Yes, we have a County ordinance that forbids the application of any fertilizer containing a nitrogen component (so just about everything) between June 1 and Sept 30. It's to prevent fertilizer runoff in storm water during our rainy season.

The main reason they brought it in was to stop those lawn care companies who drive around with tanks full of soluble fertilizer from spraying people's lawns willy-nilly all summer, then having all that fert wash into the storm drains the same afternoon in a downpour.

Our nurseries and garden centers still stock fertilizer, though. They are required to post the ordinance to inform customers.

I just apply my pelleted time-release fert towards the end of May and everything does fine through the summer. I don't have any lawn though. I'm also amending all my beds and pots with alfalfa pellets these days and they are a nice little boost of both major, minor and micro-nutrients without the restrictions . . .


I even sprayed my orchids with some filtered alfalfa 'tea' a while back. The score's not in on that little experiment, but it certainly did no harm anyway. Maybe I'll give them another dose . . .

It is true but the law varies by jurisdiction. During the summer rainy season, it is illegal to spread fertilizer containing nitrogen or phosphorus in some locations. The thought is the rain washes it into our lakes and streams causing pollution and algae buildup. What is overlooked here is that turf grass and other plants are dormant in the winter and therefore do not need nor take up the fertilizer that is applied at that time. So any fertilized applied during the time it is legal to do so just lays there and eventually washed into the lakes and rivers etc. The University of Florida has tried to get the politicians to understand but they seem to be more concerned with reelection issues.

Jim

It looks like we are all cross posting here. Elaine, the Aerides is slightly fragrant but you have to get your nose right into it which is hard to do because it hangs right under the roof. To tell you the truth, I'm hoping the blooms fade before the next orchid club meeting so I won't be tempted to wrestle that thing into the truck.

Jim

Jim, beautiful stuff! The enormous section is a show by itself, but I also am partial to the cute Pleurothallis hamosa.

Yup, stuck inside because of the weather, huh? We've had storms go by offshore of us, and inland too but no rain here - what else is new? But it's certainly muggy out there - "air you can wear" is the word of the day.

Got one for you to check on OrchidWiz if you're inclined, Jim. My Catcyclia Leaf Hopper is finally putting up spikes after sitting and pouting for 3 years. The label says it is C. El Hatillo X Enc. tampensis. But a couple of things are mis-spelled on that label including "Catcyclia" so I'm just wondering what the heck it's going to be.

Here you go: Catyclia [Cty.] Leaf Hopper (Cty. El Hatillo x E. tampensis)

Mostly cloudy here with storm clouds building in the east. Above all, hot.

Jim

Here is what it looks like.



Jim

One more picture of Aerides odorata hanging in her usual location.



Jim

Maybe, when the sunroom gets built, I can have plants/roots this size. No way if it has to be grown in a greenhouse over the winter months.

Jim, that is simply awesome!! It loves you!

Wow, thanks Jim. Wouldn't you know a flower I've waited 3 years for will turn out to be green . . . it's pretty but greens aren't my favorite. If it's fragrant, I guess I'll have to forgive it.

Seems what I thought was a spelling error was in fact correct - Catyclia? I thought a combo of Cattleya and Encyclia would be Cat . . cyclia. There is no logic!

It's been eerily calm and quiet (no wind either) here today.
More rosy new blooms on the maybe Yellow Birds. Green Hornet is truly the Energizer Orchid - I haven't seen it without flowers in months.

This crazy little Onc. Copper Scarab 'Brass Brethren' is a really generous bloomer. Sarcoglottis sceptroides has burst forth with nice new leaves.

Last but not least, a new one I bought last year, Habenaria rhodocheila is not the fluffy, hairy one but will have nice little coral flowers. Even if it doesn't bloom, it has also really nice reddish leaves.


So sorry for the blurry pictures, cell phone camera doesn't do well with low light, and my good camera is having an issue that I haven't been able to figure out yet.

I had to correct my post in another thread, I read it as Catcyclia. Not only did I spell it Catcyclia, at one point I had added another t as in Cattcyclia, since I just wrote Cattlianthe. I do need a couple of rolleyes here. @-@, @-@ or

Looking good, Elaine! My Sarcoglottis sceptrodes didn't bloom this Winter, but mine also puts out some decent growth right now. Perhaps we will both have blooms next year. Good growth on your Habenaria too.

Now that I know how to grow them, all my Sarcoglottis plants have doubled in size this spring. The majority of them bloomed in February-March and it will be interesting to see if they re-bloom in the summer/fall. That was their first-blooming so I have no clue whether they will bloom twice-a-year or not. All mine are outside, under trees for the spring/summer months.

Since I lost the vast majority of my Spathoglottis last year, but, like the Sarcoglottis, learned what I did wrong, I took the plunge and ordered a bunch more of them. I had lots of people who wanted the "whites" but since I lost so many, I could not supply those. I have ordered the 'Snow Angel' and hope to have them potted and ready to ship in a month or so.

Shame on me for not catching your error, Ursula. I must be getting old!

Rlc. Paradise Jewel 'Flare' (Rlc. Hausermann's Starfire x Rlc. Hawaiian Lightning) was not quite ready to debut yesterday but it open fully last night so here she is:



Jim

Wow, that one's really got it all going on! Floof and splash, colors and edging . . nice perfume?

We've had one really good rain shower already today, but it's looking awfully sunny out there now. At least I really don't feel the need to turn on the irrigation any time soon.

Jim, if it was not for Elaine's post, it surely would have slipped past me for a few months!! To me it shows how so not userfriendly some of the new names are.

I love the 'Flare', color and floof straight in your face!

That's one beautiful flower, Jim. I will always be partial to the Cattleya alliance.

Thanks! No fragrance yet but it just opened last night. Perhaps tomorrow. No rain yet today but heavy clouds loom to the north and east and it is humid enough to rain whenever it wants. I have one of those light, flexible hoses in the OC and just had another side blow out That is the third time in a row so it is back to HD tomorrow for another replacement. You would think they would fix that problem.

Jim

This is not one of the bold, fluffy ones, or a huge one, but these dainty 4" flowers are pretty and fragrant. This is the Slc. Fire Magic 'Nora'.