Koi pond filtration is the process of removing waste products and other harmful substances from the Koi pond. This is a basic requirement if you want to keep your Koi healthy for a long time.

That unsightly green scum we all seen on stagnate water is the result of poor filtration. Don’t let this happen. Parasites and other harmful bacteria will develop and spread quickly among the fish. With all this the water will quickly start to smell. If this happens it will be a deadly situation for your fish.

A koi pond is a big investment. Don’t risk that investment and the health of your Koi by not planning for a proper Koi pond filtration system. Take the time to carefully plan the kind of system that’s best for your particular pond.

Some Koi experts recommend a filter system that will handle a volume of not less that 33% of the total pond water volume. Therefore, a 3,000 gallon pond should have a filter capable of handling 1,000 gallons of pond water at any given time. At the very least, it should not be less than 10%.

One adaption in orchids can be found among the epidendrums. The species E. falcatum retains all its weight in the thick, heavy leaves. The root system is not numerous, but s-ong enough to hold a heavy plant firmly in its place on a tree. The pseudobulbs are merely short stems which support the long, spears-lriaped leaves which, rough and hard, will withstand a harsh environment. They are the main source of food supply for the plant.

Among the oncidiums are a quite distinct group of bulbless plants whose species originate from the islands of the Caribbean. Long neglected and considered difficult to grow, these highly attractive plants are now gaining in popularity as hybrids are being produced with compact-sized plants and extremely showy blooms. The plants form fans of leaves and when in bloom need be no higher than 12 in (3o cm).

All orchids produce roots. There are basically two kinds: aerial and underground. The root structure of orchids is peculiar to them, and all their roots are of a uniform thickness which does not increase with age. The roots will branch, in some species freely. All consist of a central wiry thread which is surrounded by the fleshy, moisture- retaining, part which in turn is coated by the white papery covering, the velamen, which grows as the root extends, leaving only the green growing tip exposed.

Whatever is added, it should be as durable as the bark. Avoid any rapidly decomposing materials, such as dried bracken.

Repotting should not interrupt the growing cycle of the plant and is therefore pRom best undertaken in the spring, at which time the new growth is showing, but prior to the commencement of the new roots. When these follow they will grow immediately into the fresh compost taking maximum nourishment from it. Some orchids, particularly the cattleyas and their hybrids, have two growing cycles and will often commence new growth in the autumn, in which case this is also a good time to repot them.

An ‘orchid tree’ with several plants tied to a tree branch can become a most interesting feature in the greenhouse. It is also advantageous to those orchids requiring plenty oflight to grow them in this manner where they can be hung close to the glass.

Whereas the propagation of many orchids is easy and rewarding, the raising of orchids from seed is far more complicated and cannot be achieved as easily. Nevertheless, it is not beyond the scope of the amateur grower, and two methods of seed raising are described. Whether you are propagating or seed raising your orchids, both are long-term projects which can take from three to six years to achieve flowering plants.

Some sympodial orchids have a number of surplus eyes at the base, and further along the pseudobulb; usually those lower down are the strongest.

Many sympodial orchids can be propagated by removal of the oldest backbulbs – those pseudobulbs which have discarded their foliage and have become surplus to the plant’s requirements. Not all leafless pseudobulbs should be removed for this purpose as this may reduce the strength of the plant.

Their embryo growths seem to deteriorate after a year or two, and old pseudobulbs seldom grow. For this reason these orchids are usually propagated by front pseudobulb division. Paphiopedilums are sympodial orchids without pseudobulbs and they can, on occasion, be propagated.

Although such a plant can be left to its own devices, sooner or later the job of repotting must be attempted, and the longer the plant has been left the harder this becomes. Our Stanhopea wardii has a number of pseudobulbs which are in an upright position within the basket, and two fully mature pseudobulbs which have grown at right angles outside of the pot.

The completed tree can be sprayed, wetting the plants and bark alike. From now on the tree will require spraying two or three times a day during the summer, and less in winter. With little in the way of compost around the base of the plants there is no danger of overwatering, but as shrivelling from underwatering can occur quite rapidly moisture is important.

For rebarking a larger piece of bark will be required, plus a wad of osmunda fibre or possibly live, green sphagnum moss, a pair of pliers, a pair of scissors and a length of green plastic-coated wire. A piece of rigid wire should be inserted at one end to form a-hook from which to hang the plant.

If this is done from the hack of the tree, very little of the wire will show at the front. Monopodial Vanda cristata being positioned, with the wire being placed around the lower leafless part of the rhizome. With sympodial orchids, the wire must pass between the pseudo- bulbs and never cut into them.

Not all orchids are suitable for basket culture; those which do best are the so called ‘high-light’ plants, those epiphytes which like plenty of light and are grown with minimum shade. These can include dendrobiums, laclias, coelogynes, encyclias, in the cooler sections and vandal and their allies in the hot section.

The Coelogyne Burfordense has been removed from its pot and all old compost shaken clear of the root ball. The fine roots needed little trimming, and have now been carefully placed beneath the plant which was placed on a layer of compost in the basket. No crocking is necessary as the basket is perfectly free-draining. The compost is added, a little at a time, taking care not to dislodge the lining, until the basket rim is reached. At this stage the sticky tape can be removed, and the exposed netting around the rim can be tucked in with the points of the scissors to give a neat, finished appearance.

Orchids growing in a suspended position rely more heavily on a moist atmosphere and basket culture is best confined to a greenhouse.

When the plant has been stripped bare to the roots it can be divided. A leading piece consisting of a double new growth and four-leaved pseudobulbs is removed by severing the rhizome with secateurs. One further leading division of a similar size can be removed from the other sick of the plant, leaving a hack division with leafed pseudobulbs which can also be potted. Any good leafless pseudo- bulbs should be divided and potted singly. Alternatively the rhizome can be severed in the pot six months before repotting when the back division will have started a new growth.

On an annual basis a Paphiopedilum can, for a number of years, be repotted back into the same size pot, or, if the compost is still in good condition, be `dropped on’ without disturbance to the root ball, into a slightly larger pot.

One final pressing down will bring the plant to the same level. Finally, replace the label in the back of the plant. The single backbulb can be potted in a similar way using as small a pot as possible.

The sale of goods or certain merchandise to retailers, to industrial, commercial, institutional, or other professional people dealing with business, or to other wholesalers and related subordinated service is known as wholesaling. The other word for “wholesaling” would be “jobbing”. “Wholesale” basically stands for the resale of new as well as old and used goods to retailers, to industrial, commercial, institutional or professional users, or to other people commonly known as wholesalers. This involves an agent or a broker who buys merchandise for these persons or companies or sells merchandise to such persons or companies. The main work of these wholesalers would be to gather sort and grade goods in bulk and repack and redistribute the same goods in smaller lots. Wholesalers of most products usually function from independent areas.

Wholesale marketing is a different idea. Furthermore, the consumption and production of marketed food are spatially separated. Production predominantly occurs in the rural areas whilst consumption occurs in the urban areas. This is wholesale marketing for food products which takes place at specified and demarcated wholesale markets, where usually there is a gathering of wholesale traders.

“The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world”. This phrase or proverb or common saying defines the much-celebrated “Mother’s Day”. The role of the mother has definitely changed over the years but she is still the most significant member of the family. One day should be solely devoted to her: to cherish her love, to shower her with love, to make her feel really special. Mother’s day: a day dedicated to your mom, the most powerful woman in your world.

In different parts of the world Mother’s day is celebrated on different days. According to one school of thought, this day emerged from the concept of the ancient Greek worship of the mother. Apparently and similar to the Greeks, ancient Romans also celebrated another day Matronalia, which was dedicated to the goddess Juno, and mothers were given gifts on this day. In the United States of America, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. Mother’s Day was inspired by the British day in the United States and was imported by social activist, Julia Ward Howe, after the American Civil war. She wanted to unite women against war, she understood and sympathised with the pain of losing a child. In 1912, Anna Jarvis created the Mother’s day International Association, after Julia Ward Howe failed in her noble cause, carrying on from where her mother left off, in 1905.