Santa Clara Valley Orchid Society

Transcription

1 Santa Clara Valley Orchid Society Established 1951 Helping You to Become a Better Grower June 2012 Newsletter June Meeting- Wednesday June 6th JUNE PROGRAM: Our June program is a panel of experienced orchid growers from our own club who will try to answer all those questions about orchid culture that torment us. Because everyone grows in a slightly different way from everyone else, there will be multiple experiences The panel will also answer the usual questions about growing orchids, such as: Why won't my orchid bloom? Where is the best place to grow orchids? on which to draw. The panel will be When should an orchid be repotted? composed of Matt Bond, Conrad Kumata, Marie Lofton, Curtis Mitchell, and Ed Nazzal, who will try to answer all those follow-up questions you have had since going on the greenhouse tour. Please be thinking about questions for the board - written questions submitted before the program begins will be answered FIRST. How often? What (kind of medium) do I pot them in? Where can I buy orchid supplies? When should an orchid be fertilized? How often should orchids be watered? (One question that Jay's Orchid Encycl. does NOT answer) Who can help me when I have questions? (trick question: Answer - your fellow club members)

2 What are those white things (and/or at our shows and meetings. He has a black or green things) on the flowers/leaves? ABOUT THE PANEL: Matt has a small greenhouse as well as a cool greenhouse (says it used to be a warm one before the heater went out!). Cattleyas, Phaleanopsis, and a few assorted odontoglossums, oncidiums, an outdoor shade area. He focuses and paphs somehow survive in it. If they mainly on collecting orchids from the Cattleya alliance (catts, laelias, don't like it, out they go! are outside in a cold frame. Cymbidiums sophronites, epidendrum), species, and Marie, a board member, says: I've been simple hybrids. He has a growing TRYING to grow orchids since I collection of Paphiopedilums and Cymbidiums. He also grows one or two of "a lot of other stuff" and is about to bloom his first Disa! (Wow, congratulations, Matt!) started with just cymbidiums; but now my collection includes a variety of a lot of different types of orchids (Cattleya types, Australian dendrobiums, dendrochilums, sarcochilus, etc). I have developed an interest in trying different and unusual orchids. I love buying the $7.50 specials at Santa Barbara Orchid Estates because it's a way of trying something new without spending a fortune. I grow orchids inside, outside, Ann, Matt, Barry and Ed from last years panel. Conrad has been an active member of SCVOS and its board for many years. He has collected orchids in the wild in Costa Rica & Belize. He has frequently given potting demonstrations to our members and I have a small greenhouse which is not properly heated or cooled. I have killed a LOT of orchids! (As has everybody, Marie!) Curtis has been growing orchids for six years. He grows his orchids in a spare bedroom in his house using natural light 2

3 from a southern exposure supplemented with fluorescent lights. Humidity trays and two table top fans running around the clock round out the environment. He grows about 80 orchids from 44 different genera, and has so far re-bloomed over 55 of them (many are still immature). All are grown indoors with the exception of a small handful of cymbidiums which he grows on the back patio. He collects rain water and tinkers with various fertilizers in an effort to give the plants the best care he can given their artificial surroundings. To keep the orchids company, he has also started collecting bromeliads, which like the same type of care and conditions. Ed has been growing orchids for over 28 years. He grows mostly species of paphiopedilum and phragmipedium, among other species, in a small May Meeting Last months meeting featured speaker Ed Nazzal. Ed spoke on orchid encounters while traveling in Central America. He had lots of photos from his recent trip to Guatamala and previous trips to other trips in the region including Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Honduras. Ed is a SCVOS board member and opens his property for our annual Greenhouse Tour. He has traveled widely in Central America and had many great stories about viewing orchids in Situ. Especially interesting were the stories of finding all kinds of orchids in town squares and touist attractions. They also grow in trees in places like church yards and central parks in cities. Ed is really good at identifying the many species of the region. Thanks, Ed for a wonderful presentation. greenhouse, and hundreds of cold tolerant species and hybrids outdoors. He also has been experimenting with flasking orchid seeds. He has been active in SCVOS since 1986 and has occupied many positions on the board. 3

4 Ed Nazzal Photos from Ed's travels Trigonidum egertonianum May Show & Tell Laelia skinnerii May Raffle Table Epidendrum Stamfordianum 4

5 Important Notice: Your 2012 Dues are due at the June Meeting if you have not already paid. SCVOS accepts cash, checks and major credit cards. Dues are $20.00 if you get the Newsletter ed and $30.00 if you get it mailed. Presidents Corner Upcoming Events for 2012: June 2 SCVOS Bus Tour See attached Flyer Note from the Editor: The board wants to thank everyone for participating in the SCVOS Greenhouse Tour. Based upon the number of people who showed at the Editors, it was a great sucess. June 1-3 San Jose Orchid Expo Winchester Mystry House San Jose, CA July Santa Barbara Orchid Fair Earl Warren Fairgrounds Santa Barbara, CA Notice: "Matt Bond wants to give away a small, portable greenhouse to someone in our club. It is 6X6X8 I think and in fairly good condition. Needs to be picked up in Los Gatos. Free. " Your Editor 5

6 If you are not getting your newsletter via , please be sure to give your current correct address to Ed Nazzal, Paphiopedilum lowii For the May Meeting, those with last names which begin with M to P, please bring food. Remember, if you bring food, you get a ticket for the raffle and a great chance to win an orchid from the plant table Remember, for much more information about orchids, links, our future schedule, care sheets, contact information, previous newsletters, and lots of pictures of plants and people, visit the website: santaclaravalleyorchidsociety.org/links.htm Ansellia africana The SCVOS: Helping You to Become a Better Growe SCVOS Online So much online check it out!! We have a Facebook page. Have a look at it on Facebook! Also see Matt Bond s Flickr page, and Eric Hunt s SCVOS Show page, and the Internet Orchid Species Encyclopedia, which the SCVOS helps fund. Member Susan Wiedmann also has a new link at Paphiopedilum "Summer Ice" 6

7 Board Meeting The June 2012 meeting will occur on the 20th of June 7:30 PM at a Site to be determined. All members are welcome. Participating on the board is a very rewarding and infinitely educational experience highly recommended! Please come out and support your society! Your 2012 Board The Santa Clara Valley Orchid Society is a non-profit organization that meets the first Wednesday of each month at the American Legion Hall, 1504 Minnesota Avenue, in the Willow Glen neighborhood of San Jose, California. The meeting starts at 7:30 PM. smlofton@pacbell.net Dave Smitt (408) davejsmitt@gmail.com Peter Brown, Vice President (510) pjb@presol.com 2012 Auction Chair Ed Nazzal (408) paphman@gmail.com Membership Peter Brown (510) pjb@presol.com Sandi Fox (408) sfox@greybeard.com Member Database Ed Nazzal (408) paphman@gmail.com Newsletter Dave Smitt, Editor (408 ) davejsmitt@gmail.com Dave and Ofelia Woodfill, Mailing (408) ofiew@comcast.net Publicity Susan Wiedmann (408) Hmgbird@pacbell.net Library Marie Lofton (408) smlofton@pacbell.net Plant Opportunity Tickets Dave and Ofelia Woodfill (408) ofiew@comcast.com Kitchen Crew Conrad Kumata ckk1boater@aol.com Liz Gehrig (408) eagehrig@aol.com 2012 Greenhouse Tour Ed Nazzal (408) paphman@gmail.com 2012 Show and Sale Eanghak Quach, Co-Chair, Judging (408) epigarden@yahoo.com Peter Brown, Co-Chair, Sales (510) pjb@presol.com Officers for 2012 Kristina Bell, President (408) kbellwolf1@sbcglobal.net Ann Stuart, Vice President (408) annystuart@yahoo.com Sandi Fox, Secretary (408) sfox@greybeard.com Marvin Bell, Treasurer (408) marvskis@sbcglobal.net Directors for 2012 Ed Nazzal (408) paphman@gmail.com Eanghak Quach (408) epigarden@yahoo.com Marie Lofton (408)

8 Olivers Corner Orchid Facts Bletilla (Ble.) means small Bletia, although the latter is New World genus. It is named so because of the resemblance of the flowers to the New World genus. Bletia is named for Don Luis Blet, a Spanish botanist and apothecary. This temperate, terrestrial genus is distributed in East Asia (China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan) and as far south as Vietnam and Burma at elevations of 300 feet-10,000 feet. The Orchid Mall website article on Bletilla hints about the commercial potential of its flowers. It reported that its blooms are long lasting and the inflorescences could be easily pulled out with ease, without any use of a cutting utensil. There are about 8-9 species depending on the reference source. According to Wikipedia., Jimensia and Polytoma are generally included into Bletilla. Ble. Striata, the type species and popularly called in trade as the 'Hardy Orchid' or 'Chinese Ground Orchid,' holds the distinction of being one of the first orchids to be cultivated in England, from around The pleated leaves grow from pseudobulbs. The inflorescence appears at the center of the annual new growth before it matures, in spring or early summer. Small cattleya-like flowers are white, pink, purple or yellow. The sympodial growth of this terrestrial orchid affords its propagation by division, much like the Cattleya. Bletilla has the reputation of being one of the easiest orchids to grow for a beginner. Even without the blooms, its foliage presents some interest. All internet sources, though, recommend well draining potting medium. It likes moist medium, but not a soggy one, which may lead to rot. Some sources even indicate that it needs no special attention (e.g. fertilizer, pesticide, fungicide). However, they agree with the susceptibility of its new growth to late freezes. It is recommended that mulch be applied during winter. It may not be much of a problem here in the Bay Area because we practically do not experience late frosts in spring. Bletilla striata Bletilla striata var. alba 8

9 SCVOS Bus Tour June 2nd $38.00 Brookside Hanging Gardens Shelldance La Nebbia Winery E-Plant World Meet at Winchester Mystery House Parking lot at 8:30 A.M. 525 S. Winchester Blvd, San Jose, CA Park there or across the street. Bring a snack as we will have a late lunch. You will need a bag lunch for the winery stop. No food or beverages will be available to buy at any time through out the day. We will arrive back around 4:00 in plenty of time to see the Orchid Exposition at the Winchester Mystery House with multiple vendors. Non wine tasting price available. For more info contact Kristina Send check and cell # to : Kristina Bell 269 Bieber Dr. San Jose Ca

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