SONOMA COUNTY ORCHID SOCIETY

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1 SONOMA COUNTY ORCHID SOCIETY August 2013 A California Non-Profit 501 (c) (3) Corporation IN THIS ISSUE 1 Speaker Bio and Speaker Dinner 2 President's Corner, Skill Session & Thank You 3 Membership, Board & Committee Chairs 4 Treasurer's Report, Refreshments & Classifieds 5 July Open Greenhouse Letter from Orchid Digest 6 Upcoming Events Orchids in the Park Flyer 7 Speaker Day Poster 8 Bar-B-Q & Auction Poster 9 Thank You & Info re Vallarta Botanical Gardens Tolumnia, Introduction to the Genus 12 Sumer Orchid Care 13 August Culture Checklist 14 Membership Application IT IS OUR PLEASURE TO WELCOME AS OUR AUGUST SPEAKER SUSAN WEDEGAERTNER SPEAKING ON DANCING LADY, EQUITANT ONCIDIUM OR TOLUMNIA Susan Wedegaertner worked 33 years for E & J Gallo Winery in the Creative Services (art) department before retiring in December Early in her Gallo career she was a clerk in the advertising department and quickly moved to become secretary of the Merchandising Department the department responsible for all of the in store advertising. During her time at Gallo Winery, she was executive secretary for the Vice-President of Creative Services. Gallo had merged the two art departments to create Creative Services (the department creates labels for the bottles, in-store advertising and support materials for the sales force). Her last position was to work with outside printers so all the advertising at store level was on time and correct. She proof read all projects to make sure the projects carried all of the federal and state legal requirements and when required, obtaining legal approval from the state agency. Her first orchid was a Phalaenopsis but her current favorites are Tolumnias/Rodrumnias. She has received several awards on her Rodrumnias in the recent years. While she has a variety of orchids in her greenhouse, she finds she has more room for the smaller type of orchids. Susan was secretary in the Pacific Central Judging Center before becoming their chair for five years. When the California Sierra Nevada Judging Center was approved she became their first judging chair and is now the vice chair. Susan is the secretary and vice chair of the Judging Committee. She is very active in her local orchid society, helping out where needed. She is an avid football fan and has season tickets to the San Francisco 49ers. During the baseball season she can be found watching the San Francisco Giants on television or going to the ballpark with friends. Susan enjoys spending time with family and friends. Susan's talk will include culture and images on how she grows her Tolumnias. DINNER WITH SUSAN will be at Johnny Garlic, 1460 Farmers Lane at 5:00 p.m. Everone is welcome. Just RSVP to jph.kah@gmail.com or call no later than Monday, August 12, so that reservations can be made. Page 1

2 President s Corner Get ready for the SCOS second biggest fund raiser! Our BBQ and Auction is coming up next month. It will be held at Becky and David Jackson's home on Saturday, September 21 st. It will be a fun filled day full of orchids, food and drinks! Invite your family and friends! Get your plants ready to auction off or think about donating a few to benefit YOUR Society! We LOVE to receive donated wine or dinners, too. There is also a wonderful Speaker's Day on Saturday, August 3 rd. It is hosted by the California Sierra Nevada Judging Center. It's only about an hour and a half drive to Sacramento to this eye opening event. It s well worth the trip. Think about how you can help keep our Society thriving. I recommend that everyone volunteer for something. If everyone does their part, the Society runs much smoother. See you at the next meeting! Susan Wedegaertner will talk on Tolumnias. Don't miss it! Thanks for all your support! Susan Anderson At the August meeting, we will have a Skill Session, presented by Judy Carney, beginning at 6:45 on "Know Your Orchid". This Skill Session will be primarily directed toward new growers. It will take place in the front of the room to the left of the Show and Tell table. We need your help!! Can you hold an open greenhouse or open you growing area in August? PLEASE call Gerry Smith at or jagmsmith@yahoo.com asap. Thanks Thank you to everyone who brought toppings to our Bingo night! Thank you to Ann Possinger for picking up the Ice Cream! Thank you to Jeanne Van Blarcom for doing a fantastic job calling the bingo numbers! Thank you to Patty Connick for collecting the money and handing out the bingo cards and thank you to Lynne Murrell for purchasing bingo plants. Thank you to Gordon Knight for hosting an open green house at his home in Guerneville on July 28th. Since this newsletter is being sent early this month, you still have the chance to visit Gordon's greenhouse and see how he grows his spectacular orchids. It's coming up on Sunday. Find more information on page 5. Page 2 Rlc. Pieces of Eight 'Crown of Gold' Den. atrovioleceum 'Pygmy'

3 MEMBERSHIP COLUMN WE WELCOME THE FOLLOWING NEW MEMBERS: Judy and Larry Price Letitia Caruso The Board wants new members to know that we are all here to help. Don't hesitate to ask a question of any society member. We have many expert growers! Or you can call or board members. To , go to our Society webpage click on the "contacts" link and any director or committee chair. Through the website, you can also read back issues of our newsletter. Wear Your Name Badge Wear your name badge and sign the list at the Membership Table. At each meeting, one name will be drawn and that person will receive a free raffle ticket. REMINDER: MEMBERSHIP DUES ARE PAST DUE for the July 1 through June 30, 2014 year. Find a membership form on page 14. Change of address? To send an address or change, go to our Society website at and use the "contacts" link to send an to the membership chair. 2013/2014 Board of Directors and Committee Chairs Board Positions President Susan Anderson President@sonomaorchids.com Vice President Gerry Smith VicePresident@sonomaorchids.com Secretary Becky Jackson Secretary@sonomaorchids.com Treasurer Ann Possinger Treasurer@sonomaorchids.com Membership Jeanne Van Blarcom Membership@sonomaorchids.com Newsletter Kathie Hile Newsletter@sonomaorchids.com Ways & Means Ann Conger WaysMeans@sonomaorchids.com Meetings Billie MacCarthy Meetings@sonomaorchids.com Past President Susan Anderson PastPresident@sonomaorchids.com Committee Chairs Meeting Setup Bob Breckwoldt Phone Librarian Patty Connick Librarian@sonomaorchids.com Opportunity Table Ann Conger Kathy Thompson Optable1@sonomaorchids.com Optable2@sonomaorchids.com Plant Sales Marilyn Barquero Mariann Hopkins Plantsales1@sonomaorchids.com Plantsales2@sonomaorchids.com Greeter Vacant AOS/Orchid Digest Patty Connick AOSrep@sonomaorchids.com Webmaster Richard Lindberg Webmaster@sonomaorchids.com Page 3

4 Treasurer's Report The bingo and ice cream social was a fun change from our normal meeting. 42 members and guests attended and enjoyed ice cream with a variety of tasty toppings. It was Lorena Wightman's lucky night as she won 4 bingos and thus 4 plants. We made $99 instead of spending money for a speaker and the opportunity table. Our net income for the year ending 6/30/13 was $4,330 which is $508 better than the previous year yeah! Thanks to all who helped make this happen. If anyone wants to see our P&L, just me at Treasurer@SonomaOrchids.com. Refreshments We are asking members to bring snacks to the monthly meetings. Please check the following list to find out what month you are asked to participate. Members with last names beginning with the letters: T Z 2013 A B C De Di Fo Fr H J Le Ice Cream Social Li M Bar-B-Q & Auction No Meeting in September N - R S Holiday Dinner No Meeting in December January, February March April May June July August September October November December Thank you CLASSIFIEDS It's still a good time to Repot! Don't forget you can get orchid supplies from Kris and Jim Foster foster@sonic.net or Small and medium Rexius bark Perlite Sphagnum Orchid labels Stakes Charcoal Anyone have an item for sale? You may post it here. newsletter@sonomaorchids.com Page 4

5 Your newsletter is early this month since your newsletter editor is going on vacation on July 27, returning on August 4. Therefore, I have another chance to announce the open greenhouse for July: OPEN GREENHOUSE WOW, GORDON KNIGHT IS OPENING HIS GREENHOUSE Everyone welcome. Come see the spectacular Dendrobium amabile, shown here! When: July 28, noon 4:00 p.m. Where: Old Cazadero Road, Guerneville Contact: (707) knightgordon1@gmail.com Notes: Before attending, you must call or Gordon for the electric gate code and detailed directions (which Gordon says is necessary) The view from Gordon's home is spectacular - You can see miles in several directions. There are 3 redwood groves on the property. Just another reason to visit Gordon and his greenhouse on July 28! For those with difficulty walking, there are 7 steps with a handrail to get up to the house and/or greenhouse. Letter from the Orchid Digest As you are no doubt aware the Orchid Digest has a special issue at the end of each year. The subject for this year is the genus Phalaenopsis. It will contain in-depth articles on culture and breeding with emphasis on species and their contributions to hybrids. This issue will be illustrated with the superb photography for which the Digest is renowned. What is less known is that the Orchid Digest is a non-profit 501c(3) organization and the editorial staff is all volunteer and works without compensation. The cost of the special issue is only partially covered by the yearly membership dues. TheDigest needs to raise over $5,000 to pay for the additional color. The only way we can continue to produce our world leading publication is with your financial assistance. Some societies support us every year without our asking and we are extremely grateful. Please support us with whatever amount you feel comfortable giving. The Digest will appreciate any help. Send your donations to our mailing address: Orchid Digest, PO Box 6966, Laguna Niguel, CA The Digest will publish a listing of donors by category. Patrons donate $1000 or more; Sponsors between $250 and $999; Donors between $100 and $249; Friends less than $100. Gifts can be made in memory of, or to honor specific people. Donations are tax-exempt. Both the donor and honoree names will be listed in the Orchid Digest. Donations received before September 1 will be recognized in this special issue. Donations arriving after that date will be recognized in the following issue. Thank you, Sandra Svoboda, Editor-in-Chief, Orchid Digest Page 5

6 UPCOMING EVENTS July 2013 July 7/28 Open Greehouse by Gordon Knight. See announcement on previous page. August 8/3 California Sierra Nevada Speaker's Day, 9:00 a.m 5:00 p.m., featuring Greg Allikas, Sam Tsui, Nick Burnett, Susan Wedegaertner, Dennis Olivas and Alan Koch. $10 advance purchase; $20 at the door for Sponsoring Societies and AOS members; $25 general admission. See the poster in the newsletter on page 14. For advance tickets, contact Susan Wedegaertner 8/9 SCOS Meeting Susan Wedegaertner will speak on DANCING LADY, EQUITANT ONCIDIUM OR TOLUMNIA Judy Carney Skill Session on KNOW YOUR ORCHID September 9/21 SCOS Bar-B-Q and Auction. Please mark your calendar. Details on the following page. 9/28 9/29 Orchids in the Park, 10:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m., County Fair Building, 9 th Avenue and Lincoln Avenue, San Francisco THERE IS NO MEETING IN SEPTEMBER COME TO THE Bar-B-Q & AUCTION October 10/13 Open Greenhouse by Judy Carney, 11:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Judy will have some plants for sale San Jose Way, Petaluma. November The Fosters will open their Greenhouses in November. Details will follow in future Newsletter issues. Page 6

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8 Sonoma County Orchid Society Annual BBQ & Auction Please come to the BBQ and Auction on Saturday, September 21, 2013 A fun-filled day of Orchids, Friends & Food 1451 Keiser Avenue, Santa Rosa Silent Auction, Tri-tip or Chicken BBQ, followed by Live Auction Silent Auction Begins at 11:00; Lunch at 12:30; Live Auction at 2:00; Ends at 5:00 Alan Koch of Gold Country Orchids, Auctioneer Extraordinaire Something for everyone Silent auction plants must arrive by 10:00 a.m. or earlier to complete all paperwork $6.00 per person, bring a potluck side dish to share Friends and Family welcome Donations Appreciated Parking is available at 1411 Keiser Avenue RSVP by to secretary@sonomaorchids.com and designate for each person a choice of either beef or chicken Page 8

9 As you may know, the Sonoma County Orchid Society donated a percentage of the proceeds of the 2013 Show and Sale Silent Auction to Orchid Conservation. After contact with the Orchid Conservation Committee of the American Orchid Society, it was decided to donate to the Vallarta Botanical Gardens in Jalisco, Mexico. Our Society received the follow thank you letter and follow up correspondence from representatives of Vallarta Botanical Gardens. Many thanks on behalf of the staff and volunteers here at the Vallarta Botanical Gardens for your generosity. Should members of the Sonoma County Orchid Society have opportunities to visit our gardens in person we would be happy to show them our orchid collections and can even coordinate ahead of time for a "behind the scenes" tour of our orchid laboratory and propagation areas focusing on threatened native species. Muchas gracias! Neil Gerlowski, MAT, Executive Director Vallarta Botanical Gardens, Jalisco, Mex. Web: Ph: (322) Sign up for our free newsletter by clicking here When I first started volunteering as a member of the Gardens' Board of Directors I was amazed by the beauty of these gorgeously landscaped grounds and the wonder of the forest preserve. Through my continued involvement here I can tell you firsthand that our work extends much further than the borders of the Gardens' property and is changing lives and leading local causes in wildlife conservation. Through the Gardens' education programs, complimentary entry and botanical tours are provided to over 2,000 local schoolchildren each year. Other educational programs focus on adult audiences on topics from gardening and botany to birding. The Garden's many conservation initiatives are equally exciting. Our orchid laboratory and plant propagation areas are allowing us to reproduce local endangered species for reintroduction to local forests. We are currently constructing a Conservatory for the National Collection of Mexican Orchids, the first of its kind in Mexico. Our leadership in parrot conservation has resulted in the reintroduction of nest sites for Macaws who were displaced by poachers the first known project of its kind in Mexico! The Vallarta Botanical Gardens was just included on a list of the "Top 10 North American Gardens Worth Traveling For," as declared by the Canadian Garden Tourism Council and was featured as such in a BBC Travel Article on this topic. The Vallarta Botanical Gardens receives no direct government funding, but rather relies on the support of those who recognize its value and invest into its support. I hope you can join us in these important and rewarding projects! Whether through volunteer time, one of several levels of membership, the purchase of a tile or a bench, or other donations, we can create the sustainable and rich future that so many of us dream for. Your purchase of a tile or bench, or your generous donation can be tax deductible. The Friends of Vallarta Botanical Gardens A.C. is a 501(c)3 registered corporation. Please contact me directly for more detailed information. Sincerely, T. J. Hartung (tjhartung@gmail.com) Member of the Board of Directors, Friends of Vallarta Botanical Gardens A.C. President, Vallarta Orchid Society Mr. Hartung asks members of the AOS to watch for his articles "My Favorite Mexican Orchids" in Orchids Magazine. - Editor Page 9

10 Tolumnia (excerpted from an article published in Flora Telluriana 2: [1837]) Common names: equitant Oncidium, variegata Oncidium Horticultural abbr.: Tolu. Distribution: Endemic to the islands of the Caribbean and Florida. They are small epiphytic, epilithic (growing on rocks and roof tiles) plants, sometimes terrestrial. Don't confuse with species in Oncidium, Hispaniella and Antillanorchis, Tolumnia is easily identified by the triquetrous or terete leaves and small showy flowers. Introduction to the genus Tolumnia contains species which have been segregated from Oncidium. The genus was created by Rafinesque in 1836 to contain Tolumnia pulchella but was largely ignored and almost forgotten until 1986 when Guido Braem revised the diminutive "equitant / variegata" group. Braem moved 20 speckled species from the variegata Oncidium group, most of which were already in cultivation. The new species were once a complex of strains grouped in Oncidium variegatum - contrary to the current Tolumnia variegata which is a well-defined true species and a subset of what once was Onc. variegatum. The genus name is presumed to come from Tolumnius - a character in Virgil's "Aeneas" - but there's no solid reason why Rafinesque would have chosen it, although Rafinesque was known to use many obscure or unheard of characters for his dedications. Stoloniferous Tolumnia scandens trained vertically with small stakes Their habit is particularly small and plants lack a visible pseudobulb (actually a microscopic one wrapped by the leaves), they're noted for having leaves in a fanlike arrangement in two ranks as the leaves of some irises (hence the common name "equitant"). Some of the species grow stolons that send out new plantlets. Most of the Tolumnia have leaves with a cross-section that resembles a triangle or arrowhead, but this is often mistakenly seen as a solid rule for the genus - Tolumnia calochila grows toothpick-like rounded leaves. The miniatures have seen a steep rise in popularity, their reduced size making them ideal for growers that lack the room for a full-blown orchid collection and the inflorescence is built to impress. Not only does a healthy plant (notably hybrids) flower 3-4 times a year, new flowers emerge from both old as new spikes (reblooming as in Phalaenopsis). Only cut off old spikes that have dried up. Tolumnia is one of those typical success stories in plant cultivation: at first the genus was the terrain of botanical species with no particular horticultural appeal. This changed when the late W.W. Goodale Moir discovered their potential in the 1960's. Moir is the genius behind many hybrids in the Oncidiinae and had a small obsession with creating interegeneric temperature tolerant hybrids. Goodale started growing the botanical species in the 1950's. Many of his fellow orchid enthusiasts in Hawaii couldn't grasp his interest in these "weeds" - why focus on these miniatures with all those jewels in the Caribbean? He had seen impressive displays of flowering plants on different islands and noted the rich spectrum of colors available among the species. He succeeded in transforming the small inconspicuous patches of colors into a vivid spectrum of eye-catching hybrids. Page 10

11 General cultivation techniques Keep the daytime temperature between F and provide a drop at night. The optimum temperature depends on the amount of good airflow you can provide them. Placing them in a damp corner with stagnant air is generally not a good idea at temperatures above 85 C during the day. Avoid placing your plants in heavy shade. Put them in bright indirect light or direct light in the morning or late afternoon. It's better to protect plants from direct sunlight at noon. There's a general rule to guide you: leaves should be a vivid green with a red tint (pale green means overexposure and dark green means underexposure to light). In the wild they grow as twig epiphytes in the top of trees or sparse and open bushes. Watering is a bit of an issue when you're not acquainted with the genus. In short, these are plants which have adapted to habitats with frequent rain but elevated air, humidity and warm wind that Tolumnia velutina mounted on a branch dries them quickly. This is reflected in their small but fleshy leaves which store water collected from dewdrops. Their weakness is an elevated sensitivity to stagnant water. Always allow excess water to evacuate as fast as possible after watering and avoid a compact medium which doesn't drain. Fungal rot and bacterial attacks in potted plants is the reason why expert growers advise mounting them instead of cultivating them in containers. Allow them to be dry before watering again. They do, however, require an air humidity of 60% (higher if mounted). Many growers mist their plants every morning before the temperature rises, instead of pouring water from a container (weekly in winter, every 3-5 days in summer). It's best to skip watering of potted plants on cold rainy days as the medium will not dry fast enough, resulting in stress and possibly even rot. All species can be mounted on a slab (cork, treefern or other non-acidic wood). Non-stoloniferous species and hybrids can be planted in a free-draining coarse medium (which aerates) of equal portions of fine bark, pea gravel and coarse perlite. Charcoal and crock are other useful additions that can appear in a mix. To help the medium dry out faster it's worth considering clay pots instead of plastic ones. Choose small containers: maximum 3 inches wide is a good rule of thumb. Always use clean containers. Finally, they don't appreciate salts in the water, so use clean rainwater or RO water, if possible. When repotting, make sure not to bury aerial roots and generously remove dead or damaged roots. Mounting is done by sandwiching the roots between 2 small bundles of coconut fiber and tying that against the slab. The fiber shouldn't cover the leaves. Mist every day (or dunk) and check the roots to see if they grab on to the slab. Use of sphagnum moss in mounting is not advised since it acts like a sponge. Tolumnia generally dislike repotting and growers normally do it every 2 or 3 years. Keep an eye on the center of compact growers, the oldest part will die off and increases the chance of rot (repot them when the dead part looks risky). Do it at the beginning of the warm season when new roots start to appear (this also goes for mounting them). They can be repotted/mounted when the new flower spike is still young and in development, but it's not a good idea to do it when the plant is fully blooming. First sign of a spike to first flower normally takes a few months. Growers often report that their plants refuse to flowers after a number of years of healthy growth. The most common reason for this is inadequate light levels. Although they can adapt to a low-light regime, if adult plants refuse to flower after 3 years you should consider moving them to a brighter spot. Poor nutrition is a second reason for postponed or subpar blooming. Remember that these are constant growers, which implies a regular mild feeding regime in periods of constant growth. Apply a 10-25% diluted fertilizer every second watering, a high nitrogen fertilizer when they're pushing leaves and a high potassium fertilizer when new growth is mature and you want to promote flowering. It's suggested that a short period of cool temperatures (55 F at night - 85 F day) might improve spike formation, something worth experimenting with when preparing for shows. Page 11

12 Summer Orchid Care August by Dr. Courtney Hackney, An acquaintance recently asked me what I found so intriguing about orchids that made me continue growing them for over 40 years. As I thought about the question, I realized that there were several answers. Mostly, the unending variety of species and hybrids offer a challenge to even the most accomplished horticulturalist. Most long-term orchid hobbyists began with a relatively easy-to-grow orchid and after we mastered growing that one, wanted more of a challenge. Learning to provide the environment for an exotic species from another part of the world must be a rewarding experience for those of us engaged in this hobby because we continue to do it. Most remarkable is the fact that each year the challenge is a little different because it is hotter, colder, or new pests show up. This year's pest du jour for me is the juvenile stage of crickets. These appear as pale versions of the adult. They leave damage that looks like slugs, but they also really like new roots. After several nights of looking, I decided to un-pot a damaged plant or two. There were two or three of the little beasts. Once I knew what to look for, I found them on my new phal leaves and on cattleya roots in the dark of night. These little beasts are quick, and difficult to catch. Several readers have asked about similar damage on orchids they were growing outside in summer and I suggested that the damage was done by slugs. It is not clear if very dry weather promotes this pest or my conversion to large lava rock for a medium. Lava rock provides large spaces where the juvenile crickets retreat during the daylight and makes killing them by hand difficult. Apparently, my small army of frogs that feed at night has not been able to control these pests and I will soon have to resort to liquid Sevin. Sevin is an old pesticide widely used in gardens, but not usually for orchids. Most scale, the primary insect pest in orchids, are resistant to Sevin, but it works well on other insect pests. Just follow the directions and drench the pot. This kills most insects hiding in pots and seems to also be disliked by bush snails and slugs as well. I never experienced many insect pests, except scale, until recently. My suspicion is that pesticides, such as Orthene, previously used to kill scale, also killed these other pests. Now that I control scale with an infrequent application of a hormonal pesticide, crickets and other insects have appeared. Most standard cattleya pseudobulbs are maturing now, which means it's time to cease fertilizing heavily. Smaller cattleyas with lots of sophronitis in their background can grow all year long and bloom several times a year. This type of cattleya, popular among windowsill growers, can be fertilized all year long. It seems that many orchid growers use Dynamite (also known as Nutricote) slow-release fertilizer [ ] with great success. I first saw this product in seedlings I purchased from Carter & Holmes and after trying it I was hooked. It provides an even dose of fertilizer for 9 months. This is ideal for hobbyists, since mixing fertilizer is time consuming and typically results in over-fertilizing. Use about a half teaspoon for a 5" pot. Besides the standard formula, several new formulations are now available, including one labeled for orchids and bromiliads. While available for some time in bulk, some of the formulations are now being sold under the trade name Dynamite at Home Depot online. It has also appeared from time to time in Big Lots stores at a reduced price. Apply the fertilizer when the orchids begin their growing cycle. There is enough residual fertilizer incorporated into the medium to provide the orchid with nutrients for an entire year. Page 12

13 August Culture Checklist (Based on AOS monthly checklists by Robert Scully and New Nash & James Rose) August is usually the hottest month, so be prepared to work diligently to ensure sufficient air circulation. Spray water on the floor, benches and outer surface of clay pots one or more times every day during the hottest times. Continue watering and using a dilute fertilizer. The warm temperatures also cause fungal and bacterial problems as well as an increase in insect populations. Observe your plants carefully and spray for both insects and disease when first noticed. Cattleyas: High heat seems to discourage active growth and flowering, but many plants are either developing buds for their autumn flowering or are ripening growths that will power the winter and spring blooming season. The bifoliates and nodosa hybrids seem best able to bloom during the summer temperature extremes. The high temperatures and the humidity created in our greenhouses damping down to keep our plants cool creates the potential for black rot. Consider allowing plants to dry more thoroughly between waterings. Tie up new growths carefully to promote upright development of the pseudobulbs. Cymbidiums: To initiate strong bloom spikes, use high phosphorous and potassium fertilizer in late August. The nitrogen level should be zero to very low ( or ). The first number, "0", is the nitrogen, the "10", or middle number is the phosphorous and the last number "10", is the potassium. Look at your fertilizer label, as these important numbers are usually shown on the front of the label. But also look at the back of the label to insure that there are other nutrients for your orchids in a particular fertilizer, i.e. zinc, copper, nickel, etc. Just as our body needs vitamins, it also needs minerals. Fertilize you cymbidiums as noted above two or three times at two week intervals. Then, resume your normal fertilizer schedule (more balanced, such as ). Dendrobiums: The nobile-type dendrobiums are popular, although some growers find them difficult to flower. In order to promote the gradual shift from active growth to the flowering cycle, start withholding nitrogen now. Some growers use a bloom booster this time of year on winter dormant plants to help prepare them for their dormancy. Phalaenopsis: Current high temperatures are particularly stressful for phalaenopsis. Excess heat and humidity promote bacterial Pseudomonas infections on the fleshy leaves. Keep light levels subdued, promote sufficient air circulation and do not splash water from one plant to another. Keep using a dilute (1/4 to 1/8 tsp/gal) fertilizer with every wsatering to develop the strongest roots and largest leaves prior to the winter flowering season. Vandas: Summer growing conditions are ideal for Aerides, Ascocentrumi, Rhynchostylis and Vanda hybrids. Feed aggressively and provide high humidity. Some growers show success with the following "home remedy": Try placing a rubber-topped plastic flower tube containing stale beer on a rigid, emerging new root (in the evening and remove in the morning so the root doesn't burn). Rather quickly, the root will consume the beer and utilize its carbohydrate content, producing some remarkable growth responses. Please consider showing off your growing area(s), greenhouses, patios, decks or homes. Please call Gerry Smith at or jagmsmith@yahoo.com if you can open your growing area in January, February or March, NEWSLETTER DEADLINE IS THE 20 TH OF EACH MONTH. I WOULD REALLY LIKE YOUR HELP. PLEASE SEND ME A SHORT STORY OR A PICTURE TO INCLUDE IN THE NEWSLETTER. THANKS, Kathie jph.kah@gmail.com Page 13

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