MISSION STATEMENT

 
DEAR ORCHID ENTHUSIAST

Thanks to all our customers and those making inquiries. Many have shown extraordinary patience. My other three businesses have taken precedence over the orchids, especially my latest venture of SENTINEL PUBLISHING. Marsha and I became interested in postcards about four years ago. The collecting of American Linen cards printed between 1931 and 1959 became an obsession and turned into a book – LINEN POSTCARDS, Images of the American Dream. I wrote the book with my friend Lorenzo Mott, the Italian Consul General of Philadelphia. The book is the only compendium written on these cards and had been very well received. Any interested can access information on the book on the website: linenpostcards.com.

Sentinel was honored with the Masatoshi Miyamoto Cattleya Alliance Award for 2002 with Cattleya Brabantiae ‘Sentinel’s Hot Pants’ AM/AOS. Some divisions will be offered later this year of the Brabantiae’s.

For this listing, rather than delaying to list every plant, I am issuing in April and then will follow-up in a month or two with an addenda. Since 2002, I have made divisions of my best stock and much can be offered because of more numerous plants. Please note the SPECIAL listing - I have extra plants and can offer at a reduced price. They are not subject to further price discount.

I have purchased groups of very selected seedlings many should find interesting. They were mainly in cell packs and have been establishing nicely for a year and should start to take off this summer in 3” pots. Since December, I have gone into high gear starting to catch up on potting and this has allowed me to properly evaluate stock and prepare many plants for possible sale to customers.

Many of Sentinel’s site visitors have commented on my philosophies of growing. I am expanding discussion of orchid philosophy to not just growing but standards of evaluation.

The trash can has its lid open to receive those fractious plants that decide they do not like my growing standards. Non-rooting, non-flowering, inconsistent growing and flowering, and disease prone plants get priority path to the can. Based on 40 years experience, I expect a portion of my plants to be non-cooperative as they are genetically pre-disposed to problems. Unfortunately, too many hybridizers, cloners and suppliers are interested in selling plants and not determining if they grow and flower properly. We have virus tested a large number of our plants and are on constant lookout to discard any plants that have questionable health.

1. Evaluation of our plants is rigorous. It may take us two or three years to determine if a plant is not suitable.
I just threw out two Dendrobiums (and a third is real close) after ten years that were not growing as well as others. I do not care, as the surviving varieties are great plants.

2. We are looking for quality first in flower and strong growth. Multiple times per year flowering is a bonus.

3. It is important for our customers to understand what is Sentinel offering. Primarily, divisions of highly
selected orchids that in most cases are part of the Sentinel Collection. Almost all are established and time tested with the exception of unbloomed seedlings. Another area that Sentinel has great strength is in meri-clones. Mericlones often ‘sport’, which means they can be accurate or can shift for the worse or better than the original. Sentinel carefully selects the ‘better sports’ and these are what we offer.

4. Since my appointment as an American Orchid Society Judge in 1988, I have maintained and expressed very high standards on quality and a philosophy of fairness. I have attended shows around the country and made presentations to Societies and Congresses. I always attempt to educate and learn from orchid people I meet. The choice is sometimes difficult – if I am asked to evaluate something and it is sub-standard, do you say nothing in order not to hurt people’s feelings – or do you attempt to tell them the truth and try to raise their plant quality and educational standards. With limited amounts of time to spend on orchids and the buy it at 'Home Depot' thought pervading many new orchid growers thinking, it is very difficult trying to figure out the many interest levels required to educate orchid growers. Most have no idea of the standards and the importance of the basis of species and historical perspective on the value of breeding plants. I do not presently have the answer and it is a bit of a conundrum. All I can say, is those wanting to learn, let’s talk.

5. I enjoy responding to customer E-mails, but there are some customers that think they deserve dissertations by E-mail on plants they have interest. Please remember, telephones are still working. I can provide much of the information you require in a five-minute phone call. The same amount of information could take 30 minutes to format, type and send-out by E-mail. I am not retired and do not usually have the luxury of these research excessive E-mails. And there is no certainty, these ‘communications’ get where they are supposed to with computer and network system failures, filters and whatever. Please remember, thirty minutes will repot several plants.

6. Mail order minimums are normally at $200.00, except for special conditions. Shipments are by USPS first or second day – a bit expensive, but have had very few problems. With tempering weather, shipments will resume the week of March 24, 2003.

7. Sentinel loves Epidendroidiae (Cattleya family). Sentinel also loves lots of other neat orchids, so look at the other listings. Many of the offerings are ‘closely held’. This means highly selected divisions are very limited and rarely seen in collections. In many cases, selected Sentinel plants are priced less or equal to other commercial growers’ mass offerings. Sentinel does not compete with other dealers in providing low priced plants in the thousands. We look for growers searching for quality, value and want to add specialty plants to their collections. Please contact to determine availability, as most items are limited. Please allow us to make recommendations for your growing conditions and budget. Also take the time to read cultural recommendations in the listings.

8. When Sentinel selects new crosses that have high potential - extra plants are offered to our customers. Under this condition, the customer takes on risk as does Sentinel. Plants not growing up to expectations are not sold. Every plant is checked before releasing to our customers. That is why we ask to confirm your order before finalizing. For plants that we deem difficult growers, we try to note in the catalog and discuss with the customer prior to purchasing.

SENTINEL TIPS

1. It is difficult to explain to new growers to be cautious in what they purchase. A moderate to large number of orchid plants are genetically predisposed to grow in narrow environmental slots or not grow well at all, and this means they may not appreciate your growing conditions. Try not to accept or purchase plants that may have virus, are growing poorly, have minimal roots, and/or have poor to average flowers. When selecting plants, always ask how well the plant grows? Beautiful flowers do not always equate to vigorous growth habit. A bargain is often not a bargain.
2. Orchids should be repotted in the correct media(s) and preferably every two years or sooner. Paphiopedilums respond to repotting every year. Every orchid has its own growing speed. Observe them, talk to them, pull them out of their pots every once in a while to say hello. Make friends. If it grows out of, or about to grow out of its pot, repot it, don’t be time locked.
3. Be prepared to experiment with various medias (bark mixes, sphagnum, stones, combinations of whatever). until your plants respond nicely.
4. Worry about growing roots first, the growth and flowers will follow. Nice new and proliferating green root tips means the plant is happy. No visible green root tips – there is a problem. It is best to have good sturdy plants with extensive root systems - these plants are naturally less susceptible to infection and will produce better flowers..
5. If the majority of your plants are growing well and you have other plants not growing and flowering properly, there is a reason - either they do not agree with you growing methods, or the plants are genetically disposed to grow poorly. It takes some experience and will power, but be prepared to either change your environment for the plant, give it away or discard unfriendly plants - there are many more ‘bad’ plants on the market than you imagine.
6. In almost all cases, repot acquired plants to your mix and pots. The exceptions are when a new plant is potted the way you would do it, or, if a plant should not be touched when it is in its rest period.
7. Check all newly acquired plants for insects, disease, loss of roots and clean and repot as required.
8. If you can get good quality bark, use it - look for hard nuggets with minimal dust and minimal soft wood chips (chaff). Since Sentinel is using bark mixes, we 'grin and bear it’ and pick out the chaff as we pot. We mix large and small perlite (20%) and charcoal (15%) with the bark.
9. Do not overpot you plants. Size your living root mass to allow a year or two’s expansion in the pot, not the growth above.
10. Sentinel recommends creating an aerated mix for most plants and watering more often. A mix of large and small components allows for more air circulation within the mix and promotes more vigorous root systems. For plants that like to stay more moist, you can still use the larger sized mix, but add some fines (10% - 20% maximum).
11. We recommend not utilizing fertilizer that has urea as a nitrogen source. The urea can cause soft growth that places the plant under stress, and therefore, makes the plant more susceptible to disease.
12. Sentinel has been utilizing Grow More 20 - 10 - 20 for main growing season, March - October, and 6-3-30 for bloom during November - February. Grow More has another formula of 21 - 7 - 7 that we are trying.
13. For many years Sentinel adopted a 'spray as you discover' the problem mode - we discovered that it was too difficult to eliminate entrenched beasties. We are switching back to preventative spraying.
14. Do not be afraid to ask if a plant will grow under your conditions.
15. When purchasing plants, it is often times better to let the grower make recommendations based on your budget, conditions and anticipated capabilities. Even with all of Sentinel's experience, we often rely on recommendations of new hybrids to the observations of other trusted growers.

LISTING OF RECENTLY AWARDED PLANTS

Please inquire, we may have divisions listed or could have a division ready in a year.

Potinara Paul Phelps 'Sentinel' HCC/AOS, 78 pts. 11/2000
Epicatonia Jamaica Jem 'Sentinel II’ HCC/AOS. 77 pts. 12/2000
Slc. Tiny Titan 'Sentinel's Sunrise’ HCC/AOS. 77 pts. 2/2001
Phal. Marsha Werther 'Marsha' HCC/AOS. 79 pts. 2/2001
C. Brabantiae 'Sentrinel's Hot Pants' AM/AOS. 84 pts. 5/2001
C. Brabantiae 'Sentinel's Rose' HCC/AOS. 78 pts. 6/2001
Slc. Tiny Titan 'Sunshine Sentinel' HCC/AOS. 79 pts. 7/2001
Laeliacatonia Nighty Titan 'Sentinel' HCC/AOS. 76 pts. 7/2001
Brassavola nodosa 'Nicaragua' HCC/AOS. 77 pts. 9/2001
Brassavola Little Stars 'Rene' CCM/AOS. 84 pts. 1/2002
Onc. Orchidon Twilight Glow 'Sentinel' HCC/AOS. 78 pts. 3/2002.
Onc. Orchidom Waltz 'Sentinel's Flamenco' AM/AOS. 80 pts. 4/2002
Encycla radiata 'Shira’ HCC/AOS. 79 pts. 6/2002
Slc. Tiny Titan 'Sentinel’s Hawaiian Sunset’ HCC/AOS. 79 pts. 6/2002
C. Brabantiae ‘Sentinel’s Hokus Pokus’ AM.AOS, 81 pts. 10/2002
Slc. Tiny Titan ‘Sentinel’s Vibrant’ AM/AOS, 83 pts. 11/2002

Presentations

1. Broughtonia sanguinea and Hybrids:
2. Small Growing Phalaenopsis in the Equestris and Lindenii Groups.
3. Equitant/Variegata Oncidium Breeding and Culture
4. Orchids Everyone Should Know.
5. Development of Small Growing Cattleyas (minicatts).
6. Culture, Mixes and Potting Seminar.
7. Principles of Show Table Judging, Show Judging and AOS Judging.
8. Discussion of Orchid Exhibits
9. Miltoniopsis.
10. Greenhouse Design for Temperate Climates.
11. In preparation: Brassavola nodosa and hybrids. Dendrobium phalaenopsis bigibbum and its hybrids. Dendrochilum.

New Seedlings

Sentinel evaluates offering of many distributors. When we see plants that get our attention, we generally order sufficient numbers for the Sentinel Collection plus some excess for our customers. Purchasing smaller seedlings is often the only way of getting many special seedlings. Now, this means that we do not plunk them into the largest pot possible and offer them immedaitely for sale and ‘hope’ they survive. Often they will be established for a year or more and sometimes repotted again if they have filled out their pots. During this time, plants not formed or rooting to our standards are discarded. Sentinel encourages you to look at these offerings and purchase some as you may find they are not available elsewhere.

C. Chocolate Drop ('Cerro Punta' x self). Most of the time only clones of the enameled red 'Kodama' are available. I could not help myself to see if other color variations ( oranges, yellows, bronzes) and shapes would be produced in this selfing. Very healthy seedlings in 2 ½ - 3" pots. $14.00
Blc. Goldenzelle 'Prelude'. (Blc. Fortune x C. Horace). Cream with peach overlay. Mericlone in 3 – 3 ½" pots. Vigoruos – limited. $20.00
Blc. Goldenzelle ('Promised Land' x 'Symphony'). Sibling lavender by orange in 2 ½" pots. Limited. $18.00
Blc. Goldenzelle (‘Wistful’ x ‘Egg Nog’). Cream x egg nog. Limited in 2 ½ pots. $18.00
Blc. (Blc. Guess What ‘Doubloon’ AM/AOS x Blc. Goldenzelle ‘Orange Pumpkin’ HCC/AOS). How about a novelty orange to peach winner? 3” $15.00
Blc. (Blc. Mem. Crispin Rosales ‘Trymwood’ x Blc. Goldenzelle ‘Egg Nog’). Large art shades. Probably corals, salmons,watermelons. 3 ½” large. $18.00
Lctna. Peggy San x Lc. Ann Akagi. Purchased these two years ago. They are now all flowering sized. In 3” plus pots. First to flower had a 2 ½” light pink with darker pink spash petal of good form. $22.00
L. purpurata carnea (‘Unforgettable’ x self). Most of the time purpuratas sit around. These guys are really growing. 3 ½” vigorous. $18.00
Diacattleya Chantilly Lace ‘Twinkle’. (C. El Dorado Splash x Diacrium bicornutom). A Carmella offering. Bloomed the first out and they are true - 2” flowers with maroon pepper spots all over. Chunky plants. 3 – 4” pots. $16.00
Pot. Egyptian Queen ‘Desert Eve’ HCC/AOS. (Pot. Ester Costa x C. Bicolor). Bronzy redddish-brown with red lip. Samller 2 ½”. $17.00
Slc. (Slc. California Apricot x Slc. Jerry’s Red) ‘Geyser Fire Ball’. Compact quality red. 2 ½ - 3”. $17.00
Slc. Red Jewel (Slc. Bright Angel x Slc. Tangerine Jewel 'Southern Cross'). I have had these for a few years and many have bloomed, and I have kept the best, chucked the ones that did not like to grow. They are all beautiful red and red oranges. If you like mini-cats – coccinea types – this is one. 2 ½” – 3” $22.00