Trimming back the biomass as part of pest control

Perhaps for the final time this season I was able to cycle to the GH. The temps were in the low 60sF, with a bit of a wind from the west (the ride home was a chore!).

I was introduced to A..., the new Conservatory Service Coordinator. He's seems very pleasant, knowledgeable, and conscientious. He was happy to give me very specific instructions for tending the vines in room 2C and 3C, and then he let me see to the tasks without too much standing over my shoulder.

Coordinator A had me trim most of the vines in order to reduce the overall biomass in room 2C. He and Curator J determined the pest problems could be somewhat mitigated by reducing the overall biomass pressure, particularly in room 2C where the plants seem to grow continuously through the year without much of a dormancy.

The vines in 2C that I cut back were: Dioscorea bulbifera (the yam family), Chondrodendron tomentosum, Stephanotis floribundia, Euphorbia heterophylla, Passiflora citrina, Thunbergia mysorensis, Thunbergia grandiflora, Paullinia cupana.

Here are photos of the two vine benches in 2C

I also trimmed back the black pepper plant, Piper nigrum (black peppercorn plant). And another plant on the same bench, Ruellia devosiana (Brazilian wild petunia). Photos here:

One of the many striking plants seen today was this Phragmipedium hybrid (primary P. besseae x ?). It is an orchid native to the Andes mountains in South America.

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