The Best Orchid Grower. With More Than a Million Orchids Under His Care, Rob Palmer s Skills

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Bruce Armstrong
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1 The Best Orchid Grower With More Than a Million Orchids Under His Care, Rob Palmer s Skills

I Know text and photographs by greg allikas as a Master Grower are Legendary Among Florida Growers [1] Those in the know consider Rob Palmer s line-bred Euanthe sanderiana var.

2 I Know text and photographs by greg allikas as a Master Grower are Legendary Among Florida Growers [1] Those in the know consider Rob Palmer s line-bred Euanthe sanderiana var. alba to be among the finest available anywhere. Palmer says he has bred three generations over 24 years and continues to work with the good ones. Euanthe sanderiana var. alba is also in the logo for his nursery, Palmer Orchids.

The name Robert Rob Palmer is not well known in most orchid circles, yet those who know him generally acknowledge Palmer to be a master orchid grower. He has to be.

And if that were not enough responsibility, he also maintains his own orchid nursery, Palmer Orchids, in Bradenton, Florida.

3 The name Robert Rob Palmer is not well known in most orchid circles, yet those who know him generally acknowledge Palmer to be a master orchid grower. He has to be. As head grower for Sun Bulb Company, Inc., in Florida, he is in charge of ensuring the well-being of a million orchid plants. And if that were not enough responsibility, he also maintains his own orchid nursery, Palmer Orchids, in Bradenton, Florida. If you visit either Sun Bulb or Palmer Orchids you will first notice the general good health and vigor of 2 the orchids. The problems that traditionally pester the orchid hobbyist seem absent under Palmer s hand. He is one of those lucky people who have found a calling in life that they can call a passion. For Palmer, orchids are both a career and a hobby, and he has a better understanding of the cultural needs of these plants than most. Palmer s introduction to orchids came early and was innocent enough. His father was Sun Bulb founder A.P. Hollingsworth s ophthalmologist and Hollingsworth needed summer help. It was the perfect summer job for Palmer s sophomore and subsequent years of high school. Although as a youngster he had a budding interest in plants, his love affair with orchids began that summer. He liked working at Sun Bulb so much he would return after college to stay. After high school he enrolled in the pre-med program at the University of Florida, Gainesville, thinking that he would follow in his father s footsteps. Palmer had always been an outdoorsman and it didn t take long to decide that an indoor job would not suit him. He enrolled in the ornamental horticulture 24 Orchids JANUARY

program at the University of Florida and graduated four years later with his degree in that field. One of his professors, Tom Sheehan, PhD, remembers Palmer as being bright and enthusiastic.

4 program at the University of Florida and graduated four years later with his degree in that field. One of his professors, Tom Sheehan, PhD, remembers Palmer as being bright and enthusiastic. He was anything but bookish and loved to party, but he kept his grades up and graduated with a solid foundation in plant biology. The understanding of plant nutrition that he gained would give him the knowledge to formulate Sun Bulb s successful Better-Gro orchid fertilizers many years later. The day after graduating from the University of Florida in March 1979, he began working for Sun Bulb full time. At that time, Sun Bulb had some old-style glass greenhouses in Sarasota that had been purchased from Carlyle Luer, MD. They were keeping the orchids there and Palmer began working under A.P. Hollingsworth. Throughout Florida and much of the southeast, Sun Bulb s bagged orchid species, such as Trichocentrum 1 cebolleta, Encyclia 1 Formerly Oncidium. 2 Formerly Brassolaeliocattleya. 3 [2] Sun Bulb Company s stock consists of its own breeding program as well as flasks of mainstream hybrids from Hawaii and Asia. [3] While Palmer does not actively participate in submitting plants for judging, he does lend his orchids to other exhibitors and has garnered a number of AOS awards. Here is Rhyncholaeliocattleya 2 SunCoast Sunspots Tinkerbell, HCC/AOS (Waianae Leopard C. Jungle Elf), exhibited by Palmer Orchids at the 2006 Venice Area Orchid Society Show. JANUARY 2011 Orchids 25

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cordigera and Rhyncholaelia glauca could be found in racks at garden departments of stores such as Sears and JC Penney. The nursery was also producing hybrid seedlings in 2- and 3-inch (5- and 7.

6 cordigera and Rhyncholaelia glauca could be found in racks at garden departments of stores such as Sears and JC Penney. The nursery was also producing hybrid seedlings in 2- and 3-inch (5- and 7.5-cm) pots that were packaged in net bags with colorful cappers that depicted the expected outcome. I remember one orchid hobbyist joking that he thought all orchids grew in net bags. For many years, Sun Bulb s bagged orchids were the first orchid of many hobbyists in the Southeast, and they are still an important part of the business. Under the elder Hollingsworth, Palmer began to gain knowledge of orchids and how to grow them. We entered the Red Room at Sun Bulb Company in Arcadia, Florida. Some of the product is estate grown at the company s headquarters in Arcadia, next to where the continuing bulb business began. The Arcadia greenhouses are mostly for phalaenopsis and foliage plants, and the offices and packaging facility are there too. Most of the phalaenopsis production is overseen by Joe Hayden, Palmer s number-two man. An additional facility in Central Florida is taking over more of the load for producing phalaenopsis hybrids. Although Palmer has an office in Arcadia, he d rather spend his days at the Bunker Road greenhouses managing the crop of cattleyas, Oncidium intergenerics, vandas and ascocendas, dendrobiums and everything else. For Palmer, it s all about the orchids. For such a large operation, the greenhouse crew is small, averaging 10 in Arcadia and five to six workers at the Bunker Road location, including Palmer. Arcadia takes care of the packing and shipping, while Bunker Road is strictly a growing range. I asked him about the obviously red shade cloth. He casually mentions that he is testing it and that it has been reported to improve rooting. Palmer adds, It seems to improve the foliage color. Look at the nice color of these leaves. Although most hobbyists grow orchids for the flowers, overall presentation is important in the commercial marketplace. The unsightly fungicide-stained, hardwater-coated, spotted leaves that we might tolerate will not sell at the retail level. I asked about his testing of new products and protocols. Culture samples usually consist of 50 or so plants to evaluate a new media, fertilizer or pot. Depending on a season s results of that sample, plants will be added and the experiment continued, or if results were unsatisfactory, abandoned. The Red Room was a larger sample than usual and contained about 20,000 plants. Palmer had done his research and had a good feeling about this test. His hunch paid off in yielding husky and healthy plants soon ready for market. I questioned Palmer about the differences between the commercial side of orchids and the hobbyist side. The commercial side of orchids is essentially farming it s a cash crop. Our challenge is not only to fill the needs of the marketplace, but also create repeat customers. The person bringing their first orchid home from a big box garden center needs to be successful with it. It has to be healthy and vigorous right out of the store, and it needs to grow well. If that person can keep the plant alive for the duration of the bloom, and 3 Formerly Cattleya. 8 [4] Two acres (.8 ha) of healthy phalaenopsis hybrids are grown at Sun Bulb Co., Inc. [5] Guarianthe 3 patinii PLEASE TELL ME SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PLANT. Grower: Palmer Orchids. [6] Laeliocattleya Frosty Pink H & R (Lc. Puppy Love C. purpurata), one of the hybrids at Palmer Orchids. [7] Although Palmer has an office in Arcadia, he prefers to spend his day tending to the plants at the large Bunker Road range. He says, It s nice and peaceful there. [8] At LOCATION, A worker pots seedlings in the red room (so named because of the red shade cloth). Wheelless wheelbarrows make excellent portable potting stations. JANUARY 2011 Orchids 27

rebloom it the following year, he paused, then added those are the buyers that might try a second and third orchid. Those are the ones more likely to transition to the hobbyist side.

7 rebloom it the following year, he paused, then added those are the buyers that might try a second and third orchid. Those are the ones more likely to transition to the hobbyist side. He admits that with so few good accounts around, especially during a slow economy, competition is fierce among big orchid growers. When it s a buyers market, the standard for quality becomes very high. Interesting selection can also attract buyers, he adds. Because Palmer straddles both sides of the fence, he has a good sense of what both the commercial and hobby customer are looking for. Whereas Sun Bulb Company is a largescale commercial orchid business, Palmer Orchids is geared toward the collector. On a recent visit, I was not surprised to find plants of Arpophyllum, Dendrochilum and Jumellea species, all grown to the same high standard as the commercial plants he oversees. I can have a little more varied selection over here, says Palmer. Looking around the three greenhouses at Palmer Orchids, this is evident by the variety of orchids and by the size of some. While I have seen some big orchid plants, I had never seen vanda hybrids taller than a man. While Palmer does not discriminate among the many orchids under his care, he does have a preference for vandaceous orchids, and the newest greenhouse was built specifically for them. This state-of-the-art greenhouse is fully automated with overhead sprinklers and thermostatically controlled side curtains and heaters. Temperatures are never allowed to go below 60 F (16 C) in winter. Plants in this house are watered thoroughly every morning, twice a day in summer, and alternate days in the cool part of winter. The vandaceous plants are fertilized every other day and prewetted with pure water a half hour before fertilizing. While it may be a dog-eat-dog world among commercial orchid growers, Palmer Orchids offers an opportunity for Palmer to connect with the hobby grower. As he 28 Orchids JANUARY

10 [9] Palmer s gal Friday, Elfie Espino, takes care of the day-to-day chores at Palmer Orchids. Palmer admits that without her, the plants would not be as well-cared for.

[11] Vanda Pachara Delight flowers three four times a year and is one of the best blue vandas, according to Palmer. 9 says, It s like there is a brotherhood among hobby growers.

Always try new culture or materials on a small sample of plants and give them a year, or full change of seasons to evaluate the results.

8 10 [9] Palmer s gal Friday, Elfie Espino, takes care of the day-to-day chores at Palmer Orchids. Palmer admits that without her, the plants would not be as well-cared for. [10] One of Palmer s favorite hybrids is Vanda Pachara Delight (Karulea Gordon Dillon), which he has mericloned twice resulting in 20,000 new plants. Grower: Palmer Orchids. [11] Vanda Pachara Delight flowers three four times a year and is one of the best blue vandas, according to Palmer. 9 says, It s like there is a brotherhood among hobby growers. They are always willing to share culture techniques and offer advice. Whether that is good or bad advice, it s your responsibility to decide. Always try new culture or materials on a small sample of plants and give them a year, or full change of seasons to evaluate the results. Never commit your whole collection to a new potting media, fertilizer or fungicide. Ask around and see if other people are having good results with any new techniques you are considering. While Palmer Orchids is open by appointment only, and usually only on Saturday, his annual sale is an event that longtime customers eagerly await. 11 For one of the interviews to write this article, Palmer and I had lunch at El Pirata in Arcadia. I already had most of the background information that I needed, and now I was after a few culture tips. My shrimp cocktail was delicious, but I soon learned that culture tips were going to be hard-won. It s not that he has secret recipes or techniques he is unwilling to share. Growing orchids comes so naturally to Palmer that he can look at an orchid plant and tell if it has a problem, what that problem might be, and how to fix it. He is also humble and it is that quality that makes him so likeable. Before we head over to his nursery in Bradenton, he reinforces the mantra that most experienced orchid growers know by heart: Being a good orchid grower takes time and dedication. They don t really take care of themselves. You need to not only be observant, but informed. Whatever kind of orchids you grow, make sure you know their requirements. It s not like the old days, now you can find anything you want on the Internet. I like to hand water at home on the weekend because it gives me a chance to look at the plants and I can see if they are doing well, or if they have some needs that aren t being met. In spite of his laid-back manner, Palmer is a stickler for details. He constantly uses meters to measure both ph and total JANUARY 2011 Orchids 29

9 dissolved salts so that he can keep his orchid culture within the narrow range he has established for optimum growth. His education at the University of Florida gave him a solid foundation in plant nutrition. After many years dealing with unsatisfactory fertilizers at Sun Bulb, he decided to develop his own. They worked so well they were branded as Better-Gro Orchid Plus and Better-Gro Orchid Blossom Booster Rob Palmer s Culture Tips Be observant. Spend at least a few minutes with your orchids every day and try to set aside a few hours each week to tend to their needs. It is easier to solve culture problems before they become severe. Learn what the needs are for each species, hybrid, genus or type of orchid you grow. Before you can evaluate the health of your own orchids you should know what healthy orchids look like. Make note of how healthy leaves and roots look and feel. Visit orchid shows and orchid nurseries whenever possible. Join a local orchid society and ask questions of the veteran Cattleya Day Tripper Palmer Orchids, growers. Knowledge of local culture HCC/AOS (Tripp Johnston Caudebec), practices is far better than what you can grown by Palmer Orchids and exhibited find in a book. Keep written records if it by Plantio La Orquidea at the 2010 Fort helps you remember what you do right or Lauderdale Orchid Show. wrong. Water is number one. Have your water tested at your local agriculture office annually, or buy a ph meter to monitor water quality regularly. Without the proper ph, orchid plants cannot properly uptake the nutritional elements for optimum growth. Learn to water properly and how watering affects the medium in the pot you are watering. While you can get by just waving a hose over a plant in its winter rest, you need to thoroughly soak most orchids when they are in active growth. Don t be afraid to poke a finger down into a pot to find out what the interior conditions are like. Follow the roots. Plants with vigorous root systems are capable of utilizing more water and more fertilizer. Plants with shy root systems are susceptible to root rot if given the same copious amounts of water and fertilizer. While this seems perfectly logical, as I sit here reading this from my notes, I realize that it is probably the reason why I have had trouble growing orchids such as Cattleya schofieldiana and Cattleya velutina. Should you lose an orchid s roots due to overwatering or stale medium, he suggests removing it from the pot and trimming off all dead roots. You can place it in an empty clay pot or on a bench, but keep it dry until new growth begins. Occasional misting can keep the plant from becoming too desiccated. Weak plants and bare-root imports benefit from a half-hour soak in a gallon of water (3.8 L) to which a tablespoon of granulated sugar has been added. Spread plants on newspaper and spray with a broad-spectrum fungicide, such as Thiomyl. Kelp, in either liquid or powder form, can help stressed plants survive until they develop strong root systems. Use as a foliar spray several times a week. In recent years, Palmer has been growing Sun Bulb phalaenopsis hybrids in sphagnum moss and keeping it much drier that is customary. We let the moss get dry on top, but still springy inside the pot before we water. You don t want to let it get crackly dry because it is hard to rewet it. But we see better root growth by keeping phalaenopsis a bit on the dry side. Repot orchids in spring and summer and only when there is active root growth. Plants should not be disturbed in winter unless it means otherwise losing the orchid. At Sun Bulb, the greenhouse crews uses wheelbarrow bins (without the wheels or frame) to hold potting media. They make a convenient, portable potting station. Harden off out-of-flask seedlings for two six weeks in empty flats, or on trays lined with newspaper. You can spray them with a broad-spectrum fungicide when you first remove them. Palmer does not use compots. After plants removed from flasks are hardened off, they are potted directly into 2-inch (5-cm) pots. Greg Allikas. and are now sold by Sun Bulb Company. On the ride to Bradenton I asked him, Tell me about developing the Better-Gro fertilizers. What were your goals and how did you achieve them? Palmer tipped his cap back and began, We weren t getting the kind of consistent results we need from the fertilizers that were available on the market. My first goal was to have a fertilizer that would not only maintain the proper ph in solution, but help maintain a good ph in the medium. What is that proper ph? I asked. He continued, Both the solution and the medium should be slightly acid, around 6.0. It was clear that the salt buildup we were getting from off-the-shelf fertilizer was because they had urea in them. So my main goal was complete fertilizer that included micronutrients and was urea-free. I had also decided that plant growth was stronger with nitrate nitrogen than ammonia nitrogen. From there, it was just a matter of fine-tuning for optimum growth and flowering. As slow as orchids grow, that took five years to have a marketable product and we continually fine tune for our own use. He went on to tell me about other nutritional supplements used on an as-needed basis, which included things such as dolomite top dressing and liquid kelp. Palmer boasts about bringing cattleyas to bloom in less than three years out of flask. I remember when I first began growing orchids the numbers commonly given were five to six years from flask to flower. In a market where turning a crop equals turning a dollar, his kind of culture is a testament to good business practice that makes bean counters smile. Rob Palmer leaves me with one final thought about growing orchids. He says, Shoot, most orchids will grow for a long time on their own. Here in Florida you can hang them out in a tree and other than keeping them from freezing, they ll grow just fine. That s pretty much how they grow in nature anyway. But if you re going to grow orchids as a hobby, you don t want them to grow just fine do you? You want them to grow at their best and produce huge heads of flowers. How right he is! Greg Allikas is one of the world s bestknown orchid photographers. He has been coauthor and photographer for three orchid books and contributed to countless others. He was a consultant for, and contributed to a 2005 UN Postal Administration endangered orchid species stamp edition. His work has been published in Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, Australia and North and South America. He is the current chair of the AOS Publications Committee. ( graphicgreg@orchidworks.com; Web site 30 Orchids JANUARY

10 [12] Palmer points out Vanda luzonica in a forest of giant vanda plants at Palmer Orchids. JANUARY 2011 Orchids 31

St. Augustine Orchid Society Top Dressing Your Orchids by Sue Bottom,

St. Augustine Orchid Society Top Dressing Your Orchids by Sue Bottom, Orchid growers can talk about different orchid potting mixes for hours on end. Whether or not organic matter should be incorporated into a mix, what types of organic materials are preferable or is it better