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  Infra red cameras/bloom openings
From: ju-bo at msn.com (ju-bo at msn.com) on 2008.05.26 at 15:16:05(17628)
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> Date: Sun, 25 May 2008 21:55:14 +0100
> From: Chris.Rennie at blueyonder.co.uk
> To: aroid-l at gizmoworks.com; Steve at ExoticRainforest.com; doji at hawaii.rr.com
> Subject: Re: [Aroid-l] Infra red cameras

Dear Chris,

Allow me to ''jump into'' this discussion here.
Unfortunately there is no easy way to know on which given day a Philodendron bloom might open! My experience (and that of people even more experienced growers/breeders than I am) is that only observation and experience can point you in the right direction! I see that you live in the U.K. so must ask how many developing inflorescences are being produced by the plant in question? Usually, at least in tropical areas OR under optimal greenhouse conditions a few blooms in sequence would be considered ''normal'' for say an adult Philodendron bipinnatifidum ("selloum""), which would allow you to closely observe the development and opening of the first, and then you would be able to make a pretty close ''guesstimate'' on when the second, third, etc. may open based on the notes you took on the first. Just a note, here in Florida and Hawaii a bloom may ''sulk'' for a day or two longer that you THINK it should, this may be caused by a change in temperature, rain, etc.
Concerning pollinating insects, it has been determined that certain scrab beetles under natural conditions and in the natural range of this plant are the primary pollinators. It has been recorded that other beetles and even bees, flies, ants, etc. may be attracted to the blooms, but they can not and do not pollinate them.
I wish that there were better indicators of exactly when a bloom is about to open, but if in fact there are, I am not aware of them!
Good Luck, and keep us informed on your findings!

Julius

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From: Chris.Rennie at blueyonder.co.uk (Chris) on 2008.05.28 at 09:55:26(17634)
Hi Julius,

Thanks very much for your email and yes of course I'll be delighted to
keep you all informed of my findings!

Altogether there are six inflorescences, two of which have flowered and
are now completely shut. My philo consists of a main stem on the top of
which, are four of the largest inflorescences (two now flowered)
At the base, there are two smaller shoots(?) or possibly separate
plants(?) One of these carries two smaller inflorescences, giving six in
all. The other hasn't produced anything. The philo sits in my
conservatory which is south facing. So the temperature fluctuates
dependant on the amount of sunshine there is in the day. As this is the
U.K. that tends to vary considerably(!) For the past week the weather
has been cloudy & wet. At night during the summer, the conservatory
(being part of the house) is not heated.

When I lived in London, the philo occupied the kitchen (it was a lot
smaller then) it always seemed to shed a couple of leaves in winter and
then grow a couple of new leaves each spring time, so on the whole it
remained the same size, but just grew slightly taller
and became progressively a little more 'spindly' each year. I imagine it
was "pot bound" if that's the correct expression?

When we moved to Gloucester ~ two years ago, I re-potted it into the
very largest pot I could buy from the local garden center. I think this
may have been around springtime?
It sat, I like to imagine, 'in shock' for several months before
exploding with growth and reaching the size it is now. The main stem
thickened in girth considerably above the point I re-potted it. Beneath,
the stem is still relatively 'spindly' and to support it,
I've placed three large bamboo canes around it in tripod fashion..
Without this support, I think the whole plant would start to list over
to one side or worse, fall over altogether.

It's still increasing in size (number of new leaves produced > number of
leaves dropped) and I guess it will only now stop when it becomes "pot
bound" once again or I have to trim it which I'm loathe to do.
A few of the top leaves are already touching the glass roof of the
conservatory. I think it's at least doubled in size, my girlfriend
estimates its probably trebled? - a larger (more alarming) guesstimate
because I suspect she'd rather have the conservatory to sit in...

I've taken some more detailed photographs of it for you, but I'm not
sure how to attach these to this list? So I thought that if it was ok
with you, I'd post your email and this reply together with some pictures
onto the UBC thread?

All the very best,

Chris

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