Dear Orchid Doc:

I bought some hanging vandas without the wires. The substitute ones that I purchased are not hanging them properly. In fact, the orchids keep dropping out.

How do I get my vandas to stand up between the wires?

A Ragbeer

Dear A Ragbeer:

I use a clothes line on which I hook the hanging wire, gather all the pieces together and bend all at once about an inch.

That done, open all four wires that form the hanger. Position the orchid, which is usually already in a small square basket.

Connect each wire to the nearest accommodating hole in the basket. These can be hard to find as roots sometimes grow through them. If this is the case, don’t worry. Just go ahead and push the wire through.

Your orchid should be standing up straight in the basket and ready to hang.

Dear Orchid Doc:

There is a type of Oncidium that is sort of newish on the market. It blooms with multiple spikes that are very tiny. Can you tell me anything about what it likes and the name?

All I see on the label is Tulu.

S.H.

Dear S .H:

I believe you are speaking about Tulumnia, a relative of the Oncidium which is available in multiple shades of colour.

They are fairly easy to take care of: about 50 per cent indirect sunlight, fertilise three times weekly.

They love baskets made from wood, tree fern bark, or wooden slabs.

Betty Stephenson Ashley

Betty’s Farm & Garden Supplies

161 Constant Spring Road

KINGSTON 8

322-4585, 870-0191

755-2204, 931-8804

bettystephensonashley@Gmail.com