RSS For Orchid Growers

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a very useful resource / tool that can help orchid growers...

  1. save time
  2. stay up to date on relevant information

Google Reader is what I use to subscribe to websites.  For those not familiar with the RSS concept, the following video explains it in an easy to understand manner...

 

If you do not already have a Google account you will need to create one.  After creating an account you can modify your View Settings to Sort by Oldest and click Set as Start page...

 

The following are some of the websites that I subscribe to.  The URLs (page address) can be copied and pasted into your Google Reader to subscribe to their content. 

 

Craigslist

Craigslist is an outstanding place to find great deals on orchids.  One minor annoyance is that you have to subscribe to search results for both "orchid" and "orchids" as Craigslist does not apply stemming to searches.  Even if there are no search results you can still RSS subscribe.  The beauty of RSS is that when there is a new search result, it will automatically be added to your Google Reader. 

Here is a step by step process of subscribing to feeds on Craigslist.  This process is also applicable to other websites with some differences such as whether you have to conduct a search and/or the location / design of the feed button.

1. Conduct a search for "orchid" in the farm & garden section of craigslist...

2. Click on the orange RSS button on the bottom of the page...

3. Copy the page URL...

4. Add the subscription to your Google Reader

  • Go to your Google Reader

  • Click + Add a subscription

  • Paste the URL into the text box

  • Click "Add"

5. Repeat the process with a search for "orchids"

Here are some subscriptions for people located in Southern California.  The word "orchid" in the URL can also be replaced with other plant names such as tillandsia, bromeliad, epiphyllum, nepenthes, rhipsalis, platycerium, etc.

Los Angeles

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/search/grd?query=orchids&format=rss
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/search/grd?query=orchid&format=rss

Orange County

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/search/grd?query=orchid&format=rss
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/search/grd?query=orchids&format=rss

San Diego

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/search/grd?query=orchid&format=rss
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/search/grd?query=orchids&format=rss

Santa Barbara

http://santabarbara.craigslist.org/search/grd?query=orchid&format=rss
http://santabarbara.craigslist.org/search/grd?query=orchids&format=rss

Ventura

http://ventura.craigslist.org/search/grd?query=orchid&format=rss
http://ventura.craigslist.org/search/grd?query=orchids&format=rss

Inland Empire

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/search/grd?query=orchid&format=rss
http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/search/grd?query=orchids&format=rss

 

ebay

Instead of having to visit eBay every day to conduct a search for an orchid that you are looking for, you can subscribe to feeds that will send you new listings when they are added.  Here are some examples...

Encyclia On eBay

In the following URL I've bolded the word encyclia.  You can replace it with any other genera that you are looking for...ie...Laelia, Cattleya, Bulbophyllum, Oncidium, Phalaenopsis, etc.  For very popular genera I recommend subscribing to specific species instead.

http://rss.api.ebay.com/ws/rssapi?satitle=encyclia&FeedName=SearchResults&siteId=0&language=en-US&output=RSS20&catref=C6&from=R40&fsop=1&fsoo=1&sacat=-1&sabfmts=1&ftrt=1&sbrsrt=d&ftrv=1&fts=2

Dendrobium speciosum On eBay

In the following URL I've bolded Dendrobium+speciosum.  You can replace it with any other genera and species that you are looking for...ie...Laelia+anceps, Cattleya+intermedia, Bulbophyllum+affine, Oncidium+flexuosum, Phalaenopsis+taenialis, etc.

http://rss.api.ebay.com/ws/rssapi?satitle=Dendrobium+speciosum&FeedName=SearchResults&siteId=0&language=en-US&output=RSS20&fsop=1&fsoo=1&saprchi=&sacat=-1&fspr=0&fts=2&catref=C6&from=R40&sabfmts=1&saprclo=&ftrt=1&ftrv=1

Orchid Books On eBay

eBay is a great place to find deals on a wide selection of orchid books.  The following subscription takes advantage of Yahoo Pipes to filter out some irrelevant results...

http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/pipe.run?_id=HEbkZk4G3hGDiWeMwTSbTQ&_render=rss

 

Flickr

Flickr is a popular photo sharing website with some outstanding orchid photos and groups dedicated to orchids.  There are numerous feeds that can be subscribed to...

Landscaping With Orchids Pool

This feed is for people interested in seeing photos of orchids growing on trees and rocks...

http://api.flickr.com/services/feeds/groups_pool.gne?id=996193@N24&lang=en-us&format=rss_200

Orchid Society of Southern California Photos

If your orchid society has a group on Flickr, you can subscribe to see orchid photos that society members have added to the group...

http://api.flickr.com/services/feeds/groups_pool.gne?id=949546@N21&lang=en-us&format=rss_200

Orchid Society of Southern California Discussion

This feed is for orchid growers in Southern California to receive new orchid related discussion topics...

http://api.flickr.com/services/feeds/groups_discuss.gne?id=949546@N21&lang=en-us&format=rss_200

 

Weather

For those of you that grow orchids outdoors, it's important to keep a close tab on temperature and rain forecasts.  These forecasts can help you determine when and how much to water your orchids...as well as when they can be taken outdoors or need to be brought indoors.

Yahoo Weather - Glendale CA

To subscribe to weather forecasts for your location, replace my zip code (in bold) with your zip code...

http://weather.yahooapis.com/forecastrss?p=91204

 

Orchid Presentations and Shows

Here in Southern California there are quite a few orchid presentations and shows.  To keep up-to-date on orchid events I created an experimental page to map local events.

Orchid Events Within 200 Miles of Glendale, CA

To subscribe to orchid events in your area replace my zip code (in bold) with your zip code. 

http://outdoororchids.com/events/eventRSS.aspx?t=z&z=91204&x=o&y=sh&ds=200&so=d

 

Orchid Forums

Orchid forums are great places to find and share orchid information and photos. 

The Orchid Source

This page contains a list of forum categories that can be subscribed to...

The Orchid Source Feed List

 

Coming Soon?

There are still quite a few sites that do not provide the option to RSS subscribe to their content.

American Orchid Society

If and when the AOS starts digitizing articles on a regular basis, hopefully they will provide a feed for newly digitized articles.  Same with the Orchid Digest.

Google Search Results

It would be great if we could RSS subscribe to Google search results for specific orchids.  We would be notified when new culture information was posted ...and/or when an orchid vendor added that orchid to their inventory.

 

Conclusion

RSS is a time saving device that all orchid growers can benefit from.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, suggestions or comments regarding subscribing to orchid content from websites.

21 April 2009