Dear Orchid Doc:

My Dendrobiums have grown so big they are toppling over. They are blooming right now, so I’m afraid to disturb them. Please advise.

June.

Dear June:

At this time of the year when you would like your blooms to thrive, I suggest that you don’t disturb your plants.

You could do the following:

Place them in bigger pots while they are still in the old pots. Fill the gap between the old pots and the new ones) with stones.

When springtime comes around, then you can transfer the plants to bigger pots.

Cut the older roots, half-fill the new pots with cut stones so the roots are not completely covered.

Dear Orchid Doc:

How do I know when a baby plant is ready to leave the mother plant? And what do I do?

I have lots of suckers on all my orchids.

Jamie Mac

Dear Jamie:

The main thing is to look for a strong root system that will be able to sustain the new plant.

Having ascertained this, get a pair of cleaned pruners, look for the connecting roots to the parent plant, then snip.

To pot the new plant depends on what type it is.

If a Dendrobium, use stones, 3/4 cut grey gravel.

If a Phalaenopsis, use either a combination of stones, coal and tree fern or sphagnum moss.

If a Vanda, use 3/4 cut grey gravel.

If a Cattleya, use coal or stones as above.

These are the more popular ones.

Dear Orchid Doc:

My small dog keeps biting my orchids, and no matter what I do he just won’t stop. I am so despondent.

Lloyd

Dear Lloyd:

I can tell you dogs and orchids don’t mix.

My little dogs used to eat my orchids. What I did was to let them smell the orchids while I slapped their bottoms with a folded newspaper. It worked! Why not try it?

Betty Stephenson Ashley

Betty’s Farm Garden Supplies

161 Constant Spring Road,

Kingston 8, Jamaica .

Cell # 876-3224585, 8700191

876-931-8804, 876-755-2204

Fax 876-931-8805

betty-may2@hotmail.com