h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

While i was at Kew at the weekend, i bought a book. 'How to grow orchids from seed' I only glanced at the book quickly, because i did'nt want to keep the others waiting at least an hour while i browsed every book
Anyway, the reason the book caught my eye was the statement 'grow orchids from seed, using ordinary household implements' Great i thought, i can propogate the wild orchids in my garden and have loads of them
Now, i think my kitchen carries the usual run of the mill implements and utensils......though maybe not
How many of you have lurking in the back of your cupboards an Autoclave? petri dishes? glass stirring rods? powdered agar jelly? PH monitor? and digital scales that weigh .01 of a gram?
If you have any of those items in your kitchen, then all i can say is: Do you want this book i've bought? 'Cos it's no use to me, my kitchen on has KITCHEN stuff in it!!

So the book should really bear the slogan, 'Grow orchids from seed, using ordinary illicit drug lab equipment'.

I know where I can find scales that are pleased with measures of 0.001 grams ... But the rest of the ingredients, well, milady tossed 'em all. She thought the autoclave was taking up just too much of our bath-room vanity. And the were not pleased with the scent from that assortment of agar-in-petrie-dishes scattered here and there.

If I knew what it all meant, I'm sure I'd discover one or two of those things in our cellar - my husband being a for´mer chemistry student. I bet I should find all of these things at my workplace, though.

Hello venus was only thinking of you strangely enough last night I am sad to say that bar the autoclave and scales we have all the rest part of home educating

Just wondering we have put in a water feature in the back garden and I have transplanted Arrum lillies into the small pond ..I was going to put in some floating lillies until the lady at the store told me that the frosts we get would kill them as they were tropical lillies I want something that will grow across the pond preferably something that flowers any suggestions of what might cope with frost and rain in winter and hot hot sun in summer?

I've got a if that's any good to you, but I think they're only used for growing chillies.

I think I am missing something or someone thought this was the thingites

Around here, hayayfi, a is ALWAYS a good idea. Even if you aren't a Thingite.

I should have known that someone would have the stuff

I thought you only needed the after the chillies had been eaten!

Hayayfi.
There are plenty of water lillies that don't die completely over winter. The ones we get here, just go dormant, like a perennial and come back once the temperature warms up. Would you like me to find some names for you, so you can see if they are available there?

Well, it wouldn't be hootoo if there wasn't anybody, eh?
Just a shame that it's of no use to you.

Thats true B'el
It is a shame that i did'nt take time to look at the book properly before i bought it
Never mind, the orchid seed will just have to take it's chance on finding somewhere to germinate.

You could give it as a birthday gift to Rich
Isn't it his birthday soon now? In a week, I think.

Oh yes, it is his birthday soon. Somehow i don't think he would appreciate being sent a useless book

It wouldn't be useless for him, he said he has a , didn't he?

Well.....in that case....

I have to go now, the tribe are visiting today. I have to do the housey stuff before they get here

Have a great day.

Gas mark 6 for 20-30 mins. Works for nearly everything else, why not orchid seeds?

With my history of ovens, i would'nt even risk it!

Yes please Venus that would be fantastic