The Sandhills Spike. December s Auction. Window Sill Growers. Cork Board. Volume 1. Happy New Year to all Sandhills Orchid Society Members!!!

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1 Happy New Year to all Members!!! As you can see, one of the first new things you will notice are considerable changes to the newsletter. I totally enjoy the new look and hope you do too. Joy Lemieux has been working with Ray Makar to update the newsletter and I want to say "Thank you to you both!" Huge Thanks to Joy for having handled this chore for as long as she has, and thanks to Ray for assisting with it...great Job!! With that said, we would like to invite any member that has content that they would like to share with the society, to submit it to Joy or Ray to be included in our society news section. Our January meeting will be casual but informative. We look forward to seeing you there. Curtis Kudos to our Auctioneers Keith Clayton, David Dudley and Jason Harpster. They were outstanding in their enthusiasm and persuasive charms, earning an unprecedented $923 at our December Auction. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we earned $ that s nine hundred and twenty three dollars. We have never before come close to that number. Thank you to all of you who bid on plants, and bought plants, and a special thankyou to our Auctioneers! They were really great!!. December s Auction Window Sill Growers Cork Board 1st 2nd Green House Growers 3 rd 1 st Curtis Richie Leila Ancepts 2 nd Ursula Cables Sorcerer's Stone "Yellow Magic" fairrieanum album "Surprise" 3 rd Susan Makar NOID Miltoniopsis 1st 2nd 3 rd 1 st Jason Harpster Leila Ancepts (Bloomed for Curtis) 2 nd Keith Clayton Den Spectabile 3 rd Joy Lemieux Phal lueddemannia 'Krull's Spring Bouquet' X lueddemannia 'Krull's Mammoth' Pg 1.

2 January Meeting Agenda: Our January entertainment is a Round Robin a mixed bag of speakers. Van Ewert will do a brief repotting demonstration. Members who are unsure of how to repot a particularly difficult plant are welcome to bring their plant and Van will help you through the process. Just bring your own pot and potting medium. Joy Lemieux will demonstrate mounting plants so that they can hang in your growing area without a pot. She will have samples of various mounting materials and will discuss how to choose what is most appropriate for any particular plant. If you have a plant you would like mounted, Joy will be happy to work with you on finding the appropriate medium. Then to round off the evening, Jason Harpster will discuss how to make a cross and then how to deflask the plantlets when they are ready. He will have slides and detailed information to share. He has become very proficient at this procedure and will be happy to answer questions. Our January meeting should be fun -- a casual, informal meeting, and an opportunity to learn for everyone. Bring your questions and Stump the Chumps (as they say on NPR). Refreshments for the January meeting are being supplied by Jean Curtin Ursula Cables Edie Liepins Pg 2.

3 SOS Board Highlights: There was no Board meeting in December. Planning continues for Grower s Day on March 25th. We have reconfirmed our speaker, Steve Frowine. The church has been reserved and the blooming plants have been ordered. SOS Financial Highlights Income from the Dec. Auction was Income from the Dec. raffle was Income from dues paid by members was Cost of the Auction plants were: $923. YEAH! $ 50. $275. $525. If you have not paid your annual membership dues yet, please do so at the next meeting. Individual membership is still $20 for the year, while family memberships remain at $ Please pay our Treasurer Susan Makar at the January meeting, or mail her a check at 5717 Weatherford Road, Fayetteville NC Please also fill in the membership form attached to the back of this newsletter so your Board can keep updated on your interests and needs. Upcoming Events: There are a number of Shows coming up early in the new year: The South Carolina will hold their annual show on Feb. 10th at the Zoological Park in Columbia, SC. The Triad show will be March 3rd in Greensboro. The Western North Carolina will host their show March 24th. in Charlotte. Our Grower s Day is approaching quickly!! The church is reserved for March 25th! Steve Frowine will be our keynote speaker and will do a two hour presentation on the culture of more commonly grown orchids. He will have valuable information for new as well as experienced growers! We have also arranged for the blooming plants that we will be giving away at the end of the day. Mark your calendars!! We hope to have a big turnout for our big day! The present their Annual Growers Day When: Saturday, March 25th, 2017; 9:30 A.M. (Registration) to 3:00 P.M. Where: Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 1600 Raeford Rd., Fayetteville, NC Cost: $30.00 per person if received by March 20th. $35.00 at the door. (Fee includes seminar materials, lunch and a orchid plant to take home). For additional information contact Susan Makar; samakar1516@yahoo.com: (910) Pg 3.

4 GROWING TIPS By Courtney T. Hackney Over the years, numerous s have asked about plant immunity to diseases and pests. Readers tend to think of plant immunity as similar to ourselves or our pets. Our immune system depends on a circulatory system (blood) flowing through our body and the production of specialized cells and compounds that attack and destroy attacking diseases and organisms. Plants do not have a circulating fluid like blood that could carry such disease fighting materials to the site of infection, but they do fight disease. As many s have noted, plants survive infections and attacks by insects. How do they do it? Plants have disease fighting mechanisms, but they work in a different way. When a plant is infected by a bacteria or fungus chemicals secreted by the dying cell alert other cells in the plant to the danger, a Hypersensitive Response (HR). The next cell quickly dies and becomes a physical barrier to the invasion. In death, it may also become hard and unattractive to the invader by producing toxic compounds. Those who talk to their orchids may not be surprised to learn that plants talk communicate with each other too. When damaged by a disease or insect, plants can release a chemical signal that is transmitted through the air to other plants initiating the production of toxic compounds in leaves and flowers. Many orchid hobbyists have noted the tendency for new plants brought into the greenhouse to be attacked by insects or disease for the first few months. Afterwards, they recover and do not have any additional problems. Now you know why. Research is underway to develop ways of stimulating the Hypersensitive Response in plants artificially. A naturally occurring protein isolated from bacteria has seen shown to initiate the protective response in plants when applied to leaves. Best of all, it is not a pesticide, but a deterrent. Everyone I know is really hoping that the groundhog was right this year because it has been a cold winter. Many of the orchids in my greenhouse are telling me winter is over, too, by putting out nice new growths. Phalaenopsis in bloom should also be growing new roots and leaves if they are getting enough fertilizer. Cool nights and warm days are perfect for the growth of most tropical orchids. The low humidity, longer days, and more intense light this time of year, means more water is needed. This is perfect, because it allows feeding with dilute organic fertilizers, e.g. fish or seaweed emulsion. These products are great to start the growth cycle because they have all of the major and micronutrients. Also, be sure you water pots and orchids thoroughly; flushing salts from the roots and pots before hot temperatures arrive. If you use Nutricote (Dynamite) it can be added now, along with the dilute liquid fertilizer. The Nutricote lasts for 6 months, but most orchids prosper from a little spring tonic of fish emulsion. The Nutricote is also heat activated and does not seem to really kick in until late spring, depending on where you live. Vandas and other hanging orchids always perk up after they get a little fish emulsion, especially if they have been suffering over the long winter. This column is a reprint and intended for distribution in March. Although the early growth Courtney refers to has not yet occurred, it is not too early to begin planning and laying in your supplies! Pg 4.

5 The present their Annual Growers Day When: Saturday, March 25 th, 2017; 9:30 A.M. (Registration) to 3:00 P.M. Where: Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 1600 Raeford Rd., Fayetteville, NC Cost: $30.00 per person if received by March 20 th. $35.00 at the door. (Fee includes seminar materials, lunch and a orchid plant to take home). Steve Frowine. will be our keynote speaker and will do a two hour presentation on the culture of more commonly grown orchids. He will have valuable information for new as well as experienced growers! frow/files/the_orchid_man_.pdf For additional information contact Susan Makar; samakar1516@yahoo.com: (910) Officers of the President Curtis Richie crichie121@embarqmail.com Vice President & Newsletter Editor Joy Lemieux joylemieux@windstream.net Treasurer Susan Makar samakar1516@yahoo.com Secretary Richard Webb rwebb@nc.rr.com (2015) Past President & AOS Rep Van Ewert wvewert@yahoo.com Member at Large Ursula Cables UCables@msn.com (2016) Member at Large Edie Liepins eliepins@nc.rr.com Member at Large Jane Squires jsquires4@nc.rr.com Member at Large Ray Makar asotmgr1@hotmail.com (2018) Member at Large Jean Curtin ljcurtin@hotmail.com (2017) Pg 5.

6 Membership Form for 2017 Membership Application (please return this with membership dues payment) The is non-profit organization for the promotion and conservation of orchids. The society meets in the assembly hall at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 1601 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC. (There is no affiliation between the society and the church). The society meets the Tuesday following the second Monday of each month at 7:00 pm. The assembly hall usually opens at 6:30 for an informal half hour of socializing, light snacks and viewing of the display plants. The formal portion of the meeting consists of society business followed by a guest speaker, many of them from out of state or even from other countries. These qualified speakers frequently bring plants for sale, providing us the opportunity to add unique, new orchids to our collections! Yearly dues are $20 for an individual and $25 for a family. We believe we have a good society, and we need you to help us make it better. Please join us! Please bring your application and payment to any society meeting or mail it to our treasurer once you have filled it out and send to Susan Makar [Treasurer], 5717 Weatherford Rd., Fayetteville, NC Please come visit us on the web: For further information, contact Curtis Richie, SOS President crichie121@embarqmail.com or sandhillsorchid@alltel.net ************************************************************************* Name: Spouse: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone (Day) (Evening) Address: How many orchids do you currently grow? Do you grow in the following? (Circle) Windowsill Under "lights" In a greenhouse

7 The present their Annual Growers Day ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW to GROW and BLOOM your This day-long seminar is designed for everyone, beginner to experienced, interested in learning more about growing and blooming orchids better at home. Speakers will conduct workshops on the most common orchids available in local stores and garden centers. When: Saturday, March 25 th, 2017; 9:30 A.M. (Registration) to 3:00 P.M. Where: Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 1600 Raeford Rd., Fayetteville, NC Cost: $30.00 per person if received by March 20 th. $35.00 at the door. (Fee includes seminar materials, lunch and a orchid plant to take home). Steve Frowine. will be our keynote speaker and will do a two hour presentation on the culture of more commonly grown orchids. He will have valuable information for new as well as experienced growers! vefrow/files/the_orchid_man_.pdf For additional information contact Susan Makar; samakar1516@yahoo.com (910) **Lunch will be provided if registration received by March 20, Cut Here Growers day Pre-Registration Form: Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone: Make check payable to Mail to: 5717 Weatherford Road, Fayetteville, NC