Monday, May 4, 2009

Pine Ridge Orchids blog (5/2009)

Pine Ridge Orchids MOTHER'S DAY Sale (a success - Thank You) ---

Barbara and I would like to invite you to come to our MOTHER'S DAY OPEN HOUSE ORCHID SALE - selling orchid plants in bloom to everyone at wholesale prices.
Our hours will be Mon - Fri (8:00 AM - 5:30 PM) and Sat (8:00 AM - 3:30 PM).
These photos were taken this week by our good friend Dr Matt Snow when he visited our greenhouse with his Mother for her Birthday.Come and enjoy the view!!

Thank you so much for your support.











































































































Monday 5/11/2009 - Mother's Day is over but Barbara and I would like to continue offering our orchids at our lowest wholesale discount rate to all our supporters as a Thank You offering (please see our website for the Price List --- http://www.pineridgeorchids.com/ ).

Mixing our orchid media ---





I use an incline mixer, rock wool blower, potting wagons, and various media ingredients in the first step for preparing our "template" mix to which other media ingredients are added to produce the final potting mix.







It takes about 4 to 5 hours to prepare 20 cubic yards of the "template" mix which may last us one year before we have to mix again.










The "template" rock wool mix is laying on top of large sponge rock (perlite) in the first step for making our final orchid potting mix.






Next we add several other media components like shredded rubber tires and coir (coconut husk dust).








Water holding polymers are added to the mix which will absorb about 400 times it's own weight in reserve water. The roots of the plants will absorb water out of the polymer gel even if the media goes a bit dry.









A certain percentage of long fiber sphagnum moss is added depending upon the genera being potted up.













Expanded slate is added to the mix. The slate has been expanded in a 2000 degree tunnel kiln to make it light weight. It's pH is 7.0 (neutral) and extremely stable.












This is the final mix that we would use for the multi-floral Paphiopedilums and the Catasetinae. Yes -- we sell our propriotary orchid mix @ $20 for about 2 cubic foot, but shipping may be heavy unless we leave out the rock.










A closeup hoto of the final potting mix.




1 comment:

  1. Orchids create a wonderful look in our garden once they start to bloom. These flowers can provide us the kind of magical effect that we want our garden to obtain if proper care has been showered unto them. And your flower look so cool and so beautiful.

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