THE BULLETIN A Publication of the Jacksonville Orchid Society

Transcription

1 B u s i n e s s N a m e THE BULLETIN A Publication of the Jacksonville Orchid Society April, 2018 jaxorchidsociety.org Volume 75, Issue 4 President s Report for March 2018 I n s i d e t h i s i s s u e : President s Report 1-2 Minutes Officers Re-Potting Clinic 3 Treasurer s Report 4 Speaker Schedule Donated Pots 5 JOS Picnic & Auction 6 Monthly Checklist 7-9 Show Awards Mac s Orchids Show Awards James Arnold Orchid Show Pictures Geiger Orchids Sale 19 March in Your Orchid Collection by Motes Sponsors Reminders 26 What we should be doing this time of year The JOS show is behind us and we are looking back with both pride and relief all was well and the show was a great success. Members of the society should be giving themselves a long pat on the back for that success. Those who participated in planning and presentation of the show share my satisfaction and those who did not participate missed a challenging but rewarding experience. Think about the outcome and how you might help next year. All the chairpersons who headed up work groups are to be especially commended and the people who took the leadership roles as show chairman and co-chairman have our special regard and thanks. Art Russell, Lois Rasmussen, and Stacey Schwab THANK YOU! There is a show coming up April in Tallahassee. I will need to make calls and make sure we put in our display at this show. We will cover this topic more at our next meeting on April 10. For now, groom your plants and get them ready to show. We may need to borrow them for the Tallahassee show. The reason for this message being a little late for our newsletter is not writer s block but my potting efforts. My struggle with repotting and dividing plants continues at a fast pace. It is the time of year when it needs to be completed. It is the best time for the plants and the grower. Later, as temperatures rise, it will be stressful to newly repotted plants as they establish in their new pots and potting media. It is also stressful to the grower as the heat humidity build up. My collection is getting almost a 100% repot and that is a tall order. Continued on page / info@jaxorchidsociety.org / jaxorchidnews@gmail.com

2 A bit about potting media My love affair with stalite gravel has ended. For one thing, I can t get stalite anymore (not at a reasonable price), the second reason is after a more than long trial period I decided that something else is better for the plants, and the final reason is the weight of the material. I just got tired of carrying around buckets of rocks with plants sticking out of the top. My 77-year-old back said enough! I have tested and tried a lot of different media over my past 40 years of growing orchids. A forum I belong to puts me in touch with cymbidium growers all over the world. A lot of people use a lot of different media. Availability of media and water and growing technique determines what they use. Orchiata is a good potting material that is in vogue, as is lava rock, leica (clay pebbles), sphagnum moss, coconut husk, corn cobs, rice husks, you name it and someone is using it somewhere. Steve Arthur s lecture about potting in cypress mulch was very useful to me. I am about 100% into the stuff. There is a lot more to what I do than just the cypress mulch. I have adapted my own mix, which I will publish after a year more of trial, but I am enthusiastic about what I see with root growth and plant development. An article about the mix and the results will come later. So far, I have used 25-2cu ft bags of cypress mulch bark (do not use blended) 2 large bags of extra course pearlite, 4-2 cuft bags of coconut choir (Make sure it is low salt content choir), 1-2cuft bag of gypsum, and 2-2 cuft bags of Purely Organic fertilizer. Use the same mix for all orchids but at different ratio of other ingredients to cypress mulch. Testing of the mix, I use an Orchiata mix indicates that better growth and root development occur in the cypress mulch mix. The cypress mulch costs $2 a bag Orchiata $35 a bag. Now what would you use? I also helped my son, Tim, build a greenhouse this past weekend. He bought a Clima Pod kit 7x12. The company also makes a 9x14. The kit is made in Germany and oh what a nice kit it is. It makes a good starter greenhouse and is very attractive. Harry 2

3 Minutes March 13, 2018 The meeting was called to order at 7:30pm by our President, Harry Mc Elroy. Harry mentioned that the President Star should be given to John And Dorothy Van Brocklin for there support of the Potting Clinic. The subject of the upcoming show was discussed. Art Russell led the discussion and answered questions about what was needed by committee and new members. Bonnie Myers will be stepping down as Membership Chairman. We will be looking for someone to take over her position. New Members; Sharon Millan Jeann Wylly Jeanna Ware Past member: Dottie Oberdorfer was remembered. She passed away and will have a showing at the Harden Giddens Funeral Home. Officers President... Harry McElroy First Vice President... Lois Rasmussen 2nd Vice President... Art Russell Treasurer... Stacey Schwab Secretary... Bernice Dunn Membership Secretary... Bonnie Myers Director... Frank Warnken 2018 Director... Jerry Fowler Director... Rob Stomfay-Stitz Immediate Past President... John Van Brocklin Standing Committees Newsletter Editor... Tracy Curato Librarian... Mary Malouin Raffle Tickets... Annalee McPhilomy Sunshine... Beth Strate Hospitality... Beth Strate Website... Jane and Art Russell Photographer... Art Russell Show Chairman... Art Russell Meeting Show Table... Jeff Sturgis Harry announced show table from the February meeting. We broke for Hospitality table supplied by: Bonnie & Tom Myers Carol and Bill donated the cake for the meeting. It was mentioned that Mike Heinz will be doing a beginners class starting at 7:00pm at the meetings on Tuesday. Annalee McPilomy and Rob Stomfay-Stitz called out the tickets for the raffle table. Meeting adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Bernice Dunn, Secretary RE-POTTING CLINIC Saturday, May 5 Hagan Ace Hardware San Jose Blvd, Mandarin 10am-1pm We need help at our re-potting clinic each month! If you re new, come and help and learn along the way! 3

4 Treasurer s Report March & Show 2018 Ending Balance February 2018 $25, Income: Membership Dues $ Raffle Tickets - Meeting $ Potting Clinic - March $ Show Trophy Donations $ Show Food Donations $ T-Shirts $ 1, Silent Auction $ Vendor Show Fees $ 1, Potting Table-Show $ Door Donations - Show $ Water Donations - Show $ Raffle - Show $ 1, Painters $ Return of Petty Cash $ Total Income $ 5, $31, Expenses: Raffle Supplies - Show $ Boutonnieres for Judges $ Tri-folds-Show $ Member Silent Auction Distribution $ Insurance $ Information/Reply Cards $ T-Shirts $ Supplies for Potting Clinic $ Garden Club Staff Tips $ Coolers for Society $ Fae's BBQ $ Vendor Awards $ Kitchen Reimbursements $ Copies for Potting Clinic $ Crystal for Society Awards $ Postage $ Petty Cash for Show $ Total Expenses $ 5, Ending Balance March 2018 $26, Receivables Society Petty Cash Fund $ Potting Clinic Petty Cash Fund $ Raffle Petty Cash $

5 Donated Pots January 9, JOS Speaker Schedule The 2017 Speaker Schedule is being constantly revised. Here s the current picture of the next couple of months: Date Speaker Topic Houston Sneed, Horticultural Assistant at Jacksonville Zoo February 13, 2018 Marv Ragan Encyclias He will speak about an orchid research project he is leading at the zoo. March 13, 2018 April 10, 2018 May 6, 2018 No speaker. We discussed the 2018 JOS Orchid Show Potting clinic and time to ask questions of our members Annual JOS Picnic - NO MAY MEETING June 12, 2018 Carlos Cahiz, Owner, OFE Topic to be determined July 10, 2018 Ivan Portillo, Owner, Ecuagenera Topic to be determined August 14, 2018 Francisco Miranda Orchids from Brazil September 11, 2018 Phillip Hamilton, Breden Orchids Topic to be determined October 9, 2018 Alan Koch, Gold Country Orchids ABCs of Orchid Nutrition November 13, 2018 Fred Clark, SVO Catasetum Culture December 2018 Christmas Party! Date To Be Determined The family of a former member of JOS, Thelma Baker, contacted me about some orchid pots they have that they wanted to donate to JOS. She passed away and they are in the process of packing & cleaning her house. The pots are the old, heavy clay pots and vary in size: 4", 6", & 8". They are empty but need to be cleaned and sterilized before using. If anyone is interested in getting some of these pots, please contact John or Dorothy Van Brocklin at and arrange a time to pick them up. 5

6 Auction Information! JOS Picnic The 2018 JOS Picnic is scheduled for Sunday, May 6, beginning at noon. Like previous years, we ll follow our meal Eric Cavin s BBQ pork or steak with an auction about an hour and a half later. As before, Eric and Margaret Cavin are hosting the picnic at their home. If you need the address, please respond to the newsletter and we will send it to you. Everyone had a wonderful time last year and I can only imagine this year will be just as much fun! Please be ready to sign up for the picnic and to bring a side dish or two. The BBQ will be covered by the society, steak will cost extra. We ask that you bring a table and chairs, and, if possible, a canopy. We will group canopies and tables together and move them with the shade. Plastic tableware will be provided, but you may wish to bring your own. If you will be eating steak, you may want to bring sturdy places and real utensils. If you re planning to provide orchids for the auction, please follow the guidelines below: The plant must be in bloom and clean of insects, etc. If the plant is not in bloom, it must be a named orchid and have an AOS certification. It must also be clean of insect, etc. You must complete the registration form for your orchid You must attach a tag with a minimum bid for your orchid Contact Stacey Schwab (or send to info@jaxorchidsociety.org) with a list of the orchids you plan to auction. Please use the interactive Auction Plant Seller Sheet at the following link: AuctionPlantsSellerSheetInteractive.pdf 6

7 American Orchid Society Seasonal Orchid Care Checklists The American Orchid Society (AOS) provides a wealth of information on their website (see for members and non-members alike. If you are not a member, please consider joining as you have the interest and opportunity. MARCH AND APRIL Cattleya Although March is, in many parts of the country, still a cold and blustery month, the lengthening days and warmer temperatures allowed by increased light are long-awaited harbingers of the coming change of season. Some of the best standard cattleyas of the year will be in bloom, or will be blooming soon. The last of the winter-flowering hybrids will join the earliest of the spring hybrids in a wonderful display. Be on the alert for senescing sheaths that need removal. If these yellowing sheaths are not removed, the moisture they trap can lead to bud rot. Careful removal of the sheath will allow the buds to develop, although they will need additional support. Changing light conditions can also be a problem in March and April. An exceptionally bright day, especially immediately following a rain, can lead to sunburn of the foliage if shading is not attended to properly. There can still be periods of dull days where spikes can weakened owing to the lower light. Lengthening days will mean increased metabolic rates necessitating increased water and fertilizer. The plants will indicate needs by drying more rapidly, which means more frequent watering and fertilizing. With the passing of the season for winter bloomers, and the beginning of the season for spring bloom, it is also the time to be on the lookout for plants that will need potting after they bloom. Immediately after blooming has proven to be the best time to repot winter- and spring-flowering cattleyas. In most cases, they will be ready to grow roots, so if potted at this time, they will root right into fresh mix with little or no setback. Cymbidium Plants should be putting on a spectacular show this time of year. Adjust all staking and twist-ties and be on the lookout for aphids, slugs and snails. Give adequate water because flowering strains the plants. As new growths appear later, increase the nitrogen level in the fertilizer. Should a plant look healthy but not be blooming, try increasing the light during the next growing season. The number-one reason for no flowers is lack of light. 7

8 Dendrobium (Australian) These hard-cane dendrobiums will be at their flowering peak now. It is not unusual to see a specimen of this type in an orchid show boasting 1,000 flowers. The secret with this group -- bred primarily from Dendrobium kingianum and Dendrobium speciosum -- is to provide ample water, fertilizer and light during the growing season. Lycaste This genus of superb orchids will be coming to the end of its flowering season. Soon you will see the beginning of new root growth, which is an excellent time to repot into fresh media. As new growth emerges, provide ample fertilizer and water. A sign of good culture is an increase in the size of psuedobulbs with each successive year. Miltoniopsis This marks the beginning of the flowering season. Amazing displays of color will dazzle the grower over the next few months. Prepare your plants for optimum display by staking spikes (if needed) and cleaning off the older yellow foliage. Do not miss the wonderful fragrance as the flowers unfold.. Paphiopedilum March is the beginning of the season of heaviest potting for lady's-slipper orchids. However, it is a month where the volume of plants needing attention is still small. It is an excellent month to take the time to work with your paphiopedilums before the pressure of other potting prevents your doing the thorough job you should. Look at each plant: Is it clean of dead and dying foliage? Is it weed free? Does it need potting? Is it in spike? Does it have an insect problem? Cleaning and restaging your paphs is one of the most satisfying tasks of the orchid year. Cleaned and potted paphiopedilums look happy. The summer-blooming types will be showing the first of their buds in March and April. Be on the lookout for the buds, as well as any insect pests that may have found their way into the crowns of your plants. It is especially difficult to clean mealybugs, in particular, once they have become established in the plant. Better to get to them before they get a good toehold. Increasing light levels should give emerging spikes the strength they need to grow straight and strong. Do not be too anxious to stake the spikes, because if they are staked too soon, the flowers may develop a "nodding" stance, where the dorsal will not stand upright. If the spikes seem to develop at an angle, let them, and stake after the flower has hardened for best carriage, especially on the hybrids with fairieanum background. 8

9 Phalaenopsis In most of the country, March is the peak blooming month for phalaenopsis. Staking needs to be carefully attended to, so that the flowers will be displayed at their best for orchid shows and judging -- even those intended for your home will look best if properly staked. One of the most decorative aspects of phalaenopsis spikes is the way they gracefully arch. If not staked properly, the spike will lack this grace and will not be as pleasing. Most growers like to have the final support just below the first flower, allowing maximum support, without sacrificing the beauty of thearching spike. Rapid-growing spikes and open flowers place extra demands on the plant. Careful monitoring of watering and feeding will give the plants the energy they require to give their best oral display. Remember, too, that the lengthening days will also increase the frequency at which plants need water. Beware of the invasion of sucking pests that accompany the flowering season. Flowers and spikes are favorite targets of mealybugs and scales. Be on the lookout for their presence, often indicated by the appearance of sooty mold resulting from the exudate of the bugs, and treat before flowers or buds are too advanced. If flowers and buds are too far along, the chemical treatment may damage or abort them. Pleurothallids Members in this large and increasingly popular group will be looking their best now. If plants are not in flower, the next few months provide an excellent time to divide if needed or repot into fresh mix. Taking care of these tasks now will allow enough time for your plants to become established before the hot weather arrives. The AOS thanks Ned Nash and James Rose for this essay. 9

10 AOS Award Winner from our Show Mac from Mac s Orchids First Class Certificate for Dendrobium farmeri Mac s First 10

11 AOS Award Winner from our Show James Arnold s spectacular Paphiiopedilum Saint Swithin Jake Butler. James received 2 awards for this orchid, an Award of Merit (AM), and a Certificate of Cultural Merit (CCM). 11

12 2018 Jacksonville Orchid Show 12

13 13

14 Orchid Show Individual Displays James Arnold Gainesville Orchid Society - Silver Certificate 14

15 Orchid Show Individual Displays JOS1 JOS2 15

16 Van Brocklin JOS2 Orchid Show Individual Displays Team Heinz 57 16

17 Volushia Orchid Show Individual Displays St Augustine Orchid Society 17

18 18

19 19

20 By Dr. Martin Motes March in Your Orchid Collection March Climate Data Average high: 80.7 Average low: 64.0 Average mean: 72.4 Average rainfall: 2.56" Whilst March never comes in like a lion in South Florida, occasionally it slinks in like a bob cat. Frost is not unheard of in the first few days of the month. The more cold sensitive genera, hard cane dendrobiums, phalaenopsis and vandas may well need some protection even into the middle of the month. Overall, however, March brings us some of the most ideal orchid growing conditions of the entire year. Dry air, low humidity and wide swings of day to night temperatures optimize both blooming and rooting of most orchids. In March, Nature gives orchidists growing outside a free sample of what life would be like with a covered green house. With little or no additional water falling from the sky and drying breezes acting like fans, we are in total control of our plants' water needs. Now, we can water properly: very heavily, and allow the plants to dry thoroughly in the near desert air before the next heavy application of water. The ideal growing conditions of March present a great opportunity to get our plants off to a superlative start on the new growing season. The virtuous among us, who have already re-potted their cattleyas and other sympodials as they have finished blooming across the winter, can smile serenely, assured of their place in orchid heaven. For us few reprobate it is still not too late to catch up with virtue. In addition to flowered-out plants, now is also the time to replant those genera which are breaking or ready to break their dormancy; i.e. catasetums, mormodes, calanthes and those Himalayan species that have finished flowering. Now is also an excellent time to re-pot those hard cane dendrobiums that need it, with the reminder that they really don't like to be disturbed and relish their roots being crowded in the pot. For those commercially mass produced plants grown in peat based mixtures, repotting is necessary in any case as the peat mix will not last out the summer and will likely rot all the roots. Hopefully these will have rooted so thoroughly that the roots have formed a solid mass that can be shifted undisturbed to a new only slightly larger pot. Otherwise the roots will need to be washed clean and lightly trimmed. Rock, tree fern, coconut husk, charcoal/wood chip mixes are best replacement media for the long haul. All of these materials have a life expectancy of several years before they break down in South Florida wet humid summers. Attention to fertilizer in March will pay high dividends later on. As many sympodial orchids are commencing their growth cycle, now is a good time to apply slow release fertilizer to last the season. The , 180 day formula marketed at Home Depot as 'Dynamite'(Nutri-cote in commercial sizes) is the best available. Its plastic coating is superior to others and relatively unaffected by heat, an especially important consideration in S. Florida. Applied now it will be exhausted by September when we want to slow our plants down in anticipation of bloom and dormancy. The wide temperature swings of March also maximize the effectiveness of high phosphorous 'Bloom Booster' fertilizer. The extra phosphorous in these formulas probably does not really stimulate flowers( most likely the opposite) but does help rooting. Two applications a week apart will speed the rooting process. Return to regular fertilizer weekly thereafter as the excess phosphorus in the "Bloom 20

21 Booster" interferes with minor element absorption to an inordinate degree in our highly alkaline South Florida water. Vandaceous orchids should be breaking vigorous new roots in March. This is the moment to top them if they have grown too tall and if they have three good roots on the top cutting. Conserving one or more leaves on the old plant's stump will insure a bountiful production of offshoots. Sliding the knife or shears down the stem before making the horizontal cut usually preserves an extra set of leaves. Now is also the ideal time to remove and reset offshoots of vandas and ascocendas. Again take care each has three or more roots and be sure you tie them firmly in their new container until they have rooted solidly. March is also the month for acclimatizing sun-loving plants to full sun. Vandas, dendrobiums and reed-stemmed epidendrums that have not been blooming as they should because they are in too deep shade can be gradually moved to more light. This is best done in two or three stages, moving the plants a short distance every few days and always keeping them with the same side orientated towards the sun. Without this gradual acclimatization, The bright clear sunlight of March can scorch even the most sun-loving of orchids. The chief blot on the otherwise nearly ideal growing scenario of March is thrips. March is the month when we are asked most frequently "Why do my vanda flower spikes grow ½ inch and then die?" The answer, like the answer to so many problems with orchids in South Florida, is thrips. The hot dry weather of March favors thrips which are ubiquitous in our landscapes. The drought of March drives them from their homes in our lawns and shrubberies to seek the cool lush oasis of our orchid collections. Most orchidists recognize the symptoms of thrips on their flowers, :the silvered, sand blasted appearance and the withering of the flower parts. Many do not recognize the earlier symptoms which show up on the root tips of vandas and ascocendas as a pitted ring at the point where the green growing root tip is maturing into white. Left unchecked, this damage will cause the root tip to wither. When it re-starts growth, a brown ring remains. Orthene (acephate)is the chemical of choice for thrips because of its low toxicity and residual action. Knoxout and Malathion are recommended also by the Florida Department of Agriculture. A non-chemical solution is liquid dish soap applied at the rate of 2oz(6tbs) per gallon of water. Be sure to water the plants the day before applying soap and take care to drench the plants thoroughly, covering not only all the surfaces but penetrating into leaf axils and other nooks and crannies where the reclusive thrips loves to loiter. Root the thrips out of your collection and you will get the growing season off to a good start. Time Release Fertilizer March is a great month to apply time release fertilizer to our orchids. The ease of application and the carefree joy of knowing that you are effortlessly feeding your charges is irresistible. Time release fertilizer comes in different formulas and also different durations of release. Finding the best one available can take a little research. Remember that modern science indicates a formula of as being best for orchids in general. The highly alkaline water of South Florida which in some areas contains traces of phosphorus make the use of fertilizer low in phosphorus even more imperative. Fertilizer manufacturers have been slow to respond to the new science and most "Orchid Fertilizers" on the market are not the best formula in fact for orchids. Look for a formulation with that low middle number. If a low phosphorus one is not available, a balanced formula( ) is a good choice with the firm intent to 21

22 supplement the time release with weekly or bi-weekly applications of liquid potassium nitrate plus Epsom salts (1Tbs each). Duration of the formula is also extraordinarily important. For cattleyas, dendrobiums and most other sympodial orchids a six month formulation applied in March is ideal. By the time the fertilizer is exhausted in September, most sympodial orchids are ready to prepare for their long winter's rest. Terete and semi-terete vandas, mokaras, reed stem epidendrums, Spathoglottis and other terrestrial landscape type orchids will usually continue growing somewhat longer and for these a nine month formula is preferred. This is particularly true if they are grown, as usual, in media with substantial organic content. When the time release is exhausted in nine months the organic material continues to break down slowly releasing a lower level of nutrients to sustain the plants through the winter. In effect the nine month formula provides year round fertilizer for many landscape orchids. Finally, all time release fertilizer is not created equal. Different brands perform better or worse under South Florida's high heat and humidity. Some last longer and others not so much. This variability results from the different plastic polymers that are used to coat the fertilizer and allow it to release slowly. Many polymers that work fine under temperate zone humidity and cool air and soil, can break down much too rapidly in tropic heat. The sudden release of an excess of nitrogen under this circumstance can cause severe root damage. This damage has been observed even with the "Brand name" product. In our experience the best product available is Nutri-coat because it has a superior polymer coating that actually performs as advertised under South Florida conditions. It is marketed for retail purchase as "Dynamite". We have had excellent success with the 9 month formula for our landscape orchids and we have friends who use it successfully for Phals. Whilst they do market an "Orchid and Bromeliad" , the formulae that comes closest to the ideal for orchids are their "Palm and Citrus" and "All Purpose Select" Some of these formulae are available at Home Depot and at Independent Garden shops but one can contact them directly at Florikan: Tiffany.Barrs@florikan.com or at the their website: One to two teaspoons of time release fertilizer per 6" pot should get the growing season off to a good start. Tasks for March Watch out for mites Spray for Thrips Repot genera emerging from dormancy: catasetums, calanthes, soft cane dendrobiums Continue general re-potting of cattleyas, oncidiums, hard cane dendrobiums etc. Make top cutting of teretes, semi-teretes and reed stem epidendrums Move Landscape plants gradually to brighter light Apply time release fertilizer 22

23 23

24 Contact Hamlyn Orchids at: 24

25 Sponsors SPONSORS Phillips Takasaki Hausermann Andy Sheldon George Andy's Orchids 734 Ocean View Carmela Orchids PO Box 277 E. F. G. Orchids 4265 Marsh Road Encinitas CA Hakalau HI Deland FL Portilla Ivan Ecuagenera Cuenca Ecuador Koch Tokunaga Harrison Kawamoto Krull Maximiano Cuesta Alan Roy Lisa Reid Jim Alex Yolanda Gold Country Orchids 390 Big Ben Rd. H&R Nurseries Hihimanu Street Hagan Ace Hardware San Jose Blvd. Kawamoto Orchid Nursery 2630 Waiomao Road Krull-Smith 2815 West Ponkan Rd. Orchidwiz PO Box Quest Orchids SW 43rd St Lincoln CA Waimanalo HI Jacksonville FL Honolulu HI Apopka FL Miami Shores FL Miami FL Ritter Tom & Linda Ritter's Tropic 1 Orchids 2494 Neptune Road Kissimmee FL rttritter@aol.com Nguyen So So Orchids 210 Brigadoon Pt. Orlando FL so.orchid@gmail.com Nguyen Thanh Springwater Orchids FL thanhnguyen79@earthlink.net Newsletter Address If you have an article, story, or photos you would like to feature in the newsletter, or need to update an address, please those to jaxorchidnews@gmail.com. This ensures nothing gets lost in a personal account. 25

26 Dinner Before the Meeting! A number of JOS members meet for dinner before the monthly meeting. We meet at The Derby House on Park Street, in the Riverside District of Jacksonville, at 5pm. Please feel free to join us We look forward to seeing you. See the link on GoogleMaps: JOS Picnic and Auction Sunday, May 6 Noon Eric & Margaret Cavin s Home More info on page / info@jaxorchidsociety.org / jaxorchidnews@gmail.com 26