I watched the sun peak up on the horizon and all the cars commuting to work. All the while Rita’s tiny body lay limp in my arms and the rest of the world went on oblivious to the fact it had lost such an angelic being. Her passing was as good as one could hope. I had woken early to make her special soup. I took her outside to go to the bathroom. She seemed to be recovering, but suddenly she collapsed and started twitching. I picked her up and she died in my arms.
It is funny how what you complained about when someone was alive is what you end up missing the most. Of course I miss her sweetness, her smell, her weight when I held her, the divot on the bridge on her nose, and the cute grunting noises she would make. But I also miss her stubbornness and how she always found a way to get what she wanted. Until the end she would find a way to steal the cat food or run away from the vet. My mom asked this morning, “How can something so little leave such a big space when she is gone?”
I don’t want to forget these things. I don’t want to forget how it felt to hold her or the details of her little face. I won’t see her when I wake up in the morning tomorrow, nor will she be there to greet me when I get home. I also know that the pain doesn’t go away, I will just become accustomed to it.
You always wish you had more time. She was my constant companion. She went through my masters and doctoral programs, treated patients with me at the clinic, and traveled to my talks and on trips. She was with me for all my ups and downs and knows me better than most people ever will. She gave me so much. I hope I was good to her too.
Rita as a puppy.
Another puppy picture. Rita and sister Bella.
Rita sunbathing.
Rita on the plane.
Dressed up.
At work.
Roadtrip with friends.
Guarding.
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By andrews|2019-03-26T14:29:31+00:00October 19th, 2016|Uncategorized|Comments Off on My Angel Rita
notes recorded by Lia Andrews from Martin Motes’ video:
There are seemingly endless varieties of orchids. In fact, one in 10 flowers in the world is an orchid. Florida orchid growing is unique and requires special considerations for culture. It has a seasonal monsoon climate and is ideal for orchids native to mid-low elevation in the tropics.
DRYING OUT
Al conditions that make orchids grow are the same conditions that support their pests. To survive orchids evolved into a type of specialized cactus. They like to be fully wet, then dry out completely before wet again. This strategy works against the mortal enemy of orchids: fungus. Fungus requires constant wetness and do not survive the drying out periods. How much do orchids need to dry out?:
Cattleyas and dendrobiums like to dry out hard. They like to get bone dry. “If you think it needs to be watered, wait a day.”
Paphiopedilums and phalaenopsis like to maintain a little wetness. Water when just starting to dry out. “If you think it needs to be watered, you should have watered it yesterday.”
Vandaceous orchids are in between. “If you think it needs to be watered, water today.”
white roots = dry
green roots = wet
Consideration must also be made for potting media, pots, mounted orchids, etc. Most mounted or free hanging orchids often need daily watering in summer and every few days in winter. While the same orchids potted require less frequent watering.
Proper watering is the key to success with orchids, especially in Florida. (We discussed water quality in a previous blog post). Never water orchids unless they need it. It is better to err on the side of being too dry than too wet. Over-watered orchids are very prone to diseases. Unfortunately, there is no absolute rule. You must become a keen observer of weather, seasonal changes, and microclimates within your growing space. You must also get to know each orchid in your collection.
For potted orchids, Motes recommends lifting your orchids daily to get a feel for the weight of a wet versus dry plant. When the pot becomes as light as possible, water it. Remember that media that is very dry repels water, and this also happens to the orchid’s roots. Once the orchid has dried out you will need to fully saturate it with water to get it properly hydrated. Motes recommends watering twice. Begin at one end of your collection, watering until you see runoff. When you reach the end, start over at the beginning of your collection and re-water until you see runoff.
FERTILIZER
Fertilizer is applied exactly the same way as you water; twice, saturating the roots/media each time. Time release fertilizers offer low maintenance but you need to be careful to get one that withstands the relentless summer rains of Florida. Time release fertilizer are only as good as the polymers holding it in. Motes recommends Dynamite from Home Depot or a low phosphorus one marketed for avocados and citrus from Lowes.
Common consensus has moved away from 20-20-20 fertilizer for orchids; though you can use this a little in the spring. Studies at Michigan State* show that orchids grow and flower best with fertilizers low in phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium. On the other hand, orchids need more calcium (naturally high in Florida water) and magnesium. (American fertilizers do not list these minerals, while in Europe magnesium is the 4th number listed.)
You can use Peter’s Excell 15-5-15, or one of the many orchid fertilizers based on the Michigan State studies, like this one from RePotMe.com. Avoid bloom boosters which are high in phosphorus.
When temperatures drop to the 60°s F and below, we often observe the leaves get red spots due to cold exposure. This is in fact the plant experiencing magnesium deficiency symptoms. If you see these red spots, you can use 1 tbsp. of Epsom salts per 1 gallon of water every week until the leaves regain their normal color.
POTS
Plastic
growers love them = they are cheap, don’t break, and light. The downside in Florida is they hold too much moisture.
Clay
transpires out moisture so that it fully dries itself and the contents of the pot out. It is also cooler.
Besides the extra consideration for dryness, orchids are a unique plant in another way. In most plants, the bigger the pot, the happier the plant. Because orchids need to fully dry out, you want to pot them in the smallest pot possible, then repot them every 1-2 years in the next pot size up. Keep in mind that a 6″ pot is actually seven times the volume of a 3″ pot. (Society VP, Gary Murza, recommends repotting yearly in Florida due to the inevitable salt buildup that occurs here).
Whether you buy your orchids from big commercial grower like Home Depot or a boutique grower, if it is in a plastic pot repot it in a clay pot immediately. Orchids are now being mass produced creating vertical competition. Big commercial growers will grow their orchids in a 4″ pot then repot them in a 6″ right before putting them out for sale. It is good for marketing, but bad for the orchid.
The depth of the pot is also important. In a standard pot, height = width. In a bulb or azalea pot, 1/2 height = width; which is much better for the orchids. Fancy orchid pots are also an option, just remember that every once in a while you need to smash a pot in order to safely remove the orchid. (Perhaps save your fancy pots for bonsai).
A solid clay pot is better than a slotted clay pot because it sweats better. Also, many times when you buy an orchid it will have extra stuff like Styrofoam at the bottom for “drainage” and to make a regular pot function more like a bulb pot. This actually impedes drainage and is very bad for the orchid. Repot in a shallow pot like a bulb pot.
MEDIA
Growers who move to Florida from other areas quickly learn that media requirements are different here. The gold standard in Southwest Florida used to be tree fern. It lasts 4-5 years, but it is harvested from an endangered species. Motes uses a mixture of 50% charcoal and 50% coconut husk. Other choices are Aliflor (holds more water), solite, and charcoal. (I personally like the these 2 mixes from Broward Orchid Supply).
Many orchids we purchase are potted in sphagnum moss. This is the surest way to kill an orchid in Florida. Sphagnum moss only lasts about 1 year here until it begins to decompose, flattening and packing in water with no air, rotting the orchids’ roots. The moss is often 1 year old or more by the time the orchid is sold. Fern rock and bark, favorites up north, is also certain death in South Florida. (Special bark that can survive our weather is available locally).
Another solution is simply to mount orchids on wood, trees, rock, pots, or to hang them freely.
The video continues on to discuss light and air movement, two additional important considerations.
BLOOD IN CHINESE MEDICINE?
Blood (血 xuè) encompass the Western concept of the word and much more. Blood and Qi are as inseparable and interconnected as Yin and Yang. Qi moves and directs the flow of Blood, while Blood provides substance through which Qi can move and nourishes the organs that produce Qi.
Functions of Blood in TCM:
Houses the Shen. Shen is often translated as “spirit” but it also encompasses the concept of “mind” and “consciousness”. If Blood is deficient the Shen “has no home” and becomes scattered and disordered. This explains why patients with Blood deficiency often feel mentally scattered, have difficulty focusing or remembering, feel emotionally vulnerable, anxious, timid, are easily frightened, suffer from palpitations, and have trouble sleeping. (If Blood is stagnant, as often happens after trauma, it also has mental/emotional ramifications: depression, severe insomnia).
Moistens Organs, Tissue, and Meridians. Healthy Blood gives our skin a rosy glow, provides luster and life to our hair, and gives us strong nails. Blood deficiency is implicated in many skin issues that have symptoms of dryness, itching, and pallor. Healthy Blood lubricates our tendons and muscles. Chronic tension and stiffness is a sign of Blood deficiency. Blood nourishes the eyes. Deficient Blood causes blurred vision and other vision issues.
Allows For Sensation and Movement. Localized blood deficiency can lead to a lack of sensation and function such as numbness or atrophy.
Anchors Qi. The moist substance of Blood keeps Qi from moving upward recklessly as in some cases of headaches and tinnitis.
Menstruation. Healthy shows itself in normal menstrual blood that is red and of medium volume. Symptoms of Blood deficiency include delayed period (body takes a long time to build up the uterine lining), pale blood, and scanty volume.
WHAT WEAKENS BLOOD?
Excessive mental work and stress.
Excessive or pathological bleeding such as internal bleeding or heavy periods.
Qi deficiency.
Caretaking.
DIET TO STRENGTHEN QI
There is an old Chinese saying that it takes “40 parts of Qi to make 1 part of Blood”. Building Blood takes more time and requires high protein foods. The best foods to build blood are animal products: liver (or desiccated liver pills), chicken, and bone marrow broth. Chlorophyll-rich greens are very important. Vegetarians will take a little longer and are more dependent on Chinese herbs. Try to eat organic as much as possible. MacClean and Littleton recommend a diet of 30-40% carbohydrates, 40-50% vegetables, and 20-30% protein.
Specific foods to strengthen Blood: liver, eggs, chicken, beef, bone marrow, bone broth, pork trotters, oyster, mussel, tempeh, miso, quinoa, rice, beans and legumes (especially black beans), carrots, beets, go ji berries, longan berries, mulberries, jujube dates, black sesame seed, wheatgrass, blue-green algae, spinach, kale, collards, swiss chard, dill, cilantro, parsley, dark beer (small quantities).
Avoid or limit: excessive raw food, chemicals, refined food.
LIFESTYLE TO STRENGTHEN BLOOD
Rest during menstruation and postpartum.
Balance self-care with nurturing others.
Balance activity with rest. Sleep an extra hour after a tough workout or a hard day.
Practice meditation, qigong/taichi, or other stress-relieving activity.
WHAT IS QI?
Qì 气(氣) is the energy that animates our bodies and all of life. Qi is a difficult concept for Westerners to grasp and has been further confused by changes in language. You may see Qi spelled “chi” which is from an older romanization of Chinese characters created by Western missionaries called Wade-Giles. In the 1950’s Zhou Youguang created the official romanization of Chinese used today. In Japanese it is pronounced “ki”.
The concept of Qi may be foreign to modern life, but is similar to the understanding of energy in many cultures. For example, we find the concept of prana in Hinduism, mana in native Hawaiian culture, axé in Candomblé, and lüng in Tibetan Buddhism.
The Chinese character is made of two radicals:
米 (mǐ) = rice
气 (qi) = air/steam
The visual of steam emanating from cooked rise gives us a clear picture of Qi; it is insubstantial, it transforms, it is hot, and like rice in ancient China, it is vital to life. Qi is present everywhere in our bodies and the world around us. In our bodies, there are concentrated pathways of Qi (rivers of energy) known as meridians. It is easier to access and affect the way Qi flows in the body by stimulating these meridians. This is the basis for acupuncture, qigong/taichi, and Chinese masssage.
In the body Qi performs 6 major functions:
Transforms Substances. For example, Qi transforms food and air into usable fuel in the body, unusable substances into urine, and Qi into Blood. Weak Qi means weak digestion and an inability to draw nurturing from the environment. It causes Blood deficiency and other weaknesses.
Transports Substances. For example, Qi transports vital nutrients extracted from food and blood from the heart to the uterus for menstruation. When Qi is weak it can cause stagnation and blockage because there is not enough Qi to move substances.
Protects the Body. Qi circulates on the surface of the skin, protecting the body from external invasion of pathogens. Weak Qi means weak immunity.
Holds in Substance. Qi holds in body fluids like keeping blood in the blood vessels, urine in the bladder, and sweat from seeping out indiscriminately. Weak Qi can allow substances to come out excessively or at inappropriate times such as spotting or early menses, urinary incontinence, spider veins, and spontaneous sweating.
Raises the Organs and Tissue. Qi keeps the skin and organs raised up in their proper place. Weak Qi can cause conditions such as uterine prolapse or sagging skin.
Warms the Body. Qi is a function of Yang, and provides the heat necessary for the bodies functions. Weak Qi can manifest as coldness.
WHAT WEAKENS QI?
Too much physical work or working out. Long stretches of cardio particularly weaken Qi. If you feel exhausted rather than exhilarated after a workout you have depleted your Qi.
Overthinking, worrying, ruminating, researching, and studying exhaust Qi.
Poor or inappropriate diet. The decreasing quality of our food supply (GMOs, pollution, etc.) has a negative effect of everyone’s Qi, but certain people will be more susceptible.
Stress.
DIET TO STRENGTHEN QI
To strengthen Qi eat simple, uncomplicated meals and favor long cooking times. Congee, porridge, stew, broth, and soup all break down food and make it easier to digest, requiring less effort by the body to extract nutrients. This is why traditional cultures recommend soup for people when they are sick. Limit raw foods as they require more Qi to break down. Eat smaller meals and eat at regular times. Do not allow yourself to go hungry. Avoid drinks other than tea with meals. MacClean and Littleton recommend a diet of 40-60% carbohydrates, 30-40% vegetables, and 10-20% protein.
Specific foods to strengthen Qi: rice, oats, yams, sweet potatoes, carrots, winter squash, pumpkin, peas, green beans, cooked fruit, eggs, most meat and fish (chicken, beef, lamb, tuna). Use cooking spices such as onions, ginger, garlic, clove, etc. Incorporate small amounts of complex natural sweeteners such as honey (though most Americans already eat too many sweet foods).
Avoid or limit: raw fruits and vegetables, soy products, seaweed, salt, brown rice, excessive sweets, dairy, nuts.
LIFESTYLE TO STRENGTHEN QI
Eat regular meals.
Go to bed by 10pm.
Be more active and eat bigger meals in the morning and early afternoon. Practice relaxation and rest in late afternoon and evening. Don’t eat past 7pm.
Balance activity with rest. Sleep an extra hour after a tough workout or a hard day.
Practice qigong or taichi.
Spend time in nature.
TIMES WHEN QI IS WEAKENED
Before the age of 6 and after menopause/andropause.
During illness.
Periods of stress and extreme mental or physical exertion.
In this episode of The Lia Andrews Show I interview Chinese medicine scholar, professor, and translator Lorraine Wilcox. Listen as she discusses gender, translating, and the future of Chinese medicine. Lorraine Wilcox has authored several books on acupuncture and Chinese medicine including: Moxibustion:The Power of Mugwort Fire, a translation of Tan Yunxian‘s Miscellaneous Records of a Female Doctor, and her upcoming translation of Xue Ji’s An Outline of Female Medicine.
I admit I was a little sad to wake up this morning to one single (albeit beautiful) flowering orchid after we attended the Redlands Orchid Festival yesterday. She was a phalaenopsis hybrid that was too good a deal to pass up. After the Tamiami Orchid Show, Dr. Judith Andrews and I came home with a dozen flowering plants. This time we knew the plants we wanted and that we could get a lot more of them if we purchased bare root plants.
Aerides odorata with new root growth and flower spike.
Bare root plants are usually found in bins at orchid shows for a steal compared to the price if they were potted. They look half dead and unappealing, but with a little TLC they spring back to life. The above Aerides was a bare root cutting I purchased 2 months ago from Robert Palmer Nursery. Even after being abused (I put her in high sun and burned her leaves) she has significant new root growth and a flower spike.
We went to the show with a plan: better plants, long term blooming, and more of them. The problem is, bare rooted plants don’t always thrive. I have already learned to repot every orchid I acquire. For phalaenopsis and paphiopediliums I use fine coconut fiber, fine orchid fir bark, stalite, and sponge rock. For cattleyas, oncidiums, and dendrobiums I use a mix of stalite, sponge rock, coconut chips & charcoal. I have nearly lost several plants after believing vendors who say,”You don’t have to worry about repotting for 1-2 years.” That may be true in other climates, but in South Florida (or any wet climate) sphagnum moss or regular tree bark can turn orchid roots to mush in a matter of weeks. Orchid vendors pot their orchids to endure neglect and survive, not to thrive in home orchid collections.
Southwest Florida Orchid Society president Barb Murza advised us on how to treat bare root orchids. She explained that they have been through a lot of abuse. They have been shipped from other countries and jostled around. They endure cuts and broken roots leaving them wide open for fungal infections that can wipe them out. She recommends treatment with a systemic fungicide such as Aliete. Further, many successful growers soak any orchid they are repotting (bare root or established) and their growing media in a combination of fungicide, Super Thrive, and fertilizer.
Some of my favorite orchids are the cascading dendrobiums of the dendrobium, callista, and phalaenopsis sub groups. These display true Fire (startling and fun) and Water (drama and romance) qualities. I began growing orchids last October and I want to share my mistakes so others can avoid them.
Mistake #1: Dendrobium Phalaenopsis Doesn’t Like Cold!
I assumed all dendrobiums could handle the minor cold in southwest Florida. However, this is not true for D. phalaenopsis. These hybrids use plants growing in Australia and Papua New Guinea where temperatures do not get below 50-55° F. I am unclear whether or not I have a Dendrobium biggibum which is even less cold tolerant (min 60°) and looks almost identical.
I left my poor plant outside in the cold this winter (it dipped down to 40°). She lost all her leaves. This year she sent up 1 new shoot and a keiki (from the stress).
I have 2 other D. phalaenopsis that wintered indoors because they were flowering. They have 2-3 new growths and no keikis. However, they have started to lose their leaves on the old stalks anyways. Apparently this is what happens. This plant does not grow into a specimen plant.
Mistake #2: Do Not Allow the Stems of Dendrobium Anosmum to Sunburn or the Stems Will Die
I was very upset to see that one of my favorite plants, a D. anosmum with lovely lavender flowers looked near death. Experts at the Southwest Florida Orchid Society questioned watering, sun, and media, but I couldn’t figure it out. I observed them more intensively and it finally dawned on me what I had done. I mistakenly placed my Dendrobium anosmums in almost full sun this winter because that is what my Dendrobium nobile and lindleyi seemed to like. I then moved them to the area we grow our cattleyas in the spring. The plants flowered but then showed signs of stress. The first picture shows a D. anosmum var. alba I purchased already flowering that I never put in full sun. It has both strong growth from the base and keikis. This is my healthy model.
The second picture shows a lavender variety D. anosmum. All her stems were sunburned. They yellowed, shriveled at the base, and stopped supporting growth at the ends. There is no new growth yet, but a desperate profusion of keikis.
The third picture shows another D. anosmum var. alba (I think they are more rigorous). The stem that was sunburnt dropped its buds and produced keikis. The stem that wasn’t flowered well and then sprouted new growth from the root close to that stem.
According to culture sheets these also do not like to get below 50°, although that did not affect flowering or health on unburnt stems. I am attempting to rehabilitate my beloved plant. Hopefully this saves other plants out there from the same fate.
Feng Shui is the Daoist practice of modifying our living and working space to harmonize our environment with our personality. According to Mian Shiang and Feng Shui expert Patrician McCarthy, the flat, swampy lands of Florida have an excess of Water and Earth element. Those with a great deal of Water and Earth will feel at ease. Other element types will feel stuck in the mud and crave order and movement. I was not surprised to find that bonsai and orchids, both very Metal hobbies, are incredibly popular in Florida. Bonsai specifically is the antithesis of the sprawling disordered growth natural to the tropics.
Having bonsai pieces in your home, garden, and work space will bring significant Metal element into your life; adding such qualities as purity, refinement, order, high standards, quality, and clarity. These can be placed throughout your space and particularly in the West and Northwest directions (Metal areas of the bagua). For example, perhaps your thinking has gotten muddy or you want to attract a higher quality of people into your life. Better than simply buying bonsai, taking up bonsai as a practice is immensely therapeutic for those craving a little Metal.
My mom, acupuncturist, and master gardener, Dr. Judith Andrews, DAOM, L.Ac. went to a class on African Flat Top and Pierneef (a rounder style) tropical bonsai. This style was created by South African bonsai artists imitating the natural growth of native acacias.
African acacia tree; the inspiration for the African Flat Top bonsai style.
Judith begins with a pre-bonsai; a beautiful little Brazilian Raintree. Trees such as acacia, raintree, tamarind, and Jamaican ebony lend themselves to this style. Their small round leaves growing on straight branches easily create straight lines. Brazilian raintrees also develop thick, tortuous, and mottled bark over time when their sudden growth spurts break their bark.
Baby Brazilian Raintree Pre-Bonsai
Slab wired for bonsai. Slab made by master potter Barbara Murza.
Tree is defoliated, wired, and now Judith removes dirt and extra roots.
She removes 70% of the leaves with her fingers. She runs two wires through her bonsai slab (flat pot) in order to secure the tree. Then she removes the dirt and excess roots. Her teacher, bonsai artist Mike Lane (at Wygert’s Bonsai), creates a “pot” on the slab by making a moat out of muck (half soil, half spagnum moss). A fast draining bonsai soil mix is added, after which the tree is wired in place. Tropical bonsai was adapted to handle the climate and variety of trees that grow in hot, humid regions which require a departure from the traditional northern bonsai practices. The materials must weather daily monsoon rains in the summer, for example.
Bonsai artist Michael Lane creates a “pot” out of muck on the slab.
Wiring bonsai tree in place.
Finished African Flat Top bonsai.
The tree, slab and all, are immersed in Superthrive for 5 minutes, followed by more soil, fertilizer, and a top coat of muck. The final tree must now rest in the shade for two weeks. She will then be placed in full sun and receive daily watering. It will take several years for this little tree to develop the clear flat canopy of the African style and the thick mottled trunk characteristic of mature raintrees, but it is this process of refinement and artistry that builds the Metal element within us.
Erik Wygert’s mature Pierneef Brazilian raintree bonsai.
By andrews|2019-03-26T14:29:32+00:00April 25th, 2016|Feng Shui|Comments Off on Feng Shui – Adding Metal Element to Your Home Tropical Bonsai
Chinese medicine scholar Lorraine Wilcox reminded us that yesterday, February 4, 2016 was the first day of spring, or Lì Chūn 立春. Chinese medicine tells us that if we adjust our diet and lifestyle to each season we increase our health and prevent disease. Spring is the season of the Wood element and the liver and gallbladder organs. It is the perfect time for “spring cleaning”, detoxification, being outdoors, and starting new projects.
Signs of a Healthy liver/gallbladder organ system = compassion, decisiveness, flexibility, courage, regularity
Signs of an Imbalanced liver/gallbladder organ system = anger, depression, trouble making decisions, stiffness, feeling stuck, irregular digestion, hormonal imbalances
If you wood element is strong, following this advice during spring will help you stay that way. If your wood element is imbalanced this is the perfect time to heal it.
SPRING LIFESTYLE
Weather is warm and windy.
Rising and expansion.
New projects.
Move more. Eat less.
Get up early, go to bed later.
Cleansing, especially liver and gallbladder.
Chapter 2 of the Huangdi Neijing Suwen (trans. Unschuld) states: “The three months of spring,
they denote spreading and display.
Heaven and earth together generate life:
the myriad beings flourish.”
[Spring is a time of expansion and growth]
“Go to rest late at night and rise early. Move through the courtyard with long strides. Dishevel the hair and relax physical appearance, thereby cause the mind to orient itself on life.”[Wood energy is athletic, active, and on the move. Let yourself get messy.]
“Give life and do not kill. Give and do not take. Reward and do not punish. This is correspondence with the qi of spring and it is the Way to nourish life.”[Generosity and compassion are the positive qualities of the Wood element, and expressing these character traits benefits our liver and gallbladder system.]
“Opposing it harms the liver. In summer, this causes changes to cold, and there is little to support growth.”[When we do not expand and growth; express compassion and generosity during the spring we fail to nurture our wood element. We weaken our liver and gallbladder systems. This means there is no wood to feed the fire element of summer and sets us up for imbalance in the next season.]
DIET
Shorter cooking times
Raw, lightly steamed
Fresh greens
Sprouts
Limit heavy, salty foods
Pungent herbs
Light foods and a plant-based diet are perfect for spring. Include young foods such as new potatoes and immature beets and carrots. Herb/foods such as milk thistle, dandelion greens and roots, and burdock root are especially helpful to cleanse the liver. Make sure to add a little pungent flavor like mustard greens, mint, onions, and broccoli.
