY6s/s1215/20240221_011318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1215" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4bWvRqsVfz2XwZGI4LwFf_q5wz6SyMtBJsbSkEUDzuYe_8LkEZD2jkI0vHSMR82aGo_ZS2I414ypJ1e3v_4kqYQmFs5PvyHXOCSb45_xD_oU4WGRhZ4mz32FOHv0WA412A0wsU1pWMVFP0L0fxuwB2KDKmC5iVIkwBifVekKf4VyrD2Cp_bqQERVY6s/s320/20240221_011318.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>pic</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-9F2E1iasjaw0jHDpIw3SZBl1-l1QXOqylp1B_iLdglpo8ASW_7QQqHCiOxicpuG7KQYx9hRo8jSyF8p9p9gc09ChvFFYWL0O8W-5L9RuuwOLE360uA1fefgSkr-9bjM0x4sR-_rizHWibxAe9GakuuLmvsKIITsrUq2Ye4raPrKdqftnfvvfdXMJ_Q/s911/20240310_092959.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="683" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-9F2E1iasjaw0jHDpIw3SZBl1-l1QXOqylp1B_iLdglpo8ASW_7QQqHCiOxicpuG7KQYx9hRo8jSyF8p9p9gc09ChvFFYWL0O8W-5L9RuuwOLE360uA1fefgSkr-9bjM0x4sR-_rizHWibxAe9GakuuLmvsKIITsrUq2Ye4raPrKdqftnfvvfdXMJ_Q/s320/20240310_092959.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>pic</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHkxJi07QkfmhCDcD1g35GEZdEZS0FQX_sG6FFFkTovFOxGlKGpVBe45ZpHulmJhXGgNJdziGNd5zDd4QtdIeXGduMbRWsbHv3p7smXU_g0awV0FwuDAEvBkNnVXv8QhW85DniHMqhWVyMaNiCtzyij8E3NH5zUrZ6tlBJqqtk1-zpKIyMf9EW95yoic/s1215/20240326_073201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1215" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHkxJi07QkfmhCDcD1g35GEZdEZS0FQX_sG6FFFkTovFOxGlKGpVBe45ZpHulmJhXGgNJdziGNd5zDd4QtdIeXGduMbRWsbHv3p7smXU_g0awV0FwuDAEvBkNnVXv8QhW85DniHMqhWVyMaNiCtzyij8E3NH5zUrZ6tlBJqqtk1-zpKIyMf9EW95yoic/s320/20240326_073201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>pic</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfP8k-Xhhtr_MTQVgkHiq3KRDk3e0z_fCzmKQf2sQQFNKzOLFbuyvcnnHk8PIAf1y_I-a4T6lt1ZwFI_kuM3ZDxLPRLuwh3iAc_nk638MSG5LCtebzHcxhu4tkTYh78g-8CtslnFYR1nKK0z5XkZ_D6gmWIUCbcyaCNu1UAU7FrjmaVPYb9Vz4uHVgwQ/s1215/20240312_000047.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1215" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfP8k-Xhhtr_MTQVgkHiq3KRDk3e0z_fCzmKQf2sQQFNKzOLFbuyvcnnHk8PIAf1y_I-a4T6lt1ZwFI_kuM3ZDxLPRLuwh3iAc_nk638MSG5LCtebzHcxhu4tkTYh78g-8CtslnFYR1nKK0z5XkZ_D6gmWIUCbcyaCNu1UAU7FrjmaVPYb9Vz4uHVgwQ/s320/20240312_000047.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>pic</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ctJplF0mCddL1RS68FvJQZG4TInTzsUmOY3whV88qGCGd_3nNfeu0C7X8HKc-W5xXmNrWLQ05tmBkzfXUJwVuN13tEbcEip660dVkUTCKepavA4iD7GTN7bbhBUDgJhai-2xod5AFE8CqYqClraRlOSitb-fmOOIz9T2ed5l2oyPkxJzY6z7HE9INa4/s1560/20240326_073429.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="1560" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ctJplF0mCddL1RS68FvJQZG4TInTzsUmOY3whV88qGCGd_3nNfeu0C7X8HKc-W5xXmNrWLQ05tmBkzfXUJwVuN13tEbcEip660dVkUTCKepavA4iD7GTN7bbhBUDgJhai-2xod5AFE8CqYqClraRlOSitb-fmOOIz9T2ed5l2oyPkxJzY6z7HE9INa4/s320/20240326_073429.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>********************************</p><p>oo lala</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlYDNdVMvd-Lv_BCIlqdD9QrsiceVS1oxpPbpVQkSFYHNDd0b-56omXg-AfKNLqBkNw5gb9TxBQCLb9QT7rYE388tHCDq9sQ7m_QgqLZClKxDElroZnPoePk8FA5MLGdBMZDtrWLn5G-PI8y9USgZ8V1ZLwjV4bVcGQD7BXbcCOCKBttMY-lPkG3yRkI/s1215/20240312_191431.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1215" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlYDNdVMvd-Lv_BCIlqdD9QrsiceVS1oxpPbpVQkSFYHNDd0b-56omXg-AfKNLqBkNw5gb9TxBQCLb9QT7rYE388tHCDq9sQ7m_QgqLZClKxDElroZnPoePk8FA5MLGdBMZDtrWLn5G-PI8y9USgZ8V1ZLwjV4bVcGQD7BXbcCOCKBttMY-lPkG3yRkI/w400-h300/20240312_191431.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>********************************</p><p>screenshot...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUG6KEY4-A__U7a6PowJl-WtyY9tyjyMOnpddlat5VDVoV6vhXN2BW6uMcPy5Z2eGy9aD3nkLsU5HciFwI3nLD3I7MdkIRHA8SjcJgvouDRRd6YJQGpeBwNGxPw_qM1oevGIjFzKndYYCmXrcck4gVVQInGmfivMsSFRkRCOpsnSY4EdxunKeVnBOaRU0/s1920/Screenshot%202024-03-12%209.38.34%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUG6KEY4-A__U7a6PowJl-WtyY9tyjyMOnpddlat5VDVoV6vhXN2BW6uMcPy5Z2eGy9aD3nkLsU5HciFwI3nLD3I7MdkIRHA8SjcJgvouDRRd6YJQGpeBwNGxPw_qM1oevGIjFzKndYYCmXrcck4gVVQInGmfivMsSFRkRCOpsnSY4EdxunKeVnBOaRU0/w400-h225/Screenshot%202024-03-12%209.38.34%20AM.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>********************************</p><p>pic</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvHXSAiUtDh-48eBWR2dStKacEPjw9fOOc_eNsJkr7fF9D5tXEhk2OKpJ0tI71PLZF_eMeEpXcHf9FVkv6GPI48X9vdNe2JshbQhHGoW4RJy8FXH3QRTjjl9szr_UAAqCB3ewstUeyNKxZWEnfVoQIVSQjfpLn1UW_QmWxKrIuj6lSIL8YgWroLHJRE8/s1215/20230203_154047.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1215" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvHXSAiUtDh-48eBWR2dStKacEPjw9fOOc_eNsJkr7fF9D5tXEhk2OKpJ0tI71PLZF_eMeEpXcHf9FVkv6GPI48X9vdNe2JshbQhHGoW4RJy8FXH3QRTjjl9szr_UAAqCB3ewstUeyNKxZWEnfVoQIVSQjfpLn1UW_QmWxKrIuj6lSIL8YgWroLHJRE8/w400-h300/20230203_154047.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>pic</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjkF_Zl9CjljZsg6ZR5vP56riutIrxODUW8TPeeBKT6p2wjWwL91jonAOj6vQBF3NJ3swzJy9fL7BCp49HyDZ6fV_LGux90Tqwzleo5J8ZPB__MgGidRL5GzH8aGBn84FCuXUJcZ_-Mfv3gntJGh7Zh0n8LGzJxWfE2XkL9lXHW85vWU_VHljW5npa1wA/s1080/326336561_495890969364199_3378066859859936122_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjkF_Zl9CjljZsg6ZR5vP56riutIrxODUW8TPeeBKT6p2wjWwL91jonAOj6vQBF3NJ3swzJy9fL7BCp49HyDZ6fV_LGux90Tqwzleo5J8ZPB__MgGidRL5GzH8aGBn84FCuXUJcZ_-Mfv3gntJGh7Zh0n8LGzJxWfE2XkL9lXHW85vWU_VHljW5npa1wA/w480-h640/326336561_495890969364199_3378066859859936122_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>********************************</p><p>pic...</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31e04Ukegn6cg-UHuLzKMsoPGb9bvlZKfh7WE8-t9MHY8cOSC5nFGquh9yS78SVnF_pQZWSdTZ7qzYn6UJHvb7zwoNBTorY5IzFdqcGIdgZzlhXRB6b-Ev-C8uuyR0Ie5_-lJDfzBqssO3UQ5CH2nj515t8lRzsvb_U9HOLZitsBnY0bUYq1Eb12zA58/s1215/20240128_142759.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1215" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31e04Ukegn6cg-UHuLzKMsoPGb9bvlZKfh7WE8-t9MHY8cOSC5nFGquh9yS78SVnF_pQZWSdTZ7qzYn6UJHvb7zwoNBTorY5IzFdqcGIdgZzlhXRB6b-Ev-C8uuyR0Ie5_-lJDfzBqssO3UQ5CH2nj515t8lRzsvb_U9HOLZitsBnY0bUYq1Eb12zA58/w400-h300/20240128_142759.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>pic...</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzoFlq7qbJeB_Ev4zOrW48uT65dmKKMj2VGDqEqNNZJ6GqmPgCSy0rNDRAS94wyT5ErL9ycJVEVbOSzooLa1uliJ5_zAtbH-23ZN15wGieWfidgGHVZfLTu1bB6owj-tyeBgyUS6-ZmHLOYmQFhcMwfhVTFUoWJqxgrLPzjfFC9mmoq1uC2uMwgibl8wc/s1215/20240128_141747.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1215" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzoFlq7qbJeB_Ev4zOrW48uT65dmKKMj2VGDqEqNNZJ6GqmPgCSy0rNDRAS94wyT5ErL9ycJVEVbOSzooLa1uliJ5_zAtbH-23ZN15wGieWfidgGHVZfLTu1bB6owj-tyeBgyUS6-ZmHLOYmQFhcMwfhVTFUoWJqxgrLPzjfFC9mmoq1uC2uMwgibl8wc/w400-h300/20240128_141747.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>pic </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4HRSgRvvxtAEcY0EyLm1oh0icRk6IPH4JSA_S_KQfyDON2izANdax8b-MFny9Ek74PIqGthmmHjdUr9UdZX0pAFabn-BH-bRAG-RmaIkGrn_ZW_pARYPdzGZQ0PVpE2Y7wGdWz6VMAmdji2Tn8XscXy9bWJGpGH-4Vq7G_lT42kqMexBGn9uwxVUZhE/s1215/20240221_164717.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1215" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4HRSgRvvxtAEcY0EyLm1oh0icRk6IPH4JSA_S_KQfyDON2izANdax8b-MFny9Ek74PIqGthmmHjdUr9UdZX0pAFabn-BH-bRAG-RmaIkGrn_ZW_pARYPdzGZQ0PVpE2Y7wGdWz6VMAmdji2Tn8XscXy9bWJGpGH-4Vq7G_lT42kqMexBGn9uwxVUZhE/w400-h300/20240221_164717.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>pic</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7HGflpyZ6vzD7gmQcQptGiFbwyKEbfmWRxe2KmtOJcq_qXMrhrFZCprHa2njmVx-UBLSTEqDY9H28MpHnUMMqzqtyyYwkS30thMei3RGzg8_d-ZMjhP-uJ2v1RhvGj-Z7DinZLyKyD-a0PZB7SYOJHpyxN5Ysix8C4M9Tmf9S68HHXYQwk7_NbirUvQ/s911/20240304_160839.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7HGflpyZ6vzD7gmQcQptGiFbwyKEbfmWRxe2KmtOJcq_qXMrhrFZCprHa2njmVx-UBLSTEqDY9H28MpHnUMMqzqtyyYwkS30thMei3RGzg8_d-ZMjhP-uJ2v1RhvGj-Z7DinZLyKyD-a0PZB7SYOJHpyxN5Ysix8C4M9Tmf9S68HHXYQwk7_NbirUvQ/w480-h640/20240304_160839.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>pic </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUI91w91z_m9UgbbbFBvcsk-_4Ae_59lOIL1pRiXYJoWeQVvM86q7dCRsd1RKgiaRQSJHBRlmGXgZnzbNvmFFdF-4TByOTwW3ftCkKpCwX3fWERTdT7plAmb5oNH056SCociUHPk2cVMjBK0tNPoNLduKtIFW5aNgbEHV10BfJcwYmEAOGgs2jGng9A94/s911/20240228_144851.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUI91w91z_m9UgbbbFBvcsk-_4Ae_59lOIL1pRiXYJoWeQVvM86q7dCRsd1RKgiaRQSJHBRlmGXgZnzbNvmFFdF-4TByOTwW3ftCkKpCwX3fWERTdT7plAmb5oNH056SCociUHPk2cVMjBK0tNPoNLduKtIFW5aNgbEHV10BfJcwYmEAOGgs2jGng9A94/w480-h640/20240228_144851.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>pic </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOV-U42sKrx1qbEOy_DhUUd1mVFRoBAkZ-CT9Hjnjrt_-Wej1fiaqy9ZZ-egUz2VwkNwD2I6CHwM4fxFyOJmpYZAsARexOfXPsk9emAYSk6hU6jhLMx0W4ougOQ0exMOHSMChD-kg7aEnk_J4Ddbh7lO4v2hUwlmJf00Jn5Uj8OxJVayS-vO1dLODLhk/s911/20240229_161952.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOV-U42sKrx1qbEOy_DhUUd1mVFRoBAkZ-CT9Hjnjrt_-Wej1fiaqy9ZZ-egUz2VwkNwD2I6CHwM4fxFyOJmpYZAsARexOfXPsk9emAYSk6hU6jhLMx0W4ougOQ0exMOHSMChD-kg7aEnk_J4Ddbh7lO4v2hUwlmJf00Jn5Uj8OxJVayS-vO1dLODLhk/w480-h640/20240229_161952.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>pic </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZKYCb6fzN7nENXkuwFNaNE1PPuZF48vVdlvm_6qmq2XOlDH7wsf5fjN255cwDj0HC-mfPJhUZLJ6mIg6JI1D7p36cuZHMjqhObQCk6y839UwEV_TLGZiWrkAHGho0-S_lp9KP3708PJ_Gl9pd9YcBQzyCUNZiJaRvZjjGthH0hnW-mJ0PDXoqT3ad3E/s911/20240229_154519.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZKYCb6fzN7nENXkuwFNaNE1PPuZF48vVdlvm_6qmq2XOlDH7wsf5fjN255cwDj0HC-mfPJhUZLJ6mIg6JI1D7p36cuZHMjqhObQCk6y839UwEV_TLGZiWrkAHGho0-S_lp9KP3708PJ_Gl9pd9YcBQzyCUNZiJaRvZjjGthH0hnW-mJ0PDXoqT3ad3E/w480-h640/20240229_154519.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>pic </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdekeVjldpE9G4p0m2WgaxlRG7L85oMvH1dl-ZyPxlXeZ2pKA5FFZJpAtw1gzsbJ5tnDNkiXQUBUpkjFYnrUcbTbibP8vDZ6BmKN8sLJUu_XUwirBFwk2CskezVoGXnQ5lGxg1tMg5ljF5mq2dKN3GqSqoloFOi7aEhyphenhyphenv-A3L6KHm0HISYZAbz3SRCMI/s911/20240304_160647.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdekeVjldpE9G4p0m2WgaxlRG7L85oMvH1dl-ZyPxlXeZ2pKA5FFZJpAtw1gzsbJ5tnDNkiXQUBUpkjFYnrUcbTbibP8vDZ6BmKN8sLJUu_XUwirBFwk2CskezVoGXnQ5lGxg1tMg5ljF5mq2dKN3GqSqoloFOi7aEhyphenhyphenv-A3L6KHm0HISYZAbz3SRCMI/w480-h640/20240304_160647.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>pic</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTYLFNfq-Gfv8GwTt_4aHmxodOpK9v1oApyCDzYfwKVa9gUcLrUkzEVg8sZnlq_CTESoQW_DCja1VwzU-GekK22V8VQPDVJZpHvz0KmeXDfqZYWzt_kESmIxpAOo7gtCW3DH-pTVoQ03HuC3AU7wJOD7tLgm-SAT3H2Syp5RvkxkIp4WVkKreyIlS9hQ/s911/20240304_170521.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTYLFNfq-Gfv8GwTt_4aHmxodOpK9v1oApyCDzYfwKVa9gUcLrUkzEVg8sZnlq_CTESoQW_DCja1VwzU-GekK22V8VQPDVJZpHvz0KmeXDfqZYWzt_kESmIxpAOo7gtCW3DH-pTVoQ03HuC3AU7wJOD7tLgm-SAT3H2Syp5RvkxkIp4WVkKreyIlS9hQ/w480-h640/20240304_170521.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>pic </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-fD1L3gzDieMd64L10LWI87rRE9KZDD5u9s3FuH2hlRlwftIImSsEU0N9cEN-SgycAA1a3psIdGIepeAydXTZDWmjer-pSQ6asGXryzUMbPqNs-5qVlQ7U079-YtL1TQxNnx3IjSFSm16LEyUKyIPOrZtqeE7rU4gNgvMeU3VjKee7wtY5UXhb_tnYjE/s911/20240304_173027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-fD1L3gzDieMd64L10LWI87rRE9KZDD5u9s3FuH2hlRlwftIImSsEU0N9cEN-SgycAA1a3psIdGIepeAydXTZDWmjer-pSQ6asGXryzUMbPqNs-5qVlQ7U079-YtL1TQxNnx3IjSFSm16LEyUKyIPOrZtqeE7rU4gNgvMeU3VjKee7wtY5UXhb_tnYjE/w480-h640/20240304_173027.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>pic </p><p><br /></p><p>********************************</p><p><a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=53056.0">syngonium fruit?</a> </p><p></p><blockquote><p>For all its material advantages, the sedentary life has left us edgy, unfulfilled. Even after 400 generations in villages and cities, we haven't forgotten. The open road still softly calls, like a nearly forgotten song of childhood. We invest far-off places with a certain romance. This appeal, I suspect, has been meticulously crafted by natural selection as an essential element in our survival. Long summers, mild winters, rich harvests, plentiful game—none of them lasts forever. It is beyond our powers to predict the future. Catastrophic events have a way of sneaking up on us, of catching us unaware. Your own life, or your band's, or even your species' might be owed to a restless few—drawn, by a craving they can hardly articulate or understand, to undiscovered lands and new worlds.</p><p>Herman Melville, in Moby Dick, spoke for wanderers in all epochs and meridians: "I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote. I love to sail forbidden seas . . ." - Carl Sagan</p></blockquote><p></p><p>atf loves to eat forbidden fruit. every unknown fruit in the wild is essentially forbidden. even in cultivation. </p><p>this past summer my friend and i happened to spot a huge capulin cherry in a random front yard filled with fruit hanging over a sidewalk. right next to it was this...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckdt6_1ev_jf8Qp1dHOuSLR4bSEIya1TzZnbRLphAWoA2YcTRrJvqu7M4UIN_kG9YVSvAq9UiSMo3ynL5JincIgahx8bcvy2uAAM6B28SFakU-EpDb7wTTfVmhkJCWTHd02HxpYHA18RI9Qp4Ok_a2avFQc-zOvDHHdPeuW0E7NYo1gFJy17Qt3bCTuw/s924/20230721_183335.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="693" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckdt6_1ev_jf8Qp1dHOuSLR4bSEIya1TzZnbRLphAWoA2YcTRrJvqu7M4UIN_kG9YVSvAq9UiSMo3ynL5JincIgahx8bcvy2uAAM6B28SFakU-EpDb7wTTfVmhkJCWTHd02HxpYHA18RI9Qp4Ok_a2avFQc-zOvDHHdPeuW0E7NYo1gFJy17Qt3bCTuw/w480-h640/20230721_183335.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>we didn't recognize it, but we were tempted to try it. neither of us gave in to the temptation. </p><p>throughout human history, if nobody ever gave in to the temptation to taste forbidden fruit, then we probably wouldn't be the dominant primate. </p><p>if atf had been with me in the jungle then i'm sure he would have tasted the syngonium fruit. he would have put the video on youtube and then we'd be marginally less ignorant about the fruit on our planet. </p><p>ideally we'd be extremely grateful for the enrichment and enlightenment, but most likely we'd take it for granted. no statue for atf. no gold medal. no hall of fame. </p><p>********************************</p><p><a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=53056.0">syngonium fruit?</a> </p><p>when i visited costa rica last year, specifically miravalles volcano in guanacaste province, one of the biggest fruit mysteries involved a syngonium...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7OIdKD-yCp6I0RHg3VcQh3N4Ag7qfjhAMPIEQWTC_PtdFcJsJlCjvW2FRY9kJvSMFzXM89BKVYOKn75qVrRIMfzA3MmfH-3KbFThW5jyJiLK9qDY2RDvyehTebpxMsXF8Mt9iF59Vjfn1vNmlzIeokTEjtLuKwt-jES3KfQ2pth0WlwfJIDv22gvX3Q0/s924/20221119_145041.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="693" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7OIdKD-yCp6I0RHg3VcQh3N4Ag7qfjhAMPIEQWTC_PtdFcJsJlCjvW2FRY9kJvSMFzXM89BKVYOKn75qVrRIMfzA3MmfH-3KbFThW5jyJiLK9qDY2RDvyehTebpxMsXF8Mt9iF59Vjfn1vNmlzIeokTEjtLuKwt-jES3KfQ2pth0WlwfJIDv22gvX3Q0/w480-h640/20221119_145041.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>the plant itself didn't particularly catch my attention since i've been growing a similar noid syngonium outdoors for years. my plant has never bloomed but it has for the friend who shared it with me. his blooms a lot each year but fruit never develops, not sure why. maybe it's because a suitable pollinator is missing... or perhaps the plant needs cross-pollination. </p><p>here's a pic of the syngonium fruit that i found on the jungle floor...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7tk67S8nffCuSF5tGa-OS0brfVb3SnEtX3GC_dgCZylnyUMoH7vD_5W86Aza5Xm92c16Qw_8zMDKCRtTEBNVBbesmXxAZjmlN56dKBru67t33Mr-4KU6hb8eLTTsckF0RDy-rCMGHGi0j9udq9FUDMgBTOpKe0VKvF46WGhjNe8ZTrA1ncI7Yw3Ss1E/s907/20221119_144416.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="681" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7tk67S8nffCuSF5tGa-OS0brfVb3SnEtX3GC_dgCZylnyUMoH7vD_5W86Aza5Xm92c16Qw_8zMDKCRtTEBNVBbesmXxAZjmlN56dKBru67t33Mr-4KU6hb8eLTTsckF0RDy-rCMGHGi0j9udq9FUDMgBTOpKe0VKvF46WGhjNe8ZTrA1ncI7Yw3Ss1E/w480-h640/20221119_144416.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>it was the size of a baseball and smelled very tantalizing, like banana and pineapple, similar to monstera deliciosa, which isn't surprising since they are both in the same family. but unlike the monstera fruit, the syngonium fruit seemed to be ripe all at once, so there probably wasn't an issue with calcium oxalate crystals. even though the seeds were a lot larger there appeared to be a decent amount of flesh. unfortunately the fruit looked like it had been on the ground for a while, so i was too nervous to try it. i wish that "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@allthefruit">all the fruit</a>" had been with me! </p><p>i read about syngonium being invasive in florida, so i figured that somebody there must have tried the fruit, but evidently it just spreads vegetatively. it's identified as syngonium podophyllum, which has a wide distribution from mexico to bolivia so it might be the same as the one i saw in costa rica. </p><p>anyone ever tried syngonium fruit? most of the google results aren't very helpful. there's a pic of the fruit on the toptropical website but i didn't find a description. you'd figure if they had tasted the fruit then they would have mentioned it. </p><p>the chances seem slim that something so widely grown has delicious fruit, but nobody knows it. then again i doubt that back in the day everybody who grew monstera deliciosa knew that its fruit was delicious. because they didn't know its scientific name? </p><p>coincidentally, when i was in costa rica... a sloth, two toucans, and numerous other birds pooped on me, and when i returned home i scraped the poop into some pots and a few different plants popped up in them, including some that look like the same syngonium. if you're skeptical then i guess you haven't seen the credible movie "castaway on the moon". </p><p>********************************</p><p><a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=18047.0">Can you grow Soursop/Guanabana in California</a></p><p></p><blockquote>I don't think you'll find a huge variation in temperature tolerance.</blockquote><p></p><p>back in feb i visited a friend's local nursery and took a pic of half his soursop seedlings...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmK7YSVefx76k559_4OU6qpOWym0i8N1xciJe7JoB2Ra72nm-wNkWyBfl6oA9VlRS4qBhwH-f-qjU6x_4dRXXw5zHZ5z4YBptpwdiH8yC-lMGTqqrZhp8d9tQTUm900XnWto7K34jH3GUKEOadPiURBbcHLeGyQ0VcypVZ1UXwVybZVa9-YEmuU8wC2xU/s1560/20230219_113839.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="1560" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmK7YSVefx76k559_4OU6qpOWym0i8N1xciJe7JoB2Ra72nm-wNkWyBfl6oA9VlRS4qBhwH-f-qjU6x_4dRXXw5zHZ5z4YBptpwdiH8yC-lMGTqqrZhp8d9tQTUm900XnWto7K34jH3GUKEOadPiURBbcHLeGyQ0VcypVZ1UXwVybZVa9-YEmuU8wC2xU/w400-h184/20230219_113839.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>the vast majority were deciduous or dead. when did the 1st seedling lose its leaves? january? december? when would the last seedling have lost its leaves? march? april? </p><p></p><blockquote>I think Seanny is onto something with the inter stock graft being a great idea. </blockquote><p></p><p>i'm a bit surprised that cherilata is suitable to graft soursop onto. i searched and searched for a phylogenetic tree of annona and this was the best i could find... <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/367349752_Relationship_between_fruit_phenotypes_and_domestication_in_hexaploid_populations_of_biriba_Annona_mucosa_in_Brazilian_Amazonia">Relationship between fruit phenotypes and domestication in hexaploid populations of biribá ( Annona mucosa ) in Brazilian Amazonia</a>...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0kacuwNMoImXXVcewNuoCxErLNW57yFYSVIfMKuD0d2BsbuS5Sbn7_6h2mhWecieQntkdJJmtH9BMRKo__y8TouqtqczgPyElWue9TE-5rdFyvqLxVAPRVDpjaCxV1zYLfVIDyKGTyCHh2QSjjPyqkia7Kpb7D50saCwH-e34ebj6sLhPknLIBadRGE/s1920/Screenshot%202023-12-03%207.22.18%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0kacuwNMoImXXVcewNuoCxErLNW57yFYSVIfMKuD0d2BsbuS5Sbn7_6h2mhWecieQntkdJJmtH9BMRKo__y8TouqtqczgPyElWue9TE-5rdFyvqLxVAPRVDpjaCxV1zYLfVIDyKGTyCHh2QSjjPyqkia7Kpb7D50saCwH-e34ebj6sLhPknLIBadRGE/w400-h225/Screenshot%202023-12-03%207.22.18%20PM.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>seems like rollinia deliciosa is closer to soursop than cherimoya and reticulata. </p><p></p><blockquote>A. Montana pollen must not be compatible, likely previously tried and documented by Har on the forum somewhere.</blockquote><p></p><p>i think that i read in some thread that har said that montana is a good rootstock for rollinia. it would be surprising if montana pollen wasn't compatible with soursop. </p><p>********************************</p><p><a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=50589.0">list of fruit trees in los angeles parks</a></p><p>ever heard burdekin plum (pleiogynium timoriense)? i'd never heard of it until the other day when i randomly found it at the la arboretum...</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtD-1PVrRPlr5eWZ2q7ROLZGv2mxhqzWGfdnQf4E0IpduOWfed0tJ9JZtegoOQpDByMLbsBaY9poezgLjScjRf8TdnKpirauMYjax_NlPYtiHAjtTXYSHt5HtVkOBUCBwkzr8rMqxYoqgaubifA2pN0zDZnd5hoFME57GUCwC1gh_GesJ9aoJ928-K/s914/20230616_144413.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="685" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtD-1PVrRPlr5eWZ2q7ROLZGv2mxhqzWGfdnQf4E0IpduOWfed0tJ9JZtegoOQpDByMLbsBaY9poezgLjScjRf8TdnKpirauMYjax_NlPYtiHAjtTXYSHt5HtVkOBUCBwkzr8rMqxYoqgaubifA2pN0zDZnd5hoFME57GUCwC1gh_GesJ9aoJ928-K/w480-h640/20230616_144413.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>coincidentally it had quite a few fruits on it. the ones on the tree were all hard so i summoned my inner "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@allthefruit/videos">all the fruit</a>" and tried a ripe one from the ground that was intact. here's what it looked like after a few bites...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2r3pEFa4GKc7D6pUPH7By328cUuw_yxVgD6DqjyPhDNEtognnTPaPF0a69tOEcXzZ1olHVKlabvrTuObdL_dOghDYgvciL_uFOaDRA6wKtWRV5DewUZBvfOq5zXYSb2RwCxeAacbcCctHoj-3H1xdwtSqeLxLCxWVrSasMgx3Ga38dwqyRAFWNLsH/s914/20230616_144733.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="685" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2r3pEFa4GKc7D6pUPH7By328cUuw_yxVgD6DqjyPhDNEtognnTPaPF0a69tOEcXzZ1olHVKlabvrTuObdL_dOghDYgvciL_uFOaDRA6wKtWRV5DewUZBvfOq5zXYSb2RwCxeAacbcCctHoj-3H1xdwtSqeLxLCxWVrSasMgx3Ga38dwqyRAFWNLsH/w480-h640/20230616_144733.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>tasted kinda like a disappointing plum. similar texture and flavor, but not much sweetness. </p><p>it's definitely not something i'd suggest going out of your way to try, but if you were planning on going to the arboretum anyways, the tree is across the orchid greenhouse, past the grove of bottle palms and to the right. you'll see a curtain of leaves all around except for on the other side.</p><p><br /></p><p>********************************</p><p><a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=51445.0">Passiflora phoenicea x caerulea?</a></p><p>last august a friend shared a fruit from his passiflora phoenicea ruby glow which he pollinated with caerulea. the fruit was relatively large and enjoyable. i liked it a lot better than the few edulis that i've tried. they are a bit too sour but great on top of vanilla ice cream. </p><p>i was extra motivated to sow the ruby glow seeds because i was very curious what the hybrid would be like. passiflora caerulea comes up on its own here so often that when i was growing up that i assumed it was a native. it's actually from south america. sadly the fruit is virtually flavorless.</p><p>on 11 august i sowed around a dozen ruby glow seeds. only 2 seeds germinated and shortly afterwards, 1 of the seedlings was entirely eaten by a slug. </p><p>i should mention that the seedlings were in different pots in different locations. if they had been in the same pot in the wrong location, then the slug would have eaten both seedlings. this is why the #1 plant rule is to hedge your bets... don't keep all your eggs in 1 basket. since i do sow lots of seeds, in order to avoid running out of space, i put different seeds in the same pot. for example, i put the passionfruit seeds in 11 different pots with the following seeds...</p><p>Aeonium Mardi Gras<br />Aloe bakeri hybrids<br />Anthurium coriaceum<br />Calamansi variegated <br />Dragon fruit sweet red<br />Epiphyllum red long big fruit <br />Eulophia speciosa<br />Hoya papaschonii <br />Ficus NOID fuzzy juicy <br />Ficus Panache<br />Ficus religiosa<br />Gasteria NOID blooming w aloes<br />Guava banana<br />Guava strawberry<br />Kalanchoe Lynn’s variegated<br />Mangave Freckles and Speckles<br />Miracle fruit<br />Spanish lime</p><div>most of the pots were indoors in zip lock bags by a big window or under a grow light. for some reason the passionfruit seeds only germinated in the outdoor pots.</div><div><br /></div><div>here was the surviving seedling on 9 december...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAIJd2f6GHMXe5R6SA5904Jj71fJ-ebplDBnvmEemkRo0EeRqUSE3UHzBQBTzF5b-IuEyHh40RaD7Uai_PtaE1s1KDl1TNuBucQnXcz9R-ZG5D92CfARJK7sVoqpV_emfupyD7lHun3FM-PK0OquEHcrEeii-2A93xwXrgIwOl7E-E40PF5CFBLyj/s914/20221209_112519.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="685" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAIJd2f6GHMXe5R6SA5904Jj71fJ-ebplDBnvmEemkRo0EeRqUSE3UHzBQBTzF5b-IuEyHh40RaD7Uai_PtaE1s1KDl1TNuBucQnXcz9R-ZG5D92CfARJK7sVoqpV_emfupyD7lHun3FM-PK0OquEHcrEeii-2A93xwXrgIwOl7E-E40PF5CFBLyj/w480-h640/20221209_112519.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>i wasn't sure if or when the leaves would lobe. the seedling continued to grow throughout the winter... which still hasn't ended. recently the leaves started to lobe, so that seems to confirm that the seedling is indeed a hybrid. </div><div><br /></div><div>its location wasn't the best for a vine so a couple days ago i put it in a 5 gallon pot and gave it a pole to climb...<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGecfWKlWXoi63zm1BBGFVO1iCT4x_3x3Tv3R_JEemTAI8zoRm8UtwtXtf8lbj0WzyjxPRB0Y5L8Wbsn-3FFhAIsZG59iLpdApH5oj9374mF22nosUZN9X1WZAO7S7P6Z9srCjb-PqUcqOv8lgae4BYiBbAmMYXi1_iF2OnbKcJ0fupC648Tqd8VoT/s914/20230611_121622.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGecfWKlWXoi63zm1BBGFVO1iCT4x_3x3Tv3R_JEemTAI8zoRm8UtwtXtf8lbj0WzyjxPRB0Y5L8Wbsn-3FFhAIsZG59iLpdApH5oj9374mF22nosUZN9X1WZAO7S7P6Z9srCjb-PqUcqOv8lgae4BYiBbAmMYXi1_iF2OnbKcJ0fupC648Tqd8VoT/s16000/20230611_121622.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>it seems like quite a few caerulea crosses have been made. the fruit is either hollow or "foul". are there any exceptions? my expectations are low.</div><div><br /></div><div>i didn't manage to find the exact cross, the closest i found was <a href="https://www.passiflora.it/angel-of-sierre/407/eng/">passiflora alata x caerulea which was named angel of sierre</a>. no mention of the fruit. are most passiflora crosses made for flowers?</div><div><br /></div><div>when i was a kid my favorite thing about passiflora caerulea was that it hosted the gulf fritillary butterfly. the orange and black spiky caterpillars were fascinating. perhaps i wouldn't have liked the butterfly so much if caerulea's fruit had been delicious. i'm guessing that no passiflora crosses are made for butterflies?</div><div><br /></div><div>let's consider some possibilities of my phoenicea x caerulea...</div><div><br /></div><div>a. delicious fruit, wonderful host (of gulf fritillary)</div><div>b. foul fruit, wonderful host </div><div>c. delicious fruit, terrible host</div><div>d. foul fruit, terrible host</div><div><br /></div><div>even in the case of outcome "d" the hybrid wouldn't be entirely useless because the flowers are probably going to be decent.</div><div><br /></div><div>the last question i have about this hybrid is whether it will produce new shoots from its roots like caerulea often does.</div><div><br /></div><div>********************************</div><p><a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=51435.0">one person's trash...</a> </p><p>everything basically boils down to a matter of usefulness. the other day i randomly stumbled on a pile of discarded citrus...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KaTTF5p5hWAbCowd_nQouu6AUbdfVQ5NaOaGoeKQkZVPWRMYRlX53oUd7lJOEkgAkaD4M3ztLNbFpCZT4zZExwIR4XPGoOzy99sr1toEiqKK2vNYW4TWVJ6W_LQ0IyJCiNPr6rEbmQOluQKgLCBRNYrHXaYQH106wpNIAaVKZmN1Cyc_D2qvQqWG/s914/20230603_194829.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="912" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KaTTF5p5hWAbCowd_nQouu6AUbdfVQ5NaOaGoeKQkZVPWRMYRlX53oUd7lJOEkgAkaD4M3ztLNbFpCZT4zZExwIR4XPGoOzy99sr1toEiqKK2vNYW4TWVJ6W_LQ0IyJCiNPr6rEbmQOluQKgLCBRNYrHXaYQH106wpNIAaVKZmN1Cyc_D2qvQqWG/w399-h400/20230603_194829.jpg" width="399" /></a></div><br /><p>if you had encountered this pile, what would you have done? how many fruits would you have tried to salvage? i grabbed 4 or 5.</p><p>one of the larger ones, somewhere in size between a grapefruit and a pomelo, tasted quite good, maybe like limeade, but it sure had a lot of seeds...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3ESPBXGcsr_8w1DReoxeEK0nkx98eDSJtTnNKANsl-s0zrz-nfZYTiacxuVRIZ7nIyACxb8mtcs9KIXzXEdxaCQ5L2di9PUk-kg_Mdl2BUFGRvZuCINYXshwwfX_2gp194omBnoJgLwJ-11hW0oP8XfoZXxrNog7M0Uk9uO2YQ-d6wUtItKe62RU/s1524/20230612_124942.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="893" data-original-width="1524" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3ESPBXGcsr_8w1DReoxeEK0nkx98eDSJtTnNKANsl-s0zrz-nfZYTiacxuVRIZ7nIyACxb8mtcs9KIXzXEdxaCQ5L2di9PUk-kg_Mdl2BUFGRvZuCINYXshwwfX_2gp194omBnoJgLwJ-11hW0oP8XfoZXxrNog7M0Uk9uO2YQ-d6wUtItKe62RU/w400-h235/20230612_124942.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>64 seeds! what is the most seeds you've ever found in a single citrus fruit?</p><p>for me personally the abundance of seeds was definitely not a deal breaker. in fact, i deeply appreciate all the potential for an even better citrus.</p><p>another seedy citrus that comes to mind is the cocktail grapefruit aka mandelo. it's sweet and super juicy, i like it a lot more than the average grapefruit, but not sure if i like it more than limeade.</p><p><a href="https://citrusvariety.ucr.edu/crc3555">the mandelo was created by the university of riverside in 1966</a>, but it was never officially named or released...it somehow "escaped". how, exactly, did it escape? </p><p>how many people were responsible for deciding whether the mandelo was worthy of being officially released? maybe a committee of 5 citrus experts judged the mandelo's usefulness?</p><p>on the one hand, we all know and understand that one person's trash is another person's treasure. but on the other hand, virtually everyone has no problem with the preponderance of gatekeepers and judges deciding for everyone whether something is trash or treasure. the judges always mess up, but their mistakes are rarely caught. if the mandelo hadn't escaped then we wouldn't have known of its existence. when the erroneous judges are caught then the seriously silly solution is to replace them with "better" judges. </p><p>the true solution is for each and every one of ucr's new citrus to be judged by donations. let each and every person in the world use their own money to help determine a fruit's usefulness. which is more useful, cold tolerance or hlb tolerance? the better that ucr was at balancing these two goals, the more donations it would receive.</p><p>********************************</p><p><a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=51363.0">Multiple rootstock grafting</a></p><p>haha words are hard. i was going to be 100% unlazy and show you from scratch, but then i decided to be 10% unlazy and show you some closer pics. here are a couple mango seedlings in separate pots...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJSf1HFtgw5SnxJQheSu-3cVdnVf2LMusHKcJiwMvIWTO1W54eJAxwfjNYsYMlKjHM4WHk318E4bdCOsjB2ajmBoVRRi82RSeRK61yVPhkvVDuCqPCYPC9RvZfJ-muIguFQlSgKdsB2IgZqs90A9mZnp9HumbekeNKB7JENCbRToRq2llIMYjvHEK/s914/20230606_124502.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJSf1HFtgw5SnxJQheSu-3cVdnVf2LMusHKcJiwMvIWTO1W54eJAxwfjNYsYMlKjHM4WHk318E4bdCOsjB2ajmBoVRRi82RSeRK61yVPhkvVDuCqPCYPC9RvZfJ-muIguFQlSgKdsB2IgZqs90A9mZnp9HumbekeNKB7JENCbRToRq2llIMYjvHEK/s16000/20230606_124502.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>left is champagne, right is palmer. both are growing, and i plan to let them continue growing at least until i can try the fruit. </p><p>here are a couple myricas in the same pot...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyukBqi3iigJfW2w4QR6BgyhMhAdmuMgdd1fWFHd5mCKokyLc2n8JFP1Omup_AOeJw58jSnDCDiViFFee5EbZVU4D48ENd-I46fIC_TQk_erZ4kwU9cMJIykeb-8gmyCjNZiV5pX0CjFYxEyAliD0261_1FaOkJXnBcR_F2DALXiDjqzWe6xQnt-yb/s914/20230606_124937.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="527" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyukBqi3iigJfW2w4QR6BgyhMhAdmuMgdd1fWFHd5mCKokyLc2n8JFP1Omup_AOeJw58jSnDCDiViFFee5EbZVU4D48ENd-I46fIC_TQk_erZ4kwU9cMJIykeb-8gmyCjNZiV5pX0CjFYxEyAliD0261_1FaOkJXnBcR_F2DALXiDjqzWe6xQnt-yb/s16000/20230606_124937.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>left is myrica californica, right is myrica cerifera. now i just need to add myrica rubra. once i add rubra i'm not sure if i'd remove the tops of californica or cerifera, even though neither is edible, given that both might be able to pollinate rubra.</p><p>on youtube i've watched a ton of grafting videos involving seedlings, and not once have any of the grafters mentioned the possibility that a seedling being used as a rootstock might have produced better fruit than the scion. it's a fact though that any given superior variety only exists because it wasn't used as a rootstock. </p><p>a seedling is used as a rootstock for a superior variety, which only exists because it wasn't used as a rootstock. </p><p>anyways, i grafted the myricas and mangos while they were potted, which was tricky. i think it's easier to do the grafting bareroot.</p><p>i don't know what the optimal length graft is. it seems like a longer graft makes it easier for the plants to communicate and exchange resources. </p><p>********************************</p><p><a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=50787.0">Selling: Plinia otto anderson and Phithantha blanca and others plants</a></p><p></p><blockquote>got the luc's scions today! i am very happy with them, thanks a ton!! most went onto achachas, hope they take.</blockquote><p>seems like one of the garcinia luc's scions is starting to push...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzS4mHSuu59m6-zQPwV594izRFrv86kCEvM-WggS1NYS2C1-5pO4f4DadSVDQY4yumG_TrUsr7x9sljSR0kHMRIFsFXNfs3xxXadkMeiu9U3tN2e4Ista2ujKZ1hA7Rv8tDkQ_zVrUSZN9bWf4N725RZgzzO-8cNT1YxA3hIBERShfIkf_i1vnThyX" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="806" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzS4mHSuu59m6-zQPwV594izRFrv86kCEvM-WggS1NYS2C1-5pO4f4DadSVDQY4yumG_TrUsr7x9sljSR0kHMRIFsFXNfs3xxXadkMeiu9U3tN2e4Ista2ujKZ1hA7Rv8tDkQ_zVrUSZN9bWf4N725RZgzzO-8cNT1YxA3hIBERShfIkf_i1vnThyX=w568-h640" width="568" /></a></div><br /><p>it's on top of an achacha in a 3 gallon pot. i guess it's possible, and perhaps likely given the time frame, that the luc's scion is using its own energy to start growing. then again, i'm getting the feeling that these garcinias in the americas are all pretty closely related, so considerable compatibility wouldn't be very surprising.</p><p>********************************</p><p><a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=51151.0">Can loquat be bred for temperate climate like pomegranates?</a></p><p>not too long ago, inspired by <a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=17882.0">this thread</a>, i grafted a loquat (eriobotrya japonica) onto an indian hawthorn (rhaphiolepis indica)...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJ5-00EK8ivnL17MC75Kt_aksm92uowX6Uu4DzeONLOc0C0dxAPcdv1MCtHkpRu7cTwgVilgk4BMYBB35-2s1A2A83acOVuxJUUzovz4_WlqwwKiS4Y8wCEpn6e52Hqk_y2pEKuT3saua3R2hSEVnoXv46wmMv1PxoZup7H-ZhHWId336DmjlGYT4/s907/20230506_171006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="680" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJ5-00EK8ivnL17MC75Kt_aksm92uowX6Uu4DzeONLOc0C0dxAPcdv1MCtHkpRu7cTwgVilgk4BMYBB35-2s1A2A83acOVuxJUUzovz4_WlqwwKiS4Y8wCEpn6e52Hqk_y2pEKuT3saua3R2hSEVnoXv46wmMv1PxoZup7H-ZhHWId336DmjlGYT4/w480-h640/20230506_171006.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>i also grafted a loquat onto a noid hawthorn from italy (crataegus sp)...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGxFka47GitsGHjV1kiTLhBWlMAd8JxzyQe2fy-DtEJ0v93CmdqfO5dMKrxPSlQrN0vdDFtUBEqxl2XdRHEvM8ahoyoZPZpaavvdPpi5xybuP8UocT5wa52AGY2XpC6bpE4mDPXVKbCUHWnVnYRBifs8CY8TxsT_1Gu-BxTAdFpjTFMMZdBuweNhH/s907/20230511_122059.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="680" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGxFka47GitsGHjV1kiTLhBWlMAd8JxzyQe2fy-DtEJ0v93CmdqfO5dMKrxPSlQrN0vdDFtUBEqxl2XdRHEvM8ahoyoZPZpaavvdPpi5xybuP8UocT5wa52AGY2XpC6bpE4mDPXVKbCUHWnVnYRBifs8CY8TxsT_1Gu-BxTAdFpjTFMMZdBuweNhH/w480-h640/20230511_122059.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>out of all the possible rootstocks for loquats, which would confer the greatest cold tolerance?</p><p>which combinations of intergeneric loquat crosses would eventually produce the most cold tolerance and the best tasting fruit?</p><p>there are a few crosses between eriobotrya deflexa and rhaphiolepis indica, such as coppertone, but i don't know of any intergeneric crosses with eriobotrya japonica (not that i've conducted a decent search). <a href="https://ucanr.edu/sites/HodelPalmsTrees/files/327780.pdf">here's a useful pdf with info and pics of coppertone</a>.</p><p>it's strange to imagine that there aren't any hybrids between eriobotrya japonica and rhaphiolepis indica, given 1. their compatibility 2. how common they are in california and 3. how often loquats are grown from seed. oh, i just looked up their blooming periods and evidently they don't overlap. that would explain the absence of natural cross-pollination, hah.</p><p>as sc4001992 mentioned above, piera loquat can bloom all year long, which is obviously a useful trait for trying to make intergeneric crosses. </p><p>can you imagine a cross between loquat and quince? it might be possible given that quince can be used as a rootstock for loquat.</p><p>i'm guessing that much faster progress can be made with loquat hybridization, in terms of cold tolerance and fruit quality, than with breeding and selecting solely within the species.</p><p><br /></p>Xerographicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978832439622230018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5189697546814101118.post-85737276643686275852023-02-06T18:30:00.003-08:002023-03-31T21:07:29.498-07:00pot optimization<p>i've always grown some tropical fruit trees, but recently i've become a "bit" more interested in them. the following post is for the tropical fruit forum...<a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=50143.0">optimal pot riddle</a>.</p><p>************************************</p><p>"if you really want to give something a head start, put it in a deep, deep ass pot." - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/s-Mhvzc9f14?feature=share&t=2394">flyingfoxfruits</a> </p><p>"after 10+ years of side-by-side tests of different pots, i'm sold on the fabric pots, at least for my conditions." - coplantnut, <a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=10424.0">experiments with container-grown mangosteen in colorado</a></p><p>"neither, after trying both pots you mentioned and the fabric pots, I have finally switched to regular nursery pots coated with microkote." - simon_grow, <a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=19627.0">which is better? air-pots versus rootmaker's rootbuilder II </a></p><p>when i 1st moved into my place i dug a bunch of holes to plant trees. if i was lucky i would find a marble. i'd tell my girlfriend at the time that i had a valuable surprise for her and she was nice enough to pretend to be happy to receive a random marble. she ended up filling half a jar with them.</p><p>when i 1st joined this forum a little over a year ago i have to admit that i didn't do much digging to find old but valuable threads. the other day though, when i decided to share some of my thoughts on pots, i figured it would be a good idea to 1st dig to try and find some buried treasure.</p><p>here are some of the more or less relevant things i unearthed...</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nADhg-AoRbc">side by side microkote experiment</a> - graftingavocados</p><p><a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=29452.0">why do my jackfruit seedlings always fail?</a> - daintree</p><p><a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=1888.0">garcinia seedlings (confessions of a repot head)</a> - ethan</p><p><a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=31075.0">sourcing tree pots</a> - zephian</p><p><a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=4223.0">jabuticaba: how to grow them?</a> - huertasurbanas</p><p><a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=7511.0">greenhouse, rootmaker pots for tropicals and fruit "porn"</a> - mark in texas</p><p><a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=12040.0">air pruning pots--opinions?</a> - starling1</p><p><a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=10492.0">100% synthetic potting mix?</a> - josh-los-angeles</p><p><a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=26605.0">mangosteen and lychee, growing in warm enclosure</a> - socal2warm</p><p>did i overlook the most useful content about pots? if so, please share it. overlooking the best things in life is one of the worst things in life. like the time i went to puerto vallarta 25 years ago and overlooked luc's garcinia.</p><p>if we could use our donations (to the tff) to determine the creation and order of forum categories, how much would we donate for the topic of pots? in <a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=49787.0">my previous thread</a> i didn't include the topic of pots among the top three topics that i'd be willing to donate for. maybe that was a mistake.</p><p>prior to digging for pot threads, i had never heard of microkote before, which was curious since it seemed quite useful, but i don't remember it being mentioned in any relatively recent threads. so i googled within this site and found <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Microkote+site%3Atropicalfruitforum.com%2F&newwindow=1&rlz=1CALAYK_enUS913US913&biw=1670&bih=789&sxsrf=AJOqlzUQzwv5sIrM3HMiDuinrcGDCkTotg%3A1675197344232&source=lnt&tbs=cdr%3A1%2Ccd_min%3A1%2F1%2F2018%2Ccd_max%3A&tbm=">1 microkote search result since 2018</a>. </p><p>then i found <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=%22semi-hydro%22+site%3Atropicalfruitforum.com%2F&newwindow=1&rlz=1CALAYK_enUS913US913&biw=1670&bih=789&sxsrf=AJOqlzUdV2fhDVecq_FvNlSNSa-sIkgpgA%3A1675286706366&ei=stjaY-zpFZTO9AOQ3IH4Cg&ved=0ahUKEwjsip6oofX8AhUUJ30KHRBuAK8Q4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=%22semi-hydro%22+site%3Atropicalfruitforum.com%2F&gs_lcp=Cgxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAQA0oECEEYAUoECEYYAFCXE1jQNmCBQmgBcAB4AIABV4gB-wGSAQEzmAEAoAEBwAEB&sclient=gws-wiz-serp">0 "semi-hydro" search results since forever</a>.</p><p>which is more useful... semi-hydro or microkote or...?</p><p>naturally we all have different conditions, so something that is useful in wet conditions, for example, might be useless in dry conditions. optimal is relative, kinda.</p><p>a year ago i visited the salton sea for the 1st time and was intrigued that the shore consisted of a very loose mix of barnacle shells, fish bones and sand. i asked my friend whether it might make a good medium and she replied something like, no way, it's toxic! i replied, hold my beer. i found a random empty 5 gallon pot, filled it with the seashore medium, took it home and rinsed it several times. then i stuck two well callused aloe cuttings (tenuior and my tenuior hybrid) into the medium in a 1 gallon pot. for the sake of comparison i stuck two more cuttings in pure pumice and two more cuttings in cat liter (my ex left it)...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvvtoAuezDtxCGxfa68q8VtHHls6is61kXKQfB5uB7TOK2bCbmJZnUAK15lB7UjSHP8A33kIo7OYDMim2JzSl6_KzRJI2VyKz3ptkgsJrQXlSj1UhSwemH4nOY69cEAy2uaEU8GDYy5xT5ArI9qwgYRpdnuKoqYUwaAWlvwldf357AOWCOCiidT3m/s907/20220325_172301.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="686" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvvtoAuezDtxCGxfa68q8VtHHls6is61kXKQfB5uB7TOK2bCbmJZnUAK15lB7UjSHP8A33kIo7OYDMim2JzSl6_KzRJI2VyKz3ptkgsJrQXlSj1UhSwemH4nOY69cEAy2uaEU8GDYy5xT5ArI9qwgYRpdnuKoqYUwaAWlvwldf357AOWCOCiidT3m/w484-h640/20220325_172301.jpg" width="484" /></a></div><br /><p>the cat liter was an obvious fail, guess it was the wrong kind. but surprisingly the salton sea medium seemed to work. here's a recent pic...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigH-cJTt7LDdhft3c54iJ3J1_UTf9EcxVRsoFZ6iW6MYFsAMnov5h3ZbXpvcChwA6x-9gJtHzMFmLMind8wiOjSKkTI00CasblUJkxBjyJ_obOzuwRz_N8W9GhJno4zw_RJSjM1XiZKeikG589V4vkSnalFYOl6gflGFhIByYGdZzGQF-BFDOzQw89/s907/20230204_111004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="625" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigH-cJTt7LDdhft3c54iJ3J1_UTf9EcxVRsoFZ6iW6MYFsAMnov5h3ZbXpvcChwA6x-9gJtHzMFmLMind8wiOjSKkTI00CasblUJkxBjyJ_obOzuwRz_N8W9GhJno4zw_RJSjM1XiZKeikG589V4vkSnalFYOl6gflGFhIByYGdZzGQF-BFDOzQw89/w442-h640/20230204_111004.jpg" width="442" /></a></div><br /><p>the roots...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTjjRwu3SrkyLnzfeG-ksGKVXWBiMp2lrjAhTTmtbgr8iW_uPpXwe5j0LFUPFycQh3uRoxvNGrCviR0gwCc9GNVb0yLHecI_62L1vG-zPk08Hgbe1CehxOHTxCPmdpLtu84-iFvSeQpkFiHiJVn4Md3nB9V8pGIstHxRj3tx4qL5FRRKuso94o0th/s908/20230204_112156.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="656" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTjjRwu3SrkyLnzfeG-ksGKVXWBiMp2lrjAhTTmtbgr8iW_uPpXwe5j0LFUPFycQh3uRoxvNGrCviR0gwCc9GNVb0yLHecI_62L1vG-zPk08Hgbe1CehxOHTxCPmdpLtu84-iFvSeQpkFiHiJVn4Md3nB9V8pGIstHxRj3tx4qL5FRRKuso94o0th/w462-h640/20230204_112156.jpg" width="462" /></a></div><br /><p>the left two aloes were in the salton seashore medium, the two on the right were in pure pumice. the roots that were in pumice look a bit better so it seems reasonable to say that with these two aloes, and in my relatively drier conditions, pumice is a bit more optimal than the salton seashore. but perhaps in wetter conditions the seashore medium would be a bit more optimal.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p>here are some random sidewalk succulents...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdF3gFisyhwunUYUZLJJZtnzqbzj4b9APJzZZSRnUx7GGgH16FBvzwBuMPeMdwu3UQrvCY4tQQDUqiMrLpmmb5ZksBPilRAb1NVPlX-mLHrh6B5tYNB32vO96ma39Taab9dOYYdrglwzEQnJ1cRRmID8A1XsXhcQ90O4mU0eeUocS5_b55co_DOUii/s908/20230101_181611.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="681" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdF3gFisyhwunUYUZLJJZtnzqbzj4b9APJzZZSRnUx7GGgH16FBvzwBuMPeMdwu3UQrvCY4tQQDUqiMrLpmmb5ZksBPilRAb1NVPlX-mLHrh6B5tYNB32vO96ma39Taab9dOYYdrglwzEQnJ1cRRmID8A1XsXhcQ90O4mU0eeUocS5_b55co_DOUii/w480-h640/20230101_181611.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>no drainage. suboptimal right? well, at least during winter when it rains here. </p><p>here are some tillandsia aeranthos that volunteered on chairs at loran whitelock's place in eagle rock...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_dbIVepVuTvrRBNpuBg51Hkpa15I-1Rq1-76dxEQo4ioNy0HHPgRZcevJwTAkOIVv5Zy3aMzPG3k_cOKMZ5zQ1hU_jjx8HEKBHNGz9kAz3rBdmRmuuJlEh8MySTm1_Djspt72PlXb7S-IiYouQElCY-Mf88fgCPabcufzJLYSg1gwEQQytpj1D3bK/s1210/039.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1210" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_dbIVepVuTvrRBNpuBg51Hkpa15I-1Rq1-76dxEQo4ioNy0HHPgRZcevJwTAkOIVv5Zy3aMzPG3k_cOKMZ5zQ1hU_jjx8HEKBHNGz9kAz3rBdmRmuuJlEh8MySTm1_Djspt72PlXb7S-IiYouQElCY-Mf88fgCPabcufzJLYSg1gwEQQytpj1D3bK/w400-h300/039.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>those chairs as they are would certainly be suboptimal pots for most other plants. epiphytes are fun.</p><p>20 years ago at the ucla botanical garden i saw a rhipsalis growing from a staghorn growing on a tree...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGbBI3LvACNqj0fq4te4sPHjKV0HjieNKUm8xhUNCzvpt0Jrrl-xpADO5iAZHoeM5XWTNXJRX0CpaWX_cbKb089NU_Wy4BLtGxWXKmFe8lkabQ3uieVJ9Vdp4ZXGZK27WSL1SzaNxnGvYY7QJV0ySCVKh-aVs1x4qQT8-wPrHNgftFkEyaOGHvSVa/s908/Rhipsaliswhole.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="681" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGbBI3LvACNqj0fq4te4sPHjKV0HjieNKUm8xhUNCzvpt0Jrrl-xpADO5iAZHoeM5XWTNXJRX0CpaWX_cbKb089NU_Wy4BLtGxWXKmFe8lkabQ3uieVJ9Vdp4ZXGZK27WSL1SzaNxnGvYY7QJV0ySCVKh-aVs1x4qQT8-wPrHNgftFkEyaOGHvSVa/w480-h640/Rhipsaliswhole.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>this might have been the 1st time that i encountered a platycerium functioning as a "pot". perhaps i assumed that stags only made good pots for epiphytes, but over the years i realized that even some terrestrial plants would happily grow in stags. </p><p>my friend jerry in eagle rock had a staghorn hanging directly above a rose bush. a tall rose stem managed to get enveloped by the stag which functioned as a perfect air-layer that the rose stem rooted into. when jerry moved the stag he cut the rose stem below the stag and now he has a rose growing solely in a stag...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbVX8MQceDp4K5Ed65ZV0yk4ZNTTEhL8zL1i5WDpVU3gBWMtHeDHK7Y7iCRvQ6WjBSPDvEN5BggpSN8ml8179qs7DSQK8mTaRgISUd7YW3A9rf-pbDTvVk34_PjBG33HhkKiezjSdz7BZglYt5gvFbiVkVCbXqOTWb9GM-d8Bpk-e3aqJPobeFzIJZ/s907/20220403_131815.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="793" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbVX8MQceDp4K5Ed65ZV0yk4ZNTTEhL8zL1i5WDpVU3gBWMtHeDHK7Y7iCRvQ6WjBSPDvEN5BggpSN8ml8179qs7DSQK8mTaRgISUd7YW3A9rf-pbDTvVk34_PjBG33HhkKiezjSdz7BZglYt5gvFbiVkVCbXqOTWb9GM-d8Bpk-e3aqJPobeFzIJZ/w560-h640/20220403_131815.jpg" width="560" /></a></div><br /><p>i visited andy's orchids a few years ago and noticed that he had a lemon or strawberry guava growing in a platycerium andinum that was growing on a palm...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyrgnC_gsKFPMwr7upnGxLfjLD-4-NwHrsu8f-x5KtNHqXvL7rjRaP0t9JJtcN3hxdb2AhrNe1X2s0SIVdDGuWlb6nADHYt3_OlrCZR0fRQBB9nWwi_KPuPoGOeyavgQjLYdx-No2zi6haQds2rxrbaWASwoQ527PEgPv6jgWsQG5VHi-1OvoTurIB/s4040/20190812_174523%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4040" data-original-width="2065" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyrgnC_gsKFPMwr7upnGxLfjLD-4-NwHrsu8f-x5KtNHqXvL7rjRaP0t9JJtcN3hxdb2AhrNe1X2s0SIVdDGuWlb6nADHYt3_OlrCZR0fRQBB9nWwi_KPuPoGOeyavgQjLYdx-No2zi6haQds2rxrbaWASwoQ527PEgPv6jgWsQG5VHi-1OvoTurIB/w327-h640/20190812_174523%20(1).jpg" width="327" /></a></div><br /><p>at the top you can see fruit developing! in theory all trees can be trained like cascade style bonsai, which in this case would make the guavas easier to pick.</p><p>stags can essentially transform any tree into a fruit tree. of course it's a bit difficult to imagine jackfruits dangling from a tree that is growing on a staghorn that is growing on another tree. i really don't know how much weight a stag on a tree can handle.</p><p>the "medium" that stags produce is perhaps most similar to peat, but it isn't nearly as dense. it holds moisture but also drains really well. </p><p>"moist but well-drained" seems kinda like a paradox but it's optimal for many, if not most, plants in many, if not most, conditions.</p><p>around a decade ago i bought a dendrobium aphyllum from a sale at the huntington. it grew quite well outside and each year it put on a nice show...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguckVsIvSMgu3BwYV5Ql4C9Lgbjy0bJZRafXeCwp8uO3gA7hu6VFWH1W-zuZCx66ZI5zeQrDpQrgXRlnhOsm4fk6ypuIsely3VnJVsMLe2kdRtP0n5EHPazOXCIs38s5Il-d8ZG0fxq2qOjhR14Gu4W-55v_4uLSZbWs4GyehuCDyl_Fk2sR10rGRy/s908/20160407_153737.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="511" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguckVsIvSMgu3BwYV5Ql4C9Lgbjy0bJZRafXeCwp8uO3gA7hu6VFWH1W-zuZCx66ZI5zeQrDpQrgXRlnhOsm4fk6ypuIsely3VnJVsMLe2kdRtP0n5EHPazOXCIs38s5Il-d8ZG0fxq2qOjhR14Gu4W-55v_4uLSZbWs4GyehuCDyl_Fk2sR10rGRy/w360-h640/20160407_153737.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><p>why, exactly, did it do so well? i'm guessing that it was a combination of 2 things...</p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>pumice</li><li>semi-hydro</li></ol><p></p><p>the result of this combo was "moist but well-drained" just like with the stag, but not equally so of course.</p><p>i can't take credit for either the pumice or semi-hydro since the orchid was in the same medium/pot that the huntington put it in. but i can take credit for occasionally adding osmocote and mostly remembering to water.</p><p>here's a pic of the same type of pot (with the same type of medium) but with a different plant (rhipsalis) also from the huntington...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIoAcw6z4AlrW1k0HodBGQdMTRBnzA_RVmPlhKcPSU4rKnemI5PHb7O5Mbhc6_pscslFNe_92yIYZP_Vo1f_KIWCRO6H_CE02P8ebfiVMKFRSJMYS31JIAO4-XwEw_pZWsgqmcl78Zezahb08w6E1fTaH-FLJKoLvvuFr7CFKwXptL1brtYkdgjZe/s908/20230128_205149.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="681" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIoAcw6z4AlrW1k0HodBGQdMTRBnzA_RVmPlhKcPSU4rKnemI5PHb7O5Mbhc6_pscslFNe_92yIYZP_Vo1f_KIWCRO6H_CE02P8ebfiVMKFRSJMYS31JIAO4-XwEw_pZWsgqmcl78Zezahb08w6E1fTaH-FLJKoLvvuFr7CFKwXptL1brtYkdgjZe/w480-h640/20230128_205149.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>as you can see the drainage holes are slightly higher than the bottom of the pot. </p><p>i ended up adopting pumice a lot sooner than semi-hydro. i vaguely remember finding the same type of pots online (<a href="https://hc-companies.com/product/euro-saucerless-hanging-basket/">this?</a>) but didn't buy them for some reason or another. maybe the price was too high? i don't remember ever looking for other types of semi-hydro pots.</p><p>at some point i started making my own pots for all the seeds i was sowing. i used smaller plastic water bottles. for each batch of seeds i would hedge my bets in terms of drainage holes and medium...<br /><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTks7ltyhsVfZazVtJdorawj7pgfzy0kzYvHTprY4ND48yY9IFbs_nG15LWEdo_ZlRbYPIV5Fy-hOrcbPOz81FyLufCDoo5zvEWiKm3DKdwEq8Y834H5pOdFlY-x12L4MaNa2yWOT9td21zA9F_zRnBEMDMpVox4XtAUmmm_xiL1BKVUQGq8tdXoI/s1507/20160515_182655.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="1507" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTks7ltyhsVfZazVtJdorawj7pgfzy0kzYvHTprY4ND48yY9IFbs_nG15LWEdo_ZlRbYPIV5Fy-hOrcbPOz81FyLufCDoo5zvEWiKm3DKdwEq8Y834H5pOdFlY-x12L4MaNa2yWOT9td21zA9F_zRnBEMDMpVox4XtAUmmm_xiL1BKVUQGq8tdXoI/w640-h330/20160515_182655.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><br />heh, this batch from 2016 was a rather extreme hedge in terms of medium. i think that i was trying to find the optimal medium for seeds of reed-stem epidendrum orchids. it's one of the few orchids with seeds that have enough nutrients to germinate on their own. </p><p>i'm guessing that on every third pot i cut the drainage holes higher up. </p><p>for a few more years i continued splitting seeds between semi-hydro pots and regular pots, but then one time the only bromeliad seedling to survive from a batch of seeds was in a semi-hydro pot...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_ZgEFEv6OnbrGgF7kjxnoqcTL3qTFnxlweWl001odo6Z6schuYqEzpZ4M_gabnxmi-T-c4i867StF-aSAmWU5rLe8-ihikNVCDJmVx_S-Zx-ytDpSd_V6i4fkVScUo7z2wOVQ0lGYiKWTiwIKxb_yF6vcNnDTqTDt8fcD4Qmzr_mAklauoLp75sk/s907/20191120_011230.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="523" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_ZgEFEv6OnbrGgF7kjxnoqcTL3qTFnxlweWl001odo6Z6schuYqEzpZ4M_gabnxmi-T-c4i867StF-aSAmWU5rLe8-ihikNVCDJmVx_S-Zx-ytDpSd_V6i4fkVScUo7z2wOVQ0lGYiKWTiwIKxb_yF6vcNnDTqTDt8fcD4Qmzr_mAklauoLp75sk/s16000/20191120_011230.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>since then all the pots i've made have been semi-hydro.</p><p>admittedly, correlation does not mean causation. perhaps this seedling was simply better adapted to my conditions than its siblings. or perhaps it was located in a marginally better microhabitat than its siblings. </p><p>i start nearly all my seeds indoors in sealed zip lock bags, so adequate moisture is less of an issue, at least initially. but it's definitely an issue once i remove the seedlings from the bags and put them outdoors. generally i can be fairly consistent about watering, especially during summer. but the rest of the year i might skip a watering or two for something like this blog entry for example. however there are so many other factors involved, such as light, temps and fertilizer, that it's hard to definitively determine the usefulness of semi-hydro.</p><p>it's certainly an interesting situation though. all the pots i make are semi-hydro but, except for the hanging huntington plants, virtually all the plants i buy come in regular pots...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78vku8ozsB0RVKTGuzOEXONFmJkZmCd3tzVw6D9OWb_n-shG0dPM1oMx8U7LxfsTrAD3bzGgETc26uVX-LIpu5G2kwOE6l_9TYxD8phAHtHUQP5-6z4cVbI-GNoEI-i2vFlkZacsyf6hWT20hlPsaQniC7FG5X-RVmgDOyIx_hnwz9QP8tEldBT9x/s1210/20220319_001722.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1210" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78vku8ozsB0RVKTGuzOEXONFmJkZmCd3tzVw6D9OWb_n-shG0dPM1oMx8U7LxfsTrAD3bzGgETc26uVX-LIpu5G2kwOE6l_9TYxD8phAHtHUQP5-6z4cVbI-GNoEI-i2vFlkZacsyf6hWT20hlPsaQniC7FG5X-RVmgDOyIx_hnwz9QP8tEldBT9x/w640-h480/20220319_001722.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>the variety of drainage holes is fascinating. </p><p>if we think in terms of natural selection, and assume that semi-hydro is optimal, then why haven't drainage holes marginally moved accordingly? confounding factors muddying the waters? </p><p></p><blockquote>As well might it be said, that of two trees, sprung from the same stock one cannot be taller than another but from greater vigor in the original seedling. Is nothing to be attributed to soil, nothing to climate, nothing to difference of exposure - has no storm swept over the one and not the other, no lightning scathed it, no beast browsed on it, no insects preyed on it, no passing stranger stripped off its leaves or its bark? If the trees grew near together, may not the one which, by whatever accident, grew up first, have retarded the other's development by its shade? - J.S. Mill</blockquote><p></p><p>"all else being equal" aka ceteris paribus is often theoretically claimed in economics, but outside of laboratory conditions it is virtually impossible to attain. but this doesn't mean that it's impossible to learn from informal experiments.</p><p>not sure exactly when but, thanks to a good friend, i also started sometimes using bigger water bottles...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Q_vuUS3cqFRi7uofUd4dB0_UgvYlNTgKX_Ytr06msLrboVbtIkFKpJNGmMN_8Huj1Pz8Ndl-m8GcuJNdvxGCWs6-uTnm0JeE6SMZ6tQ1WQWw4L5d-oKJNdqRlZqFdg3ntftbsRIymR9tX2vxLlzCrRyuKnRvWPSj8uvv5OMXZgGaFaz7KMyurhWv/s908/20230204_084430.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="681" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Q_vuUS3cqFRi7uofUd4dB0_UgvYlNTgKX_Ytr06msLrboVbtIkFKpJNGmMN_8Huj1Pz8Ndl-m8GcuJNdvxGCWs6-uTnm0JeE6SMZ6tQ1WQWw4L5d-oKJNdqRlZqFdg3ntftbsRIymR9tX2vxLlzCrRyuKnRvWPSj8uvv5OMXZgGaFaz7KMyurhWv/w480-h640/20230204_084430.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>a durian seed from a store bought fruit wasn't too irradiated to germinate. it's in a 50 oz water bottle, 3 of which fit perfectly in a 2 gallon zip lock bag. in this case though i'm going to quickly need a bigger bag.</p><p>here's another very pleasant surprise...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdIv9QkklyFey6RJo7oFQX9GQmMMo8ubBMErn1JCBpN8eCGKJt2R2zPi2XCHZd5LEtVZB7_yjar1huwANv-aZAYThPMvMUsVLo7DCE9YOx9yNwRYNy3-ARZtvHd9xN3PxRhc8EElMA4LQWAZJOsuHBGZfamsn1wlODnrv2vVUVvZjt0rZeGVWGXOe/s907/20230206_143213.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="873" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdIv9QkklyFey6RJo7oFQX9GQmMMo8ubBMErn1JCBpN8eCGKJt2R2zPi2XCHZd5LEtVZB7_yjar1huwANv-aZAYThPMvMUsVLo7DCE9YOx9yNwRYNy3-ARZtvHd9xN3PxRhc8EElMA4LQWAZJOsuHBGZfamsn1wlODnrv2vVUVvZjt0rZeGVWGXOe/w616-h640/20230206_143213.jpg" width="616" /></a></div><br /><p>it's a jackfruit seed starting to germinate alongside the very rare <a href="https://hapajoesnursery.com/products/eugenia-tinctoria">eugenia tinctoria</a>. i always hedge my bets when i sow seeds.</p><p>here's a better pic of the bottle...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVxXIWgPPIebU1EAeEsevDhOD9Fnm4rglpEjk-CkxTHfFaINizxK0mVZUX0RWwYR1i-YI0Gimqtnub9CQpsGfxHCrkYLjS_Qn446_LX3Hjams9l2xu2pc1yWF8PspcCV587xt1i0UCr_srBu5BoDe_lAcl0EjOL2_zBBYW1Zj0nwVWVfHAL2ZIjSX/s907/20230129_010422.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="591" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVxXIWgPPIebU1EAeEsevDhOD9Fnm4rglpEjk-CkxTHfFaINizxK0mVZUX0RWwYR1i-YI0Gimqtnub9CQpsGfxHCrkYLjS_Qn446_LX3Hjams9l2xu2pc1yWF8PspcCV587xt1i0UCr_srBu5BoDe_lAcl0EjOL2_zBBYW1Zj0nwVWVfHAL2ZIjSX/w418-h640/20230129_010422.jpg" width="418" /></a></div><br /><p>this is a recent pic of a palmer mango seedling on the left and a champagne mango seedling on the right.</p><p>sadly this was not a side-by-side experiment. i just put them side-by-side for the sake of pot comparison.</p><p>right after taking this pic i noticed the dust on the palmer seedling which i tried to remove with the spray from a hose nozzle. unfortunately the setting was wrong. the palmer seedling fell over and the top portion broke off. tall pots are top heavy.</p><p>i grafted the top of the palmer onto a noid root stock and decided to "approach graft" the bottom portion onto the champagne, which i potted up 1st...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjMZYoIcUI2_J-9B4vk_ODJt1VLrehHSpYE4GEaUlqSolzD6W8dyqHdJe_cYlk5xVw4qa-AtJHaiWqlEAKaYBDFgEV2J-VMNNtRe7th6QM8bajWF-MqeI7EDORjfc2qp8qTKKzTJgZn-1_IrrAlKI1nYs0i9s4VC9NpZMLcsXgYrGdAC6q_3h4srY/s908/20230130_120943.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="676" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjMZYoIcUI2_J-9B4vk_ODJt1VLrehHSpYE4GEaUlqSolzD6W8dyqHdJe_cYlk5xVw4qa-AtJHaiWqlEAKaYBDFgEV2J-VMNNtRe7th6QM8bajWF-MqeI7EDORjfc2qp8qTKKzTJgZn-1_IrrAlKI1nYs0i9s4VC9NpZMLcsXgYrGdAC6q_3h4srY/w476-h640/20230130_120943.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><br /><p>i got the idea of multi-rootstock grafting from simon_grow's thread on the topic... <a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=20852.0" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">california super mango rootstock experiment</span></a>. in this case the palmer seedling is well-established with a decent root system, but it's stressed out from losing half of its photosynthetic power. the champagne mango, on the other hand, still has all its leaves but it's stressed out from being repotted, and it has a much smaller root system. in theory they can help meet each other's needs. they can fill each other's holes...</p><p></p><blockquote>It is these needs which are essentially deficits in the organism, empty holes, so to speak, which must be filled up for health’s sake, and furthermore must be filled from without by human beings other than the subject... - Abraham Maslow, Toward a Psychology of Being</blockquote><p></p><p>individually the two mango seedlings would compete, but when combined they should cooperate, hopefully.</p><p>in the tall, black, square pot next to the conjoined mango is a garcinia madruno seedling that i bought from <a class="bbc_link" href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=49237.0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">bestday</a>. it's still in his medium and pot, which he purchased from <a href="https://stuewe.com/">stuewe and sons</a>. </p><p>here's a comparison of the drainage holes...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9FXI3eaNQVTrjsn6T2ekhTrd-V6nbSQNDF8CE3O_vbpnSpA_3xKu9qszAXAqQ4__cmIGOyKjpwLh-aWe7iUtOoJwnwECoPzu-bT7iku6iM0Dn1YYJW9iRb0fXg0GwwRKsXgdfyym_lPROFTQn87mzOXpWjtU6D-G_qo7Av20F5pQ1SpvE_jr9Ygx/s1505/20230130_121219.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="1505" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9FXI3eaNQVTrjsn6T2ekhTrd-V6nbSQNDF8CE3O_vbpnSpA_3xKu9qszAXAqQ4__cmIGOyKjpwLh-aWe7iUtOoJwnwECoPzu-bT7iku6iM0Dn1YYJW9iRb0fXg0GwwRKsXgdfyym_lPROFTQn87mzOXpWjtU6D-G_qo7Av20F5pQ1SpvE_jr9Ygx/w640-h386/20230130_121219.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>the medium doesn't fall out of the stuewe pot because of... magic. the medium doesn't fall out of my pot because... it can't. actually that drainage hole is a bit more narrow than normal. no two holes i cut are exactly alike but here are some that are a bit more typical for the larger water bottles...<br /><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-sHP7GdPW_-4jC3mDg4lmsR1klTJJfAERHoqTHhaDzkdxRsA5mLwQy0ipcx6GUFMjqo2_1WtFCaJv7ISuva7_-vcMuhEzT7FgwIVUhzN7dmiIFmshiLas6x51iwqpwINN7ITxLv6xWVHvALCHKHSSaTV6x5O2qHChqbU9c_FdQtv8XD-hQaE2FsG/s1210/20230129_141144.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1210" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-sHP7GdPW_-4jC3mDg4lmsR1klTJJfAERHoqTHhaDzkdxRsA5mLwQy0ipcx6GUFMjqo2_1WtFCaJv7ISuva7_-vcMuhEzT7FgwIVUhzN7dmiIFmshiLas6x51iwqpwINN7ITxLv6xWVHvALCHKHSSaTV6x5O2qHChqbU9c_FdQtv8XD-hQaE2FsG/w640-h480/20230129_141144.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>there's a pretty big difference between the holes on my pots and the holes on stuewe's pot in terms of size, shape, quantity and location.</p><p>i considered buying stuewe's pots for my 10 yangmei (myrica rubra) trees from <a href="https://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=20852.0">the most recent group order</a>, but i decided to use my larger water bottle pots for the 7 smallest trees and 1 gallon pots for the other 3. i cut extra semi-hydro holes in 4 of the water bottle pots which went into the smaller greenhouse...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqIohm1GWMQWTmaMaRCO-wg7uKIjFKpbDqJ4043hkzqiD0oVB5J5NvxgrsHxCC4jjQSKg6omddGzC_C5bYo9j3XvuhUtlfSiPlVZzI3RHfoIdTuNlmjpypf2Zsu8cyJTwRHSKMRJYv3chfWYx6VVyZx5S7BE9C0D5U2R-aQb3Hbhh6vuGXBDvdD7aJ/s908/20230127_120517.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="681" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqIohm1GWMQWTmaMaRCO-wg7uKIjFKpbDqJ4043hkzqiD0oVB5J5NvxgrsHxCC4jjQSKg6omddGzC_C5bYo9j3XvuhUtlfSiPlVZzI3RHfoIdTuNlmjpypf2Zsu8cyJTwRHSKMRJYv3chfWYx6VVyZx5S7BE9C0D5U2R-aQb3Hbhh6vuGXBDvdD7aJ/w480-h640/20230127_120517.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>i gave them extra fast draining medium since all the other plants in this greenhouse are mounted and watered more frequently.</p><p>the rest of the yangmeis went into the larger greenhouse which is warmer, brighter and less humid. their medium is a bit slower draining. it will be interesting to see which group does better.</p><p>here's a recent pic of some jackfruit seedlings in larger water bottle pots...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKau4P1vIHWYPD4Iv7MtGE8IuGTocGsXSwukuu9EifUQ7c3PTvsRAKdBr3GBXtoVieIe_9ecXBgHO9Z0VzJ3t0wnAqM7zgekDC6-IL24-171jH6gUaWCqAEC1JV9vRryY1nD5_hdWCsw0JFTYFdqR8Fm4WGcK2pxEgygd3Ma-UgOnnlnxIJooA0UgX/s1210/20230127_133056.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1210" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKau4P1vIHWYPD4Iv7MtGE8IuGTocGsXSwukuu9EifUQ7c3PTvsRAKdBr3GBXtoVieIe_9ecXBgHO9Z0VzJ3t0wnAqM7zgekDC6-IL24-171jH6gUaWCqAEC1JV9vRryY1nD5_hdWCsw0JFTYFdqR8Fm4WGcK2pxEgygd3Ma-UgOnnlnxIJooA0UgX/w640-h480/20230127_133056.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>for comparison, here's a pic of an earlier batch of jackfruit seedlings a year ago...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8OuDT76apeQuc7Fd2fKbQ1I0H0S7A9CMmKfQLTUxT5BMuJ0CZkjswDo56_TB6SEnILVzIi79vQzrTJ8tFvTExFmzUetr01W2jUzaR7bdxYQ76wIQT1-CJ0oQND-x4qkuWn-f2_AWbEdYA2QdLAh0ls0YlHguYSJ6CjDL9BhTcxDleGifUaXRHOdM_/s1210/20220222_143201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1210" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8OuDT76apeQuc7Fd2fKbQ1I0H0S7A9CMmKfQLTUxT5BMuJ0CZkjswDo56_TB6SEnILVzIi79vQzrTJ8tFvTExFmzUetr01W2jUzaR7bdxYQ76wIQT1-CJ0oQND-x4qkuWn-f2_AWbEdYA2QdLAh0ls0YlHguYSJ6CjDL9BhTcxDleGifUaXRHOdM_/w640-h480/20220222_143201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>most of the jackfruit seedlings in this earlier batch made it to summer, but none of them survived my two week absence during november. it was too much dryness rather than too much cold that killed them. of course i should have potted them up in the summer.</p><p>i don't think it's just the rainforest seedlings that appreciate having a built in reservoir of water...<br /><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabVpBETQH6ZCqH3ecT-hUzMCp84zHn_xRd3ZO1nnFlC_cIxOFUj3ibCosmugut-kBhKMCIdNm6_8BMCU2IjXEb6--Hc3_vBu5a8I-GkPrBp97xqvbZP2l26TBW4kMugppVxCm9jfhpqNKf7etXMEWVlQh6SeFHBssgyBixQsnWpv3_dLFVMwJs3Jl/s907/20220330_144517.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="516" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabVpBETQH6ZCqH3ecT-hUzMCp84zHn_xRd3ZO1nnFlC_cIxOFUj3ibCosmugut-kBhKMCIdNm6_8BMCU2IjXEb6--Hc3_vBu5a8I-GkPrBp97xqvbZP2l26TBW4kMugppVxCm9jfhpqNKf7etXMEWVlQh6SeFHBssgyBixQsnWpv3_dLFVMwJs3Jl/w364-h640/20220330_144517.jpg" width="364" /></a></div><br /> <br />this aloe seedling was asking politely with its roots to be potted up, but the wait list is always very long. here are two aloe seedlings that i had just potted up...<br /><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oFbu4P5jVypvSKZcZDE0uj9yzz1OpTmSJFPycHsPLen0D_iEm4ODXV3Ojdt3ZM7V_pcOqmDJcfSEvYOahHfKDdJuB_NaSmhEudkfx2BurG16wjA_xLaqZc_cs3-JsZMKMxeMPDWrClh-anHviFZf5uCRD5kYouS0e52urVyYb-OfU-YSpi8fbXqO/s908/20220226_221752.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="851" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oFbu4P5jVypvSKZcZDE0uj9yzz1OpTmSJFPycHsPLen0D_iEm4ODXV3Ojdt3ZM7V_pcOqmDJcfSEvYOahHfKDdJuB_NaSmhEudkfx2BurG16wjA_xLaqZc_cs3-JsZMKMxeMPDWrClh-anHviFZf5uCRD5kYouS0e52urVyYb-OfU-YSpi8fbXqO/w600-h640/20220226_221752.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><br /><p>pretty sure that the left seedling is an aloe bakeri hybrid while the other might be an aloe africana hybrid.</p><p>it's hard to say what difference it makes that the plastic is clear. of course it's nice being able to see root development, but i'm sure that it can get too hot in direct summer sun. in shade, algae can grow which might not be the best thing.</p><p>one time when i visited my friend jerry i was very surprised to see one of my fav epiphytic ferns, lemmaphyllum microphyllum, actually growing on the inside of one of the small water bottles i had given him...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBe3d3OCFkKLE275V9RRwsWu0RM1XkzJkyPoYYW0wa3En01SCmu_mgXz3xTR6jIpLU9eS8V07XLFQCh-sjHfKS3pxULFxqAEPuFtCahUZpgk4R-YP1Bjww0Rw4miCD4xY7n3usz6h9UrPo45e6WGZHyzt1hSa6D-af8oOxB2WBLyBTkvMdVaePBa0g/s908/20200320_154549.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="681" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBe3d3OCFkKLE275V9RRwsWu0RM1XkzJkyPoYYW0wa3En01SCmu_mgXz3xTR6jIpLU9eS8V07XLFQCh-sjHfKS3pxULFxqAEPuFtCahUZpgk4R-YP1Bjww0Rw4miCD4xY7n3usz6h9UrPo45e6WGZHyzt1hSa6D-af8oOxB2WBLyBTkvMdVaePBa0g/w480-h640/20200320_154549.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>ehhhh? could this neat trick be used to create something awesome?</p><p>here was another surprise, albeit less neat...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAH9rqV4c_L_-huxWFMPqBaRRwX1QGG8ruc2Rw4pz2yNF-NIlkRO8LhpbVTC4XmTCXiBczd1EamdiV8vKEHypzlCYydn0XAA4U9marEWbzUQdBMNRPSur9Ef3jImvLKTT6ET_yxPcdd0Lb5O8KEfqV0erkuIf0zyHRTFBdiZBPyneyJKbw0wJisiL/s908/20181115_121253.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="681" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAH9rqV4c_L_-huxWFMPqBaRRwX1QGG8ruc2Rw4pz2yNF-NIlkRO8LhpbVTC4XmTCXiBczd1EamdiV8vKEHypzlCYydn0XAA4U9marEWbzUQdBMNRPSur9Ef3jImvLKTT6ET_yxPcdd0Lb5O8KEfqV0erkuIf0zyHRTFBdiZBPyneyJKbw0wJisiL/w480-h640/20181115_121253.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>i remember recycling some medium and filtering out the small stuff, but evidently the seed of this lucky canna was too big.</p><p>a friend of mine in inglewood has staghorns volunteer in drainage holes...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-HASdDr-C28k2vbFOm4KVPISYF71Vm925ABPVyHehQ0l8UfOA-j2VZgXz4JCW0N6znRlnHqztB-7Ov-BYLSseD7t7a_h8LaiE74N0AZJt5WbYYCTgGknOaQEqTMRQ8DCiiogLYY_A3q07LCg_-8OSHUUrYMmPwiOFZItU2Y143Uz6PkCmUZnTbV7/s1182/20220515_143817.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1182" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-HASdDr-C28k2vbFOm4KVPISYF71Vm925ABPVyHehQ0l8UfOA-j2VZgXz4JCW0N6znRlnHqztB-7Ov-BYLSseD7t7a_h8LaiE74N0AZJt5WbYYCTgGknOaQEqTMRQ8DCiiogLYY_A3q07LCg_-8OSHUUrYMmPwiOFZItU2Y143Uz6PkCmUZnTbV7/w640-h492/20220515_143817.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>even a platyerium superbum...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCdhbfK4f57ybtse_TCRuH0qtV_bIupdKA9goghnzj7qvSFG1golXTTj-GU3diqGAKCHUgI_QmsB5Px_TQxNaCTJ67tEfY_sPKfz-9d2mRE-SoqFYoMrk4_UGF9J11_AX5_ME06-0UJ2uRreYjCpqemuzwsXCpRIX45y1dxxaCE1pCOSRlFk6QOH9/s907/20221218_121946.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="576" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCdhbfK4f57ybtse_TCRuH0qtV_bIupdKA9goghnzj7qvSFG1golXTTj-GU3diqGAKCHUgI_QmsB5Px_TQxNaCTJ67tEfY_sPKfz-9d2mRE-SoqFYoMrk4_UGF9J11_AX5_ME06-0UJ2uRreYjCpqemuzwsXCpRIX45y1dxxaCE1pCOSRlFk6QOH9/w406-h640/20221218_121946.jpg" width="406" /></a></div><br /><p>what would be the optimal pot to maximize staghorn recruitment? i'm guessing semi-hydro, but no idea how many holes. naturally the more holes the pot has the faster the medium would dry out.</p><p>back to the topic of stags as pots...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4scaGmUMcEKZX6yWsC76S6IJ0CjkoXhX8ClELSr_R0Xj5LVIyMhftEUZ5IYUcO5nMudzHcAAlv1NEYHctVGthjKgas-CNGaLa-CQbwgVwU-3Rizzjyo4d7xgS0xvMXOylLFWqn_ACtOsc1rRACYalWBCaAPOrwIKWQYcN6JUELcDoUkIngtnbNFoO/s1210/20200507_230821.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1210" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4scaGmUMcEKZX6yWsC76S6IJ0CjkoXhX8ClELSr_R0Xj5LVIyMhftEUZ5IYUcO5nMudzHcAAlv1NEYHctVGthjKgas-CNGaLa-CQbwgVwU-3Rizzjyo4d7xgS0xvMXOylLFWqn_ACtOsc1rRACYalWBCaAPOrwIKWQYcN6JUELcDoUkIngtnbNFoO/w640-h480/20200507_230821.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>those beautiful pink root tips are from a ficus thonningi that i combined with a platycerium willinckii...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfvD1Pe8AShpYCtaH_pXfsw5HHd2_FF0nRrXeVAT1sPHu_Rs11TzhzxxmcRfzB7i-ZpUSrY-_FnXX3C4kCxdJo2paHgJ_uhuJc1xTiyXslwPHh-X8TxG6ZrOwNsBZJjYcSBadd-bO6zYlPVB7oZ3Woa31anFDOQjLPhTx9ZJ6IoUypN7Z0cbCcjlJ/s907/20210721_234107.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="586" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfvD1Pe8AShpYCtaH_pXfsw5HHd2_FF0nRrXeVAT1sPHu_Rs11TzhzxxmcRfzB7i-ZpUSrY-_FnXX3C4kCxdJo2paHgJ_uhuJc1xTiyXslwPHh-X8TxG6ZrOwNsBZJjYcSBadd-bO6zYlPVB7oZ3Woa31anFDOQjLPhTx9ZJ6IoUypN7Z0cbCcjlJ/w414-h640/20210721_234107.jpg" width="414" /></a></div><br /><p>can't see the ficus that well, unlike the kalanchoe uniflora, which should definitely be added to every mossy mount.</p><p>should aesthetics factor much into pot optimization? it's impossible for a traditional pot to match the beauty of a stag, but i certainly did appreciate these pots made by barry fisher...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtboKXVVE9aHznOJS5jDhTY2bTVVV12PhAMHOcMpt1wR_nM1Lu494dp2kUf0rJDDi8KEgePr6o59diH0RrfJNJRtwTbgqndvYiEVZJs7zrQmYw-_trrzXQ-9OSINjxvB5qmh9-EGj6YxtabLrZd2pPR2LuwNAfXAKZTE2cZQ0tOtYdxEuYO2RxZiQ_/s1210/20181118_114157.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1210" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtboKXVVE9aHznOJS5jDhTY2bTVVV12PhAMHOcMpt1wR_nM1Lu494dp2kUf0rJDDi8KEgePr6o59diH0RrfJNJRtwTbgqndvYiEVZJs7zrQmYw-_trrzXQ-9OSINjxvB5qmh9-EGj6YxtabLrZd2pPR2LuwNAfXAKZTE2cZQ0tOtYdxEuYO2RxZiQ_/w640-h480/20181118_114157.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>perhaps this next piece was going to be made into a pot...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkvcU7go_Bm7teF2LWtroWtOQYELbHKZVcsMxfhoW-3e_H2PgalzztTU6fo9jlXJ8luKe3eRgMYoskMYCAbRhzhf3ajJ3g-zJilYBfPJ0gdVIOYDPdHljNQK4JrYZ1gJkMRnt3Q6tjeew_lzFWb2RoBUVnCG6MdFdk8efVAFtrECC9JM6HR1pAPdZ/s1210/20181118_122655.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1210" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkvcU7go_Bm7teF2LWtroWtOQYELbHKZVcsMxfhoW-3e_H2PgalzztTU6fo9jlXJ8luKe3eRgMYoskMYCAbRhzhf3ajJ3g-zJilYBfPJ0gdVIOYDPdHljNQK4JrYZ1gJkMRnt3Q6tjeew_lzFWb2RoBUVnCG6MdFdk8efVAFtrECC9JM6HR1pAPdZ/w640-h480/20181118_122655.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>his wife yvette was a really talented grower...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7HwNyY2gOmmqCLdV1bORzHvHtX5EfQ9TWRzZ4fzDTdu_9dQCN3v2ZbhWhv5gjAQSUX2STh_a6bMNc1ppf3rzi47PmIIc7Cy2A9SDz4Sx8Dm6hKxrb__ZLP5DMwiDIATIztVM27goKllN4_hUzbfaLXTw_Z-_jJcFU1XouhHcn8GS5GBfQjJ34FPU/s1341/20181118_102806.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1341" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7HwNyY2gOmmqCLdV1bORzHvHtX5EfQ9TWRzZ4fzDTdu_9dQCN3v2ZbhWhv5gjAQSUX2STh_a6bMNc1ppf3rzi47PmIIc7Cy2A9SDz4Sx8Dm6hKxrb__ZLP5DMwiDIATIztVM27goKllN4_hUzbfaLXTw_Z-_jJcFU1XouhHcn8GS5GBfQjJ34FPU/w640-h434/20181118_102806.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>does this begonia hydrocotylifolia on a rock count as semi-hydro? what kinda rock is that?</p><p>there's certainly more than one way to "pot" a plant. </p><p>earlier i noted that all the pots i make are semi-hydro but virtually all the plants i buy come in regular pots. i should also note that for larger plants i always use regular pots...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlpSt39f36DqK1J6ZLjCDaP4DmOUPkulN2pkowwh8ThM_wYuVuYE7WnrQp0uwzZAZVMHngpQOsW8pAMVg-6QSShgYGvBLgm-G88MuG69P33aodWhKVx-2urZJVyDypkAOfU_VraBGUrLQLBXTzVvhw7Fmg2zLDX5dLvihEW2CTFLFgEamzZu4Lmpg/s907/20230204_174027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="849" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlpSt39f36DqK1J6ZLjCDaP4DmOUPkulN2pkowwh8ThM_wYuVuYE7WnrQp0uwzZAZVMHngpQOsW8pAMVg-6QSShgYGvBLgm-G88MuG69P33aodWhKVx-2urZJVyDypkAOfU_VraBGUrLQLBXTzVvhw7Fmg2zLDX5dLvihEW2CTFLFgEamzZu4Lmpg/w600-h640/20230204_174027.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><br /><p>on the left is a myrica californica that i approach grafted a starter myrica cerifera onto. on the right is the same thing, but they are in the same pot, unlike the other two, which are in different pots.</p><p>none of the pots are semi-hydro. so why didn't i make or buy semi-hydro pots for these myricas? it's certainly the case that, all else being equal, a larger plant is more tolerant of drought than a smaller one. then again, the goal isn't to survive... it's to thrive. would there be more thriving if semi-hydro pots were the rule rather than the exception? all else being equal, maybe not because i get the feeling that more plants would rot, given that most mediums are relatively dense. but if mediums changed accordingly then it might be a different story.</p><p>it's certainly true that there's always room for improvement. the challenge is that it's not easy to pinpoint the source of improvement. if the two myricas in different pots do better than the two myricas in the same pot, it would be hard to say it was because they were in different pots. there are so many confounding factors.</p><p>a while back i made a pic to illustrate the idea of imperfect feedback...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7LxHwaZ2Y3efGa5iOkjqpaPw5nAxJkbAOei3x_GJwPpcVbsy_pHa6s2TnqZ80f9okUkb56-JeO9hq2bzz3w5dE9garzpnftvzjzfI50lI3jEteflhxpQSRIKcXZjVOjndYQKjD_KLEU/s500/Albert_Einstein_mirror_hair_comb_reflection_feedback_loop_accurate_distortion_pragmatarianism.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="500" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7LxHwaZ2Y3efGa5iOkjqpaPw5nAxJkbAOei3x_GJwPpcVbsy_pHa6s2TnqZ80f9okUkb56-JeO9hq2bzz3w5dE9garzpnftvzjzfI50lI3jEteflhxpQSRIKcXZjVOjndYQKjD_KLEU/s320/Albert_Einstein_mirror_hair_comb_reflection_feedback_loop_accurate_distortion_pragmatarianism.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>according to einstein's mirror his hair wasn't disheveled at all. everyone could see that his hair was crazy but nobody said anything. </p><p>prior to the myricas being conjoined, cerifera could see that californica's hair was crazy but it didn't say anything. but when they were conjoined, californica could see itself through cerifera's eyes.</p><p>now if cerifera happens to find a buried treasure, such as a slow release granule, it can't hide its discovery from californica, even if their roots are in separate pots.</p><p><b>cerifera</b>: eureka!<br /><b>californica</b>: i see what you found!<br /><b>cerifera</b>: problem is that i can't use it since i'm from florida but now i'm in california in the middle of winter. it's way too cold for me to grow now.<br /><b>california</b>: don't worry, i'll put that fertilizer to good use since this is the perfect growing temperature for me. but i'm going to direct plenty of my energy to the growth of your roots so you will hopefully find more buried treasure.<br /><b>cerifera</b>: oooo, and then i'll have plenty of roots by the time the weather warms up. </p><p>is this really how it works? can cerifera really grow roots when it's too cold for it to grow shoots?</p><p>i have a third cerifera/californica combo that also includes a small piece of rubra that i cleft grafted onto the californica. what does their conversation sound like?</p><p>my body consists of around 100 trillion cells. what does our conversation sound like? i contain multitudes, but i'm coherent, kinda.</p><p>the tropical fruit forum (tff) does not contain multitudes, maybe it contains 100s? each member lives somewhere different, has different conditions, tries growing different fruits, uses different techniques... we are all so different. we are coherent to the extent that we communicate with each other. better communication would make us more coherent.</p><p>one of the most important thing we can communicate is when we find treasure. like when you see a sign for a plant yard sale and discover this...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AxnSrGsrgrtHqKTDGfJKIrAfXUsiom_iOvu0UEhaeu76l3fI6f-Z2o9DfTN_wUtfD8nZJRePVyP1HFCOoXcKK7Qrm5oD9Wp4fMKyf_E5TRuDerMK-yY-GHOdLdVbDAm3Pry_SEk3q9TsV60AUk5qpKJSLfHoq1Un5XkBQhw6L5ktNY4huRvxC3nD/s907/20221030_094751.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="810" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AxnSrGsrgrtHqKTDGfJKIrAfXUsiom_iOvu0UEhaeu76l3fI6f-Z2o9DfTN_wUtfD8nZJRePVyP1HFCOoXcKK7Qrm5oD9Wp4fMKyf_E5TRuDerMK-yY-GHOdLdVbDAm3Pry_SEk3q9TsV60AUk5qpKJSLfHoq1Un5XkBQhw6L5ktNY4huRvxC3nD/w572-h640/20221030_094751.jpg" width="572" /></a></div><br /><p>a randomly variegated stem of hollyleaf cherry (prunus ilicifolia)! woah! then you have a dilemma... moral or economic? do you try to honestly communicate its value or do you try to pretend that it's kinda pretty and offer $10 bucks for it? </p><p>the correct answer is that you should honestly communicate the value of the variegated cherry. so when, exactly, should we not honestly communicate value? </p><p>in traditional economics "deals" (aka consumer surplus) are a good thing. but every time you get a deal you're dishonestly communicating value. the better the deal the greater your deception. traditional economics isn't coherent.</p><p>if the tff used donations to communicate the value of topics, then admittedly we wouldn't be perfectly honest with each other, but we'd be a lot more honest than we are now. the result would be a much more coherent community.</p><p>*******************************</p><p>update: 9 feb</p><p>decided to try inarching a soursop seedling and a cherimoya seedling. naturally these seedlings were mixed in with other seedlings...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YlbXKW4gVa9agYhn2e_mP6aKRU5DVP-WEcGzTJvSL-cQe60gOnGxCXDMN-W4d_2DaVQc2CW0Fcg-0yFLQQzHI-05VZDVhAF28sIq06hZfiu4he8bLKLMfwGksY4mYXLE5Qv5OE71LBO5nVlL_fuTCCeLPTNGQJZ6luDPvw9sEnYWUmByWk_UObiR/s907/20230209_100408.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="504" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YlbXKW4gVa9agYhn2e_mP6aKRU5DVP-WEcGzTJvSL-cQe60gOnGxCXDMN-W4d_2DaVQc2CW0Fcg-0yFLQQzHI-05VZDVhAF28sIq06hZfiu4he8bLKLMfwGksY4mYXLE5Qv5OE71LBO5nVlL_fuTCCeLPTNGQJZ6luDPvw9sEnYWUmByWk_UObiR/w356-h640/20230209_100408.jpg" width="356" /></a></div><br /><p>the white pot, which was in a greenhouse, included spanish lime, soursop and panache fig. the semi-hydro pot, which was outside, included mandelo, cherimoya and surinam cherry. i removed the seedlings from the pots and inspected the roots that had been in the resevoir of the semi-hydro pot...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3Q5bbQjL0nfJkbtyXQUtlQTFf1vFfeEO5tsNPQMIzIlskGTMtu6h8due_xRBMN0OFj5rUFO78nDkTTzcPgi8KHDkgvKJCzMHNwWixXdhW4ryiW240vLYEsHim-RBfUw1v2Z3izz0L0t58QhB8FOgyqvDzflDtpJAQ1jpB1JSDL-TjYiH-2fm4csc/s907/20230209_122122.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="789" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3Q5bbQjL0nfJkbtyXQUtlQTFf1vFfeEO5tsNPQMIzIlskGTMtu6h8due_xRBMN0OFj5rUFO78nDkTTzcPgi8KHDkgvKJCzMHNwWixXdhW4ryiW240vLYEsHim-RBfUw1v2Z3izz0L0t58QhB8FOgyqvDzflDtpJAQ1jpB1JSDL-TjYiH-2fm4csc/w556-h640/20230209_122122.jpg" width="556" /></a></div><br /><p>here were the seedlings laid out...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkf6C-vqT4PkvdY0EmffwybnZ-aJ4fSKCqOmx_jNMk1_5gFVAIGUKGiarvqRQdQ4JDTTfdDIhV-lYMfGga9xnw_p65hHXokZHT4otNv615cQgWbxGSCzHNDhdel0e35LwnWlPh0S7xHU9W3Mmpx8v3yx1NTVqxudaKSfhyjUb9sR4qCuoEHl3WVy0x/s1263/20230209_122513.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="1263" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkf6C-vqT4PkvdY0EmffwybnZ-aJ4fSKCqOmx_jNMk1_5gFVAIGUKGiarvqRQdQ4JDTTfdDIhV-lYMfGga9xnw_p65hHXokZHT4otNv615cQgWbxGSCzHNDhdel0e35LwnWlPh0S7xHU9W3Mmpx8v3yx1NTVqxudaKSfhyjUb9sR4qCuoEHl3WVy0x/w640-h460/20230209_122513.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>from left to right, spanish lime, soursop, panache fig, mandelo, cherimoya and surinam cherry.</p><p>i inarched the soursop and cherimoya...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgy5N4JmFhGF1eELx00Z_rhxpItNFDPb79jt3A4y3nJYcyquuTRXGIBToI__cQ9XQzjOw7Zg7fbotcWYgxGenuh1PsVKtX5Q0CKTplF7ivJHTagF90C2rWImdK681tzzh4-64BOEvnlGmpxXp2-zu7asmDNJhvKOaRiqeeN7tAKLRIHSkb9v1El7Y-/s907/20230209_130416.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgy5N4JmFhGF1eELx00Z_rhxpItNFDPb79jt3A4y3nJYcyquuTRXGIBToI__cQ9XQzjOw7Zg7fbotcWYgxGenuh1PsVKtX5Q0CKTplF7ivJHTagF90C2rWImdK681tzzh4-64BOEvnlGmpxXp2-zu7asmDNJhvKOaRiqeeN7tAKLRIHSkb9v1El7Y-/s16000/20230209_130416.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>it was a rather delicate procedure, hopefully the two patients will successfully combine.</p><p>*******************************</p><p>update: 31 mar</p><p>removed tape from soursop + cherimoya, garcinia pacuri + intermedia...<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskXWXjt-9Ni5sWNbabd9WNj3yT76reJmy43Hi7LuaAvkVQJwwJIQPitgVCcDigUvM8irkCyfAhx4SKLEE7Qfs5K7p3y4p4L7bCAe9RdFOC6jHvNIpvRAO9WwmDd37zV2olUFTiWW5NXylhHMAK3_ucH7ic03qKndSY0HhVTPDIzZbRXg148dw88z-/s907/20230331_134232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskXWXjt-9Ni5sWNbabd9WNj3yT76reJmy43Hi7LuaAvkVQJwwJIQPitgVCcDigUvM8irkCyfAhx4SKLEE7Qfs5K7p3y4p4L7bCAe9RdFOC6jHvNIpvRAO9WwmDd37zV2olUFTiWW5NXylhHMAK3_ucH7ic03qKndSY0HhVTPDIzZbRXg148dw88z-/s16000/20230331_134232.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Xerographicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978832439622230018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5189697546814101118.post-8100460760023071862022-06-07T14:19:00.002-07:002022-06-07T14:19:17.459-07:00Upcoming Fern And Exotic Plant Show<p>This Friday, Saturday and Sunday I'll be selling some plants at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/3228353600819772">Fern and Exotic Plant Show</a> which will be held at the Los Angeles Arboretum. </p><p>Naturally I'll be selling some mounts, for example...</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOp9SL7WbFfx5T1dETM46eeeymxRlRAazFN68TxR35WCB6oRfchMVgAKGGvw9F4QXODnnwAeTmylHH4P125LF3UdcUAyR-JmbAA2HpYt95CEy3dgVbi1uKiQavB7VGcV1-aHINSLRahFfV4zISOX3-808cIxioiK5pGhWZXpDW3QzQYhplX7yDX855" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="907" data-original-width="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOp9SL7WbFfx5T1dETM46eeeymxRlRAazFN68TxR35WCB6oRfchMVgAKGGvw9F4QXODnnwAeTmylHH4P125LF3UdcUAyR-JmbAA2HpYt95CEy3dgVbi1uKiQavB7VGcV1-aHINSLRahFfV4zISOX3-808cIxioiK5pGhWZXpDW3QzQYhplX7yDX855=s16000" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>This mount, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/VillageGreenThumbs/posts/1084144165794170/">which is up for auction</a>, includes...</p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Aeschynanthus bolero bicolore</li><li>Ceropegia woodii variegata</li><li>Dischidia oiantha</li><li>Hatiora epiphylloides ssp. bradei</li><li>Hatiora salicornioides fa. Bambusoides</li><li>Hoya BP-03</li><li>Hoya burtoniae? </li><li>Hoya engleriana</li><li>Hoya nummularioides</li><li>Microgramma squamulosa</li><li>Peperomia NOID 1</li><li>Peperomia NOID 2 </li><li>Philodendron paraiso verde (reverted)</li><li>Schlumbergera NOID </li></ol><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Here are some pics from previous shows...</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikX2WIunMxbvb_CtbJv_uHxQHa26A-tolaD8CA8VPqisRyw0gwIx07Y-T1WVNxUYuO20K-rNMWzMYw78qyojM2gIGJ1fzTBp7FdBwbryMchYXmgPhGMoksnwei9ZHanSZ98gvgm7HiaLQr1SW0j7kUwlU_ToLefmNaYHqb3Uxlnp7Mgg5Z1AOfoZdT/s4128/20180609_153754.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikX2WIunMxbvb_CtbJv_uHxQHa26A-tolaD8CA8VPqisRyw0gwIx07Y-T1WVNxUYuO20K-rNMWzMYw78qyojM2gIGJ1fzTBp7FdBwbryMchYXmgPhGMoksnwei9ZHanSZ98gvgm7HiaLQr1SW0j7kUwlU_ToLefmNaYHqb3Uxlnp7Mgg5Z1AOfoZdT/w480-h640/20180609_153754.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Outdoor grown Hoya revolubilis specimen, one of my fav fav Hoyas. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklI5DkthL19Qs6vvOMAaY_Hte9e1TQgO9jPB7N9s---xnA8LerEiNArwrnOrf1qQ3eYOlBEXftlkdeMFzIfs0kTN2IgNwMg0Q484yNrSXZX2hElmFg3nkQr9blRTwWidZ-QCHqrkfln_bBmHLUoZbbj_srNJbFZRIPG_mvk48FWGjuZb1SEvr3JqY/s4128/20180609_154444.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklI5DkthL19Qs6vvOMAaY_Hte9e1TQgO9jPB7N9s---xnA8LerEiNArwrnOrf1qQ3eYOlBEXftlkdeMFzIfs0kTN2IgNwMg0Q484yNrSXZX2hElmFg3nkQr9blRTwWidZ-QCHqrkfln_bBmHLUoZbbj_srNJbFZRIPG_mvk48FWGjuZb1SEvr3JqY/w480-h640/20180609_154444.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Tillandsia flabellata. Sadly I killed mine recently, probably because I didn't mount it. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTx_0L4ms6yARC8dBzzDvLdGrtS9aDdwEm4c7FiAlKrSFavxoS3bKXbEoY8h442MQMEpLFPmFNcnVUcre9cpKzJnbPmtZ402GuXh9fecGQacZT0VqizOBHt1NymQQDj7TH_6rYoIQjLokAkMK61dJ7vaKgqbmwmIPKx-IAUYJ-hTwseaa5Y6GiHW6/s4128/20190608_104516.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTx_0L4ms6yARC8dBzzDvLdGrtS9aDdwEm4c7FiAlKrSFavxoS3bKXbEoY8h442MQMEpLFPmFNcnVUcre9cpKzJnbPmtZ402GuXh9fecGQacZT0VqizOBHt1NymQQDj7TH_6rYoIQjLokAkMK61dJ7vaKgqbmwmIPKx-IAUYJ-hTwseaa5Y6GiHW6/w480-h640/20190608_104516.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Hoya Mathilde (carnosa x serpens) outdoor grown specimen. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5V8jZhiQ1EgrjgTryvCkBMPbCU0BOKo-xM5KMlG-NEMsU0WUopzE7ZZ9rqdRhTy8Jh2rl9Fzc_J4ozGWXqc8Af7JFQwh8x_v_8rl6FXfe7KxDmPSHHVumftOd1y14lsZX09NieG9QGDiyaSlg-nv0K0rlLd6EEIGeyA23oWG8oQm62xp9O7-0XOv/s4128/20190608_104941.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5V8jZhiQ1EgrjgTryvCkBMPbCU0BOKo-xM5KMlG-NEMsU0WUopzE7ZZ9rqdRhTy8Jh2rl9Fzc_J4ozGWXqc8Af7JFQwh8x_v_8rl6FXfe7KxDmPSHHVumftOd1y14lsZX09NieG9QGDiyaSlg-nv0K0rlLd6EEIGeyA23oWG8oQm62xp9O7-0XOv/w480-h640/20190608_104941.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Platycerium andinum (left) and Platycerium Dragon, both are good outdoor growers here.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMjJnZWlfr48JZTyqkxpnSKFbYIJZ0pIGXvmHUSEMeeJXya3PHqVY-iKnWojN0NN2XaBj9mgYdP-H4t3WZjYCxAFDNeLBcF-BqfVShRLAKfX5hVhce2J93-ALqhM7oy9EY82r-0tMrw2Var4h9_URJqvp6QljTSZASDKB4q9gyB0V4K2G3R9VRzKn/s4128/20190608_111218.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMjJnZWlfr48JZTyqkxpnSKFbYIJZ0pIGXvmHUSEMeeJXya3PHqVY-iKnWojN0NN2XaBj9mgYdP-H4t3WZjYCxAFDNeLBcF-BqfVShRLAKfX5hVhce2J93-ALqhM7oy9EY82r-0tMrw2Var4h9_URJqvp6QljTSZASDKB4q9gyB0V4K2G3R9VRzKn/w480-h640/20190608_111218.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Begonia bogneri in a terrarium.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIeQIjxrkHN3hLF9-3gNyc5NUwyuASdfAw0gVydkFYJ1Z7a7dC1vcEO_0OOxA70AhOLF4rBpOteb7bcnZQ7OKsqiTmSLnIo4sawArie-ZDgT7ZN-ciE2z4rs-DCbybIe1vmHAbRKe3Zq-FLTBZtp8pnQPbGaFoOTk71duerqOOuaFjDdB99O88hZ1R/s908/286548521_10159174578518843_4860625243287374810_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="608" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIeQIjxrkHN3hLF9-3gNyc5NUwyuASdfAw0gVydkFYJ1Z7a7dC1vcEO_0OOxA70AhOLF4rBpOteb7bcnZQ7OKsqiTmSLnIo4sawArie-ZDgT7ZN-ciE2z4rs-DCbybIe1vmHAbRKe3Zq-FLTBZtp8pnQPbGaFoOTk71duerqOOuaFjDdB99O88hZ1R/w428-h640/286548521_10159174578518843_4860625243287374810_n.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br /><p>Michelle with a specimen Begonia venosa. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomY5DOg1QilQz_D-BgMIV4jp5VwniNDEqPu5S8EedJgFHr_Xp0i6t5JoeDx8mPyZmTcPNHrcTWD2YovUEHwaw-Gl6emjyJbiq6Tw7prf5WMFJjShqmp8DsVj_GryAmpzWIwCI1AGIof6DxwKY1V-QvbT-Hl8KbzJtNqSjR6aWrG1UW2qBNPt9gtjW/s1099/286649064_10159174576258843_8389766743283018489_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1099" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomY5DOg1QilQz_D-BgMIV4jp5VwniNDEqPu5S8EedJgFHr_Xp0i6t5JoeDx8mPyZmTcPNHrcTWD2YovUEHwaw-Gl6emjyJbiq6Tw7prf5WMFJjShqmp8DsVj_GryAmpzWIwCI1AGIof6DxwKY1V-QvbT-Hl8KbzJtNqSjR6aWrG1UW2qBNPt9gtjW/w640-h528/286649064_10159174576258843_8389766743283018489_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Barbara Joe Hoshizaki was a very wonderful person and fern expert. Here she was admiring an impressive Platycerium Elemaria. This staghorn grows great outdoors here. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvL9uN-Nor_fJr_yNtC4d29UsaKxY_fsxfiWSE7H3zBcoKCgK-AyUSBJsMRp1Exk5zy8dYwEUg9lF4sny5yvm-u6y2s7uiHh7jpVP5_fUfntAhUYgM9ehSSdb0Y0yEOOYNzX7Ix8iWf_8UItkfo2RfFa0_JY0dJ44GOW2KQ-_D4x4gavAtTCA0Bpm/s1024/286423980_10159174573468843_4153928725894418729_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1024" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvL9uN-Nor_fJr_yNtC4d29UsaKxY_fsxfiWSE7H3zBcoKCgK-AyUSBJsMRp1Exk5zy8dYwEUg9lF4sny5yvm-u6y2s7uiHh7jpVP5_fUfntAhUYgM9ehSSdb0Y0yEOOYNzX7Ix8iWf_8UItkfo2RfFa0_JY0dJ44GOW2KQ-_D4x4gavAtTCA0Bpm/w640-h500/286423980_10159174573468843_4153928725894418729_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Norm with his big Tillandsia australis. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3h53c5pDAdqkI5clCH_55CxN_uFz2OKhAFwtImUFVns8WGscDjZt_VDoUZQ0gq2h5N1TJ-amOArhe34pRR-DKXp6FVJc3dEUjmp6pu5qQ0nFa9Zt8VVPCa4_r7jEOSZOxsn77sSUUJTKbxEMXj7OGUhY6_qx8fY448GgGqx4Q7tGBjcd-d7OetJDe/s3217/20190608_110740.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3217" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3h53c5pDAdqkI5clCH_55CxN_uFz2OKhAFwtImUFVns8WGscDjZt_VDoUZQ0gq2h5N1TJ-amOArhe34pRR-DKXp6FVJc3dEUjmp6pu5qQ0nFa9Zt8VVPCa4_r7jEOSZOxsn77sSUUJTKbxEMXj7OGUhY6_qx8fY448GgGqx4Q7tGBjcd-d7OetJDe/w640-h462/20190608_110740.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Pinguicula aka butterwort is one of my fav carnivorous plants. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3M8mv98KFNQwkCJ7JlDXcEm3qgZlwsd-c5EHvl5-vrLyrtNmeOfLzCbbYlYzJ5ZqQsAuDeC9OpQGmzXCOSZzbyS6HNcMww15uEy1ODYdg9-Den5SliJTj_xJVJDvx4DCpSoG9ztDg34E5EP_AiEUnnFsk7GefOqxZrGSafNOE6TPvCjMA5wkefJ1L/s4128/20180609_155242.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3M8mv98KFNQwkCJ7JlDXcEm3qgZlwsd-c5EHvl5-vrLyrtNmeOfLzCbbYlYzJ5ZqQsAuDeC9OpQGmzXCOSZzbyS6HNcMww15uEy1ODYdg9-Den5SliJTj_xJVJDvx4DCpSoG9ztDg34E5EP_AiEUnnFsk7GefOqxZrGSafNOE6TPvCjMA5wkefJ1L/w640-h480/20180609_155242.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Niphidium crassifolium is an excellent outdoor epiphytic fern. </p><p><br /></p><p>The LA Arboretum happens to have the very best tree in Southern California. It is a Ficus thonningii with incredible aerial roots...</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwr7mFCzCpj3F4nioOsktF8gJQU-GB1FhM4Y1ZALLUXlfKAVRGIzhJtNNYR8yQO9KlEiWIi-ZPyWvfv1sHaLPv0SMgs2w-xNNJpuYSaF17z1BjH8_JdqSjWM8aELRhM832VMwMs4rTvTPmvLWfGV2m0Mw0ssCRpIN4Nx9pQK2DJu2vN8GxuFK31ys2/s1210/20190421_140017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwr7mFCzCpj3F4nioOsktF8gJQU-GB1FhM4Y1ZALLUXlfKAVRGIzhJtNNYR8yQO9KlEiWIi-ZPyWvfv1sHaLPv0SMgs2w-xNNJpuYSaF17z1BjH8_JdqSjWM8aELRhM832VMwMs4rTvTPmvLWfGV2m0Mw0ssCRpIN4Nx9pQK2DJu2vN8GxuFK31ys2/s16000/20190421_140017.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>Michelle and Kyle, two of my best plant friends. This wonderful tree is next to the Plumeria section. </p><p><br /></p><div><br /></div>Xerographicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978832439622230018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5189697546814101118.post-32515874882800531172022-01-02T21:47:00.000-08:002022-01-02T21:47:23.281-08:00The Point Of Diversity Is Adaptability <p>My comment on: <a href="https://avianhybrids.wordpress.com/2021/06/09/rapid-morphological-evolution-in-the-silvereye-random-processes-or-selection/">Rapid morphological evolution in the Silvereye: random processes or selection?</a></p><p>*************************************</p><p>Much of this is over my head, so I'm probably not appreciating the gist of the study. Just finished reading/skimming <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7080774/">the paper.</a> I wish that there had been some, or any, discussion of the rather significant difference in climate between Tahiti and New Zealand. </p><p>Here in the Los Angeles area my friend and I often share plants with each other. She lives closer to the coast than I do so her conditions are more intermediate than mine. For a while now I've been wanting to try conducting a simple experiment to quantify the variation in temperature preference in a batch of seeds. We'd sow the seeds from a single pod of say Begonia fischeri (the only "weedy" Begonia here) and then split the pots. When the seedlings were a few inches tall we'd share half of the largest ones with each other. So we'd each have two batches of seedlings. Then we would compare the disparity in blooming time. The greater the disparity, the greater the variation in temperature preference, the more adaptable the species. </p><p>If you took a dozen Silvereyes from Tahiti, a dozen from New Zealand, and introduced them to two different islands in say Hawaii, we can reasonably guess that the Tahiti ones would colonize their island faster. How much faster though? The disparity would quantify the adaptability of this species. The disparity would be even greater if it was 100 rather than 12 birds initially introduced. What about if a third island was colonized with a 100 crosses between the two populations? They'd fall somewhere in the middle? Or perhaps they would win as a result of greater variation in other factors such as body/brain/beak/wing size? </p><p>Right now there's discussion, or maybe even efforts, to eradicate hybrids between native iguanas and invasive ones. The goal is ostensibly to prevent the loss of diversity. But I think the scientists are somehow missing that the very point of diversity is adaptability. It's entirely possible that the hybrids will be better than the parents at adapting to rapid climate change. Perhaps our own very existence is due to greater climate adaptability conferred by our ancestors mixing with more cold tolerant neanderthals. </p>Xerographicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978832439622230018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5189697546814101118.post-70802919936993694832021-04-29T23:44:00.005-07:002023-11-02T06:34:20.897-07:00The Epiphytic Bundling Method There's always a better way to do things. But so far, in my experience, the most efficient way to attach epiphytes to branches is the bundling method. This is simply where you use fishing line to attach some plants to a dense pad of moss, and then use fishing line to attach the bundle to a branch. <div><br /><div>For example, a couple weeks ago I attached the simplest bundle to Carol's avocado tree. First I put a layer of wet NZ Sphagnum moss on a paving stone on my lap. I sprinkled some Osmocote on top...</div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1BwGsxKFayv2vRwVgRVaOZM1nImodY4SW0fNs8nNTED41Mq0FKK-N-6TOABCPnfoW_2y-4TEjAQN4lL05sfayHOTu7g1qCuZ8EAKTHrVul_QO6Mp6SVS5bpeyYr0dtNhM2grd6mnX_k/s1210/20210405_154305.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1210" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1BwGsxKFayv2vRwVgRVaOZM1nImodY4SW0fNs8nNTED41Mq0FKK-N-6TOABCPnfoW_2y-4TEjAQN4lL05sfayHOTu7g1qCuZ8EAKTHrVul_QO6Mp6SVS5bpeyYr0dtNhM2grd6mnX_k/w400-h300/20210405_154305.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div></div><div>Then I put on another layer of wet moss...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLXa8XJw1D1Hd1zm3t4DIokFYs1sWYSn3sbO7TvoVDbnMCP3aFxvRSI-avJY3JChOhn_XMGrej_-VMnQ5FWeJMQOl_LSA4xulExAXWnZEtWggwm_Ow9lSeYNu9zW96BZewjOwUaGGRR8/s1210/20210405_154343.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1210" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLXa8XJw1D1Hd1zm3t4DIokFYs1sWYSn3sbO7TvoVDbnMCP3aFxvRSI-avJY3JChOhn_XMGrej_-VMnQ5FWeJMQOl_LSA4xulExAXWnZEtWggwm_Ow9lSeYNu9zW96BZewjOwUaGGRR8/w400-h300/20210405_154343.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Next I added Cycas debaoensis and Disocactus amazonicus as well as another layer of wet moss...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMezlkK90wmCVZFB9MYR-AMn2coxGJibGsQPWfNXmHo-uLu0WHv94zPQp7VzC8eoGbdjzBOUpBBhWBgBh5ltPjuTT3eHAuvDgqSeiFavt_Eh7et44BNrNv2mdzAeAzAFSM33ldG4bDMU8/s1362/20210405_154836.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1362" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMezlkK90wmCVZFB9MYR-AMn2coxGJibGsQPWfNXmHo-uLu0WHv94zPQp7VzC8eoGbdjzBOUpBBhWBgBh5ltPjuTT3eHAuvDgqSeiFavt_Eh7et44BNrNv2mdzAeAzAFSM33ldG4bDMU8/w400-h266/20210405_154836.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>In most cases I put the entire plant including the roots on top of the moss. In this case though I decided to cover the roots. I firmly and repeatedly pressed down on the moss for a while before using fishing line to tie it all together...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHY-aqk_qiKjYmv-cJI5Y77a7R0CsAIJtPpYFj3oMEq8wX2PW1Ck9c0YwiFDkB3hZOerK-DSBfCeLnqbzgtur14oaYnjlvy2Q7jdTPY0QjR7FbaLa_pCGVfcxpKNR-LAgaoLckhI8btyw/s1344/20210405_155400.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1344" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHY-aqk_qiKjYmv-cJI5Y77a7R0CsAIJtPpYFj3oMEq8wX2PW1Ck9c0YwiFDkB3hZOerK-DSBfCeLnqbzgtur14oaYnjlvy2Q7jdTPY0QjR7FbaLa_pCGVfcxpKNR-LAgaoLckhI8btyw/w400-h270/20210405_155400.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Then I added a small piece of live green moss on top. If the moss establishes then it will actually create more medium. </div><div><br /></div><div>Lastly I used fishing line to attach the bundle to the tree directly above a Platycerium superbum...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3Y7LvPJF07P3PcnAOTaDdsw47kjOgB9ugPBmRpqJ-gucpCxHqG-hDqDNmR1f6x_xR8jiPx377I5TNF_wX68oKe2YTeY2r63UUkZYuO06jW9D1gnSwE_OZaL8yTuc1VFD_94GB3zygeI/s908/20210405_184547.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="773" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3Y7LvPJF07P3PcnAOTaDdsw47kjOgB9ugPBmRpqJ-gucpCxHqG-hDqDNmR1f6x_xR8jiPx377I5TNF_wX68oKe2YTeY2r63UUkZYuO06jW9D1gnSwE_OZaL8yTuc1VFD_94GB3zygeI/w544-h640/20210405_184547.jpg" width="544" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Virtually all plants LOVE growing in Staghorns, hence Rule #17. </div><div><br /></div><div>I feel like the key part is that the moss must be tightly compacted. If the moss is too loose then it will dry out a lot faster. So this is why when I make a bundle I use wet moss. Naturally it is easier to press down than dry or damp moss. It also helps to use a lot of fishing line. I use enough fishing line so that there is around a half inch between loops. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a bundle that I made a decade ago... </div>
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<br />I attached the bundle to my tree and the only plant still alive is the Anthurium scandens (xerophytic form). You can see more pics here... <a href="http://epiecon.blogspot.com/2017/09/winner-of-epiphyte-grand-prix.html">Epiphyte Grand Prix</a>. <div><br /></div><div>One version of the bundling method is to first attach the plants to a flat piece of wood. Then, when the plants are very established, they can be easily removed and attached to a branch. I used this method with some ferns...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8C3GJDA-5wvHIO_aSLmT0zVPOUqg4WWCetkYsEOQlAm3T59uQ0RS7Rt2ZQ4hcZiP_7hnTb94N4ZZ3FEiyUYn-8q_grTx84BdXs48fdaIaed6V4H6xuPF1xcgQTAHFxVETSi_SyPMXlcc/s908/20200417_193821.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="681" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8C3GJDA-5wvHIO_aSLmT0zVPOUqg4WWCetkYsEOQlAm3T59uQ0RS7Rt2ZQ4hcZiP_7hnTb94N4ZZ3FEiyUYn-8q_grTx84BdXs48fdaIaed6V4H6xuPF1xcgQTAHFxVETSi_SyPMXlcc/w300-h400/20200417_193821.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxjay5oqJ_27AympFj-dFO3uQjBnWp0qqAbmTYO-avYU2gieAHTw4dHbQ_ALHKWGDT3XJhbsSURN3nAalcYLmAz5flBPri2tXRj8NNJKqh1fEs4yWaN9wGQra1Smoz3402NBFJPsQSV8/s908/20200417_194401.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="681" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxjay5oqJ_27AympFj-dFO3uQjBnWp0qqAbmTYO-avYU2gieAHTw4dHbQ_ALHKWGDT3XJhbsSURN3nAalcYLmAz5flBPri2tXRj8NNJKqh1fEs4yWaN9wGQra1Smoz3402NBFJPsQSV8/w300-h400/20200417_194401.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoZu1GjbmYMPbslWUC5O2BJvDk1cyX6D6fSYMcxe_N3IUskbuKkQAsNawp3u9CD3Jba-YaqXVDEumDkI5C-t0AyVjwMmdRfCSp_A_OxPa6ErUkIA797mwsz0X2X8mqc1UB64OcVeMwqU/s908/20200421_002229.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="681" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoZu1GjbmYMPbslWUC5O2BJvDk1cyX6D6fSYMcxe_N3IUskbuKkQAsNawp3u9CD3Jba-YaqXVDEumDkI5C-t0AyVjwMmdRfCSp_A_OxPa6ErUkIA797mwsz0X2X8mqc1UB64OcVeMwqU/w300-h400/20200421_002229.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The ferns included Lepisorus bicolor, Drynaria sparsisora and a NOID Pyrrosia. It is just over a year later and all three ferns are still alive on Carol's avocado tree. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here's another version...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizURvVaO74uE_fuRtm5bDgg8hIuR8d_QQ1BpiE8S1soHS-by7Q7bZdTVEWjTpFWrpcARIV3mPOmFUAhikKL-rNfbzm1kbCAtNFQByn6kPfEZSjuR1pradECFKlpuSqusHdwXJ_AwXKdi8/s1210/20200419_113557.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1210" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizURvVaO74uE_fuRtm5bDgg8hIuR8d_QQ1BpiE8S1soHS-by7Q7bZdTVEWjTpFWrpcARIV3mPOmFUAhikKL-rNfbzm1kbCAtNFQByn6kPfEZSjuR1pradECFKlpuSqusHdwXJ_AwXKdi8/w400-h300/20200419_113557.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>It looks like I attached three bundles to both pieces of wire mesh. But I didn't. Instead I put the moss and plants on top of the mesh and attached them using fishing line. It wasn't very easy. The two bundles went on Carol's avocado tree as well, right next to Cattleya orchids. </div><div><br /></div><div>On my own tree in a few cases the bundles started to dislodge themselves when the fishing line quit working. The branches were too smooth for the plants to really root onto. In situations like this it is a good idea to put the bundle next to a Cattleya. The orchid roots will quickly grow into the bundle and attach it to the branch. </div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of orchid roots...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0qlODKoqlIZFUgiY7VVNHOVAMqCE2B1seiaboNSJo92OQEr41XuRn1qqwegGBingwoS-arGeYqelvYF-pZUVLDQsPncR4h75w2O9eXSJyodtN7coRQy99Oj9XuegX8KzPRZRuJvu9_w/s2048/20200229_113010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0qlODKoqlIZFUgiY7VVNHOVAMqCE2B1seiaboNSJo92OQEr41XuRn1qqwegGBingwoS-arGeYqelvYF-pZUVLDQsPncR4h75w2O9eXSJyodtN7coRQy99Oj9XuegX8KzPRZRuJvu9_w/w300-h400/20200229_113010.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VBqv2uhI2vzrY5H3sj21-Vj5h-UiXacWw2Ue3_NeKgXZE05ZeEWIOJC1WQbKrAExFzu1dHaZ69EpFgKuC3peaAXmNxQ4ZQsECKHIBr75ihNqnENu-N1YlsCczX2zS2zR8lKLnzYV5A8/s908/20200229_113430.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="716" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VBqv2uhI2vzrY5H3sj21-Vj5h-UiXacWw2Ue3_NeKgXZE05ZeEWIOJC1WQbKrAExFzu1dHaZ69EpFgKuC3peaAXmNxQ4ZQsECKHIBr75ihNqnENu-N1YlsCczX2zS2zR8lKLnzYV5A8/w315-h400/20200229_113430.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>A year or two ago I easily removed this clump of orchids and succulents (Kalanchoe uniflora is so good!!!) from my tree. I think they had grown into a space that I needed to be in when I climb the tree. They essentially formed a bundle. I took the bundle to a cozy plant party where I split it up to share. Carol got a piece that I attached to her tree. She also won a piece that I auctioned, which I attached to a piece of wood...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj966egEMYbU-Q-_my-5L4pJZS4Fw6h2H8I3t8ww7htlsoI1pjEw1AbjU1ncy1Ltp6uych42eKxkNBP__a63En8jiFfWgbeKP7saetkgLJ4s33mLmBDffxNyqf9-xwiTr0woWJ9iczSrhc/s2048/20200303_012456.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj966egEMYbU-Q-_my-5L4pJZS4Fw6h2H8I3t8ww7htlsoI1pjEw1AbjU1ncy1Ltp6uych42eKxkNBP__a63En8jiFfWgbeKP7saetkgLJ4s33mLmBDffxNyqf9-xwiTr0woWJ9iczSrhc/w300-h400/20200303_012456.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Largish plants are generally easier to bundle...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNj-tXMJUz3BDZChNR41o4h2FfO0JLKDpQKCVCCBfEP-ReWdWhlyUNQf8iw1d6iFh1jslJcVVMZRkQjwCdmYaU2ToJJuWX7bpW5a9zDjnXbF7weG_DmhQ0jUa-ho8plIkzjBpR5P2iCk/s1210/20210318_141102.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1210" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNj-tXMJUz3BDZChNR41o4h2FfO0JLKDpQKCVCCBfEP-ReWdWhlyUNQf8iw1d6iFh1jslJcVVMZRkQjwCdmYaU2ToJJuWX7bpW5a9zDjnXbF7weG_DmhQ0jUa-ho8plIkzjBpR5P2iCk/w400-h300/20210318_141102.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>This bundle, which went on Carol's tree, included Hoya bella, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, Hatiora gaertneri and Hoya carnosa Chelsea.</div><div><br /></div><div>Today I made a couple bundles of mainly small plants...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi232MGizkWyl-aSUTGossvTHjGVjxU_qCnxDSYLXWnHG8NV2__TkrPYLndjlOKEhQGE6ssbundG5RXm_pkm2aTaP2yfBwXWY9N0sVS-PAzaFmu5FCGFJIy4VbsoIlVllqlJc05AsWlS8k/s908/20210429_163226.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="783" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi232MGizkWyl-aSUTGossvTHjGVjxU_qCnxDSYLXWnHG8NV2__TkrPYLndjlOKEhQGE6ssbundG5RXm_pkm2aTaP2yfBwXWY9N0sVS-PAzaFmu5FCGFJIy4VbsoIlVllqlJc05AsWlS8k/w345-h400/20210429_163226.jpg" width="345" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>It was rather painstaking to try and avoid putting the fishing line directly on top of any leaves. Part of the problem was that I probably included too many plants! </div><div><br /></div><div>In terms of plant selection, naturally you want to bundle plants with more or less the same requirements. Some disparity in requirements is ok because conditions change, which is why the only survivor of my 1st Epiphyte Grand Prix was the Anthurium scandens. It was more drought tolerant than its competition. </div><div><br /></div><div>In theory it might be a good idea to include the least related plants in a bundle...</div><div><br /></div><div><div></div><blockquote><div>Since then, many experiments have shown that multi-species plots are more productive. Cadotte's experiment showed for the first time that species with the greatest evolutionary distance from one another have the greatest productivity gains. </div><div>[...]</div><div>What's going on isn't mysterious, Cadotte says. Distantly related plants are more likely to require different resources and to fill different environmental niches -- one might need more nitrogen, the other more phosphorus; one might have shallow roots, the other deep roots. So rather than competing with one another they complement one another. - Productivity Increases With Species Diversity, Just as Darwin Predicted</div></blockquote><div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Plants I typically include in a bundle are...</div><div><br /></div><div>Aroid - ie Anthurium scandens</div><div>Cactus - ie Rhipsalis</div><div>Crassulaceae - Kalanchoe uniflora</div><div>Fern - ie Microgramma vaccinifolia</div><div>Gesneriad - ie Columnea Elmer </div><div>Hoya or Dischidia - ie Hoya serpens </div><div>Peperomia - ie Peperomia pecuniifolia</div><div><br /></div><div>One of each is a pretty good bundle. </div><div><br /></div><div>Typically I don't include orchids, since most of my favorite orchids are safer without moss, but there are some exceptions... such as Dockrillia pugioniformis. If I had enough of it I would probably include it in most bundles. </div><div><br /></div><div>In terms of Begonias, I don't usually include any in bundles. There has to be a good one for SoCal bundles but I haven't found it yet. Maybe the closest that I can think of is Begonia fisheri. Looking at the above list though, all the example plants are more or less trailers, which B. fisheri is not. Begonia solananthera is a trailer but I somehow killed the cutting that Michelle gave me and I'm too embarrassed to ask for it again. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm finally growing Begonia radicans! Hopefully it will become the one Begonia that I typically include in bundles! </div><div><br /></div><div>The main motivation for this blog entry is that this week I sent some plants to my new friend Keith in Tampa Florida...</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Orchids...</div><div><br /></div><div>Dockrillia lichenastrum x teretifolium</div><div>Dockrillia pugioniformis</div><div>Encyclia nematocaulon seed pod </div><div>Epidendrum Little Miss Sunshine</div><div>Epiphronitis Veitchii </div><div>Lambara Five Aces</div><div>Laelia anceps division from seed germinated on tree</div><div>Laelia (lundii & purpurata) </div><div>Laeliocattleya Clayton Waglay </div><div>NOID seedling germinated on tree </div><div>Prosthechea vitellina x Green Hornet</div><div>Psychilis macconnelliae X Myrmecophila thompsoniana aurea</div><div><br /></div><div>Others…</div><div><br /></div><div>Anthurium lanceolatum </div><div>Anthurium scandens (xerophytic)</div><div>Columnea Elmer cutting x 2 </div><div>Columnea schiedeana cutting </div><div>Crassula spathulata cuttings x 6</div><div>Dischidia sp Irian Jaya</div><div>Echeveria rosea </div><div>Hoya australis keysii</div><div>Hoya serpens </div><div>Kalanchoe Orangery (K. manginii × K. jongmansii)</div><div>Kalanchoe Tessa (K. gracilipes x K. manginii)</div><div>Kalanchoe uniflora x 2 </div><div>Lemmaphyllum microphyllum (from nursery)</div><div>Lemmaphyllum microphyllum (from my tree x 2)</div><div>Microgramma vaccinifolia x 2 </div><div>Peperomia pecuniifolia</div><div>Peperomia villosa</div><div>Rhipsalis clavata </div><div>Rhipsalis NOID Puerto Rico x 2 </div><div>Selenicereus inermis</div><div>Tillandsia aeranthos x 4</div><div>Tillandsia albertiana </div><div>Tillandsia bandensis </div><div>Tillandsia capillaris</div><div>Tillandsia capillaris 'Pitchfork' </div><div>Tillandsia edithae</div><div>Tillandsia funckiana </div><div>Tillandsia ionantha </div><div>Tillandsia myosura (adult and seedling)</div><div>Tillandsia Mystic Albert (albertiana x stricta)</div><div>Tillandsia retorta </div><div>Tillandsia tricholepis</div><div>Tillandsia usneoides</div><div>Vriesea flammea</div></div><div><br /></div><div>He initially asked me for some recommendations of orchids to attach to his tree. I ended up becoming too curious about how some of my fav epiphytes would do Florida. I told him about my bundling technique but figured that it would be worth it to post some pics. Voila!</div><div><br /></div><div>Hopefully you've all been inspired to attach bundles of plants to all the branches in the world! Please let me know if you think of a more effective or efficient way to attach a wide variety of plants to trees. </div><div><br /></div></div>Xerographicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978832439622230018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5189697546814101118.post-12238461681837830492020-04-28T22:21:00.000-07:002020-05-01T21:39:37.248-07:00Auction: Three Rupicolous Laelias<br />
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Laelia angereri 'Peter' x kautskyana 'SVO' AM/AOS<br />
Laelia milleri 'Dr. Koopowitz Red' HCC/AOS x kautskyana<br />
Laelia NOID<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/VillageGreenThumbs/permalink/590075301867728/">Auctioning these three orchids in VGT</a>.<br />
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And here's a random picture of Aloe africana, one of my fav tree Aloes...<br />
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<br />Xerographicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978832439622230018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5189697546814101118.post-20739098015538203872019-08-21T11:06:00.000-07:002019-11-04T16:47:15.469-08:00Upcoming Events: Begonia Show, Griffith Park Plant Party, Epiphyte PresentationBefore sharing some neat upcoming events, I want to share Jen's very first Youtube video!<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QlarP1GG7os" width="560"></iframe>
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I love it!! Way to go Jen!!!<br />
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At least half of her plants are from me (haha j/k?) so I highly recommend subscribing to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHHxH3cMV9zbvVeGkqPkz7w">her channel</a> to learn about some cool plants.<br />
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Ok, upcoming events!<br />
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<b>Begonia Show/Sale </b>(<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/VillageGreenThumbs/permalink/399546940920566/">Facebook post</a>)<br />
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When: Aug 24, 9 AM – 4 PM<br />
Where: South Coast Botanic Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274<br />
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Which are the best Begonias for growing epiphytically?? Let's find out!<br />
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<b>Plant Party In The Park</b> (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/721573211610147/">Facebook post</a>)<br />
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When: Aug 25, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM<br />
Where: Griffith Park, 4659 Crystal Springs Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027<br />
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Bring plants (preferably epiphytes of course) to trade or give away. Make some new plants friends!<br />
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<b>Epiphyte Presentation</b> (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/401749463790731/">Facebook post</a>)<br />
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When: Aug 25, 5:00 PM – 06:00 PM<br />
Where: Planta Nursery, 6011 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042<br />
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My friend Joel is going to give a talk about epiphytes. Way to go Joel!! <a href="https://www.plantanursery.com/events-1/all-about-epiphytes">Tickets cost $5</a>.<br />
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Now some pics of Begonias growing epiphytically. Here's a Begonia listada that I recently mounted...<br />
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I received my piece from <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/142218080@N03/">Scadoxus</a>, and she received hers from Candy and Norm. It is mounted with a Scindapsus pictus from Jen, an Asplenium from Fernando, and a Peperomia Pixie Lime from Bonnie.<br />
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Am I the only person in the world trying to experiment with growing Begonias epiphytically? Nope! <a href="https://andysorchids.com/">Andy's Orchids</a> has a couple...<br />
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Begonia prismatocarpa!<br />
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Begonia dregei.<br />
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Want to see more pics from Andy's Orchids? <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.413751372833456&type=3">Here you go</a>.<br />
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If you have tried Begonias epiphytically then please let me know! And hopefully I will see you at an upcoming event!<br />
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Thanks Randy for confirming the Begonia IDs! Xerographicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978832439622230018noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5189697546814101118.post-22304947613186767862019-05-10T15:21:00.000-07:002019-05-10T15:21:15.638-07:00Culver City Succulent and Bromeliad Show 2019Before I share some show pics, I'd like to mention that I finally met my favorite Ficus friend <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/36838058@N03/">Kyle</a>!!! We've been online plant friends for nearly 20 years and a couple weeks ago we met at the LA Arboretum. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/142218080@N03/">Scadoxus</a> joined us and the three of us had a great time. It was surreal meeting Kyle in person after having known him online for so many years. One big difference is that he's so much funnier in person. His humor is... subtle? Not exactly sure how to describe it, but I love it. <br />
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I'm so happy that Kyle is no longer on my list of plant friends that I'd love to actually meet in person. Two people who are still on this list are <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6Rp8oplPdW8P7o8ZUiZdYA">Carlos in Brazil</a> (<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/clage">flickr</a>) and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/UnitedNatures-Design-by-Erik-C-van-Zuilekom-1665063976888158/">Erik in Australia</a> (<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/voidmillions/">flickr</a>). Both of them joined <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/585631738970528/">the tropical plant lovers Facebook group</a> that Kyle recently created! Yay!!! Now I'm two people closer to realizing my dream of all my plant friends being friends with each other. I have this very bright idea that, the better connected my plant friends are to each other, the more awesome the outcome. We can create a huge and incredibly dense network that will quickly capture all the best plants and plant ideas. <br />
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With this in mind, my favorite thing about the show was that several of my plant friends got to meet each other for the first time! For example, <a href="http://epiecon.blogspot.com/2018/08/ideas-for-plant-societies.html">Monica and Sarah</a> met, Dave and Ulysses met, Rich and Steve met and so on. Each meeting really deserves its own blog entry!<br />
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I enjoyed the show itself and took several pics of the show plants. Unfortunately, I'm not happy with how many of the pics turned out (insert typical excuses here... ie poor lighting), but I figure that even a poor pic of a great plant is better than nothing. Some of my motivation in sharing the pics is that I've got a plant friend, not going to mention any names, *cough* <i>Allison</i> *cough*, who doesn't think that bromeliads are so wonderful. Yikes! Unfortunately, she wasn't able to make it to the show, so figured it might be worthwhile to bring the show to her, and to you too! <br />
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<b>Cyrtanthus elatus x montanus</b></div>
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This wasn't in the show, it was in the sales area for $20. Since Scadoxus loves bulbs, but wasn't at the show yet, I texted her a pic and asked if she wanted it. She replied asking if it had a pretty flower. Heh. Steve ended up buying it and then later on when I searched my gmail for "Cyrtanthus" I learned that, not too long ago, Shawn had given me a small bulb of this species and I had given it to Scadoxus. Sheesh. There's actually a Cyrtanthus epiphyticus! Yes, I already tried it epiphytically and sadly it didn't survive. It was a long time ago though, so maybe it was before I started using the quality New Zealand Sphagnum moss for certain plants. I haven't tried many bulbs epiphytically but so far the biggest winner by far is the pregnant onion (Albuca bracteata). <br />
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<b>Hydnophytum formicarum</b></div>
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This is a really cool epiphyte that has a big caudex that, in nature, provides a home for ants. In this case we get a peak inside the caudex. Exhibited by Laurel Woodley who I was lucky enough to chat with. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/8924959667/">In 2013 I took a pic of the same plant at the same show</a>. She brings it inside during the winter. I've been growing a related species, Myrmecodia beccarii, outside year around since 2012. It is still small though because I have it on a small mount without much moss and it probably doesn't get as much water as it would like during the summer. Maybe I should auction it off at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/842154852814067/">the upcoming VGT plant share</a>? <br />
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Dave has been growing Myrmecodia platytyrea entirely outside (with protection from the rain) for a few years in Eagle Rock...<br />
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Maybe it's the biggest epiphytic ant plant in the Rubiaceae family that is growing outside year around in California? Do you know of a bigger one? If you're interested in learning more about this species I highly recommend checking out <a href="http://myrmecodia.invisionzone.com/">the ant-plant forum</a>. <br />
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Back to the show...<br />
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<b>Sedum torulosum</b></div>
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Also exhibited by Laurel Woodley. For a while I've really appreciated the "treelike" Sedums and Crassulas. For example, check out <a href="https://www.huntington.org/BotanicalDiv/ISI/ISI2013/2013-30.html">Sedum dendroideum ‘Colossus’</a>. Do you see the picture of Myron Kimnach standing next to it?? Woah!! Mine is around 3', I should really bring some cuttings to the plant share. <br />
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<b>Sinningia polyantha</b></div>
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Similar to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/585631738970528/permalink/586176942249341/">the Sinningia piresiana growing on my tree</a>, but much taller. Yes, I sincerely do wish that I had learned about Gesneriads a whole lot earlier!<br />
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<b>Aeonium Bing Thing</b></div>
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<a href="https://www.huntington.org/BotanicalDiv/ISI/ISI2012/2012-06.html">Aeonium Bing Thing</a> = (tabuliforme × arboreum Zwartkop) × sedifolium. This is a crazy cool cross made by John Trager. A. sedifolium is super tiny! I'm very glad that Nels Christianson decided to enter this plant into the show! Remind me to ask him if he'd be willing to trade a cutting of it for something. I'd also be happy to have some seeds of it, because I'd be very curious to see how much variation there would be among the seedlings. <br />
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<b>Peperomia Amigo Marcello</b></div>
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Woah! Is this the right name?? I've been calling this Peperomia Elmer Lorenz for years, because that's who gave it to me, but he didn't know the name. This Peperomia does great epiphytically. <br />
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<b>Euphorbia sp</b></div>
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Unreal!! Wish that the pic was clearer! Anybody know which species it is? <br />
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<b>Rebutia flavistyla</b></div>
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Exhibited by Christine Kaunitz. I'd love to see this species growing and blooming on a tree! <br />
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<b>Pelargonium punctatum</b></div>
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This one <i>stunned</i> Fernando. Heh. Stunned me too! This would look amazing on a tree! He is actually growing <a href="http://epiecon.blogspot.com/2018/06/please-introduce-me-to-awesome-plants.html">Pelargonium tetragonum epiphytically</a>.<br />
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<b>Vriesea Strawberry</b></div>
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Dang, I'm so disappointed that my picture failed to capture the luminescent glow of this bromeliad! :( <br />
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<b>Vriesea Strawberry</b></div>
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Closer pic. <br />
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<b>Billbergia Casa Blanca</b></div>
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Fun foliage!<br />
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<b>Billbergia Mystic Torch</b></div>
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Billbergia Mystic Torch = (Pink Champagne x Arriba) x Domingos Martins. More funner foliage? <br />
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<b>Epiphytically Enhanced Branch</b></div>
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Tillandsia albertiana, Maxillaria tenuifolia (?), Crassula (which one?), Ledebouria socialis, Hoya serpens, Rhipsalis... wow!! Exhibited by James W Schumacher. I'd sure like to make friends with this guy!!<br />
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<b>Tillandsia duratii</b></div>
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This is the bigger variety. The sequentially opening flowers are relatively large and very fragrant. I think they smell kinda like grape kool-aid. Everybody should grow this species. Exhibited by ESSC member Rich Fleg! <br />
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<b>Tillandsia novakii</b></div>
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So so so so impressive!!!! Several years ago I first saw this species at the Conservatory of Flowers and instantly loved it. Fortunately, this one was exhibited by ESSC member Sarah de Heras, so hopefully there will be seeds available to spread around! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrlS1b_qqF44nl6RUl3ASdt3mgLhFytJm15jcalDbIKuy4Bce7LU-hjOGwgh51ujGwgPJuzi3D9rb5HrFx5Hi9LZkaqAvbQoImAP3IRkvoi4CMzwmnaIOtvLFIxrzzX02OUtXTo-2Ykg/s1600/20190504_134821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrlS1b_qqF44nl6RUl3ASdt3mgLhFytJm15jcalDbIKuy4Bce7LU-hjOGwgh51ujGwgPJuzi3D9rb5HrFx5Hi9LZkaqAvbQoImAP3IRkvoi4CMzwmnaIOtvLFIxrzzX02OUtXTo-2Ykg/s640/20190504_134821.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<b>Tillandsia novakii</b></div>
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I volunteered Ulysses to provide some scale. Thanks bro, sorry about the bad pic! :( <br />
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<b>Tillandsia sp</b></div>
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Also exhibited by Sarah de Heras. Love it! Hopefully she will place it next to the Tillandsia novakii so that the hummingbirds can cross-pollinate them. <br />
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<b>Tillandsia prodigiosa</b></div>
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Also exhibited by Sarah de Heras! Not the best pic, and the spike isn't fully developed, but everybody should know about this Tillandsia. <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Tillandsia+prodigiosa&tbm=isch&tbs=rimg:CTDNPvMc2xoiIggwzT7zHNsaIioSCTDNPvMc2xoiERg7uNRk8Ycb&tbo=u&ved=2ahUKEwjU3un8tZHiAhVPvZ4KHcxuC4YQiRx6BAgBEA0&ictx=1&uact=3">Check out the Google Image search results for this species</a>. One sad thing about this species is that it is monocarpic! Ugh. Hopefully it will produce lots of seeds though. <br />
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Scadoxus' haul box, it was the prettiest one that I ever did see! I'll share the list later on. <br />
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If you live in the Los Angeles area and love plants then be sure to join <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/226866441521951/">Village Green Thumbs</a>! And if you live outside of the LA area and love tropical plants, then be sure to join <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/585631738970528/">Tropical Plant Lovers</a>!Xerographicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978832439622230018noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5189697546814101118.post-88392637137723550932019-02-26T21:48:00.000-08:002019-02-26T21:49:32.093-08:00SorryI'm all about elevating the discourse but... rules have exceptions.<br />
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<a href="https://twitter.com/TitaniaMcGrath">Titania McGrath</a> is funny. I wanted to share this pic in <a href="http://www.agaveville.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=8958">this thread</a>. In <a href="https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/59342-resurrection-ferns/">another thread</a> I want to share a photo of Dischidia formosana growing epiphytically on my tree fern (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/226866441521951/permalink/313185002890094/">VGT post for more info</a>).<br />
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In <a href="https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/59046-haemanthus-sanguineus-anyone-growing-this-bulb/">a third thread</a> I want to share this photo of <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/142218080@N03/">Scadoxus'</a> Scadoxus puniceus (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/226866441521951/permalink/310463643162230/">VGT post</a>)...<br />
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<br />Xerographicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978832439622230018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5189697546814101118.post-32319387717553671952019-02-14T10:44:00.003-08:002019-02-14T10:44:36.106-08:00Dead EndsThis year <a href="http://epiecon.blogspot.com/2017/08/better-treasure-maps.html">my Aloe tenuior hybrid</a> is blooming its head off...<br />
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It is currently pushing out two new spikes. <br />
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Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, so far it hasn't produced any seed pods. Same thing last year, which was the first year it bloomed. I'm guessing that it is sterile. <br />
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What about the pollen? So far I haven't seen any. But maybe that's because the hummingbirds seem to visit this Aloe every 5 minutes. <br />
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This Aloe sure does produce a lot of offshoots though. Right now the main branch is around 4' tall and its one head is just starting to become two. The branch still needs to be propped up but I'm hoping that it will thicken with age and then small orchids and Tillandsias can be attached to it. <br />
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Here's a pic of Myrmecophila tibicinis attached to my Aloe thraskii...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINJPzHbiboVkm9PxRDDueeCvP6OWPYHVYiZmswIO5YuReD4oTBr9LKHno__vDa2oDkiRhwWyIDL3piHoHNA3B5c2NMvmeiIR87ezuXVg5rY0A9-PSplrva9BBckSbfD4B-grcyNN_2g8/s1600/20190211_171322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINJPzHbiboVkm9PxRDDueeCvP6OWPYHVYiZmswIO5YuReD4oTBr9LKHno__vDa2oDkiRhwWyIDL3piHoHNA3B5c2NMvmeiIR87ezuXVg5rY0A9-PSplrva9BBckSbfD4B-grcyNN_2g8/s400/20190211_171322.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/226866441521951/permalink/306712770203984/">I posted it in the Village Green Thumb Facebook group</a>. Julia Ba shared a photo of a <a href="http://epiecon.blogspot.com/2017/08/better-treasure-maps.html">phorobana</a> that she saw at a show...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE01O4nMaYojeHcjP6VuAiV_b3hIYB5YZ7AgY_rxY09QXHAsD-7qyHrCngkXPcsSI7l13hXEWFheS9ob8LkEAZfhrQtu_Dx1Op-Te5UeTDOm2wMVft-hSyrqnkA7VzwqJwefyfXwqVVxo/s1600/Julia_Ba_succulent_phorobana_at_show.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="653" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE01O4nMaYojeHcjP6VuAiV_b3hIYB5YZ7AgY_rxY09QXHAsD-7qyHrCngkXPcsSI7l13hXEWFheS9ob8LkEAZfhrQtu_Dx1Op-Te5UeTDOm2wMVft-hSyrqnkA7VzwqJwefyfXwqVVxo/s640/Julia_Ba_succulent_phorobana_at_show.jpg" width="434" /></a></div>
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Phorobanas are SOOOOOOO good!!!<br />
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A few days ago I joined the Alhambra Plant Swap FB group and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/354089602028196/permalink/415873115849844/">offered offshoots of my Aloe tenuior hybrid</a> (it's a closed group). <br />
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What else? This last Sunday <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/142218080@N03/">Scadoxus</a> and I attended <a href="https://www.facebook.com/plantanursery/posts/950181711838415">a plant swap at Planta Nursery in Eagle Rock</a>. We had a great time. Xerographicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978832439622230018noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5189697546814101118.post-15763110528232133662018-12-07T02:22:00.000-08:002018-12-07T02:23:17.226-08:00Plant Rule #17Every mounted Staghorn needs at least one companion...<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/7735534740/in/photolist-28gYg9X-Gnydee-eQyMWd-dGgD3w-dGgCZd-dGgD5Q-cMyCYC-5Zybxq-5KdYtN" title="Rhipsalis Growing with Platycerium"><img alt="Rhipsalis Growing with Platycerium" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8288/7735534740_4ede0ccef9_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
Xerographicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978832439622230018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5189697546814101118.post-57621402017549115932018-11-21T20:13:00.000-08:002018-11-23T13:39:35.258-08:00Live Arts<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/142218080@N03/">Scadoxus</a> and I visited <a href="http://www.liveartplantscapes.com/">Live Art Plantscapes</a> this past Monday and saw some really neat plants. We learned that the nursery is giving away 150 queen palms because they don't have the space for them in their new location. The palms are in 30" boxes and are 20 feet tall. If you want any you would have to pick them up in Northridge by December 31.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/galleries/72157684859753472/">Palms make great hosts for orchids</a>, bromeliads and other epiphytes.<br />
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Haul from Live Art Plantscapes...<br />
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Clockwise from top right...<br />
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Neoregelia Zoe<br />
Neoregelia More Pepper Please<br />
Neoregelia ampullacea<br />
Neoregelia Medusa<br />
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Also saw this nice NOID Euphorbia...<br />
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It would potentially make a great phorobana.<br />
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<b>Update</b>: It's Euphorbia punicea... Jamaican PoinsettiaXerographicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978832439622230018noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5189697546814101118.post-45581218943424512072018-10-12T12:39:00.001-07:002018-10-19T17:43:54.862-07:00Village Green Plant SwapOn 21 October 2018 there will be <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/226866441521951/permalink/232809374260991/">a plant swap at Village Green</a>. I plan to attend! There are lots... and lots... of plants that I'd like to share with others. The question is... which plants are people interested in? I'll post potential plants in this entry and in the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/226866441521951/">Village Green Thumbs (VGT) group</a>. If you would like me to bring a plant for you then please let me know!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Seedlings</span></b><br />
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When I sow seeds I usually sow the seeds of a few different plants in the same pot. This hedges my bets that something will germinate. Usually there's decent germination so pretty much all the seedling pots will need to be divided. The expectation is that people who receive a community pot (compot) will share any extra seedlings with other VGTs. There's also the expectation that updates on the seedlings will be shared in the VGT Facebook group. It will be very interesting, and informative, to see how much variation there is among the siblings.<br />
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<b>Hoya Seedlings</b></div>
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These seedlings are from seeds that Tom gave me <a href="https://epiecon.blogspot.com/2018/08/ideas-for-plant-societies.html">when we visited him</a> in August. I sowed the seeds on 15 Aug. Here's a pic of the mother plant's buds, leaves and seeds...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Pau5D_e19LjvNy6mUEc43_LoaRAbO_uvuuJ_3BRT-9UM5lpvfS_ZH3kwcQu9vGmWV3fBmXilqzRZQ-Q-R0dwFiyoJX_fGgcZ-ThGPqGihcNeBhX3hlu35EPyF6CDoxSCpNL0nwIEpM0/s1600/20180811_131928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Pau5D_e19LjvNy6mUEc43_LoaRAbO_uvuuJ_3BRT-9UM5lpvfS_ZH3kwcQu9vGmWV3fBmXilqzRZQ-Q-R0dwFiyoJX_fGgcZ-ThGPqGihcNeBhX3hlu35EPyF6CDoxSCpNL0nwIEpM0/s640/20180811_131928.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Hoya Seeds</b></div>
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Here's a pic of the flowers...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Up8ped8ZXHy2E-d9cL_xiwzSCLEdmNQ4rq5NfzNDQURJ2mtN8vVXw9bwqMhy3dq_t63kB4HFfq0rUVoqFFgNYYfGYZ1FRcEVGi-qnRWRkJgjrSEDpDNGe967GSF4t3PIIx4Y2nqpZSU/s1600/20180811_131946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Up8ped8ZXHy2E-d9cL_xiwzSCLEdmNQ4rq5NfzNDQURJ2mtN8vVXw9bwqMhy3dq_t63kB4HFfq0rUVoqFFgNYYfGYZ1FRcEVGi-qnRWRkJgjrSEDpDNGe967GSF4t3PIIx4Y2nqpZSU/s400/20180811_131946.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Hoya Flowers</b></div>
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Does anybody recognize it?<br />
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Each pot might have the following seedlings...<br />
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Vriesea - John Arden hybrid (seeds from Sarah)<br />
Anthurium schlechtendalii (seeds from Sarah)<br />
Echeveria rosea<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/9689647429/in/photolist-fLeYAH" title="The Best Orchid Companion"><img alt="The Best Orchid Companion" height="342" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3739/9689647429_e039006f6e.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Columnea Elmer Lorenz</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
Not sure what its "real" name is... maybe it's Columnea crassifolia? The leaves are certainly very succulent... for a Columnea. My plant mentor Elmer Lorenz gave it to me several years ago and I've been really happy with it. This epiphyte is exceptional because it stays in bloom for almost the entire year. My friend Dave says the same is true of Columnea schiedeana. I wonder which one would grow the best epiphytically.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxi26M-vbFoBAkAoc8rECzBmGIzIYMeoCLGJvWx9B27iSqcWU5OP_2nTERO8L6BVfK7Q7269XEYcslpcCQ9UYeLVWsthrxHlOSf9dhkg__FKXkDLyBWeXOfY8SLmIDN92VAE81caYRU0A/s1600/20181016_203411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1528" data-original-width="1600" height="610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxi26M-vbFoBAkAoc8rECzBmGIzIYMeoCLGJvWx9B27iSqcWU5OP_2nTERO8L6BVfK7Q7269XEYcslpcCQ9UYeLVWsthrxHlOSf9dhkg__FKXkDLyBWeXOfY8SLmIDN92VAE81caYRU0A/s640/20181016_203411.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Mixed Seedlings 5 Aug</b></div>
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I have 5 hanging baskets/pots that might contain the following seedlings...<br />
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Anthurium schlechtendalii (from Sarah)<br />
Begonias cane type including Mabel's front porch (from Chris)<br />
Echeveria ballsii - might be crosses with Echeveria macdougallii<br />
Echeveria rosea<br />
Kalanchoe uniflora<br />
Orchid - most likely reed stem Epidendrum<br />
Sinningia cardinalis - might be crosses with Sinningia leucotricha (from Michelle)<br />
Vriesea - John Arden hybrid (from Sarah)<br />
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Quite a few of the seeds still haven't germinated. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADyhQrviMTQL2RVBxrrC7w8YCTCgyPsaFfwmfCIQpMiHzmEBIsqjPBKUgVWLTek_8Q4OibwUko51Y0r6lJED77xRGxeYNQ7fxBD6b4IXDuUL9KLgR4yWbg0Wl2Bu0Cyet-Esij_O8ZCA/s1600/20181019_125219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1496" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADyhQrviMTQL2RVBxrrC7w8YCTCgyPsaFfwmfCIQpMiHzmEBIsqjPBKUgVWLTek_8Q4OibwUko51Y0r6lJED77xRGxeYNQ7fxBD6b4IXDuUL9KLgR4yWbg0Wl2Bu0Cyet-Esij_O8ZCA/s640/20181019_125219.jpg" width="598" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Mixed Seedlings 9 July </b></div>
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I have 12 pots that might contain the following seedlings...<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Begonia NOID</div>
<div>
Begonia thiemei/carolineifolia (from Fernando)</div>
Bletilla striata (from Fernando)<br />
Echeveria (gibbiflora x rosea?)<br />
Fern gametophytes/sporelings (from Monica)<br />
Ruellia brevifolia<br />
Ruellia elegans<br />
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More seedlings to follow! Watch this space and the VGT Facebook group!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Plants</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2a0QKUVNkmQbDKhLfQiey0D-yDAOF2Fct5M05LIDQL6vdevfDRKQAplvy2x9n7IN2YbAvr_K0zyD4DLxeu7o460DBsw7yeqxKvb_ke2NbQp7mUPSUMPdVu4rV2z84L76BE-fVrk262E/s1600/20180725_184825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2a0QKUVNkmQbDKhLfQiey0D-yDAOF2Fct5M05LIDQL6vdevfDRKQAplvy2x9n7IN2YbAvr_K0zyD4DLxeu7o460DBsw7yeqxKvb_ke2NbQp7mUPSUMPdVu4rV2z84L76BE-fVrk262E/s640/20180725_184825.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Lemmaphyllum microphyllum</b></div>
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This miniature fern from Japan is growing on a big bunch of New Zealand Sphagnum moss around three stories up on my tree. Here's a closer pic...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeV7ero6d9tn9MOkzWT_A0EhkxlFG7K_e4sxJdUhSwkCVt9BOr2yiS3IwsjZErFuh_A6ficKhMHNtgaFfBGMygVzMDbq1CPjfuSZWLHzAWOZmkrtH6wBPvdCNKcHbSS-yaofstdW5_g8U/s1600/20180725_185036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeV7ero6d9tn9MOkzWT_A0EhkxlFG7K_e4sxJdUhSwkCVt9BOr2yiS3IwsjZErFuh_A6ficKhMHNtgaFfBGMygVzMDbq1CPjfuSZWLHzAWOZmkrtH6wBPvdCNKcHbSS-yaofstdW5_g8U/s640/20180725_185036.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I have 18 pots with small divisions of this fern. The pots might also include small seedlings of the following...<br />
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Sinningia piresiana (my favorite Sinningia)<br />
Vriesea John Arden hybrid (from Sarah)<br />
Aloe hybrid (distans x bainesii?)<br />
Aloe pluridens (maybe crossed with variegated arborescens)<br />
Aloe nyeriensis (maybe crossed with kedongensis)<br />
Aloe kedongensis (maybe crossed with nyeriensis)<br />
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The pots might also contain gametophytes of the following...<br />
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Dicksonia antartica<br />
Cyathea australis<br />
Blechnum nudum<br />
Todea barbara<br />
Lemmaphyllum microphyllum<br />
Microsorum punctatum<br />
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The spore from the first four are from Laura and Patrick.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMwQcxlItB8GzrLWXe4zw-zQpThKzOX0POSnjuYbwrudIm1WZ1qXF_9HREnzBgvLysEAzmxbybDj3ZQvE64_XDSLslccIFUY5DCMpStwXuCGibA-6W1fZXrSb0X2hoYE5moj_UP0dY9k/s1600/20180922_214458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMwQcxlItB8GzrLWXe4zw-zQpThKzOX0POSnjuYbwrudIm1WZ1qXF_9HREnzBgvLysEAzmxbybDj3ZQvE64_XDSLslccIFUY5DCMpStwXuCGibA-6W1fZXrSb0X2hoYE5moj_UP0dY9k/s640/20180922_214458.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Begonia NOID</b></div>
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I grew this from some really old seed... does anybody recognize it? You can't quite tell from the photos but the leaves and stems are kinda fuzzy. I refer to it as my "Burnt" Begonia because it grew from its seedling pot into the lamp and its leaves would get singed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYyYqTCJk4ZD-ApFSXx_VbIfHqEpYbV12CV8XcT7817DA8KrFIJIgNzJ0NFHJ3aQoe9KZRTB-ZJkKu-6wToxSi45sbOfedoMJoq20QjUG26IU0lGHSd4kQ_DDOYKYy8apN18wLu-oxbww/s1600/20180709_201803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYyYqTCJk4ZD-ApFSXx_VbIfHqEpYbV12CV8XcT7817DA8KrFIJIgNzJ0NFHJ3aQoe9KZRTB-ZJkKu-6wToxSi45sbOfedoMJoq20QjUG26IU0lGHSd4kQ_DDOYKYy8apN18wLu-oxbww/s640/20180709_201803.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<b>Aloe cameronii</b></div>
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If it gets enough light this Aloe will color up nicely when it's cold/thirsty.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HsHM-PgDvUTAZJr1t-hkv5WpFMHEoQ8PYAbsY4wyjplZdMaxvH1cBKnO1rfOAOVQKD74ieyEkKmAEft0NXFRaZW3COF_1ycxP3R-uoouKvNqR2BdN1qadAzgggpuEKi9V-9pHW5xWFM/s1600/20160507_114906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HsHM-PgDvUTAZJr1t-hkv5WpFMHEoQ8PYAbsY4wyjplZdMaxvH1cBKnO1rfOAOVQKD74ieyEkKmAEft0NXFRaZW3COF_1ycxP3R-uoouKvNqR2BdN1qadAzgggpuEKi9V-9pHW5xWFM/s640/20160507_114906.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Tillandsia albertiana</b></div>
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It doesn't seem like there are many Tillandsias with red flowers. In the pic you can see Tillandsia albertiana blooming on my tree. <a href="http://epiecon.blogspot.com/2018/08/ideas-for-plant-societies.html">When I visited Pat</a> he shared a nice big clump with me, so I have extras available if anybody is interested.<br />
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More plants to follow! Watch this space and the VGT Facebook group!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Cuttings</span></b><br />
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Plants that easily grow from cuttings are the best.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/7586094368" title="Kalanchoe uniflora Growing Epiphytically"><img alt="Kalanchoe uniflora Growing Epiphytically" height="450" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8155/7586094368_0b949674a1.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Kalanchoe uniflora</b></div>
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My favorite Kalanchoe!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissmnL1ouKV9noJqEiXZeol8Yc_wVf7hjIp9zQPPdxp-QPdg09ItUBr_dBmscIWeyigdvxa562TXNJFNWZXnh6melsfVfnVQhrRDFEuUhbXZDHPy05vUKMPzG7AWOz1rOQS9KUtm2KEDE/s1600/20181002_205956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1084" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissmnL1ouKV9noJqEiXZeol8Yc_wVf7hjIp9zQPPdxp-QPdg09ItUBr_dBmscIWeyigdvxa562TXNJFNWZXnh6melsfVfnVQhrRDFEuUhbXZDHPy05vUKMPzG7AWOz1rOQS9KUtm2KEDE/s640/20181002_205956.jpg" width="432" /></a></div>
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<b>Clerodendrum ugandense</b></div>
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Also known as Rotheca myricoides 'Ugandense'.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcR5djhXGyEb_BuvbHx5dsqJh6etyTXwANftHx9oqD4g7I8rRbdyKDzpU0KmrRw7MGBVDdBsLw01I9ijZdqw8iMsMcb5B6FvPGlQiDx46qZ1NVYETH21aCSKcfg1kKbBJM6XwMKoEaqU0/s1600/20160504_115951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcR5djhXGyEb_BuvbHx5dsqJh6etyTXwANftHx9oqD4g7I8rRbdyKDzpU0KmrRw7MGBVDdBsLw01I9ijZdqw8iMsMcb5B6FvPGlQiDx46qZ1NVYETH21aCSKcfg1kKbBJM6XwMKoEaqU0/s640/20160504_115951.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Solandra maxima</b></div>
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Commonly known as the Cup of Gold vine.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrMAdNLw6yGRlwAnZm0Q_hu-6TPzeCO1H0hawi7iik0vPAVW-NmMqCR1YTfEg-hGu7IRtwmM7BDc7wPLK96TW46IjTAYUXN2Uk9slYD_Ry5tkdzwodl8xkL8nI8RtrN38-3Fc4I6ZHxM/s1600/20160612_220759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrMAdNLw6yGRlwAnZm0Q_hu-6TPzeCO1H0hawi7iik0vPAVW-NmMqCR1YTfEg-hGu7IRtwmM7BDc7wPLK96TW46IjTAYUXN2Uk9slYD_Ry5tkdzwodl8xkL8nI8RtrN38-3Fc4I6ZHxM/s640/20160612_220759.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Epiphyllum oxypetalum</b></div>
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If you pollinate the flowers they will produce a fruit that is a little smaller than a dragon fruit. Also, the flower petals are edible, they can be used for soups or salads. The plant itself does not have any spines.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGdi2d7W1mxYm3fghmQtePspPpyYVrnhUU5q4hK3XhLjyFzGkeQUPGFSv7UPkadugPUw05rOOpIDh4yJJtzb4sLqK7mQBO36rn9KY7cOkZuZv6eQ0VqJEKBEtx8aENziQmYIxx0jGWe0/s1600/20180622_203610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1416" data-original-width="1600" height="566" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGdi2d7W1mxYm3fghmQtePspPpyYVrnhUU5q4hK3XhLjyFzGkeQUPGFSv7UPkadugPUw05rOOpIDh4yJJtzb4sLqK7mQBO36rn9KY7cOkZuZv6eQ0VqJEKBEtx8aENziQmYIxx0jGWe0/s640/20180622_203610.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Selenicereus macdonaldiae</b></div>
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This climbing cactus produces what might be the largest cactus flower. The stems have spines on them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BNmF1-xVZ-U44jW0Fnz29vPHsv1p5cDoH7GoaTtbH-WNYEb8n8jyMaGfitjejp80zlZAq9-SBi53uCFr-ZeRTlGb1O1IIBS9IDENK8C_QYVWg-uuApC6UkSAXt_3P1hfibe0K4CE9Ao/s1600/20170911_215255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BNmF1-xVZ-U44jW0Fnz29vPHsv1p5cDoH7GoaTtbH-WNYEb8n8jyMaGfitjejp80zlZAq9-SBi53uCFr-ZeRTlGb1O1IIBS9IDENK8C_QYVWg-uuApC6UkSAXt_3P1hfibe0K4CE9Ao/s640/20170911_215255.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Hylocereus costaricensis</b></div>
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Dragonfruit! This variety has red flesh. The plant has spines and wants to climb. Needs sun.<br />
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More cuttings to follow! Watch this space and the VGT Facebook group!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Seeds</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOitnVTIpw_0ci1R7oam4F-W8M4bFMCiH9WoI98eiePuJBQNgwfpx_XasqFYPpOq_lZHgV82IfG6-u8X9VrJnbQx0PEq_gp0lbm0MEMD8PE_liySfPwPU589RTc7Qem6LXIU5Eboeuzz4/s1600/20180928_000819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOitnVTIpw_0ci1R7oam4F-W8M4bFMCiH9WoI98eiePuJBQNgwfpx_XasqFYPpOq_lZHgV82IfG6-u8X9VrJnbQx0PEq_gp0lbm0MEMD8PE_liySfPwPU589RTc7Qem6LXIU5Eboeuzz4/s640/20180928_000819.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Delicious Epiphyllum</b></div>
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Julia shared an Epiphyllum fruit with me and it was so tasty that I very reluctantly decided to stop eating it and save the seeds. <br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/142218080@N03/31292145158/in/dateposted/" title="Plumerea"><img alt="Plumerea" height="360" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1979/31292145158_4a60c930b6_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Pink Plumeria Tree</b></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/142218080@N03/">Scadoxus</a> took this photo of a big Plumeria tree at Gary's place. She happened to spot a seed pod which he gave to me. I've sown a few of the seeds and they germinate pretty quickly.<br />
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More seeds to follow! Watch this space and the VGT Facebook group!<br />
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<br />Xerographicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978832439622230018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5189697546814101118.post-88836077490524763692018-10-11T17:31:00.001-07:002018-10-11T17:31:17.221-07:00Coherent Communities <a href="http://www.agaveville.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=8739">In the thread that I created about growing succulents epiphytically</a>, Stan replied and asked me about living walls. Naturally I thought about my friend <a href="https://www.facebook.com/UnitedNatures-Design-by-Erik-C-van-Zuilekom-1665063976888158/">Erik Van Zuilekom</a>. He lives in Melbourne Australia and designs living walls. We met on Flickr in 2013 when he sent me a private message asking me about watering <a href="http://epiecon.blogspot.com/2018/07/everybody-should-trade-plants-in-los.html">the plants on my Cedar tree</a>. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/63904641@N04/">Here's his Flickr page</a>. <br />
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Erik and I are also friends on Facebook but it's been a while since I've checked out his personal page. Recently I did so and found this pic...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiaDSgycXoEP0V5XYVid1xD8YVd8tIONASTGTS-0KTltWTjz1fd25Z_TrL72TJuRkwWS2jKGDv90w_qbekLm7lamyw4Jau6GzPSLe45khVDFJKA7tEZOmWRpl_5MxPv_DlNpFAtAP8y1c/s1600/Erik_Van_Zuilekom_epiphyte_companion_planting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiaDSgycXoEP0V5XYVid1xD8YVd8tIONASTGTS-0KTltWTjz1fd25Z_TrL72TJuRkwWS2jKGDv90w_qbekLm7lamyw4Jau6GzPSLe45khVDFJKA7tEZOmWRpl_5MxPv_DlNpFAtAP8y1c/s640/Erik_Van_Zuilekom_epiphyte_companion_planting.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
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Here's what he wrote...<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Rainy day image. Rarely do I grow a single plant in a pot. Companion planting holds secrets. As I observe these species in habitat, it’s evident evolution is not about the individual, rather responses to relationship. Bromeliads collect water that overflows to their root base, where mosses and hepatics grow, further stimulating seed germination and eventually the influx of vascular plants.<br />
The community of species is more resilient than the individual. - Erik Van Zuilekom</blockquote>
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Exactly!<br />
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Thanks to <a href="http://myrmecodia.invisionzone.com/topic/727-jay-takes-his-ant-plants-seriously/">this thread</a> in the forum for Epiphytic Myrmecophytes, I learned that Stone Jaguar created a website... <a href="https://www.exoticaesoterica.com/">Exotica Esoterica</a>, which contains many treasures such as <a href="https://www.exoticaesoterica.com/builds-gear-and-hacks/2018/7/24/bonsai-cloud-forest-diorama-build">this Bonsai Diorama</a>. I first learned about his exquisite companion planting when he shared it in <a href="http://www.agaveville.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=6136">this thread of mine</a> in the Agaveville forum. <br />
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What's the difference between grouping people and grouping plants? In both cases, some combinations are certainly better than others.<br />
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Here's a pic of my tree in 2011...<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/6104953712/in/album-72157627448855237/" title="Symbiotic Orchid Germination 6 195"><img alt="Symbiotic Orchid Germination 6 195" height="640" src="https://farm7.staticflickr.com/6061/6104953712_3c389fbc67_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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The tripod is there because I was trying to take a picture of <a href="http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/29980-orchid-seeds-germinated-on-my-tree/">the orchid seeds that germinated on the bark</a>. You can see that the rabbit's foot fern (Davallia) was making its way to the sunny side of the tree. At that point I think it had already smothered, and killed, a couple of orchids so I ended up removing it completely. The variegated Monstera hadn't killed any of the other plants... <i>yet</i>... but it was quickly taking up more and more space that could be used by a wider variety of plants. I didn't remove it entirely but I did remove the portion of the stem that was in the ground. This slowed it down... and it survived for several years... until the drought caused me to reduce summer watering of the tree from 3x to 2x a week at night. This was the last straw for the Monstera.<br />
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In <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/6053711842/">this short-time lapse video</a>, you can see Jerry, Gene, Fernando and I removing a Monstera from the base of Jerry's big Catalpa tree. This freed up a lot of space that could be used to grow a wide variety of other plants. The same thought came to mind when this past weekend I saw Gary's Jacaranda tree covered in monstera...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFxtnAOhjnRgEht6tLV9X-k_-0iU4rT8IenH77ezi0TMtAFLY4yzgdLPieieWb8YMZLO7vrXEg7sF0JvCcVrVs3u02MdHAlfZ0W0v7MCNWtm7sS_dhYegGpEZfV4RCkB5t53pIfab6Zk/s1600/20181007_105333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFxtnAOhjnRgEht6tLV9X-k_-0iU4rT8IenH77ezi0TMtAFLY4yzgdLPieieWb8YMZLO7vrXEg7sF0JvCcVrVs3u02MdHAlfZ0W0v7MCNWtm7sS_dhYegGpEZfV4RCkB5t53pIfab6Zk/s640/20181007_105333.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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It's a matter of getting the balance right.<br />
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One of the most important parts to get right for companion planting is the host. Pretty early on in my epiphyte experimentation I cut some large branches which I suspended and attached numerous orchids to. The branches lasted for several years but eventually they deteriorated and the orchids had to be removed and remounted. It's convenient to be able to use large hanging branches... so what's the solution? What about Ficus?<br />
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Here's a companion planting that I created on Aug 16 this year...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4WJt116AVVIKy37L88t8mUfLwKw0tSump9SLxXjA-gKFP7BTLynUYTG34G3s8rWfFxYfaIi1QNtswo2ReXa2itV3iczeM_AJxynDhTQNv2XremWuamasnVIQj1W0MAn0bPh37EZv0t6s/s1600/20180926_115752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4WJt116AVVIKy37L88t8mUfLwKw0tSump9SLxXjA-gKFP7BTLynUYTG34G3s8rWfFxYfaIi1QNtswo2ReXa2itV3iczeM_AJxynDhTQNv2XremWuamasnVIQj1W0MAn0bPh37EZv0t6s/s640/20180926_115752.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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It's a largish branch from my Cedar tree that has the following plants attached to it...<br />
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Ficus thonningii<br />
Kalanchoe uniflora<br />
Microgramma vaccinifolia<br />
Platycerium willinckii (from Barbara Joe)<br />
Worsleya procera (from Dave)<br />
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The Ficus was a well-rooted cutting that had been happily growing in a pot. I removed it from the pot and washed off the dirt from its roots. Next I tightly attached it to the Cedar branch and added quite a bit of New Zealand Sphagnum moss around its roots which I covered with shade cloth. I stapled the shade cloth closed and cut a square on one side where I placed the Platycerium. Not sure if it was necessary to remove a portion of the shade cloth... I'm guessing that the Platycerium would have rooted through it. Before using fishing line to attach the Platycerium, I placed the Kalanchoe, Microgramma and Worsleya partially behind it.<br />
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I suspended the branch in the small area that I water most frequently and the Ficus pretty quickly started growing new roots. Here, if you look closely, you can see one just starting to poke through the shade cloth...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Fjt9RUzyBwodoH8dmOCYPzBMMYymcs9lf8A7WaNJDL80BQuyjHg7ed1aYf6WOQMn_iHHAvV9e042B95dQ0ZZEQi5vnW13WcoY6yO89Ul0v7Tbcw455gDjHJtwcpGy0aluGURG0uFz1U/s1600/20180926_112730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Fjt9RUzyBwodoH8dmOCYPzBMMYymcs9lf8A7WaNJDL80BQuyjHg7ed1aYf6WOQMn_iHHAvV9e042B95dQ0ZZEQi5vnW13WcoY6yO89Ul0v7Tbcw455gDjHJtwcpGy0aluGURG0uFz1U/s640/20180926_112730.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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The Kalanchoe roots, on the other hand, are going in the opposite direction.<br />
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So far the exposed Ficus roots have been "air-pruned"... but more and more of them keep poking through the shade cloth. How much progress will they make over time? Will they be the root equivalent of stalactites? For those of you who still haven't seen it, the Ficus thonningii at the LA Arboretum has by far the best aerial roots of any tree in California. <br />
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What will happen to the Worsleya procera? It's a super nice, and quite expensive, bulb. Dave was really generous to give me two seedlings that he grew from seed. I put each one in pretty much pure pumice. So far they've both been very slow... but one is faster than the other. Somehow, even though it was on a second shelf, some cats managed to knock over the slower one. I decided to give it more peat... and it seemed to respond to the additional moisture... but then I started getting nervous about it not having enough drainage during the winter. When I unpotted it for inclusion in the companion planting, I noticed that the roots didn't look so great. Now it gets frequent water but the drainage is excellent. Not too long ago a new leaf started to emerge. It might be because of the moist moss... or maybe it's because it now gets a lot more sun... as you can tell from the photo.<br />
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One potential problem is that the Ficus roots will quickly "use up" all the moss and not leave any for the Worsleya. The two ferns will slowly make new medium but I think the Ficus will probably compete it away from the bulb. The bulb would have faced even more competition for limited medium if I had included an orchid. But there are some orchids that aren't very vigorous rooters so I might add one or two of those.<br />
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The Kalanchoe can get by without much medium. Check out <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EpiphyteSociety/posts/1455094427957277">Erik's Kalanchoe uniflora</a>. Wow! I wonder how much medium it has. <br />
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By the time the Cedar branch starts to fall apart... will the Ficus branch be developed enough to carry the community?<br />
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The next month, on 20 Sept, I created another Ficus-based mount for the piece of Vanilla that Julia shared with me. I met her through the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/planttraderslaoc/">LA/OC trading group on Facebook</a>. She easily has the biggest house-grown Vanilla that I've ever seen. Here it is outside...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtiX2x0J8peS_OZAW7Q-vms-HTHdrmHKGMf2Yb6PnIG5NVmJwCAcAATnSZ4JBw8w4HtXdllD0J8HADnho2QEIunveGHU3PJ09X3v56QwcEgeKAfIWrrCitBIj5dj8KbuhWhvXWxhQKmI/s1600/20180919_123314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtiX2x0J8peS_OZAW7Q-vms-HTHdrmHKGMf2Yb6PnIG5NVmJwCAcAATnSZ4JBw8w4HtXdllD0J8HADnho2QEIunveGHU3PJ09X3v56QwcEgeKAfIWrrCitBIj5dj8KbuhWhvXWxhQKmI/s640/20180919_123314.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Here's the piece that she shared with me...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJdPrRejz5YGsRUOZe5TQ2wiPJkqfuFNv0-g4iN6zNI17eH7IXINzQNbT-XX-v-KdNU_ygod2EHx5PR6vWIyOuDCV9CmlXlgJ0MlzCnDJOE7ILMOHypcPrp8KjFEXKXcdkcbX2D5710s/s1600/20180926_113336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJdPrRejz5YGsRUOZe5TQ2wiPJkqfuFNv0-g4iN6zNI17eH7IXINzQNbT-XX-v-KdNU_ygod2EHx5PR6vWIyOuDCV9CmlXlgJ0MlzCnDJOE7ILMOHypcPrp8KjFEXKXcdkcbX2D5710s/s640/20180926_113336.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Here's a context photo...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55bx_9l1-lQJoA-BwywcMoLK2rTax-a205cBUQM53PHBu6Kq_3U3-Zis-MZU0YbYNs2rAkxJY4UBfhe5tNJGfhV0eYr8M5z3w0ooMKVDonuYsdpjLuQHPUYsOcTacBhDfXuZFPlN1Hw0/s1600/20180926_113024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55bx_9l1-lQJoA-BwywcMoLK2rTax-a205cBUQM53PHBu6Kq_3U3-Zis-MZU0YbYNs2rAkxJY4UBfhe5tNJGfhV0eYr8M5z3w0ooMKVDonuYsdpjLuQHPUYsOcTacBhDfXuZFPlN1Hw0/s640/20180926_113024.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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The branch was freshly cut from my Ficus lutea tree. To get the moss to stay on the branch I covered it with shade cloth which I stapled to the branch. Here's what I included in this planting...<br />
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Aloe bellatula hybrid? seeds (from Julia)<br />
Aloe Lavender Star seeds (from Julia)<br />
Aloe tabletop NOID seeds (from Julia)<br />
Ficus rubiginosa (from Julia)<br />
Kalanchoe uniflora (one mine and the other from Sarah)<br />
Microgramma vaccinifolia<br />
Vriesea John Arden hybrid seeds (from Sarah)<br />
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Julia has a big beautiful Ficus rubiginosa tree that has aerial roots growing from relatively small branches. She gave me a good-sized branch with lots of aerial roots. I divided the branch so that each stem had aerial roots. Here's one example...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy72oYAfWW-HgGwwdMCd1MDQJ4POC3f10PRHV_6A_fVt12hyphenhyphenbIBmmAQDMCKTrjUyFlGKi2RyEwAXhtO5C_hXcrPNzREOlZeaizfFEtMQrTA2HICt30JTLeqfD1crUaIt8BiCcxi15IciM/s1600/20180920_062628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy72oYAfWW-HgGwwdMCd1MDQJ4POC3f10PRHV_6A_fVt12hyphenhyphenbIBmmAQDMCKTrjUyFlGKi2RyEwAXhtO5C_hXcrPNzREOlZeaizfFEtMQrTA2HICt30JTLeqfD1crUaIt8BiCcxi15IciM/s400/20180920_062628.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Even though the divisions had plenty of aerial roots which were in plenty of New Zealand Sphagnum moss that I watered every night, the stems lost their leaves and appeared to desiccate. My guess is that I cut the rooted portions of the branch too short. : ( However, Julia also gave me plenty of seeds from her Ficus so I can sow those on the mounts.<br />
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Which Ficus would result in a better balance... thonningii or rubiginosa? Chances are good that some other Ficus would be a better companion/host. Recently Gene gave me some cuttings from three of his Ficus. Hopefully they will root and I can experiment with them.<br />
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The Ficus lutea branch is still alive so there's a chance that it will root into the moss. So far the Vanilla hasn't started to grow but it's perfectly turgid, thanks to the few aerial roots that it has in the moss. Now really isn't the best time of year to try and get a Vanilla established outdoors. Plus, the commercial varieties aren't big fans of our winters. Back in Dec 2014 I was pretty surprised to see this Vanilla happily growing on some wood in Dave's patio (he lives in Eagle Rock)...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9o7gT0_09AKjiXdyJZmss3k0kYZbYn33nb4Hgy-QgVraYQOdiAZuoUrgj1ZiTndFBDBuHlwQjgWelYz-M81k8J7q5CGT4NDbEnNXZra2T-tp-YM0FlQhKKGWnI1lzXcvmUCPWpNu2pE4/s1600/20141205_085057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9o7gT0_09AKjiXdyJZmss3k0kYZbYn33nb4Hgy-QgVraYQOdiAZuoUrgj1ZiTndFBDBuHlwQjgWelYz-M81k8J7q5CGT4NDbEnNXZra2T-tp-YM0FlQhKKGWnI1lzXcvmUCPWpNu2pE4/s640/20141205_085057.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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You can see in the foreground the main plant that was potted. Dave wasn't exactly thrilled with having the Vanilla climbing where it was... so maybe he tried moving it? Or maybe the cold deterred it. In any case it is no longer there.<br />
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So far it seems like the best Vanilla for growing outside in SoCal is Vanilla chamissonis. Here it is growing on Jeff's house in Echo Park...<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/5873397743/" title="Vanilla chamissonis Outdoors in Southern California"><img alt="Vanilla chamissonis Outdoors in Southern California" height="1024" src="https://farm7.staticflickr.com/6023/5873397743_3f2c9f6229_b.jpg" width="603" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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That pic was taken in 2011... not sure whether it is still there. <a href="https://www.sborchid.com/plantdisplay.php?ocode=VAN000020">The SBOE has this species for sale</a>.<br />
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I have no idea how many different "clones" there are of the commercial variety of Vanilla... but there's going to be some variation in cold tolerance. Maybe Julia's Vanilla is more cold tolerant than most? Maybe it isn't. Then again, maybe a mounted Vanilla would do better over winter than a potted one. I might bring the mount inside or give it to somebody with a greenhouse.<br />
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The day after creating the Vanilla/Ficus mount I created an Aloe/Ficus mount...<br />
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On a freshly cut branch of Evergreen Pear (Pyrus kawakamii) I added the following plants...<br />
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Agave - very sad plain green miniature<br />
Aloe bakeri<br />
Aloe bellatula hybrid? seeds (from Julia)<br />
Aloe ‘Carmine’<br />
Aloe - hanging (from Geoff)<br />
Aloe Lavender Star seeds (from Julia)<br />
Aloe - miniature green lineata<br />
Aloe - miniature green rounded<br />
Aloe - semi-pendulous (from Elmer)<br />
Aloe - tabletop colorful<br />
Aloe - tabletop NOID seeds (from Julia)<br />
Aloe - tabletop white (x 2)<br />
Gasteraloe? - slender leaves (x 2)<br />
Ficus rubiginosa<br />
Ficus thonningii<br />
Pyrrosia - nice one from tree fern<br />
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The Pyrus might root into the moss... but I doubt it. The Ficus rubiginosa hasn't fared so well but the thonningii quickly established, even though it only had a few short roots on it.<br />
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For some reason the Aloe seeds haven't germinated yet. Or maybe they have... but they are still inside the shade cloth? <br />
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Usually I sow different seeds together. For example...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pr2aikrwxspb_XfdiB1cebEyu1xWFlYBX1nB9LhyEqDg3-ym9goC-F4fvA19l7R3RaWOwcaWj_2cN5B1dRYv12_xYaPtYQ6yJfje1V-x6Y_2Qi93afEfj2VjWP1Lpq87y83imyw-DJg/s1600/20180926_124952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1409" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pr2aikrwxspb_XfdiB1cebEyu1xWFlYBX1nB9LhyEqDg3-ym9goC-F4fvA19l7R3RaWOwcaWj_2cN5B1dRYv12_xYaPtYQ6yJfje1V-x6Y_2Qi93afEfj2VjWP1Lpq87y83imyw-DJg/s1600/20180926_124952.jpg" /></a></div>
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There are seedlings of Bletilla striata and Begonia thiemei/carolineifolia from seeds that I received from Fernando. I sowed them in July of this year. If anybody local is interested in having one of the nine pots with these seedlings, I can bring them to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/226866441521951/permalink/232809374260991/">the upcoming plant swap at Village Green</a>. <br />
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Right now the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/226866441521951/">Village Green Thumbs group</a> on Facebook has 7 members. It has the potential to grow and produce some very exciting companion plantings. <br />
<br />Xerographicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978832439622230018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5189697546814101118.post-8301153933383824822018-09-22T06:24:00.000-07:002018-09-22T06:58:25.017-07:00Growing Succulents Epiphytically<a href="http://www.agaveville.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=8739">For Agaveville Forum</a><br />
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Ever wonder why humans are exceptionally intelligent? <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ix7i5R5V2QW0emTTd56xFa2tQ8kii8TB5LFgerVHJmA/edit?usp=sharing">My theory</a> is that it's because walking upright gave us the ability to simultaneously carry many things, and deciding what to carry is cognitively challenging. Correctly discerning what to keep, and what to discard, depends on using more brainpower to process more information. I collect relevant passages... <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pcbkNfjo5n5oDCmBK3tMvkfjjxDbl_DlKq6Z-4Zv_lg/edit?usp=sharing">jettison</a>... here's one that I found on this forum...</div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Also, I recall reading a post somewhere a few years back written by someone who said he knew DW, and went on to describe how DW had thousands of hybrids, and saved the best, and discarded (believe it or not!) MANY of his "rejects" into a canyon off his property. The story goes, he did this until he caught wind that others were scrounging his castoffs in that canyon, after which he started destroying them instead. - Spination, <a href="http://www.agaveville.org/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=5152">A couple more new to me hybrids</a></blockquote>
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Recently I separated a bunch of Echeveria rosea seedlings...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrW0MmmdrYx881UmVwWhDL8t-E1fE5JWm03TqOy_2rxi1WgpLY5ryHL-6kQdQgIHyToKZX38U6KztC1fatIroMjSK6gcy0YsPohyphenhyphennVcXYfyP1484m1erRW7u_px4F5Y-vFX0X0MSKO5LE/s1600/20180909_020247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrW0MmmdrYx881UmVwWhDL8t-E1fE5JWm03TqOy_2rxi1WgpLY5ryHL-6kQdQgIHyToKZX38U6KztC1fatIroMjSK6gcy0YsPohyphenhyphennVcXYfyP1484m1erRW7u_px4F5Y-vFX0X0MSKO5LE/s640/20180909_020247.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I'm pretty sure that most of the larger seedlings have Echeveria gibbiflora as their father. It was blooming at the same time in the same area as rosea. Am I going to destroy any of these seedlings? <i>Nooooooo</i>. Echeveria rosea is my very favorite Echeveria, so I really want everybody to grow it and/or its hybrids. I'm going to give all the seedlings away next month at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/226866441521951/">Village Green Thumbs</a> plant trade. My friend <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/142218080@N03/">Scadoxus</a> and I recently created that Facebook group for plant enthusiasts in her area (Culver City) to trade/share/sell plants. One person's trash is another person's treasure. </div>
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Echeveria rosea is primarily an epiphyte, but I've found that it isn't a drier grower. It slowly declined on my tree when I reduced watering from 3x to 2x a week at night during summer. Echeveria gibbiflora, on the other hand, is not an epiphyte but it is a drier grower, so the seedlings on my tree had no problem with less frequent watering. Unfortunately they tended to slowly break their own necks. Here are a couple exceptions that are starting to spike...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1CLoE4j9FlT1U6hkRjuY9x2XycfGQM5ZncizLueIFpmJ9uCUh6UG8jgdOAfPmX9I4AGBNROHmmgq0Dg6cnt0avEKiKOFi5D5FIwJqC6lFWPzgqnufWZWzYck6XKjQvp6nUXGtkUUUnQ0/s1600/20180913_083429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1CLoE4j9FlT1U6hkRjuY9x2XycfGQM5ZncizLueIFpmJ9uCUh6UG8jgdOAfPmX9I4AGBNROHmmgq0Dg6cnt0avEKiKOFi5D5FIwJqC6lFWPzgqnufWZWzYck6XKjQvp6nUXGtkUUUnQ0/s640/20180913_083429.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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These are more compact than the <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/7586828722/">typical form</a>, all of which broke their necks. In the photo you can also see an orchid blooming and a dragon fruit blooming. The dragon fruit is actually growing on the fence. Here's a pic of the orchid...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_Aolj0h88E-rpVOvssBOLwuRx-WcIQaE_VdhwpxH4eW2El9X9XeV6E2oy0ra6WSJi_HcpoJa-1u45UgZnPmzrIxHiModDRYzC5cxTlfFVMUD0MyrkujWRk7t5-6pbwpE8woa3jyuA2E/s1600/20180917_170550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_Aolj0h88E-rpVOvssBOLwuRx-WcIQaE_VdhwpxH4eW2El9X9XeV6E2oy0ra6WSJi_HcpoJa-1u45UgZnPmzrIxHiModDRYzC5cxTlfFVMUD0MyrkujWRk7t5-6pbwpE8woa3jyuA2E/s640/20180917_170550.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Rhynchovola Jimminey Cricket (Brassavola nodosa × Rhyncholaelia digbyana) is a strong grower that blooms more often as it gets more pseudobulbs. The flowers are pretty big, but they aren't very long-lived... and the color white really doesn't stand out on the tree. Ideally when an orchid blooms on a tree every hummingbird in the neighborhood should be drawn to it. </div>
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This orchid is definitely a relatively succulent orchid. But I'd prefer if this thread was primarily about growing non-epiphytic succulents epiphytically. For example...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-i69ocQJbmU___h71K3uF04cKYJ8Mgl3cPq1otBYHMgFOs7C87-J8J0HV6v_EbeuftQetU3TAbID9MqSYH9zy6UYGbcC89ECOrtyUjAyVNYKl3cSZvGgHD9yrX_mbaY6EwpDhgz-XpFs/s1600/20180913_083605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-i69ocQJbmU___h71K3uF04cKYJ8Mgl3cPq1otBYHMgFOs7C87-J8J0HV6v_EbeuftQetU3TAbID9MqSYH9zy6UYGbcC89ECOrtyUjAyVNYKl3cSZvGgHD9yrX_mbaY6EwpDhgz-XpFs/s640/20180913_083605.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Plectranthus spicatus has succulent leaves and does quite well on the tree. You can see another Plectranthus that's thriving... but it isn't nearly as succulent... I don't know the name of it. </div>
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In Feb 2016 I sowed a bunch of Golden Barrel Cactus (Echinocactus grusonii) seeds together with seeds from Reed Stem Epidendrums. It turned out that birds really like to eat the cactus seeds. Fortunately I didn't keep all my eggs in the same basket. I put a few pots in buckets covered in clear plastic, here's one of them...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmVWWkAKMjHE-1ZaHf2NAJeKjJ2UJvXScsAw4Mhnfh-FL4fSe0BPfdV66QDP27-ITt9Acya3C1tLvdxYPepcOQvQxtsdeidrzkO1lEZ9wiuVGq7s-brhALqZfqw39F76-zgaSHbNhJy8/s1600/20160524_195013+%25281500x844%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmVWWkAKMjHE-1ZaHf2NAJeKjJ2UJvXScsAw4Mhnfh-FL4fSe0BPfdV66QDP27-ITt9Acya3C1tLvdxYPepcOQvQxtsdeidrzkO1lEZ9wiuVGq7s-brhALqZfqw39F76-zgaSHbNhJy8/s640/20160524_195013+%25281500x844%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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If you look closely you can see one reed-stem seedling... it's the only green thing in the pic. The cactus won this round, maybe because the medium was too big for the tiny orchid seeds. </div>
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I also sowed some of both seeds behind a mounted Platycerium, here's a recent pic...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62EJa8PMYxJ7owy-r-gZk1oe7rd84tup1-8pAUJ5c-0T6Kg0sgNpvKyiqjgkzHW6rwRhvKJ-RQbbP4xA8LFHWIHwaZHLfzNEqLQzE4npNZPmAXReNqFqC0vnXQOd9QLA3Fry3M6hI4A8/s1600/20180914_160650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62EJa8PMYxJ7owy-r-gZk1oe7rd84tup1-8pAUJ5c-0T6Kg0sgNpvKyiqjgkzHW6rwRhvKJ-RQbbP4xA8LFHWIHwaZHLfzNEqLQzE4npNZPmAXReNqFqC0vnXQOd9QLA3Fry3M6hI4A8/s640/20180914_160650.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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There are actually quite a few seedlings competing for very limited resources. Here's another mount that I sowed some of the seeds on....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwo5QRT25UsDmevaztUlVoGDMbQIfY_0zbAqWHQjWj7OMWAF6jDvqqVY4g5IgxN66c1VB60qIT009iOVuu0l-Tbw8l2O4M5B-xbuJmkEGtJKlTnxpREymh4BtoKIp2LrRx2m9CEHN8czg/s1600/20180914_160326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwo5QRT25UsDmevaztUlVoGDMbQIfY_0zbAqWHQjWj7OMWAF6jDvqqVY4g5IgxN66c1VB60qIT009iOVuu0l-Tbw8l2O4M5B-xbuJmkEGtJKlTnxpREymh4BtoKIp2LrRx2m9CEHN8czg/s640/20180914_160326.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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In this case I think most of the cactus seeds, or seedlings, fell off. Neither of these mounts were watered frequently enough for the reed-stem seeds to germinate and/or grow. </div>
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Some of the cactus seedlings in pots are much bigger than the mounted seedlings. But it's not like I really have the space for a mature Golden Barrel cactus. The mounted seedlings won't get very large.... they will essentially be bonsai'd. Well, in theory!</div>
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On Flickr I created a gallery of <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/galleries/72157649186642692/">accidentally epiphytic cactus</a> and here's a gallery of <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/galleries/72157649186034001/">accidentally epiphytic succulents</a>. Anybody recognize <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tracygander/9261724385/">this Aloe</a>? I'd love to know what it is because it's sure thriving on that tree. Some of the stems of this Aloe are much longer and thicker than I realized when I first saw the pic. I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit that I only just recently mounted my first Aloe... Aloe bakeri. </div>
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For some reason you can't add your own photos to your own galleries, so I created <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/albums/72157630898081456">an album for my photos of accidentally epiphytic plants</a>. There are a few succulents in it.</div>
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Three years ago at the Huntington I took this pic of an Aloe accidentally growing on a big cactus...<br />
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Anybody recognize the Aloe? </div>
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Daniel Gledhill, who is very knowledgeable about tree Aloes and runs <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/142368349783836/">the Tree Aloe group on Facebook</a>, said that he's seen Aloe thraskii growing epiphytically before. He also informed me that Thomas Cole's Aloes of Uganda mentions that Aloe lukeana can be found growing on trees.<br />
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Why aren't there already the Aloe equivalents of epiphytic cactus? Maybe it's because Aloe seeds are less likely to end up on trees than cactus seeds. </div>
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Thanks to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/194410714433856/">Pinoy Epiphyte Addicts group on Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/194410714433856/permalink/269038566971070/">I indirectly learned</a> about a thread created in this forum for <a href="https://www.agaveville.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4807">Agaves growing epiphytically</a>. Not sure how I managed to overlook that thread. I didn't overlook <a href="http://www.growingontheedge.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3672">the 2009 thread that Stone Jaguar created in the Growing on the Edge forum for Yucca lacandonica</a>. A Google search revealed <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Agave-mitis-var-mitis-growing-epiphytically-in-a-cloud-forest-Tamaulipas-at_fig9_308985855">a somewhat blurry picture of Agave mitis growing epiphytically in a cloud forest (Tamaulipas)</a>. All these pics have got me really curious how a nondescript miniature Agave I have would do epiphytically.<br />
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A few years back, in the XericWorld forum, I created a thread for the same topic of growing succulents epiphytically. I, and others, added quite a few pictures and links to the thread... it was really great! But then one day the entire website was gone. Evidently the owner decided that it was no longer worth carrying. It was obviously his prerogative to make that decision, but his decision certainly wasn't informed by my valuation of my threads and other people's threads. He knew the cost and benefit of the website for himself, but he didn't know the benefit of the website to others. As a result, his cost/benefit analysis wasn't correct. <br />
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Whether we're talking about a plant forum or an Aloe hybrid, correctly determining the actual worth of something depends on giving everybody the opportunity to share their valuations of it. </div>
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Xerographicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978832439622230018noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5189697546814101118.post-85067284044818815902018-09-03T14:29:00.000-07:002018-09-18T06:45:39.027-07:00Let's Have An Online Plant Show!In <a href="http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/57616-tour-photos-and-society-ideas/">this recent PalmTalk thread</a> I shared <a href="http://epiecon.blogspot.com/2018/08/ideas-for-plant-societies.html">a link to my previous entry</a> as well as a couple ideas for plant societies...<br />
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1. create outdoor grow lists (ie Hoyas, Anthuriums)<br />
2. have on online plant show<br />
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Tracy responded to the thread with some thoughts and this pic...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlwBQjSxIYgJ7uZmHs9PNykGQpQhIF3EmS9C2hP9x9STwFKIhS3ox4pFGlws_fI6_fh7BGvqpLwzUx7-NFxr0cC2HniJR7NijAuJDI3iGalmZfrN_C1ybwHXJmXJvshlGQ2PL-Vk-frpk/s1600/Platycerium_superbum_mounted_Fernando.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlwBQjSxIYgJ7uZmHs9PNykGQpQhIF3EmS9C2hP9x9STwFKIhS3ox4pFGlws_fI6_fh7BGvqpLwzUx7-NFxr0cC2HniJR7NijAuJDI3iGalmZfrN_C1ybwHXJmXJvshlGQ2PL-Vk-frpk/s640/Platycerium_superbum_mounted_Fernando.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<b>Platycerium superbum and Fernando</b></div>
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Wow!!! I replied to Tracy that this Staghorn fern on a tree in SoCal is a perfect example of why we really need to have an online plant show. Here's another perfect example...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7kmiFyFo2f52zj-2sAnl1x7cUe-N8LdY-fA88wZsiAGwwyW989vmWpl7Tvj7Hwj__C7ShWCKgEpQZ-Fp1s4ed8tw-UpZ1bknZVPVQQXMJfSz8bIYZEw9suDvv1YgZLCECdkALLxUpV8/s1600/Schomburgkia_superbiens_specimen_Phil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7kmiFyFo2f52zj-2sAnl1x7cUe-N8LdY-fA88wZsiAGwwyW989vmWpl7Tvj7Hwj__C7ShWCKgEpQZ-Fp1s4ed8tw-UpZ1bknZVPVQQXMJfSz8bIYZEw9suDvv1YgZLCECdkALLxUpV8/s640/Schomburgkia_superbiens_specimen_Phil.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<b>Schomburgkia superbiens and Phil</b></div>
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Wow!!! Phil shared this pic with me when he came over for a tour last week. It was taken at the <a href="https://www.sborchid.com/">Santa Barbara Orchid Estate</a>, which I've visited many times, but somehow never when this specimen was in bloom. I was fortunate though that I was able to see another specimen in bloom at the SBOE...<br />
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<b>Laelia gouldiana</b></div>
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How many trees in Southern California should have orchids, ferns and other epiphytes growing on them... but do not? Too many!!! So let's have an online plant show!<br />
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<br />Xerographicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978832439622230018noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5189697546814101118.post-38205595547708411612018-08-18T16:49:00.002-07:002019-07-22T19:29:55.191-07:00Ideas For Plant Societies<br />
Bundles aren't inherently bad. This entry, like most of mine, will bundle a few different ideas and topics together... but they will all be more, or less, relevant to the topic of plant societies.<br />
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My friend Monica is a member of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/epiphytessc/">Epiphyte Society of Southern California</a> (ESSC). A few weeks ago she invited Dave and I over to see her place. Dave is another ESSC member. Last year she saw his collection but he still hasn't seen hers. Unfortunately, he couldn't make it this time... so I asked another ESSC member, <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/142218080@N03/">Scadoxus</a>, to join me instead. We'd both already seen Monica's nice collection but it's been at least a year so Scadoxus and I figured that it would be worth it to see it again.<br />
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The day before we visited Monica, Scadoxus and I had driven down to Cerritos to attend our very first meeting of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/planttraderslaoc/">LA/OC plant trading group on Facebook</a>. In <a href="http://epiecon.blogspot.com/2018/07/everybody-should-trade-plants-in-los.html">my previous entry</a> I listed a few different seeds and cuttings that I was offering to anybody in that group who was interested in them. The meeting started at 10 am and it was held in a public park. It seemed like over 50 people showed up with a wide variety of plants to share and trade. Some people also brought food and drinks. Plus there was a plant raffle.<br />
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After the meeting ended at 11 am, Scadoxus and I drove a few miles away to attend a begonia sale that was being held at a private residence in Lakewood. Scadoxus wasn't sure if it would be worth it to attend because it had started at 9 am and she figured that all the nice plants would be gone. She was wrong though, we found a really nice thick-stemmed begonia (Begonia dichotoma?) for only $5 dollars. Plus, she ended up getting a good deal on a burgundy plumeria.<br />
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The owner of the residence was a really nice lady by the name of Chris. She gave Scadoxus and I a tour of her collection. I'm grateful that she did! Her collection was nicely balanced. In her shade house she had a specimen Nepenthes that she generously shared cuttings of. Plus I saw some especially nice Begonias...<br />
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<b>Begonia 'Spotted Medora'</b></div>
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I really liked the form of this Begonia. It was wonderfully shaped like a little tree, so of course I'd want to attach a few miniature epiphytes to it (ie Tillandsia tricholepsis). I learned that this form is referred to as "standard".<br />
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<b>Begonia 'Gryphon'</b></div>
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I really liked this thick-stem begonia, it reminds me of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/274454793332108/permalink/292313144879606/">Begonia 'Kudos'</a> (not its real name).<br />
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<b>Begonia 'Joy Blair'</b>?</div>
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So nice! It looks like a relatively drought tolerant Begonia. The label says "Joy's Garden, Joy Blair" but a Google search didn't reveal any relevant results. I'd really love some seeds of this when it blooms. Chris did let me collect some seeds from her nice cane Begonias.<br />
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After Scadoxus and I finished at the sale, we drove a few blocks away to visit ESSC member Steve. I'd been to his place a few times before but Scadoxus had never been. One of Steve's very favorite things is variegated plants... he has many many many different ones.<br />
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<b>Steve's Front Yard</b></div>
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Lawn!? He says that each year the border moves a foot. From my perspective the rate is too slow. There should already be a variegated Aloe Hercules right in the center.<br />
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<b>Adenia perrieri</b></div>
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Steve had recently acquired this really cool plant with variegated snowflake leaves.<br />
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Even though Steve and Chris both love plants and live only a few blocks away from each other for many years... they didn't even know of each other's existence. Let's say that they had become friends as soon as the second one had moved into the neighborhood. How different would their collections now be? I think it's a given that their collections would be better... otherwise there'd be no point in making plant friends!<br />
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My first job was working in a privately owned orchid greenhouse. It was the summer after my freshman year in high school and my task was to divide and repot Cattleyas. The owner of the greenhouse didn't have any mounted orchids, neither did he have any orchids outside the greenhouse. I asked him if any of the orchids in the greenhouse could grow outside but he didn't know. He did however very generously give me a couple big garbage bags full of backbulbs. I remember excitedly attaching them to the trees in my backyard. Alas, they all died... except for one Oncidium which managed to put some roots on the tree... which were promptly eaten by slugs. Still, the fact that I had managed to achieve even a little success fueled my interest in growing orchids on trees.<br />
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It was several years later, probably when I was in my senior year of high school that, after lots of trial and error, and after <i>many</i> orchid causalities, I learned the reason why the all the other orchids in my first batch had died. It had nothing to do with them being unsuitable for growing on trees... it was simply because I didn't attach them tight enough. And in the case of the Oncidium, I had attached it too low on the tree.<br />
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Some time after college I joined the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/orchidssc/">Orchid Society of Southern California</a> (OSSC) and I took the opportunity to look through their collection of old AOS magazines. I found a really excellent article by Susan M. Stephenson... <a href="http://www.aos.org/orchids/additional-resources/orchids-outdoors-in-southern-california.aspx">Orchids Outdoors in Southern California</a>. It turned out that, at the same exact time that I was an ignorant but enthusiastic kid struggling to grow orchids on my trees... just on the other side of town there was a fellow by the name of Bill Paylen who had lots of orchids happily growing on his trees. We didn't even know of each other's existence. If we had, I'm sure that my collection would be a lot better than it currently is.<br />
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After finding Stephenson's article I digitized it and sent it to the AOS so that they could put it on their website. It's been a decade since they did so... how much difference has the article made? How much difference will this blog entry make in a decade?<br />
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The day after attending the Cerritos plant trade, the begonia sale, and visiting Steve's garden, Scadoxus and I visited Monica on the westside. She has several trees covered in bromeliads, orchids, ferns and all sorts of other plants. Somehow I didn't take any pictures. I should have taken pictures.<br />
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When Monica visited my place a couple weeks earlier she told me that on her way to work she passed a house with a tree that had big bromeliads in it. I asked her if she had ever talked with the owners but she said that she was always running late. When Scadoxus and I were about to leave Monica's place, I asked her how far away the house with the bromeliad tree was. She said that it wasn't far and told us the street that it was on, but she couldn't remember the closest cross street.<br />
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Scadoxus and I decided that it wouldn't hurt to check it out. We found the right street and and shortly afterwards we spotted the right tree...<br />
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<b>Aechmea blanchetiana</b></div>
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This reddish variety is really eye-catching... especially against the white bark of the Moreton Bay Fig (Ficus macrophylla). Also in the front yard was a Ficus dammaropsis... along with lots of other really nice plants.<br />
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I asked Scadoxus if she wanted to knock on the door. She said it was all me and went to take a picture of something. I rang the door and a fellow answered. We talked for a bit but he was naturally a bit standoffish. Scadoxus came over and asked the fellow if he knew Jim Jaeger. He said that he did, which is when a woman came to the door. As soon as the ladies saw each other they said, "Hey! I know you!!"<br />
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It turned out that the lady, whose name was Sarah, is a member of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/La-Ballona-Valley-Bromeliad-Society-115369225161215/">La Ballona Bromeliad Society</a>. Scadoxus had been a member there for around a year which is how she met Sarah. Sarah had invited Scadoxus over for a tour, but it had never happened and Scadoxus stopped attending the meetings.<br />
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Sarah invited us both in and gave us a tour of her garden. It was <i>really</i> nice. I should have taken so many photos, but I only took a few.<br />
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<b>Artorima erubescens</b></div>
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Artorima erubescens!?? Wow! <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/11132792@N02/32370073363/">Here's a picture of this species flowering in nature</a> (last year <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EpiphyteSociety/posts/1125157490950974">I added that pic to the Epiphyte Society Facebook page</a>). It's from higher elevations in Mexico and quite rare in cultivation. This was the first time that I had ever seen it in person. I'm pretty sure that where I live it gets too hot for it... but I'd love to try growing a cross between this species and a warmer growing one. <a href="http://epiecon.blogspot.com/2016/04/hercuthermal-experiment.html">Ideally the hybrid would be hercuthermal</a> (grows in a wide range of temps).<br />
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<b>Anthurium cupulispathum</b></div>
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This species had very big leaves. I'm pretty sure that it stays outside year around.<br />
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<b>Small Succulent</b></div>
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It's happily growing with an orchid on New Zealand Sphagnum moss. I love companion plantings like this.<br />
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<b>Pseudalcantarea grandis</b></div>
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Woah!!! This bromeliad inflorescence was by far the biggest one that I have ever seen in person. It blew my mind.<br />
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<b>Coral Tree</b></div>
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This variety looks like it could potentially make an especially good host for epiphytes. I'm always on the lookout for potentially good hosts.<br />
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Sarah gave Scadoxus and I several good-sized Anthurium schlechtendalii plants that she had grown from seed. She even gave me an an entire inflorescence packed with berries. A few days later <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/planttraderslaoc/permalink/1757653660936363/">I posted a pic of the berries in the Facebook trading group</a> and asked if anybody was interested in some free seeds. A few people were interested but they lived kinda far away. One young guy named Joel did come over for some of the seeds and some other plants. It turns out that one of his professors, Jorge Ochoa, is actually the president of the La Ballona Bromeliad society.<br />
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While we were at Sarah's house, another member of the La Ballona Bromeliad society... Gary... came by to visit and share some plants with Sarah. Gary and Scadoxus knew each other from the society. We all talked about societies and where there's room for improvement. There's always room for improvement. We decided to meet again in a couple of weeks... possibly at the house of another member of their society... Tom. <br />
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The meeting place was confirmed and a few more people were added to the visit. I decided that I'd like to share cuttings of some of my favorite plants with everybody who was going to attend. One of the epiphytically enriched trees that I planned to get cuttings from is my Pygmy Date palm. I figured that it would be a good idea to first take a quick video of the palm before I took the cuttings...<br />
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Lots of plants really love growing on Pygmy Date palms because its fibrous mat makes a really great natural medium.<br />
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Here are all the plants that I took cuttings of...<br />
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<ol>
<li>Columnea Elmer Lorenz</li>
<li>Dischidia formosana</li>
<li>Echeveria ballsii</li>
<li>Hoya NOID (best epiphyte)</li>
<li>Kalanchoe Elmer Lorenz</li>
<li>Kalanchoe ‘Orangery’ (K. manginii × K. jongmansii)</li>
<li>Kalanchoe porphyrocalyx</li>
<li>Kalanchoe 'Tessa' (K. gracilipes x K. manginii)</li>
<li>Kalanchoe schizophylla</li>
<li>Kalanchoe uniflora</li>
<li>Microgramma vaccinifolia</li>
<li>Othonna capensis</li>
<li>Peperomia Elmer Lorenz</li>
<li>Peperomia hoffmannii</li>
<li>Peperomia Tom Mudge</li>
<li>Peperomia urocarpa</li>
<li>Villadia elongata</li>
</ol>
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I ended up making seven bags...<br />
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<b>7 Bundles of Cuttings</b></div>
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Saturday at noon Scadoxus and I arrived at Tom's house. Sarah, Gary and Phil were already there... Peter arrived shortly after. I hadn't met Phil or Peter before.<br />
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Before eating lunch, and before discussing societies, we took a tour of the garden...<br />
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<b>Acacia pendula</b></div>
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What a cool tree! I'd never heard of it before. Reminds me of <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jardin_boricua/10234117845/">Huperzia goebelii</a>.<br />
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<b>Fuchsia tree</b></div>
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Impressive in person, I'd be interested in some seeds.<br />
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<b>Hanging Sansevieria</b></div>
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You'd figure that Sansevierias would be good at growing epiphytically. I tried one on my tree mounted on ghetto moss (not New Zealand Sphagnum) and it survived for a long time but it never produced new roots. It just slowly faded away.<br />
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<b>Kalanchoe NOID</b></div>
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Anybody recognize it? I'd never seen it before. It was just starting to bloom and had clusters of small orange flowers. It's exciting to learn about a new Kalanchoe that could potentially make an excellent epiphyte.<br />
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<b>Meiracyllium trinasutum</b></div>
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It's a really wonderful little orchid. In <a href="http://epiecon.blogspot.com/2018/07/everybody-should-trade-plants-in-los.html">my previous entry</a> I shared a photo of it blooming on my tree.<br />
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<b>Brassavola Jiminy Cricket (Brassavola nodosa x Rhyncholaelia digbyana)</b></div>
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This is another really great orchid that I have growing on my tree. What's rather exceptional about this cross is that, the larger the plant is, the more often it blooms. I get the feeling that the one on my tree blooms around 4 times a year.<br />
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<b>Begonia 'Colonel Fearing'</b></div>
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An impressive Begonia with Tom helping to provide some sense of its size.<br />
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<b>Begonia 'Elsa'</b></div>
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Super striking! The very light pink flowers contrast with the dark leaves, which have coppery undersides. I'd love some seeds from this.<br />
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<b>Pyrrosia polydactyla</b></div>
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This is a really great species that I received from Barbara Joe Hoshizaki nearly a decade ago. I've been impressed with its resilience. The somewhat similar Pyrrosia hastata wasn't as drought tolerant and didn't make it.<br />
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<b>NOID Polypodium</b></div>
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This looks very similar to Phlebodium aureum but the fronds sure seem longer. I'm definitely interested in trying to grow this from spore.<br />
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<b>Platycerium Elemaria</b></div>
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ESSC member Fernando loves this cross. I asked him who the parents were...<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
When Barbara Joe discovered this plant at the nursery of Mr. Sanchez she thought the parents were P. elephantotis and P. stemaria and her conclusion about the two parents was adopted by the platycerium world, because it looks like elephantotis but the fertile fronds are not straight at the end, rather uneven like the stemaria. Our friend Dan Yansura conducted a genetic test about two years ago and discovered that the genetic markers of one of the parents was consistent with P. andinum, I don’t think this has been published yet but he mentioned it to me and also to some of the members of the fern group at the gathering in my house.</blockquote>
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<b>Niphidium crassifolium</b></div>
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Really long fronds! It's growing together with Anthurium podophyllum and Begonia nelumbiifolia on top of a big volcanic rock. What's really cool is that <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/274454793332108/permalink/298209150956672/">the Begonia has volunteered near the base of the rock</a>.<br />
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<b>Lecanopteris</b></div>
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Tom and Gary talking about a Lecanopteris. Many or most, if not all, of the species in this genus of epiphytic fern are associated with ants. These ferns are super neat but I'm guessing that none of them can grow outside year around in California. Tom recently acquired this one from the Huntington, I'm pretty sure that he's planning to bring it inside during the winter. There's actually <a href="http://myrmecodia.invisionzone.com/">a forum dedicated to epiphytic ant plants</a>.<br />
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<b>Streptocarpella saxorum</b></div>
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I really liked this one but it sure tricked me...I thought it was a Plectranthus! It reminds me a lot of Plectranthus socotranus.<br />
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<b>x Codonantanthus 'Sunset'</b></div>
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Codonatanthus is a cross between Nematanthus and Codonanthe. This one is growing with Anthurium schlechtendalii and hanging down to the fronds of Niphidium crassifolium.<br />
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<b>Dischidia/Hoya NOID</b></div>
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This is one of the plants that I included in the bags of cuttings. I've see this one in many collections but nobody ever knows the name of it. Whatever it is, it sure is great at growing epiphytically. In <a href="http://epiecon.blogspot.com/2017/09/cedar-tree-epiphytes.html">this entry</a> I shared some photos of it growing on my tree. There were two seed pods on it. I managed to harvest one and sow the seeds. Nearly all the seeds quickly germinated and now I have several seedlings that are almost large enough to come out of the bags.<br />
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<b>Hoyas</b></div>
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Tom easily has the nicest collection of outdoor Hoyas that I've ever seen.<br />
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<b>Hoya Flowers</b></div>
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What I was really surprised to learn is that Hoya australis regularly volunteers...<br />
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<b>Hoya australis Volunteer</b></div>
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How exciting is that?! Here Tom showed us an australis that volunteered in a pot with a Gesneriad...<br />
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<b>Hoya australis Volunteer</b></div>
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I really love the idea of "the coolest weeds".<br />
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<b>Hoya australis ssp. keysii?</b></div>
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Not sure if this is the right subspecies. The leaves of this variety are fuzzy and more succulent than the typical variety. I have this variety growing on my tree. So far it has done better than Hoya kerrii.<br />
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<b>Hoya Seeds</b></div>
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We looked around for some Hoya australis seeds but they had already flown the coop. We did find some seeds on this hybrid. Here are the flowers...<br />
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<b>Hoya Flowers</b></div>
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Anybody recognize it?<br />
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<b>Hoya pauciflora</b></div>
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The wind was making it challenging to get a clear picture. I really love how this Hoya is growing from the base of the Platycerium mounted on a tree. The first time I saw a similar planting was in 2003 at the UCLA Botanical Garden, it was <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/7735534740/">a Rhipsalis growing from the base of a Platycerium</a>.<br />
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<b>Anthurium NOID</b></div>
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This nice strap-leaf Anthurium is growing above a nice strap-leaf fern (Niphidium crassifolium).<br />
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<b>Anthurium</b></div>
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This Anthurium had big leaves. It was growing between some Sinningias and a coffee plant.<br />
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<b>Anthurium podophyllum</b></div>
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Wow! From a distance I guessed this was Philodendron warscewiczii. But it definitely wasn't. I've been growing this species for a few years and have seen photos of mature plants. For some reason I had no idea that the leaves got this big! Maybe the pictures didn't have a person for reference?<br />
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After the tour of the garden we had a delicious potluck lunch and brainstormed some ideas for societies. The next morning Scadoxus and I visited our friend Pat. He is, or used to be, a member of the La Ballona Bromeliad society. A little over a week ago he had invited me to see his garden again. Scadoxus and I had visited him around four years ago and we really enjoyed seeing his collection, so we were happy for the opportunity to see it again.<br />
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<b>Hoyas and Tillandsias on Ponytail Palm</b></div>
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That looks so great! Check out how yellow those Hoya leaves are... they sure are receiving a lot of direct sun. More sun means more heat. This most likely explains why I observed a nearby orchid, probably Schomburgkia superbiens, already developing a spike. Mine would spike later in the year... probably because it was in a more shaded location. I'm more inland than Pat is so my place is probably ten degrees warmer. But it seems like an orchid in my shade receives less heat than an orchid in his sun. Additional evidence for this is how well he has done with the heat-loving Myrmecophila tibicinis. I'm guessing that's the species. <br />
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The moral of the story is that, if you live closer to the coast and want to grow heat-loving species, give them as much direct sun as possible. Be sure to gradually acclimate them though. Also, one caveat is that Pat's orchids are surrounded by bromeliads whose water-filled cups increase the relative humidity, which might allow the orchids to tolerate more direct sun.<br />
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<b>Aglaomorpha coronans Mounted on Ponytail Palm</b></div>
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It's really neat to see this excellent epiphytic fern growing on the Ponytail Palm! In <a href="http://epiecon.blogspot.com/2018/06/please-introduce-me-to-awesome-plants.html">this fairly recent entry</a> I shared <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd_vG0rKzZU">this video</a> of Fernando's Aglaomorpha coronans that has wrapped nearly all the way around a palm tree.<br />
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<b>Tillandsia Spike</b></div>
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I thought that this spike was quite nice. Not sure if it was full of buds or pods though.<br />
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<b>Euphorbia stenoclada Phorobana</b></div>
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Wonderful <a href="http://epiecon.blogspot.com/2017/08/better-treasure-maps.html">phorobana</a>! "Phorobana" is the word I came up with for when a potted plant has been epiphytically enriched. This spiny succulent Euphorbia is packed with the super charming Tillandsia albertiana. The Tillandsia has nice red flowers so I'd really love to see this phorobana in full bloom.<br />
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<b>Tillandsias Under Shade Cloth</b></div>
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Almost the entire backyard is covered in shade cloth.<br />
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<b>Epiphytically Enhanced Pseudo-Tree</b></div>
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It's a concrete tree with some epiphytes. I like the idea of sticking a Ficus thonningii right in the fork and letting it "strangle" the concrete tree. The red flower is from Tillandsia albertiana and there's a Peperomia scandens variegata growing from the base of the Aglaomorpha coronans. I gave Pat that Peperomia and I love what he's done with it.<br />
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<b>NOID Plectranthus</b></div>
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This is another plant that I gave Pat, it sure is funny with its small, white, sequential-blooming flowers perched on such long stalks. I actually find the form of this plant quite appealing. It's good for growing epiphytically.<br />
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<b>Kalanchoe 'Tessa' and Friends</b></div>
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This hanging pot mostly contains plants that I gave Pat. He has done especially well with Kalanchoe 'Tessa', there are several similar baskets.<br />
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<b>Tillandsia</b></div>
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I like the form of this. It's similar to something that I have, but mine is more compact, which might be because of more sun.<br />
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<b>Coniferous Phorobana</b></div>
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It's a little challenging to see but there's a Tillandsia attached to this bonsai.<br />
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<b>Angraecum</b></div>
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It's a big monopodial orchid! I'm guessing that it's not Darwin's orchid (Angraecum sesquipedale). I showed Pat the picture of my <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/26615331686">friend's Angraecum</a> and he say that's not it. The mystery shouldn't last too long though because there's a spike on this orchid. Not sure if he brings it in his greenhouse during winter. <br />
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<b>Tillandsia</b></div>
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This very stout Tillandsia with a "trunk" was in his greenhouse.<br />
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<b>Variegated Ficus benjamina</b></div>
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This is from Bill Baker's collection. I'm pretty sure that Steve has a variegated Ficus benjamina, not sure if he has this variety though.<br />
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<b>Hanging On</b></div>
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If you look closely you can see a wild... Anole!!! Also seen in the photo is... Epidendrum Burtonii?<br />
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<b>Baby Anole</b></div>
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Trying to take a picture of these lizards with my cell phone was... <i>challenging</i>. It's been a while since I missed lugging around my "real" camera.<br />
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It was awesome to see anoles in Pat's garden. When Scadoxus and I visited the first time I was super surprised to see one in the backyard and since then I've wondered whether any were still around. This time when we visited I saw at least four different ones... I was thrilled to see that they are thriving.<br />
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Out of curiosity I searched Google for some relevant terms and found that Len Geiger, a garden blogger down in Vista, <a href="http://www.marriedtoplants.com/hodgepodge/brown-anole-lizards-naturalizing-garden/">has brown anoles in his garden</a>. He guessed that their eggs were in the pots of palms that he purchased from Rancho Soledad Nursery and he isn't very worried about them becoming invasive...<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I would hazard a guess that there is not much concern here, as the Green Anoles have been found in many areas around San Diego for a while now and can’t seem to spread past only the best microclimates with the ideal landscape for them. The Brown Anole is even more tropical in nature than the Green Anole. Who knows what the future holds with them here in San Diego. Perhaps another freeze like I had in 2007 could wipe them out? Alien or not, the Brown Anole has added character to my garden. </blockquote>
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He concluded with...<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Brown Anole Lizards are certainly entertaining to watch and photograph. They are a welcome addition to my garden even though they were most likely a stowaway. I enjoy them so much that I am now actively trying to trade some of my Brown Anoles for some Green Anoles a friend has in his garden in San Diego. I’ll keep you posted…</blockquote>
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Searching Google some more I found... <a href="https://nhm.org/nature/taxonomy/term/767">Lizard Fieldwork is Just a Metro Ride Away in Los Angeles</a>. That's Pat's garden! What's interesting is that the article doesn't say anything about the garden itself. The focus is entirely on the lizards. Did the biologists even notice the incredible variety of really interesting plants?<br />
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I also found a blog dedicated to anoles... check out this first photo in this entry.... <a href="http://www.anoleannals.org/2018/06/17/anole-annals-world-cup-round-one/">Anole Annals World Cup: Round One</a>. There's no mention of the fact that there's a Myrmecophila (<a href="http://www.orchidspecies.com/myrmalbopurpurea.htm">albopurpurea</a>?) orchid in full bloom. Did the biologists even notice the orchid?<br />
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Imagine if every garden in Los Angeles only had one plant in it... a geranium. How much wildlife would there be in LA? Not much! Wildlife would be super scarce. Now let's say that every garden had a different plant, this would mean marginally more wildlife. Logically, if every garden had as many different plants as Pat's garden... and Sarah's garden... and Tom's garden... then it would mean an abundance of wildlife in LA. It should be pretty straightforward that more plant biodiversity means more wildlife biodiversity. From my perspective, the biologists should not focus their attention on keeping nonnatives out of Los Angeles, they should instead focus on making gardens as hospitable to the widest variety of wildlife possible, which depends on maximizing plant biodiversity.<br />
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Coincidentally, there was a hint of this in a recent article in The Atlantic about <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishing_cat">fishing cats</a>...<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Trading notes on the cats’ behavior, the two researchers will look at how Colombo may be changing Ratnayaka’s cats, then use those insights to recommend ways to conserve the city’s wetlands and make its crowded neighborhoods more hospitable to cats and other wildlife. “The things I’m suggesting don’t mean that you have to clear a bunch of buildings and make sure people don’t go into the wetlands,” Ratnayaka says. “I’m saying very simple things, like grow some plants on the sidewalk, grow some trees on the pavement so that birds can come and sit.” - Paul Bisceglio, <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/08/cities-animal-intelligence-fishing-cats/567538/">Are Cities Making Animals Smarter?</a> </blockquote>
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In order to maximize plant biodiversity, plants should be attached to other plants. In a video that I shared on Youtube you can see an alligator lizard hanging out on a Dendrobium (discolor x canaliculatum) orchid that I attached to a Pachypodium lamerei...<br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wm-P-qsHgXM" width="560"></iframe>
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When I attached the orchid to the Pachypodium I created a new niche. More epiphytes means more niches. Do I have enough niches in my garden to support alligator lizards <i>and</i> anoles? If not, then my garden needs more epiphytic enrichment!<br />
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There are many different yardsticks that we can use to measure how awesome a garden is. One possible yardstick is the variety of reptiles and amphibians thriving in the garden. The greater the variety of reptiles/amphibians... the more awesome the garden.<br />
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Here are a few interesting species that have established, more or less, in one or more locations in Southern California...<br />
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<a href="http://www.californiaherps.com/lizards/pages/a.sagrei.html">Brown Anole - Anolis sagrei</a><br />
<a href="http://www.californiaherps.com/frogs/pages/e.coqui.html">Common Coquí - Eleutherodactylus coqui</a><br />
<a href="http://www.californiaherps.com/lizards/pages/a.carolinensis.html">Green Anole - Anolis carolinensis</a><br />
<a href="http://www.californiaherps.com/lizards/pages/h.garnotii.html">Indo-Pacific Gecko - Hemidactylus garnotii</a><br />
<a href="http://www.californiaherps.com/lizards/pages/t.jacksonii.html">Jackson's Chameleon - Trioceros jacksonii</a><br />
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Chameleons are my favorite reptile. Steve used to breed Jackson's Chameleons, it would be really great if he started doing so again. I'd be happy to trade orchids for chameleons. I'd especially love chameleons that were bred to eat mosquitoes... and <i>squirrels</i>.<br />
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A while back in this blog I used the term "linger longer" to refer to garden diversity. The greater the diversity, the longer you linger. This applies to both flora and fauna. Thanks to the anoles in Pat's garden I lingered longer. I would have lingered even longer if there were also chameleons in his garden. Ideally there should be so much biodiversity that I'd never want to leave!<br />
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So why not have a biodiversity society instead of a bromeliad society? One issue with general, rather than specific, societies is that the bundle of topics is so large that too many presentations are going to be irrelevant to people's interests. For example, the topic of <a href="https://socalhort.org/">SCHS's</a> last presentation was "Midcentury Landscape Architecture in Southern California". Personally I'd be far more interested in a presentation about <a href="https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/china-welcome-asia-first-vertical-forest">Stefano Boeri's vertical forests</a>. But even a specialist society will have the same issue. Nobody is <i>equally</i> interested in every genus that's in the bromeliad family, I'm far more interested in Tillandsias than <a href="http://www.agaveville.org/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=5886">Pitcairnias</a>.<br />
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The benefit of having specialized societies is that people can pick and choose which societies they are members of. In economic terms, this is consumer choice <i>between</i> societies. But what would happen if there was also consumer choice <i>within</i> a society? People could have the opportunity to decide how they divide their dollars/dues/donations between a society's topics, just like they currently have the opportunity to decide how they divide their dollars/dues/donations between societies.<br />
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Scadoxus, for example, used to be a member of both the begonia society and the bromeliad society, but then she stopped being a member of the bromeliad society. Naturally she stopped paying dues to the bromeliad society, but she continued paying dues to the begonia society. How she divided her dollars between the two societies reflected how her interest was divided between begonias and bromeliads (all else being equal). <br />
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But what if the bromeliad society had been a generalist society that had given their members the opportunity to divide their dues between topics? Scadoxus would have divided her dues between bromeliads and begonias, so would all the other members, and the presentations would have been optimally balanced between the two types of plants. The supply of begonia presentations and bromeliad presentations would have been determined by the demand for them. Tom and Sarah sure grow lots of begonias... what about Pat? I don't remember seeing a single begonia at his place. Remind me to remind Scadoxus to share a division of the $5 dollar thick-stem begonia with Pat.<br />
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Joel is a member of the <a href="https://lacps.net/">Los Angeles Carnivorous Plant Society</a> and he informed me that there aren't any membership dues. Everybody simply pays $3 dollars when they attend a meeting. This makes more economic sense than people paying for meetings that they don't attend.<br />
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For the LA/OC plant trading group nobody pays anything, given that they meet in a public park and don't have any speakers. What's especially great about this society is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/planttraderslaoc/">their Facebook group</a>. Unlike traditional societies, interactions don't only occur once a month, at anytime members can use the Facebook group to share pics and knowledge with each other. As a result, the trading society is far more interactive than the bromeliad society.<br />
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The La Ballona Bromeliad society does have <a href="https://www.facebook.com/La-Ballona-Valley-Bromeliad-Society-115369225161215/">a Facebook page</a>, but it doesn't have a Facebook group. It has been a couple years since the admin has posted anything to their page. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/orchidssc/">The OSSC also has a Facebook page</a>, but Erin, the young and hip president, regularly posts to it, so there's a decent amount of interaction. However, there isn't nearly as much interaction as there is in the plant trading Facebook group. By this measure groups are much better than pages.<br />
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It's really easy to create a Facebook group. Recently Scadoxus and I created <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/274454793332108/">a group for her begonia society</a>. Right now she's pretty much the only one posting anything, but a couple other people have also posted. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/274454793332108/permalink/301217637322490/">Joel posted a pic of his drought tolerant Begonia</a>.<br />
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Admittedly, it does take some time and effort to share photos and knowledge online, but it's a really great way to demonstrate that a society is worth joining. Ideally a society should have several members who go around photographing other members' plants and posting the photos online. Exhibit A... this blog entry!<br />
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From my perspective it took way too long for me to meet and visit Pat, Sarah and Tom. Part of the issue is that I don't live in their area so I'm not a member of their bromeliad society. But even if I was a member this wouldn't have guaranteed that I would have visited them. Scadoxus was a member for a year and she didn't visit Sarah or Tom. I'm not sure if the society is the reason she met and visited Pat. Sarah, Tom, and Pat have all been members of their society for years... yet Pat has never visited Sarah or Tom, and they've never visited him. If they had visited each other years ago it's a given that all their collections would be a lot better. Maybe Pat would have some excellent begonias and maybe Sarah and Tom would have lots of anoles. Right now Pat has several Aglaomorpha coronans, but he doesn't have a single Niphidium crassifolium. With Tom it's the reverse. Then again, it is entirely possible that I overlooked an Aglaomorpha coronans at Tom's place.<br />
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Pat and Monica only live 2.4 miles away from each other, and they grow and love many of the same types of plants, but they've never visited each other. I suppose this is kinda my fault. I should have done a better job of creating a connection, but such connections really shouldn't depend on one person. Neither should they depend on happenstance. If Monica hadn't happened to drive by Sarah's house, and if Scadoxus and I hadn't happened to drive over, then we all would have missed out on so much. The optimal society would minimize the chances that members would overlook important things.<br />
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A society is a bundle of things that aren't equally important/useful/beneficial. Optimizing a society depends on understanding the economics of bundling.<br />
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At Tom's house, after we finished brainstorming society ideas, I gave a bundle of plant cuttings to each person. Tom, Sarah, Phil, Gary and Peter each received cuttings of 17 different plants that closely match my preferences. Will all these plants closely match these people's preferences? Probably not, different people have different interests. Also, at least in Tom's case, he already had several of the plants that I had included in the bundle.<br />
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It should be pretty straightforward that it isn't economical to give somebody a plant that they...<br />
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1. aren't interested in<br />
2. already have<br />
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If I was omniscient then I could have perfectly customized each bundle for each person. But I'm not omniscient. Nobody is. This is why communication is so important. I could have emailed each person beforehand and asked them which plants they were interested in. The reason why I didn't do this is because I didn't have their email addresses. In the absence of communication, bundles are going to be suboptimal.<br />
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At plant sales, it's rarely the case that plants are sold in bundles. Nearly all the plants are sold individually and people can pick and choose which plants they put in their boxes. This allows vendors to see the demand for each of the different plants that they sell, and it allows shoppers to only spend their money on plants that they are actually interested in.<br />
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Seeing and knowing the demand for different things is just as important for a plant society as it is for a plant vendor. At the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Los-Angeles-Int-Fern-Society-121304551237063/">Los Angeles Fern Society</a> at the beginning of every meeting they all stand and recite the pledge of allegiance. The OSSC used to do this, but Erin decided that it wasn't worth keeping (the opportunity cost was too high). I learned from Sarah that her bromeliad society hasn't done this for years. What is the demand for this part of the society? If the demand is small, then it makes sense to discard it. But if the demand is large, then it really shouldn't be discarded.<br />
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It really wouldn't be difficult to reveal the demand for all the different parts of a society meeting. Let's take the La Ballona Bromeliad society for example. Right now the annual dues are a very reasonable $10 dollars. When Scadoxus pays her dues, she could be given the option to use them to rank the different parts of the society...<br />
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$7 - buying<br />
$2 - show and tell<br />
$1 - presentations<br />
$0 - raffle<br />
$0 - refreshments<br />
$0 - pledge of allegiance<br />
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How she divided her $10 dollars between the different parts of the society would reveal their relative importance to her. Just like how she divides her money between bromeliads and begonias reveals their relative importance to her.<br />
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Right now the bromeliad society doesn't know the demand for each of its different parts, so naturally the supply is going to be wrong. Maybe the refreshment table is too big while the sales table is too small. Maybe too much time is spent on presentations while not enough time is spent on show and tell. The only way the balance can be optimal is if it accurately reflects the different preferences of all the members.<br />
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A plant show typically has three parts...<br />
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1. sales<br />
2. show<br />
3. presentations<br />
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Personally, the sales are always my #1 priority. I'm pretty sure that I'm the rule rather than the exception. So it doesn't make any sense for societies to charge vendors and pay speakers. It should be the other way around! Heh.<br />
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A generalist society with consumer choice will be much bigger and better than a specialist society. As a result, it will be able to tackle large projects... such as turning local schools into botanical gardens. Scadoxus is an elementary school teacher and she and her students have been <a href="http://classtopia.blogspot.com/2018/02/a-new-garden-area.html">botanifying their school</a>. I've personally donated a ton of plants, but imagine how many plants a big society could donate. If every school was a botanical garden then imagine how many students would join plant societies.<br />
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How difficult would it be to change the La Ballona Bromeliad society? All organizations are inherently resistant to change...<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The simplest form of this explanation is that the outcome is fully explained by “path dependence” and “inertia;” that is to say by the contingency of what happened in the past and by the difficulty of changing the status quo, even if the status quo no longer reflects the purposes or circumstances that resulted in the contingent outcome that was deposited in the present by the past. - Ian Lustick, <a href="https://evolution-institute.org/focus-article/second-main-article/">Institutional Rigidity and Evolutionary Theory: Trapped on a Local Maximum</a></blockquote>
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I'm happy to share the ideas in this entry with the leaders of any and all plant societies, but I'm not confident that they will correctly estimate their importance/usefulness/benefit. And it's not like all the members have the opportunity to use their donations to rank ideas for plant societies. But there's always the option to create a new society.<br />
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Last month Scadoxus invited me to attend a patio peek where she lives. I accepted her invitation and was really happy that I did. Her area has lots of green thumbs! You can see some pics in <a href="http://epiecon.blogspot.com/2018/07/patio-peek.html">this entry</a>. Since then we've been brainstorming the idea of creating a general plant society for the people in her area. We both really liked the format of the LA/OC plant trading group and have decided to essentially create a branch for Culver City. Once a month on a Saturday morning people in the area can get together and share, sell and trade plants. It would be really wonderful if Monica, Pat, Sarah, Tom, Gary, Phil and Peter joined this society.<br />
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The members of any plant society collectively grow a wider variety of plants than any individual member grows. The members of a plant society have also collectively read more articles/threads/blogs/books and watched more videos about plants than any individual member. This means that the society as a whole has more plant knowledge and experience than any individual member. Basically, the society's brain is larger than any member's brain. The larger a society is, the larger its brain is, and the greater the benefit of accessing it.<br />
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Not too long ago ESSC member Bonnie created a group on Facebook... <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/285776418608743/">Southern California Rare Plant Addicts</a> (SCARPA). I'm a member and so are 103 other people. Thanks to the Facebook group, it's far easier to access SCARPA's brain than it is to access SCHS's brain. The issue with Facebook groups is they don't reveal how important a post is, they only reveal how popular it is. So a Facebook group isn't optimal at making the group's brain accessible. The most useful thing about a group's brain is prioritizing... deciding how to divide attention between begonias and bromeliads... and between Tillandsias and Pitcairnias. Figuring out the group's priorities depends on each and every member having the opportunity to use their donations/dues to reveal their demand for things.<br />
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<br />Xerographicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978832439622230018noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5189697546814101118.post-47020936174795828012018-07-26T20:40:00.001-07:002018-08-12T05:38:53.635-07:00Everybody Should Trade Plants In Los AngelesNobody walks in LA, but everybody in LA should trade plants. And give them away as well. In previous years I've posted free plants on Craigslist and usually quite a few people have responded. This year not so much. But one of the responses was an invitation to check out the Facebook group for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/planttraderslaoc/">Plant Traders Los Angeles/OC Garden Trading Community</a>. I did so and it sure seems like a pretty great bunch of plant people. How come it took me so long to get the memo???<br />
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They have a trade coming up this Saturday and I've been trying to prioritize which plants to share. So far I've posted that I have seeds of Echeveria coccinea available...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Vb4EDufhx3HZNaEfkCbCHV6LUdfmQg24DLAd6MvE2uLe-vFo2fWz1ls5494x8gDojJufd19zkcKSXI186PwvlvCk4FBQ-KwMQjQ4vZGWFfGj-Ta8Q6k291q5A4fHPgE5aPhGs2hwcTM/s1600/Echeveria_coccinea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="880" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Vb4EDufhx3HZNaEfkCbCHV6LUdfmQg24DLAd6MvE2uLe-vFo2fWz1ls5494x8gDojJufd19zkcKSXI186PwvlvCk4FBQ-KwMQjQ4vZGWFfGj-Ta8Q6k291q5A4fHPgE5aPhGs2hwcTM/s640/Echeveria_coccinea.jpg" width="352" /></a></div>
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Here are some other seeds or cuttings that I should share...<br />
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<h4>
Columnea Elmer Lorenz seeds</h4>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/9689647429/in/photolist-fLeYAH" title="The Best Orchid Companion"><img alt="The Best Orchid Companion" height="342" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3739/9689647429_e039006f6e.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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Not sure what its "real" name is... maybe it's Columnea crassifolia? The leaves are certainly very succulent... for a Columnea. My plant mentor Elmer Lorenz gave it to me several years ago and I've been really happy with it. This epiphyte is exceptional because it stays in bloom for almost the entire year. My friend Dave says the same is true of Columnea schiedeana. I wonder which one would grow the best epiphytically.<br />
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<h4>
Anthurium scandens (xeric form) seeds</h4>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/36629009870/" title="Anthurium scandens Growing Epiphytically"><img alt="Anthurium scandens Growing Epiphytically" height="413" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4431/36629009870_04cca28742.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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This epiphyte is the winner of the <a href="http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/30174-epiphyte-grand-prix/">2011 Epiphyte Grand Prix</a>. The flowers aren't showy but it does make nice clusters of purplish fruits.<br />
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<h4>
Epiphytic Kalanchoe cuttings (bundle)</h4>
Here's what would be included in the bundle...<br />
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- Kalanchoe ‘Orangery’ (K. manginii × K. jongmansii)<br />
- Kalanchoe schizophylla (hemiepiphyte)<br />
- Kalanchoe 'Tessa' (K. gracilipes x K. manginii)<br />
- Kalanchoe uniflora (my favorite)<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/7586094368" title="Kalanchoe uniflora Growing Epiphytically"><img alt="Kalanchoe uniflora Growing Epiphytically" height="450" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8155/7586094368_0b949674a1.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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<h4>
Mixed succulent seeds</h4>
I have lots of different succulents, mostly in the Crassulaceae family, happily growing on my tree. For example...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0g8O7NNSLs8He7pVKYJNVXfV7j2i28FbdC4jqtGaNfsEWy9lGjXejV2T24FxjgwJOTPJ4iCrEABoTNqeptQpwlgzHrwKMKTS3th1fGKTU8bNPGvpbI2a9VwNKqp78YiM-dq-k5gK0cIk/s1600/Echeveria_minima.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="681" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0g8O7NNSLs8He7pVKYJNVXfV7j2i28FbdC4jqtGaNfsEWy9lGjXejV2T24FxjgwJOTPJ4iCrEABoTNqeptQpwlgzHrwKMKTS3th1fGKTU8bNPGvpbI2a9VwNKqp78YiM-dq-k5gK0cIk/s640/Echeveria_minima.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I'm guessing that this little succulent is Echeveria minima. The seeds from this succulent, and from several other ones growing on my tree, will be included in this mix.<br />
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<h4>
Mixed Tillandsia seeds</h4>
The seeds from various Tillandsias growing on my tree. Primarily from Tillandsia aeranthos but also from a few others such as ionantha...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/26353484173" title="Tillandsia ionantha - My Highest Epiphyte"><img alt="Tillandsia ionantha - My Highest Epiphyte" height="1024" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7145/26353484173_ed00055e75_b.jpg" width="576" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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<h4>
Reed-stem Epidendrum seeds</h4>
Most orchid seeds don't have enough nutrients to germinate on their own. In order to germinate in nature they depend on specific varieties of microscopic fungus to supply the necessary nutrients. My impression is that the seeds of some orchids, such as those of reed-stems, are an exception to the rule.<br />
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<h3>
Sowing Instructions</h3>
I sow all these seeds, except for the Tillandsia seeds, the same way. First I put some well-drained medium into a small pot. Then I add a layer of New Zealand Sphagnum moss on top. I sow the seeds on the moss, put the pots in zip lock bags and place them near a bright window or under grow lights.<br />
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For the pots I use 500 ml water bottles. I cut the tops off, remove the labels and cut some drainage holes in the bottom. Three of these fit nicely in a gallon zip lock bag.<br />
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Usually I don't completely seal the bags, but this means that every so often I'll have to inspect them to make sure that pots aren't drying out too much. I think it's safer to err on the side of too dry rather than too moist. If the pots are too moist then they can start to get slimy.<br />
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I rarely ever sow one type of seed by itself. For example, when I sow the reed-stem seeds I'll include one or two seeds from Anthurium scandens in the pot. This helps me hedge my bets. Using small pots also helps to hedge bets. It's important to avoid putting too many eggs in one basket. For example, my friend had several different nice plants in a terrarium. They were all wiped out when she introduced a new plant. Putting three small pots in one bag helps to limit the spread of pathogens.<br />
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I also hedge my bets by using different medium mixes. Mixes include different combinations of...<br />
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- peat<br />
- perlite<br />
- pumice<br />
- small bark<br />
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For the Tillandsia seeds I usually sow them directly on suitably sized branches which I'll soak at night 3-4 times per week.<br />
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<h3>
Seed Sowing Logic</h3>
The point of growing plants from seed is select for trait combinations which are the most closely suited to your conditions. Seeds are all different, which means that they won't all prefer the same exact conditions. Some seeds will be better suited to your conditions than others. Plus, seeds won't be equally tolerant of heat or cold or dryness. All progress with plants depends on growing them from seed.<br />
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<h3>
Updates </h3>
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While I'm at it, here are some recent pics of the plants growing on my Cedar tree...<br />
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Meiracyllium trinasutum pretending to be an Encyclia (nematocaulon). Also in the photo is Tillandsia albertiana and Microgramma vacciniifolia.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2_F-lNtbQKUCL5rDrkFe_2wFevgYW6TmsLTelHhI8ra8tYotQYnVqvhFBMGRfcWXoiqnXcBMxSI9_SUWRVp2Iq0mvz9zeQIa_7Tm-isW-PW_CwRMIm_nkgbBWlzS6J5IXs_JDeMyZqs/s1600/20180725_164956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2_F-lNtbQKUCL5rDrkFe_2wFevgYW6TmsLTelHhI8ra8tYotQYnVqvhFBMGRfcWXoiqnXcBMxSI9_SUWRVp2Iq0mvz9zeQIa_7Tm-isW-PW_CwRMIm_nkgbBWlzS6J5IXs_JDeMyZqs/s640/20180725_164956.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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This Tillandsia aeranthos volunteer looks a little different... like it's more star-shaped or something. Looks similar to <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikkelz/3054058308">this one</a>.<br />
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This looks like a seedling of Cotyledon orbiculata.... but I don't remember sowing any of these seeds on the tree.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPqKi7JAFQRLZeNREO-cQ3xGpn8AnsAiN4MWMhKTutHi-iV_SfpFhsoiAyjhbcYlscow-YIHimpx5sZD36W2nHvr56LrRKZl_hBczFLVtDgJLLPbYgfjCVxUnVHJvd69HRr8IRhvtGkeI/s1600/20180725_190849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPqKi7JAFQRLZeNREO-cQ3xGpn8AnsAiN4MWMhKTutHi-iV_SfpFhsoiAyjhbcYlscow-YIHimpx5sZD36W2nHvr56LrRKZl_hBczFLVtDgJLLPbYgfjCVxUnVHJvd69HRr8IRhvtGkeI/s640/20180725_190849.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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This Crassula pruinosa isn't the most exciting, and this photo isn't so great, but I'm happy with this little dangling succulent. It has earned some attention.<br />
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Several years ago Elmer gave me several seedlings of Anthurium coriaceum. I shared several with my friends and put a few on my tree. Mine grew so much slower than my friends'. Well yeah, they put theirs in pots! But I'm happy to see that the new leaf on this one is significantly larger than the older leaves.<br />
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This is Lemmaphyllum microphyllum, a miniature fern from Japan, growing on a big bunch of New Zealand Spahgnum moss around three stories up on my tree. The fern hasn't managed to escape from the moss, but a different variety of moss is trying to....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeV7ero6d9tn9MOkzWT_A0EhkxlFG7K_e4sxJdUhSwkCVt9BOr2yiS3IwsjZErFuh_A6ficKhMHNtgaFfBGMygVzMDbq1CPjfuSZWLHzAWOZmkrtH6wBPvdCNKcHbSS-yaofstdW5_g8U/s1600/20180725_185036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeV7ero6d9tn9MOkzWT_A0EhkxlFG7K_e4sxJdUhSwkCVt9BOr2yiS3IwsjZErFuh_A6ficKhMHNtgaFfBGMygVzMDbq1CPjfuSZWLHzAWOZmkrtH6wBPvdCNKcHbSS-yaofstdW5_g8U/s640/20180725_185036.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The challenge is that the bark isn't very good at storing water. Here you can see the fern in context...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionQmA_ppfxSCXcQwJ4HuH7HXE4OhMY3ocvBHyX8FbDVTvdjx-HdCL3b8ZOl7LFU08RTP_OBr9ex18kB6n7Hag5jeF04RRp2BHcTmiIGZwiq6HxE1IVVwj-aQT_rt4kTsTKyPnKUze1YI/s1600/20180725_185428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionQmA_ppfxSCXcQwJ4HuH7HXE4OhMY3ocvBHyX8FbDVTvdjx-HdCL3b8ZOl7LFU08RTP_OBr9ex18kB6n7Hag5jeF04RRp2BHcTmiIGZwiq6HxE1IVVwj-aQT_rt4kTsTKyPnKUze1YI/s640/20180725_185428.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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The orange flowers are from Columnea Elmer Lorenz. I wish that I had attached it to a horizontal branch instead.<br />
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Further up on the tree I noticed that my clump of plants growing all over Aglaomorpha coronans had been dislodged by some critter. It didn't help that a nice, but heavy, Echeveria gibbiflora was pulling down on the clump. Here's a picture that I took last year of the Echeveria...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbM0slFOzyCbbWHtjuq_F58QfQzAfQanc9wpKyPaeCGiQGA08m_xBFeuPal-eMVBuh0vaeMcwp3lPbDHb0zGve0lFQXdZoaZGZkfkR8IhPPJl2tyCWeffrZ6nvrDwv7Z6hAUng_j82LUo/s1600/Echeveria_gibbiflora_branching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="681" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbM0slFOzyCbbWHtjuq_F58QfQzAfQanc9wpKyPaeCGiQGA08m_xBFeuPal-eMVBuh0vaeMcwp3lPbDHb0zGve0lFQXdZoaZGZkfkR8IhPPJl2tyCWeffrZ6nvrDwv7Z6hAUng_j82LUo/s640/Echeveria_gibbiflora_branching.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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This Echeveria, which grew from seed that I had sown on the tree, is different from the other seedlings because its leaves are more rounded and the plant itself branches. None of the numerous other seedlings have branched. I really like the idea of a branching gibbiflora so I decided to cut this one off in order to give it more TLC than it has been receiving. Here's the pic I took after removing it...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkoxtZ6y859dFSx89MO6b1h61BN6si75aspeY5vPIJIp_BXK8ZWQDwy8CqDBfsNcC6kDPrT-WRpV5NrCCUxOV69TI69YqWfKyhBOnfKtGOavdR5dq2f7j5STz_JbYKPbogZpLX7xm5n54/s1600/20180725_175559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkoxtZ6y859dFSx89MO6b1h61BN6si75aspeY5vPIJIp_BXK8ZWQDwy8CqDBfsNcC6kDPrT-WRpV5NrCCUxOV69TI69YqWfKyhBOnfKtGOavdR5dq2f7j5STz_JbYKPbogZpLX7xm5n54/s640/20180725_175559.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And here's a pic of it with a one gallon pot for reference...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5iEIl623s0cgMbSWPu_F0NCSdsVOxxGyotSRuevM3UeWa0HthESlgoM9-MCCHgThwLqM1Aws-byGDYQocybdG-Xds04NEjWb9i_aUXUsiU4Nt9TvRQau3To7-qzk6gwe1O3lSYzIqKLs/s1600/20180725_181119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5iEIl623s0cgMbSWPu_F0NCSdsVOxxGyotSRuevM3UeWa0HthESlgoM9-MCCHgThwLqM1Aws-byGDYQocybdG-Xds04NEjWb9i_aUXUsiU4Nt9TvRQau3To7-qzk6gwe1O3lSYzIqKLs/s640/20180725_181119.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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How awesome would it be to have an Echeveria that branches just as much as a Jade plant?<br />
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Lastly, here's a context pic of Anthurium scandens....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLoZMJaAwFvL_y8ACfxmNzhPS77rUpRtE9W6GHplovHdHTL-nDlRMLMoTtwuWONTa5gi28vH5OmbXi_B0T_ty9rQymohPdwYtMxtCpaGmyzo4pOu6leITjk-zuAwVz2hY5GaM4WyOQ9wM/s1600/20180726_183754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLoZMJaAwFvL_y8ACfxmNzhPS77rUpRtE9W6GHplovHdHTL-nDlRMLMoTtwuWONTa5gi28vH5OmbXi_B0T_ty9rQymohPdwYtMxtCpaGmyzo4pOu6leITjk-zuAwVz2hY5GaM4WyOQ9wM/s640/20180726_183754.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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In retrospect, Columnea Elmer Lorenz should have been a contestant in the 2011 Epiphyte Grand Prix. How different would the tree look?<br />
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I water the entire tree twice a week at night during the summer. When the weather starts to get cooler, I water less and less frequently and earlier and earlier in the day.<br />
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Every tree in California should have at least a few plants growing on it!Xerographicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978832439622230018noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5189697546814101118.post-40935106921345210692018-07-03T17:15:00.002-07:002018-07-03T17:15:24.047-07:00Patio PeekThis last weekend I attended a patio peek that my friend <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/142218080@N03/">Scadoxus</a> participated in. I'm really glad that I did! I saw some nice patios/plants and met some pleasant plant people. <br />
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Here's one plant that caught my attention...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_OhPpG4z1y5XbtPEjrvTr4GvCnNvEI13_lg2Gmi3RgB3_kVdJvkGkkOMxtWWHuZuNifVBO8QZX0M-7o7u0v57pP6Uzjl8jVVYV2-wa5bdg8fWWOVEIdjCDs72fEITcbEPgzDNFdGgaM/s1600/20180630_164826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_OhPpG4z1y5XbtPEjrvTr4GvCnNvEI13_lg2Gmi3RgB3_kVdJvkGkkOMxtWWHuZuNifVBO8QZX0M-7o7u0v57pP6Uzjl8jVVYV2-wa5bdg8fWWOVEIdjCDs72fEITcbEPgzDNFdGgaM/s640/20180630_164826.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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It's a Trachelium (Blue Throatwort). I'm particularly interested in it because it readily volunteers. One of my favorite volunteering plants is Ruellia brevifolia...<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/37533072801" title="Ruellia brevifolia - My Favorite "Weed""><img alt="Ruellia brevifolia - My Favorite "Weed"" height="375" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4506/37533072801_6b20e4fd8b.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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Earlier in the year Scadoxus gave me Ruellia elegans which she had received from her two friends. They had purchased it from <a href="https://www.anniesannuals.com/plants/view/?id=3229">Annie's Annuals</a>. Coincidentally, while in the Trachelium patio, I randomly met Scadoxus' two friends for the first time. They mentioned Annie's Annuals, I mentioned the Ruellia, and we put two and two together. We uncovered a hidden connection. <br />
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I think that R. brevifolia is a warmer grower/bloomer while R. elegans is a cooler bloomer/grower. The elegans has been blooming non-stop while the brevifolia hasn't started blooming yet. When it starts to bloom, I'd like to try and cross the two species in order to hopefully create a hercuthermal hybrid (grows/blooms in a wider range of temps).<br />
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Here's something that you don't see everyday...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZwMlBbpRSQguDiMitKVMT7NOX3dec46bhzDhG7ikOVU2sJdXOoeB3Hyuhy-vC620maDGfpepZnJWfAUvft-29YrVL7pAWWRm3wklegFXRsvydUfBgFTGLCa1PehfM1BsSYuLONILceE/s1600/20180630_154826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZwMlBbpRSQguDiMitKVMT7NOX3dec46bhzDhG7ikOVU2sJdXOoeB3Hyuhy-vC620maDGfpepZnJWfAUvft-29YrVL7pAWWRm3wklegFXRsvydUfBgFTGLCa1PehfM1BsSYuLONILceE/s400/20180630_154826.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's a humongous Staghorn fern (Platycerium bifurcatum) growing directly on a brick wall. <br />
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Here's a really nice epiphyte...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEict1EJ-sqZnXmZ_5udldweyzSyR92P-lTMHXNK0hSVq-Ji5DEQZKsi0QQwxKgaY7JemfT6KaoKuNaeK2qx__BlzpYwXIcLnTAhsqqfgRk52mECWnAVDBpfGhHv0SIAEsTZ-Kiby08qjfQ/s1600/20180630_163132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEict1EJ-sqZnXmZ_5udldweyzSyR92P-lTMHXNK0hSVq-Ji5DEQZKsi0QQwxKgaY7JemfT6KaoKuNaeK2qx__BlzpYwXIcLnTAhsqqfgRk52mECWnAVDBpfGhHv0SIAEsTZ-Kiby08qjfQ/s640/20180630_163132.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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It's either a bromeliad or a Tillandsia. I'm guessing that it's a Tillandsia, but I could be wrong. I'm also guessing that it's monocarpic. This would mean that it wouldn't produce any offshoots after it dies. Ugh, I'm not a fan of monocarpic plants. Hopefully this one is not monocarpic because I'd sure love to have an offshoot! The vine with the pink flowers is Mandevilla. In front of it is a very inviting couch. It's wonderful when the lines between "inside" and "outside" are blurred.<br />
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Here's another really nice epiphyte...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfs8kRFq6v3jG55NWS6i3rqK3oV9TCfG8C1MtCJivG_YzlCjP2IFrZx93-upxbRH48oToBsDBeJoe6ifaH-Eut428B4t0gjhDbnaOrHX1bRQOEYp7XcbDS0m8NhaVDmspoFKM-17_lH-U/s1600/20180630_161911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfs8kRFq6v3jG55NWS6i3rqK3oV9TCfG8C1MtCJivG_YzlCjP2IFrZx93-upxbRH48oToBsDBeJoe6ifaH-Eut428B4t0gjhDbnaOrHX1bRQOEYp7XcbDS0m8NhaVDmspoFKM-17_lH-U/s640/20180630_161911.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Maybe it's Anthurium schlechtendalii? It's being propped up by some cherubins. The lady statue, the owner of the Anthurium, and me in the mirror are all interestingly arranged. The three of us are facing in different directions... just like in a Hal Hartley movie. <br />
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Here's a tree fern...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_Auw9N6usLcrWpxJrb_opdFov2ZrHirZClMwVNqQ0aslZ-wOmEne_zxizWnO1TeWRzjQWDZZaLp6nH_fgmmH85Jwn_M21Gv136OQb2d-rQQlG0w2_M5gsiOr1eyfWyt9XNiN8IkIABQ/s1600/20180630_171531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_Auw9N6usLcrWpxJrb_opdFov2ZrHirZClMwVNqQ0aslZ-wOmEne_zxizWnO1TeWRzjQWDZZaLp6nH_fgmmH85Jwn_M21Gv136OQb2d-rQQlG0w2_M5gsiOr1eyfWyt9XNiN8IkIABQ/s640/20180630_171531.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Sorry about the blurry photo. What's remarkable about this tree fern is that it's developing several heads. It's not every day that you see a multi-headed tree fern. More heads are better than one!<br />
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Here's a multi-headed tree Aloe...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj2uda8b0jjA3brZHtMVl2igb1NnvcbpSrzb4jy4YeccoiOIfpF3JeCg-qJOOypE8Lx6KDJartQ_AUkTPmz9mkDjgpBSiRoQMo7gDNNvKgO83TJUOYy0qjJH2Bbf4SDgmg7vr6gyN-nD8/s1600/20180630_161629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj2uda8b0jjA3brZHtMVl2igb1NnvcbpSrzb4jy4YeccoiOIfpF3JeCg-qJOOypE8Lx6KDJartQ_AUkTPmz9mkDjgpBSiRoQMo7gDNNvKgO83TJUOYy0qjJH2Bbf4SDgmg7vr6gyN-nD8/s640/20180630_161629.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Wow! Wow! Wow! This is by far the best Aloe arborescens that I've ever seen in person. I'm pretty sure that it's arborescens. It is one of the most commonly grown Aloes here in California. For some reason, despite its name, all the ones that I've seen are more like shrubs than trees. But in nature you can see some distinctly tree like forms... f<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/47108884@N07/10238246015/">or example</a>. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/galleries/72157649154617841/?rb=1#photo_9231032045">Sometimes orchids will grow on them</a>. <br />
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The Aloe in the photo should definitely have one, or two, orchids growing on it. Then it would be a phorobana. Here's one orchid that sometimes grows on Aloe arborescens in nature...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNXx6-sy8wPQ_RlRsYYuMPXxtWiRym-hqUOZcrIsGkU-dcZnGyXgr57YZiMgbYCHRMdDd9vQsw70nwaF4gf3e7LbPwfw7_jFOhKN118L03scjrtBN7dbWurs6U82lE2Bl21eDtAJu3vA/s1600/20180702_200103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1397" data-original-width="1600" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNXx6-sy8wPQ_RlRsYYuMPXxtWiRym-hqUOZcrIsGkU-dcZnGyXgr57YZiMgbYCHRMdDd9vQsw70nwaF4gf3e7LbPwfw7_jFOhKN118L03scjrtBN7dbWurs6U82lE2Bl21eDtAJu3vA/s640/20180702_200103.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A few years ago I attached this Mystacidium capense to a potted Bougainvillea. Unfortunately, the medium in the pot was too barky and the Bougainvillea didn't make it. In retrospect, I should have used a more gritty medium. The plan was to have the white flowered orchid and the red flowered Bougainvillea bloom at the same time. It would have been a lovely living bouquet. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/galleries/72157626904782670/?rb=1#photo_3850802911">Here's an example in nature</a>.<br />
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Another great epiphyte for the Aloe would be a Tillandsia...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOohdFHKwBHB7nHBBwJEIdYGFVvZNcVjMPrNsNpMN_OtqEgggX7s46tRZirTQStZ_iSUVedQmV5gns2l76tiptnaF3Xe3IdyBQaI5fsW6aiHoPDytFJdcrX0-bi2y-tC0esywfXd4d1l8/s1600/20180702_200225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1126" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOohdFHKwBHB7nHBBwJEIdYGFVvZNcVjMPrNsNpMN_OtqEgggX7s46tRZirTQStZ_iSUVedQmV5gns2l76tiptnaF3Xe3IdyBQaI5fsW6aiHoPDytFJdcrX0-bi2y-tC0esywfXd4d1l8/s640/20180702_200225.jpg" width="450" /></a></div>
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This Tillandsia kirschneckii is attached to my potted Ficus rubiginosa (Rusty Leaf Fig). <br />
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Because epiphytes can grow on other plants, and even sometimes on walls, they are very useful for maximizing the diversity, interest and charm of small spaces. The challenge is choosing the right ones.<br />
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One idea that I shared with one of the organizers of the patio peak is to create a plant society for the plant people in the area. This way all the members can benefit from each other's different plant knowledge. Plus, they can share plants and seeds with each other. <br />
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Another idea that I had is that it would be nice to see other people's photos of the patios. I wasn't the only person taking photos. Personally I think Flickr is a useful platform for sharing photos. <br />
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While it would be nice to see other people's photos of the patios, it would be even nicer to see their valuations. This could be accomplished by using donations to judge the patios. People would have the opportunity to "donate vote" for their favorite patios. The money that was raised would go to a good cause... such as <a href="http://epiecon.blogspot.com/2018/04/economics-for-5th-graders.html">helping to transform local schools into botanical gardens</a>. Of course some of the money could also be awarded to the people with the top patios. <br />
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Everybody who toured the patios was given a helpful map beforehand. It was essentially a treasure map... but there was no indication of each treasure's value. Would the map be even more helpful if everyone could see and know the value of each treasure? <br />
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When a bee visits a patch of flowers, she uses dancing to communicate its value to the other bees. This creates a dynamic and interactive treasure map of the flower patches in the area. The more valuable a flower patch is, the more bees that will visit it. I think it would be so cool if we could also see this treasure map. Naturally, if somebody's garden in our area spiked in value, we would be very curious to learn the cause. <br />
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No bee can be in two places at once, and the same is true for us humans. This is why it's so useful to be able to communicate to each other the value of our discoveries. Xerographicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978832439622230018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5189697546814101118.post-28741825751727620522018-06-16T16:09:00.000-07:002019-10-15T01:46:55.318-07:00Update On Orchid Seeds That Germinated On My TreeOn the OrchidBoard, <a href="http://www.orchidboard.com/community/outdoor-gardening/52922-orchid-seeds-germinated-tree.html">Camille1585 requested an update on the orchid seeds that germinated on my tree</a>.<br />
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In 2011 I sowed a bunch of different orchid seeds on my Cedar tree and much to my very pleasant surprise some of them actually germinated...<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/6104404673/" title="Symbiotic Orchid Germination 1a 008"><img alt="Symbiotic Orchid Germination 1a 008" height="334" src="https://farm7.staticflickr.com/6193/6104404673_9803b2ef6a.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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All the seedlings turned out to be Laelia anceps. Over the years I've documented the growth of the largest seedling...<br />
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<b>December 2012
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/8330979253/in/album-72157627448855237/" title="Dockrillia, Crassula, Orchid seedling"><img alt="Dockrillia, Crassula, Orchid seedling" height="800" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8219/8330979253_109e3e9bd3_c.jpg" width="536" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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<b>June 2013
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/9082228676/in/album-72157627448855237/" title="Volunteer Orchid Seedling"><img alt="Volunteer Orchid Seedling" height="334" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2816/9082228676_7d8a3e7067.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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<b>Dec 2013
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/11379717403/in/album-72157627448855237/" title="Laelia anceps Volunteer"><img alt="Laelia anceps Volunteer" height="334" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2858/11379717403_bba3b3e2c0.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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<b>Aug 2014
</b><br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/15355250296/in/album-72157627448855237/" title="Laelia anceps"><img alt="Laelia anceps" height="800" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2948/15355250296_e11d2cdf3c_c.jpg" width="536" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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<b>Nov 2014
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/15620792747/in/album-72157627448855237/" title="Laelia anceps volunteer"><img alt="Laelia anceps volunteer" height="1024" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7527/15620792747_a5208ee698_b.jpg" width="576" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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<b>April 2016
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/26498201855/in/album-72157627448855237/" title="Laelia anceps"><img alt="Laelia anceps" height="1024" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1500/26498201855_8d93aa85af_b.jpg" width="576" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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<b>June 2018</b><br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/42843914611/in/dateposted-public/" title="Laelia anceps"><img alt="Laelia anceps" height="800" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1748/42843914611_38a793dd6c_c.jpg" width="600" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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There's a really big disparity between the seedlings in terms of size. Here's one of the smallest seedlings...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutwB2VrP5z_j7oWaLOR9_qzpeIEXMss66xqdEBAOCVW8tm4-hw_J_H_mS6spnJo8FGXheywo51LEkaJKHh3A9SwWh56cT324ULqnp06uQ1eCHvGmjRs2Rq6QFnBW2upfF4azrK0zP4Ok/s1600/20180614_174611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutwB2VrP5z_j7oWaLOR9_qzpeIEXMss66xqdEBAOCVW8tm4-hw_J_H_mS6spnJo8FGXheywo51LEkaJKHh3A9SwWh56cT324ULqnp06uQ1eCHvGmjRs2Rq6QFnBW2upfF4azrK0zP4Ok/s640/20180614_174611.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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What explains the remarkable size disparity? Is it because of the difference in the seeds and/or the difference in the microhabitats and/or the difference in the helper fungus?<br />
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The largest seedling germinated right next to the roots of a slow growing variety of Dendrobium teretifolium. Evidently the Dendrobium harbored a fungus in its roots that the Laelia seed was able to put to good use. Is this fungus from Australia like the Dendrobium, or from Mexico like the Laelia, or is it pantropical? In any case, given that the Laelia is in the process of outgrowing and overgrowing the Dendrobium, clearly it isn't always advantageous for an orchid to harbor fungus that can help germinate the seeds of unrelated orchids. I wonder whether the seeds of this Dendrobium would be able to germinate near the roots of this Laelia.<br />
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Right now the largest seedling has five new pseudobulbs starting to grow. In many, if not most, years its pseudobulbs mature around August and new ones would start to grow. They would mature late winter or early spring. Part of the reason for this is because this individual hasn't yet allocated any energy to blooming! It is definitely not precocious. The trade-off between growing and blooming is quite interesting.<br />
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Last year I removed two keikis from my very wonderful Dendrobium Gloucester Sands (discolor x canaliculatum) and attached them to boards...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUwnXbFNKQDrGmzGwsFVvbVPzub55Z12RmnP5xEhuvL4qcYJ-ggCyjHQiEMxcTqIE3d8QiIq4K_BejIW31JHtNRebZO5FvAnuYDwPwyRtmcMgYmUGvNxjaFj1sV_PgxFBhggepwzSNWlo/s1600/20180614_171726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUwnXbFNKQDrGmzGwsFVvbVPzub55Z12RmnP5xEhuvL4qcYJ-ggCyjHQiEMxcTqIE3d8QiIq4K_BejIW31JHtNRebZO5FvAnuYDwPwyRtmcMgYmUGvNxjaFj1sV_PgxFBhggepwzSNWlo/s640/20180614_171726.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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The smaller keiki decided to put out roots and a new pseudobulb while the larger keiki decided to bloom. Blooming is very costly in terms of energy so, for a plant this size, I'd normally nip the spike in the bud, so to speak. In this case I decided to leave it for illustrative purposes. Some animal decided to mostly override my decision by eating all of the buds except for one.<br />
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The "pockets" made of shade cloth are filled with slow-release fertilizer granules. This effectively fertilizes all the mounted plants beneath it, but I really shouldn't have attached the pockets to the boards. Bundling the pockets and the boards discourages me from moving the boards. Instead, I should have made completely "independent" pockets. Another thing, seedlings and small newly mounted divisions don't respond well to lots of fertilizer.<br />
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Getting back to the Den Gloucester Sands, here are its roots growing on my Pachypodium lamerei...<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/15919023075" title="Dendrobium Gloucester Sands (discolor x canaliculatum) roots on Pachypodium lamerei"><img alt="Dendrobium Gloucester Sands (discolor x canaliculatum) roots on Pachypodium lamerei" height="1024" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7493/15919023075_692e265626_b.jpg" width="576" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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Here's a video of it...<br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wm-P-qsHgXM" width="560"></iframe>
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Diversity is the best. Last September I excitedly purchased a flask of Bc Beulah Bradeen (Cattleya walkeriana x Brassavola nodosa) from eBay. Both parents have done quite well for me so I was very curious to see whether their offspring might do even better. As per my standard operating procedure, I carefully mounted the largest seedlings on sections of trellis wood...<br />
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I distributed all the mounts throughout the garden. So far only around five seedlings survived the winter. And it was a pretty reasonable winter... it didn't even freeze.<br />
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Why did so many seedlings die? Was it primarily from a lack of heat? Or was it primarily from a lack of water? During winter, for most of my plants I drastically cut back on watering. In any case, given that a few seedlings survived, there's certainly variation in terms of the seedlings and/or the microhabitats.<br />
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One issue with flasks is that there's usually no selection in terms of drought tolerance. Last fall I had a relevant e-mail discussion with <a href="http://www.teatreeorchid.com/">an orchid hybridizer in Australia who specializes in tea tree orchids</a>. He had recently registered <a href="http://bluenanta.com/natural/101005693/hybrid_detail/">Dendrobium Ultraviolet</a>, which is a cross between a less succulent orchid, <a href="http://bluenanta.com/orchid/100047214/hybrid_detail/">Den Berry</a>, and a more succulent orchid, Den canaliculatum. Even though the cross is 62.5% canaliculatum, it looks more like kingianum.<br />
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My theory is that, in a flask with adequate moisture, storing water is a disadvantage. Seedlings that are more succulent are going to lose the competition for limited space to the seedlings that are less succulent. So when a more succulent orchid is crossed with a less succulent orchid, if the seeds are flasked, then the seedlings will be less succulent.<br />
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I think the same concept must be true for temperature. If a cooler growing orchid (ie Den Berry) is crossed with a warmer growing orchid (ie Den canaliculatum), and the flasked seeds are kept cooler, then the seedlings will predominantly be cooler growers. I doubt that any professional flasking laboratories expose their flasks to temps as high as the temps that Den canaliculatum experiences in its native habitat. Basically, the deck is stacked against Den canaliculatum's warmer growing and drought tolerating traits. <br />
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Orchids populations, like all populations, conform/adapt to their conditions/environment. Here's the most relevant passage that I've found on the general topic...<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
An ovule is successfully fertilized by only one pollen grain out of (potentially) many thousands. If fertilization is performed at a sufficiently low temperature, the growth of chilling-resistant genotypes of pollen will be favored over others. These will reach the ovule first so that their genes will appear in the resulting seed. At no other stage of development can selection be made on such large numbers of genotypes. - Brad D. Patterson and Michael S. Reid, Genetic and Environmental Inlfuences on the Expression of Chilling Injury</blockquote>
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What's very interesting to consider is what happens when an orchid is pollinated during the spring or fall here in Southern California. A few days ago the high temps were in the low 90s. Now the highs are in the low 70s. That's a pretty big range of high temps. Imagine how much impact this fluctuation would have on the race for the ovule. In theory the most hercuthermal genotypes should win the race.<br />
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Laelia anceps generally blooms from fall to spring... depending on the plant and its conditions. Honestly I don't even remember pollinating my Laelia anceps. For all I know the seeds that germinated on my tree were from a Laelia anceps owned by unknown neighbors. But in terms of adapting to SoCal's climate, it is advantageous for Laelia anceps to bloom when it does. Unfortunately, its blooming also coincides with my break from my plants. I think that, after the seeds germinated on my tree, I only once tried to pollinate my anceps, but no pods developed. Evidently the pollen that I used (ie Brassavola) was too different.<br />
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There have been a few other times when I sowed other orchid seeds on my tree. Only one of these other sowings was somewhat successful...<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/26405886392/in/album-72157627448855237/" title="New Orchid Seed Germinated On My Tree"><img alt="New Orchid Seed Germinated On My Tree" height="281" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1488/26405886392_c530c2d58d.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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I noticed this NOID seedling in 2016. It germinated right next to the roots of a Vanda tricolor. I looked around and managed to spot a few other similar seedlings in the vicinity. It is definitely a sympodial orchid and its pseudobulbs and the undersides of its leaves are burgundy. When Camille1585 asked for an update on the Laelia anceps seedlings, I climbed the tree and noticed that one of these NOID seedlings was about to fall off because somebody, probably a squirrel, had dislodged the piece of bark that it was attached to. I carefully removed the seedling and attached it to a board...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheK0IXZEA1WPHYoC8gwrQ34p80-F5WMoX3wFPdItpniwo0ZzgUIrI4moi5hYrQsAZSdt0RMjBxp5EvKfvZgMrIE5gvOPBYdXNZGZo9vwCSgmtnvjBp0tb9qAHOtTDVqrIzPXvuWEIrK5E/s1600/20180615_102530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheK0IXZEA1WPHYoC8gwrQ34p80-F5WMoX3wFPdItpniwo0ZzgUIrI4moi5hYrQsAZSdt0RMjBxp5EvKfvZgMrIE5gvOPBYdXNZGZo9vwCSgmtnvjBp0tb9qAHOtTDVqrIzPXvuWEIrK5E/s640/20180615_102530.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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If you zoom in you can see a bunch of reed-stem Epidendrum seeds germinating near the NOID seedling. My hope is that the helper fungus in the roots of the NOID seedling will inoculate the reed seeds. It's my best guess that, unlike other orchid seeds, reed seeds already have enough nutrients to germinate on their own. Even if this is the case I still want to help to spread the fungus that helped the NOID seedling germinate.<br />
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The board is sitting on my coffee table without any sort of covering and its right under a bendy octopus type lamp that stays on during the day. Right now the reed seeds are completely dry. Hopefully this is giving an advantage to the marginally more drought tolerant individuals.<br />
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Next to the NOID seedling's mount is another mossy mount that has a reed seedling on it...<br />
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Also on the board are some Echeveria gibbiflora seedlings and a Schlumbergera microsphaerica that I received last fall. The Schlumbergera grew quite well over the winter. I'm really happy with how well it has done even though the house was coldish during the winter. If anybody is interested, <a href="https://www.ebay.com/itm/Schlumbergera-microsphaerica-1-firm-cutting-rare-epiphytic-cactus-Brazil-Hatiora/263758215850?hash=item3d6936faaa:g:vjsAAOSwwe1att7e">this species is currently for sale on eBay</a>. The vendor also has <a href="https://www.ebay.com/sch/desert-plants/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=">some other interesting plants for sale</a>.<br />
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Getting back to orchids, one of my very favorites is Dendrobium trilamellatum...<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This robust epiphyte thrives in habitats in which few other orchids can survive. It occurs from a little south of Cooktown to the islands of Torres Strait, southern New Guinea and the Top End of the Northern Territory. It is a species of the very seasonal and hot open melaleuca woodlands where the wet season usually starts in December with occasional storms building to heavy rain in January to March, followed by a dry season in which virtually no rain falls from June to November. The Yellow Antelope Orchid flowers in spring (July to November) and the flowers are attractive, long lasting and pleasantly scented. They are about three to four centimetres across. In cultivation this species does moderately well, but must be given a dry season and the medium must be well drained. - Bill Lavarack, Bruce Gray, Australian Tropical Orchids</blockquote>
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Last month mine bloomed for the first time. There were only two flowers. I really wasn't quite in my plant "mood" yet, but because I love this orchid so much, I knew that I'd be really disgruntled with myself if I didn't endeavor to put the pollen to good use. So I used the pollen to try and pollinate two closely related Dendrobiums...<br />
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Dendrobium canaliculatum x (parnatanum x trilamellatum)<br />
Dendrobium canaliculatum x antennatum<br />
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Both these orchids now have a seed pod developing on them, but the first orchid's seed pod is twice as large. When the pods ripen should I sow the seeds on my tree? I'd like to, in order to select for the individuals that are best suited to my conditions, but I'm not confident that any seeds would germinate. Right now I'm leaning towards offering the seeds to the curator of the Huntington's succulent collection.... John Trager. A while back he had an Oncidium cebolleta cross flasked and <a href="http://www.huntington.org/botanicaldiv/isi/ISI2012/2012-24.html">the seedlings were included as part of the 2012 International Succulent Introductions</a> (ISI). It was really great to see an orchid offered alongside the other succulent plants. Since that year no other orchid has been offered in the ISI so naturally I think it's time for another orchid, or two, to crash the succulent party.<br />
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If I was going to summarize all of this entry with one word... I'd go with "Californication". It's a show staring David Duchovny as a writer. Unfortunately the show isn't about plants but the word "Californication" strikes me as really relevant to the incredible and amazing and fascinating process of the millions and millions of non-native plants growing here in California being selected for, and adapting to, California's climate. Any Californian who grows non-native plants outdoors helps to facilitate this process, especially when they grow these plants from seed. In theory, since orchids produce so many seeds, they should adapt the fastest. But then there's the tricky issue that virtually all orchid seeds require fungus or flasking to germinate. Well, this issue is only tricky if we assume, or decide, that Californication is truly desirable.<br />
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Anybody else a fan of Blade Runner? The setting is Los Angeles in 2019. There's an abundance of flying cars, but a scarcity of plants. Personally, if we are going to err, then we should err on the side of too many plants. If we're going to give future people something to complain about, then let them complain about an abundance of plants. Let them complain that California has too many different varieties of tree Aloes that host too many different varieties of orchids that nourish too many different varieties of hummingbirds and harbor too many different varieties of lizards.<br />
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Maybe the one movie that best depicts how we should err is Annihilation. This passage comes to mind...<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
A few species of orchids are occasionally able to become established in very odd microhabitats. Withner (personal communication) reports seeing small orchids - probably Comparettia Poep. And Endl. - growing on mango leaves. Since the leaves last about three years, this suggests that the orchid may complete a life cycle within this relatively short time. Even more bizarre, Bowling (orchid propagator, Kew; personal communication) told me that he had once seen a tiny Microcoelia Lind. Growing on a spider's web in Ghana! I very much doubt, however, that either leaves or webs will ever become very important orchid habitats. - William W. Sanford, The Orchids, Scientific Studies</blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/malaysianorchidinsitu/8984269481/">Here's a photo of orchids growing on leaves</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EpiphyteSociety/posts/1483173238482729">here are some photos of an orchid blooming on a leaf</a>, and <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/58798926@N07/42281697325/">here's a video of an orchid blooming on a leaf</a>. Unfortunately I haven't seen a photo of an orchid growing on a spider's web, but I've seen plenty of spider webs on orchids. <i>Maybe</i> Sanford is correct that leaves and webs won't become important orchid habitats but, given that ants live inside the pseudobulbs of certain orchid species, and virtually all orchid seeds need a fungus in order to germinate, and there are <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/galleries/72157649154617841/">many different orchids that are happy to grow on cactus</a>, I personally wouldn't underestimate potential associations between orchids and other organisms.<br />
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[UPDATE]<br />
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The largest Laelia anceps bloomed on Jan 2019....<br />
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<br />Xerographicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978832439622230018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5189697546814101118.post-33810159730006726152018-06-12T17:58:00.001-07:002018-07-09T15:09:22.211-07:00Free Plants - Succulents, Ferns, Bromeliads, OrchidsNext week, in the Los Angeles Craigslist, I plan to post the following...<br />
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Right now I have a plethora of plants and projects. My plan is to super decentralize them. What, exactly, do I mean by "decentralize"? Basically I want to spread my plants and projects among as many different people as possible. So rather than the plants being "mine"... they will be "ours". This comes with the expectation that, down the road, you will happily share divisions or cuttings or seeds with me if I ask for some.<br />
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There are several plants that I have many extras to share. I will primarily start with these. For example...<br />
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- Aloe cameronii<br />
- Aloe arborescens variegated<br />
- Epiphyllum oxypetalum (cuttings)<br />
- Epiphyllum strictum (cuttings)<br />
- Solandra maxima (cuttings)<br />
- Tillandsia aeranthos<br />
- Tillandsia tricolepsis<br />
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Everyone who visits can freely have any, or all, of these plants... while supplies last. After they are all shared then I'll transition to the plants with less duplicates. Naturally, given that these are fewer in number, I will have to prioritize who I share them with. Here are some of the factors that I will consider...<br />
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- Proximity<br />
- Greenness of thumb<br />
- Blogs about plants<br />
- Posts plant photos on Flickr<br />
- Uploads plant videos to Youtube<br />
- Reads my EpiEcon blog<br />
- Helps with the <a href="http://epiecon.blogspot.com/2018/06/please-introduce-me-to-awesome-plants.html">donate-to-vote project</a><br />
- Shares plants with others<br />
- Promotes growing plants epiphytically<br />
- Likes the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/epiphytessc/">Epiphyte Society of Southern California</a> (ESSC) Facebook page<br />
- Likes the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/orchidssc/">Orchid Society of Southern California</a> (OSSC) Facebook page<br />
- Participates in the ESSC Facebook group<br />
- Participates in the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/285776418608743/">SCARPA Facebook group</a><br />
- Interested in creating <a href="http://epiecon.blogspot.com/2017/08/better-treasure-maps.html">phorobanas</a><br />
- Grows plants from seed<br />
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These factors don't all carry the same weight and I will consider other factors as well. Please let me know if you have any questions and I look forward to cultivating many new plant friendships.<br />
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I wanted to post this here on my blog first in order to give any readers in the area an early opportunity to participate.Xerographicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978832439622230018noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5189697546814101118.post-22436937399497537492018-06-11T17:23:00.001-07:002018-06-11T19:02:19.246-07:00Please Introduce Me To Awesome Plants!!Last Saturday I went to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1480121492207095/">Los Angeles Fern and Exotic Plant Show</a> with my friend Scadoxus. Here are some of the plants that caught my attention...<br />
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Platycerium alcicorne type</div>
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Personally I have a penchant for <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/galleries/72157668055829225/">pendant plants</a> so I tend to prefer Playceriums that match my pendulous preference... such as certain varieties of Platycerium willinckii. The Staghorn in the above picture is the least pendant Platy that I've ever seen. It definitely caught my attention and I have to admit that I kinda like it. </div>
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Hoya revolubilis - The Kunming Kina of Southern China</div>
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This is easily one of my top five favorite Hoyas. The leaves are relatively succulent and it's a good epiphytic grower. A while back I attached a piece of this and a piece of the somewhat similar, and far more common, Hoya shepherdii to a board covered in New Zealand Sphagnum moss. Both Hoyas established fairly quickly but revolubilis won the competition by a mile. The shepherdii was on its last leg when I took pity on it and moved the mount to the area that I water most frequently. </div>
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The revolubilis in the photo is a very impressive specimen. We all like impressive specimens... but... the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/epiphytessc/">Epiphyte Society of Southern California</a> (ESSC) has a rule about specimens. Members of the ESSC are allowed to have specimens <i>as long as they have already shared cuttings with all the other members</i>. Share, <i>then</i> specimen. This rule is beneficial in several different ways. First, it helps the plant. No plant wants to have all its eggs in too few baskets. Plants are all about colonization (location diversification). Second, it helps the grower hedge their bets. We have all lost plants for all sorts of reasons so it's really good to have many backups (plant insurance). Third, it helps us learn about our plants faster. The members of the ESSC all live in somewhat different climates, and have thumbs that are different shades of green, and employ different growing techniques. It is very informative and useful to see how the same plant performs in a wide range of conditions. Lastly, we should regularly introduce each other to awesome plants. </div>
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Camellia edithae</div>
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It's fuzzy! At first glance I guessed that it was an epiphytic blueberry. But I was wrong. I'm generally not so interested in Camellias, although they might be a good host for some orchids. In the case of this Camellia though I might be happy to have one. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuDo-7vafm8kXymr_96xUHrO4j_GGEwrPxbT9WufuVMG8wok5oW2ZoE7LZLHb-qqWWpm8OsIuI0X8b1feR50jB1vslz0uqSz3ctNcTwiT7RCf-rokRgWyMoAnGheEG5dVcZnHSSWxFXA/s1600/20180609_154444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuDo-7vafm8kXymr_96xUHrO4j_GGEwrPxbT9WufuVMG8wok5oW2ZoE7LZLHb-qqWWpm8OsIuI0X8b1feR50jB1vslz0uqSz3ctNcTwiT7RCf-rokRgWyMoAnGheEG5dVcZnHSSWxFXA/s640/20180609_154444.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Tillandsia flabellata rubra</div>
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Hummingbirds love reddish Tillandsias and so do I!</div>
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Tillandsia Hybrid</div>
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I want this! Even if it's monocarpic? Well... I hate monocarpic plants. But there might be one or two exceptions to this rule. Due to illegible writing I'm not exactly sure about the name of this Tillandsia. It's a hybrid and its name starts with a B. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQFBtFHgveUBnQCi6Q9Yyd2ofugfH2uhmaHpDZmKCj_RRUu8CzrlAoXhEfHFNZ0bB5rlzDZqtwY-WYnuIYaeosHoHl1qDoJ2HCI9GDzNJ3pUwKfbxv2whALs7QCB6rSPhkv-wZomDDpA/s1600/20180609_155057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQFBtFHgveUBnQCi6Q9Yyd2ofugfH2uhmaHpDZmKCj_RRUu8CzrlAoXhEfHFNZ0bB5rlzDZqtwY-WYnuIYaeosHoHl1qDoJ2HCI9GDzNJ3pUwKfbxv2whALs7QCB6rSPhkv-wZomDDpA/s400/20180609_155057.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Lemmaphyllum microphyllum</div>
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This isn't the best picture of this enchanting and endearing little epiphytic fern from Japan. As you can see, it's very happily growing in a terrarium. The fern was put in there by the terrarium genius Don DeLano. He's very knowledgeable about plants and he gives great talks at society meetings. At the show I asked him if he's ever tried growing this fern outside. He said that he had but it got killed when the temps dropped below freezing. Given that it's from Japan I was somewhat surprised. Turns out that he was growing it in a pot. My guess is that, here in Southern California where it rains during the winter, epiphytic plants handle the winter cold better when they are mounted, because of the excellent drainage. In my <a href="http://epiecon.blogspot.com/2017/09/cedar-tree-epiphytes.html">Cedar Tree Epiphytes blog entry</a> I shared this photo of L. microphyllum growing over two stories high on my tree... </div>
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Lemmaphyllum microphyllum</div>
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It's mounted on several very healthy handfuls of New Zealand Sphagnum moss. When I mounted it I also included a few other plants such as a cutting of Columnea Elmer Lorenz. The fern has done really well but, unlike Microgramma vacciniifolia, it doesn't seem to be able to "escape" its moss island/prison. Even though L. microphyllum isn't an escape artist it is definitely one of my very favorite ferns. Here's another favorite... </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GYmLj78QU80xguVZy5RYpoLYgWR5mVQvze6CbhytlLvGArc2wkfUoQnR6phbdwqIOLPPOkZmWl23Evo2zL489ug389YfHCgaPkvF8Pzvtd1YH-YKcH1kXNBubxBfsb75kt8IggoN3VI/s1600/20180609_155242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GYmLj78QU80xguVZy5RYpoLYgWR5mVQvze6CbhytlLvGArc2wkfUoQnR6phbdwqIOLPPOkZmWl23Evo2zL489ug389YfHCgaPkvF8Pzvtd1YH-YKcH1kXNBubxBfsb75kt8IggoN3VI/s400/20180609_155242.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Niphidium crassifolium</div>
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This epiphytic fern has very long fronds and does quite well outside here in SoCal. Perhaps through no fault of its own I didn't manage to get it established on my Cedar tree, but I do have it growing on a tree fern and on a Pygmy Date Palm. Microsorum punctatum is another strap-leaved epiphytic fern with somewhat shorter fronds which might be more drought tolerant. I do have it growing on my Cedar tree. </div>
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At the show I met ESSC member Gumbii for the first time. He has <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChEtiLpOG3iTsXZhG2HpbcQ/videos">a Youtube channel about plants</a>. While we, along with Scadoxus, were looking at the entries I mentioned that we really should do a video of them. From my perspective even a quick video would be better than nothing. Perhaps we could just highlight our 10 favorite plants in the show. Or, I joked, we could criticize the 10 worst plants in the show. Scadoxus chimed in that at one bromeliad society meeting some guy very badly criticized a plant that a member had brought in for others to appreciate. When the critic asked whose plant it was, the owner didn't even want to admit that it was their plant. Yikes! </div>
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After the show Scadoxus and I drove to Fernando's garden in West Covina. While on the way there I was telling her about how I had learned of some new terms for an idea that I've discussed with her many times before. The idea, and one of its terms, is voting with donations. I explained that this is most commonly associated with using donations to decide who will have to kiss a pig, or get pied in the face, or get dunked into a tank of water. Sometimes zoos use this method to name an animal. That's when Scadoxus said something like, "Oh yeah, San Diego Zoo does that. Around 15 years ago I was there with my niece and we made a donation to help name a panda." I responded, "What in the world? Seriously? We've been talking about this idea for so many years (maybe like two) and you're only <i>now</i> just sharing this information with me?!" "You didn't ask me about it," she replied, "...better late than never." Ugh. </div>
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When we got to Fernando's place I started to carefully inspect his very impressive collection. From the corner of my eye I spotted a small flash of color. I looked more closely and saw what appeared to be a Pelargonium flower just randomly floating in mid-air...</div>
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Pelargonium tetragonum?</div>
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It was a nearly leafless pendulous Pelargonium that was growing epiphytically! What?! Have you heard of such a plant? I sure hadn't. So I asked Fernando about it and he said that he's had it for around a decade. What?! How come he hadn't introduced me to this plant? Ugh. </div>
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We've all failed, albeit unequally so, to introduce each other to awesome plants. I personally feel like I've failed to introduce enough people to the epiphytic fern Aglamorpha coronans. Here's my attempt to try and solve this problem...</div>
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It's so very neat that Aglamorpha coronans has wrapped itself nearly all the way around Fernando's palm tree! The video really doesn't do this fern justice, but I hope that it's better than nothing.<br />
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There's actually another Aglamorpha species that's even more impressive than coronans... Aglaomorpha heraclea. It has really huge fronds. I tried to grow it once but it wasn't a fan of our winter. While talking to Darla Harris, the president of the <a href="http://www.tgcfernsoc.org/fern.html">Texas Gulf Coast Fern Society</a>, I mentioned that it would be really awesome if heraclea was crossed with coronans. When the president of the Tree Fern Society, Dan Yansura, joined the conversation, I brought up a few other crosses that should be attempted...<br />
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Davallia canariensis x Davallia fejeensis<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/galleries/72157665267826573/">Nephrolepis pendula</a> x Nephrolepis cordifolia<br />
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Not sure how compatible these species are, but ferns are relatively easy to grow from spore. I've personally had good success simply sowing the spore directly on wet floral foam that's in a pot in a zip lock bag. Darla hadn't heard of this method before. Hopefully she'll give it a try.<br />
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Fernando had the largest Sinningia that I had ever personally seen... </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpQotSBrU_uavkE7Yt9e0YhYY3lfT96BohwKQbVRO7aSnREM7W1Y9UgyD2xYikKdhyAx4IHCcvPeiIJb5no3-j2K4m5oW70twiq70ScTEq5T4EG4Lxqa2dqispHkaZ2zgGn6LiDGvAUA/s1600/20180609_190606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpQotSBrU_uavkE7Yt9e0YhYY3lfT96BohwKQbVRO7aSnREM7W1Y9UgyD2xYikKdhyAx4IHCcvPeiIJb5no3-j2K4m5oW70twiq70ScTEq5T4EG4Lxqa2dqispHkaZ2zgGn6LiDGvAUA/s640/20180609_190606.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Please remind me to remind Scadoxus to remind Fernando to harvest the seeds. The same goes for his Begonia thiemei.<br />
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Hopefully we should all agree that we need to do the best possible job of introducing each other to awesome plants. Right now I'm thinking that this vital task can be most efficiently and effectively accomplished by using donation voting (DV). Fortunately for us, there are already websites that can facilitate this. For example...<br />
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<a href="https://www.360photocontest.com/">https://www.360photocontest.com/</a><br />
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Organizations, like a local humane society, can create a contest for participants to submit and sort photos...<br />
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<a href="https://my.360photocontest.com/catwelfare2019calendarcontest/photos?order=Rank">https://my.360photocontest.com/catwelfare2019calendarcontest/photos?order=Rank</a><br />
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Those photos are sorted by DV ($1 donation = 1 vote). Here are a couple other similar websites...<br />
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<a href="https://www.gogophotocontest.com/">https://www.gogophotocontest.com/</a><br />
<a href="http://mulabula.com/">http://mulabula.com/</a><br />
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Members of various plant societies and forums could submit photos of their favorite plants and we could use DV to rank/sort/order/prioritize them. Naturally in this case it wouldn't be possible to use our donations to criticize the worst plants. Instead, we'd use our donations to help highlight the very best plants. All the money raised would be spent to help promote the results. We would essentially be pooling our money to introduce the most people to the most awesome plants in the least amount of time.Xerographicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978832439622230018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5189697546814101118.post-90701896244350417912018-04-25T07:05:00.000-07:002018-04-25T07:14:44.916-07:00Economics For 5th GradersThis entry is primarily written for the students of <a href="http://classtopia.blogspot.com/">Classtopia</a>.<br />
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Your teacher asked me to share with you some of my thoughts about economics, which you’re currently covering in school. She knows that it’s my very favorite thing in the world. Why do I love economics even more than I love epiphytes? Well, it’s because epiphytes, and everything else that I love, all depend on economics.<br />
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Right now there are several Tillandsia aeranthos blooming at your school. The reason why these epiphytes are beautifying your school is because you’ve cared for them, and also because I decided to share them with your teacher. Where did mine come from? They came from my tree where they had grown from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWWH7lTtgpI">wind-dispersed seeds</a>, which came from plants that I had received from a friend. Around a decade ago I drove up to Oregon and picked up a big collection of Tillandsias from my friend Dale. He had a giant greenhouse primarily dedicated to orchids, but thanks to the really excellent air movement, the Tillandsias were taking over. They were growing on the walls, floors, benches, pots… they were even growing on the orchids. So I helped “weed” the Tillandsias and he let me have them. I piled them in the back of my truck and drove them back home. The Tillandsias, especially aeranthos, were happy in their new home and over the years I’ve shared, sold and traded the extras.<br />
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Where did Dale get his Tillandsia aeranthos from? I don’t know. Maybe he received them from a friend, or maybe he bought them, or maybe he traded for them. But I do know that Tillandsia aeranthos originally came from Brazil. This is where it is native to. <br />
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How Tillandsia aeranthos traveled from the trees in Brazil to the trees at your school in California is an economic story. It involves many people over the years deciding that it was worth it to spend their time growing this epiphyte. Each new grower helped Tillandsia aeranthos, as a species, hedge its bets. This economic story doesn’t end at your school. Several of you already took some home… and perhaps a few of you have already shared some with other people.<br />
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What about your new school? I’m guessing that it doesn’t already have any Tillandsia aeranthos... is this a problem? You’ll have to decide whether it’s worth it to try and grow this epiphyte at your new school. This decision depends on weighing the costs and the benefits. On the one hand, you’ll have to take the time to water them, but on the other hand, they’ll help beautify the school and make it more interesting. Plus, they’ll provide food for hummingbirds and shelter for other animals, which would make your school even more interesting. <br />
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There are a few different types of cost… the most important type is known as opportunity cost. All the time that you spend watering Tillandsia aeranthos is time that you can’t spend doing other things. Because your time is limited, naturally you want to put it to its most beneficial uses. The idea that society’s limited resources should be put to their most beneficial uses is known as <a href="https://twitter.com/johnquiggin/status/554073489447989250">Quiggin’s Implied Rule of Economics</a> (QIRE).<br />
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Let’s say that you determine how much benefit that you’d personally gain from having Tillandsia aeranthos growing on trees at your new school. What about all the other students and teachers? According to QIRE, it matters how much benefit they would gain from this, but it’s not like you can read their minds.<br />
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Therefore, when it comes to economics, one of the most important things is the communication of benefit. In order to maximize beneficial behavior, we need to inform others how much benefit we derive from their behavior. There are two ways that we can express benefit… words and actions. The main difference is that actions require a sacrifice, words do not. Naturally we like to use words to communicate benefit but, because they don’t involve any sacrifice, they aren’t very reliable.<br />
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I’ll share an economics joke with you. Two economists are walking along when they happen to end up in front of a Tesla showroom. One economist points at a shiny new car and says, “I really want that!” The other replies, “You’re lying”. This joke is funny because if the one economist had truly wanted the car then he would have walked in and bought it. Evidently, given that he didn’t do so, the (opportunity) cost was too high for him. He had more beneficial uses of his limited money.<br />
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Here’s one of the most useful passages on the subject…<br />
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If a woman told us that she loved flowers, and we saw that she forgot to water them, we would not believe in her "love" for flowers. Love is the active concern for the life and the growth of that which we love. Where this active concern is lacking, there is no love. - Erich Fromm, The Art of Loving</blockquote>
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It’s easy to say that we love something, or someone, but love can only be reliably quantified and expressed by sacrifice. The more time that you're willing to spend growing and promoting Tillandsia aeranthos, the greater your love for it.<br />
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As an extra credit assignment you can visit <a href="http://www.rainforestflora.com/">Rainforest Flora</a>. They offer a wide selection of Tillandsias, so you might be as happy as a kid in a candy store. Walk around the sales area and make a list of all the Tillandsias that match your preferences, and then compare it to the list of all the Tillandsias that you actually buy. How different are the two lists? The owners of the nursery might be interested to know all the Tillandsias that you <i>like</i>, but what they are truly interested to know is which Tillandsias you actually <i>love</i>. The Tillandsias that you genuinely love are the ones that you are willing to spend your money on. The owners would take this more reliable feedback and use it to try and improve their selection of Tillandsias. If, for example, you and other customers buy more Tillandsia aeranthos hybrids, then the owners would spend more of their time creating more of them, and this would make the customers happier. Everybody who visits Rainforest Flora has the freedom to use their money to help grade all the different products. This is what makes it a market.<br />
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What would happen if you asked the owners to simply give you some Tillandsias for free? Perhaps they might be willing to give you one or two, especially if you buy a dozen. However, they’ll be much more inclined to give you free Tillandsias if you explain that they will be used to beautify your new school. It will certainly help if you show them a blog entry that has pictures of the Tillandsia aeranthos that are now blooming on trees at your current school. You’d inform the owners that you would also use the blog to document your mission to beautify your new school with Tillandsias.<br />
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The Tillandsias that are growing on trees at your school are a public good. But the ones at your home are a private good. The difference is the amount of people that can enjoy them. Of course if your Tillandsias at home are in the front yard where everybody can see them, then they would also be a public good. The same exact good, in this case a Tillandsia, can be a private good or a public good depending on where it is grown. <br />
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Just like the owners of Rainforest Flora are naturally going to be more inclined to give Tillandsias away if they know that they are going to be used to beautify a school, the same is also true of the members of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/La-Ballona-Valley-Bromeliad-Society-115369225161215/">La Ballona Valley Bromeliad Society</a>. <br />
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Last Fall the owner of <a href="https://www.sunsetvalleyorchids.com/">Sunset Valley Orchids</a>, Fred Clarke, was kind enough to donate a big box of orchids to help beautify your current school. Future blog entries that document his orchids growing and blooming on trees at the school should recognize and acknowledge his generous contribution. <br />
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People are happy to voluntarily contribute to beneficial causes… but our society doesn’t solely rely on donations to pay for public goods. We primarily rely on taxes. People are forced to pay taxes because the amount of money that people would donate to public goods would be significantly less than their true perception of their benefit. It's certainly a problem when spending doesn't reliably communicate benefit. Yet, everybody's taxes are spent by elected representatives.<br />
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Strange as it might seem, there’s no scientific evidence that it’s beneficial to allow elected representatives to spend everybody’s taxes. It would theoretically be far more beneficial for each and every taxpayer to have the freedom to choose where their taxes go. Since people wouldn't have the option to spend their taxes on private goods, their spending decisions would reliably communicate the amount of benefit that they received from public goods. Those of us who love botanical gardens, for example, would be able to allocate our taxes to them. Of course, every school should be a botanical garden!<br />
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Unlike Rainforest Flora, our government is not a market. Neither is Netflix. Each month each subscriber pays $10 dollars and Netflix decides how to divide this money among all its shows and movies. What would happen if, all else being equal, each and every subscriber was given the freedom to decide for themselves how they divide their money among the content? What difference would it make if 100 million subscribers, each one with a unique set of preferences and knowledge, could use their money to help grade the content? Would the supply of nature shows worsen, improve or stay the same if Netflix was a market?<br />
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The reason why people can reasonably disagree about the effectiveness of markets is because there’s a severe scarcity of scientific evidence. Therefore, reasonable people should strongly agree that it’s imperative to scientifically test different economic systems. Every experiment is essentially a product, so a better understanding of economics would mean more scientific progress… as well as a better supply of shows, epiphytes and everything else.<br />
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Education itself is a bundle of different products. In school I remember wondering about the usefulness of these products. Recently an economist by the name of <a href="http://econlog.econlib.org/authorbcaplan.html">Bryan Caplan</a> wrote a controversial book arguing that many of these products are useless...<br />
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Anyone who scrutinizes modern schools with a mildly cynical eye witnesses piles of material students are laughably unlikely to use in adulthood. The fat emerges in kindergarten: history, social studies, art, music, foreign language. By high school, as we've seen, students spend at least half their time on fat. In college, many majors are made of fat: think history, communications, or "interdisciplinary studies." About 40% of graduates earn degrees in comically - or tragicomically - useless subjects. Even the hardest majors burn ample time on high theory and breadth requirements. - Bryan Caplan, The Case against Education</blockquote>
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The people who disagree with Caplan's book, which is itself an educational product, inherently agree that educational products aren't equally beneficial. In order to ensure that students learn the most beneficial things, everybody should have the freedom to use their money to help grade educational products. This logically makes economics the most beneficial thing to learn. But it wouldn't be beneficial for everybody to actually become an economist. With this in mind, I’ll leave you with the most beneficial passage from the most beneficial book…<br />
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It is thus that the private interests and passions of individuals naturally dispose them to turn their stocks towards the employments which in ordinary cases are most advantageous to the society. But if from this natural preference they should turn too much of it towards those employments, the fall of profit in them and the rise of it in all others immediately dispose them to alter this faulty distribution. Without any intervention of law, therefore, the private interests and passions of men naturally lead them to divide and distribute the stock of every society among all the different employments carried on in it as nearly as possible in the proportion which is most agreeable to the interest of the whole society. — Adam Smith, <a href="http://www.econlib.org/library/Smith/smWN17.html#firstpage-bar">Wealth of Nations</a> </blockquote>
<br />Xerographicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978832439622230018noreply@blogger.com67tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5189697546814101118.post-14182904581684138782018-02-17T13:55:00.000-08:002018-02-17T13:55:29.071-08:00Orchids And Aloes<br />
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Here's where we need to make so much more progress...<br />
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1. There should be lots of really nice orchids that can easily grow from seed.<br />
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2. There should be lots of smallish tree Aloes that we can attach miniature epiphytes to.<br />
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Many, if not most, of the typical reed-stem Epidendrums can easily be grown from seed... no flasking required! The problem is that reed-stems don't usually make the best epiphytes. So the challenge is to find/make crosses between reed-stems and other orchids in order to find the best crosses that can easily grow from seed.<br />
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One exciting cross is Kirchara Georgie (Cattlianthe Golden Wax x Epidendrum O'Brienianum). I received it last Fall from Fred Clarke of Sunset Valley Orchids...<br /><br /><a href="https://www.sunsetvalleyorchids.com/">https://www.sunsetvalleyorchids.com/</a><br /><br />There was a new shoot starting to develop when I received it. I potted the plant in pure pumice and placed it outside. Over the winter the new shoot matured and produced a flower spike. I'm happy that the flowers developed on the new shoot (as opposed to developing on a shoot from the previous year).<br />
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Right now the plant doesn't have quite enough canes/stems to support a seed pod. Seed pods are quite costly in terms of energy. But I definitely plan to use the pollen to pollinate various reed-stems. Here are some relevant links...<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_962335164"><br /></a>
<a href="http://epiecon.blogspot.com/2017/04/growing-orchids-from-seed-is-easy.html">http://epiecon.blogspot.com/2017/04/growing-orchids-from-seed-is-easy.html</a><br />
<a href="http://epiecon.blogspot.com/2017/09/how-adaptable-are-orchids.html">http://epiecon.blogspot.com/2017/09/how-adaptable-are-orchids.html</a><br />
<a href="http://www.orchidboard.com/community/advanced-discussion/95431-reed-stem-epidendrum.html">http://www.orchidboard.com/community/advanced-discussion/95431-reed-stem-epidendrum.html</a><br />
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The goal for Aloes is to make some really nice hosts for smallish orchids and other epiphytes. In the video you can see a cross that's possibly between Aloe bainesii (the largest tree Aloe) and Aloe distans (not even a small tree Aloe). It's a really neat cross... the trunk is good sized but there needs to be more branches. Plus, it's a little on the slow side.<br />
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Does anybody recognize the Aloe that might be a dichotoma or ramosissima hybrid? It's also nice but too slow.<br />
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The Aloe tenuior hybrid is relatively fast but so far it falls over. All of the potential fathers are tree Aloes... and their stems do tend to thicken with age. You can read more about the hybrid here...<br />
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<a href="http://epiecon.blogspot.com/2017/08/better-treasure-maps.html">http://epiecon.blogspot.com/2017/08/better-treasure-maps.html</a><br />
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Towards the end of the video you can see a phorobana that consists of a Sophronitis cernua flowering on a potted Ficus rubiginosa. The Ficus is fast and grows easily from large cuttings. The drawback is that its flowers aren't even a little showy. So it's possible that we can make an Aloe that's a better host. S. cernua is a really neat miniature orchid that grows great outdoors year around here in Southern California. The drawback is that it can't easily grow from seed.<br />
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There's so much room for improvement! Let's pool our resources and make tons of progress!<br />
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Some useful links...<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/epiphytesociety/">https://www.facebook.com/epiphytesociety/</a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/epiphytessc/">https://www.facebook.com/epiphytessc/</a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/orchidssc/">https://www.facebook.com/orchidssc/</a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/285776418608743/">https://www.facebook.com/groups/285776418608743/</a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/groups/orchidlandscape/">https://www.flickr.com/groups/orchidlandscape/</a><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/epiphyte78/</a>Xerographicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14978832439622230018noreply@blogger.com0