FEBRUARY 2016 STOCKTON CACTUS & SUCCULENT SOCIETY NEWSLETTER

Transcription

1 STOCKTON CACTUS & SUCCULENT SOCIETY NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2016 MEETINGS: Fourth Thursday each month, 7:00 p.m. * Unless otherwise noted WHERE: San Joaquin County Building 2707 Transworld Drive Stockton, California *NEXT MEETING: Thursday, February 25 th, 2016 PRE MEETING DINNER: Denny s Restaurant Arch Road location 5:30 p.m. STOCKTON CACTUS & SUCCULENT SOCIETY C/O BRIAN POOT 5617 ANADA COURT SALIDA, CA DUES NEED TO BE PAID BY MARCH 1st TO CONTINUE RECEIVING THE NEWSLETTER.

2 2016 BOARD: President: Lesley Slayter (209) Vice President: Mary Bertken (209) Treasurer: Roelyn Poot (209) Secretary: Pam Fish (209) Board Members: Jerry Slayter, Dawn Dalyce & Kathy Ackerman Newsletter: Brian Poot (209) BOARD MEETINGS: Please note, board meetings will now be held the second Wednesday of each month, at 7:00 p.m., except in December, or if that date conflicts with something else. Anyone is welcome to attend, but please call first to let them know you will be coming to make sure of the date. Thanks! We can always use new ideas & opinions for the club, as well as help with behind the scenes stuff. If you are interested, please come to a board meeting. Thx! MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION: Individual $20/yr Family $25/yr Contributing $35/yr Patron $50/yr All dues should be sent to the treasurer before the February general meeting. Membership runs January-December. Complimentary Jan. & Feb. issue if unpaid. CALENDAR: February 10 th - Board Meeting at the Poot s 7:00 p.m. 25 th - General Meeting 7:00pm: Ernesto Sandoval - The Inner and Outer Workings of Succulents Above and Below March 9 th - Board Meeting at the Poot s 7:00 p.m. 24 th - General Meeting 7:00pm: Peter Beiersdorfer April 13 th - Board Meeting at the Poot s 7:00 p.m. 26 th - General Meeting 7:00pm: Brian Kimble (Note: This meeting will be on Tuesday) OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS: (not club related) None SUNSHINE REPORT: HAPPY BIRTHDAY to: John McWilliams, Ron Posey & Glenn Young.

3 THIS MONTHS PROGRAM: Ernesto Sandoval The February program will be presented by Ernesto Sandoval; he will give a talk on: The Inner and Outer Workings of Succulents Above and Below Ground We all know to some degree what the needs of our plants are but what is different from above and below ground? How do succulents differ from normal" plants? and how are they just the same as any other plant? Why do roots need to breathe a lot like we do? Why do some plants thrive with heat yet others melt? Ernesto will help demystify the answers to these questions, and probably many more, by helping us to understand the inner and outer workings of our beloved succulents. * Ernesto will provide the raffle table this month & will also have plants to sell. *Reminder to Kathy Zumbrunn (drinks) & Kathy Bain (snacks), this is your month to bring refreshments. *Reminder that we need someone to volunteer to be the greeter this month. WELCOME NEW & RETURNING MEMBERS: Richard Arp Carol Jo Hargreaves 120 Lynn Drive 1229 Maple Hill Court Brentwood, CA Manteca, CA (925) (209) rchrdarp@yahoo.com ROOT APHIDS - THE UNDERGROUND PEST ON SUCCULENT PLANTS: by Tom Dudek I recently noticed root aphids have been detected feeding on succulent plants like Sempervivium spp. in greenhouses. These whitish aphids, as with their name root aphid, can be noted in the root systems and cause leaf yellowing, plant wilting and tunting of plants. According to Ray Cloyd from Kansas State University Department of Entomology, Root aphids (Pemphigus species) overwinter as eggs and may feed on plants such as sedum, veronica, aster and coreopsis. They will also feed on herbs such as oregano and basil, and on hosta. Root aphids have piercing-sucking mouthparts; however, they feed on root tissue as opposed to aboveground plant parts (e.g., leaves). Root aphids may be misidentified as mealybugs because they are covered with white wax; however, they are generally smaller than mealybugs. Root aphids do not move around as much as foliar feeding aphids like melon aphids or green peach aphids, but will cause serious damage if not detected. They can move from plant to plant via the drainage holes in pots, or through irrigation water that drains from one pot to another. Early detection is critical, so periodically check succulents and other potential host plants by knocking off the pot and examining the roots. If root aphids are detected, remove infested plants from the facility. Avoid carrying-over stock plants or pet plants, which may harbor root aphids and be a potential source of infestation. In addition, use only new containers; avoid re-using old containers to reduce the risk of root aphid hitchhikers infesting new stock you brought in. Managing root aphids with insecticides may be limited because the entire growing medium profile must be thoroughly soaked, and the growing medium, depending on the percentage of bark and peat moss, may inhibit activity by binding to the active ingredient. Controlling root aphids with either contact or systemic insecticides will be a challenge because of the protective waxy coating present on the later stages, which prevents direct contact with the insecticide. According to Cloyd, Root aphids may hide under the root ball thus allowing them to escape exposure to any insecticide residues. Systemic insecticides may not be effective against root aphids as insufficient (non-lethal) concentrations of the active ingredient may not accumulate in the roots where they are feeding. Michigan State University Extension ornamentals entomologist David Smitley recommends applying imidacloprid or dinotefuran as a soil drench. Because the insecticides are absorbed by the roots, they can work well on root aphids. However, both insecticides move upwards within the plant, so they may not remain in the root tissue very long. For that reason, a second application may be needed two weeks later. Check product labels to see if it can be used more than once per season. Also, both of these insecticides are neonicotinoids and could be toxic to pollinators visiting the hosta flowers. Of these two products, dinotefuran will move into the plant more quickly and will not last as long.

4 JANUARY MINI SHOW RESULTS: Novice Division, Cacti: NONE ENTERED Novice Division, Succulent: 1 st - Joan Stewart w/ Euphorbia millii Novice Division, Blooming: NONE ENTERED Advanced Division, Cacti: 1 st - Barbara Coelho w/ Trichocereus carmarquensis crest 2 nd - Lesley Slayter w/ Echinocereus reichenbachii 3 rd - Barbara Coelho w/ Mammillaria carmenae Advanced Division, Succulent: 1 st - Jerry Slayter w/ Sedum sp. 2 nd - Barbara Coelho w/ Aloinopsis luckhoffii 3 rd - Barbara Coelho w/ Haworthia cooperii v. dielsiana Advanced Division, Blooming: 1 st - Barbara Coelho w/ Aloe 'Lavender' 2 nd - Barbara Coelho w/ Mammillaria spinosissima Open Division, Cacti: 1 st - Bill Poot w/ Eulychnia castanca monstrose 2 nd - Bill Poot w/ Tephrocactus alexanderi v. geometricus 3 rd - Brian Poot w/ Astrophytum myriostigma v. stroncylogonum Open Division, Succulent: 1 st - Brian Poot w/ Sempervivum heuffelii bloodstone 2 nd - Bill Poot w/ Jovabarba hirta astrid 3 rd - Bill Poot w/ Jovabarba allionii Open Division, Blooming: 1 st - Roelyn Poot w/ Crassula 'Bride's Bouquet' 2 nd - Brian Poot w/ Aloe longistyla 3 rd - Bill Poot w/ Veltheimia capensis Allied Interest: 1 st - Bill Poot w/ Lithops planter 2 nd - Pam Fish w/ Echeveria 3 rd - Pam Fish w/ Succulent planter MONTHLY MINI SHOW: OPEN TO ANY CLUB MEMBERS THAT WANT TO SHOW PLANTS! The mini show, held at the general meetings, is a time when you can bring your plants, to compete against other members plants. There are 10 categories: Cacti & Succulent, (Open, Advanced & Novice Divisions), Bloomers (anything in bloom, also three divisions) & Allied Interest (dish gardens or natural planters). You may bring up to 2 from each category. The forms for judging are available to take home so that you can fill them out prior to the meeting if you wish, or there will be some at the meeting as well. The plants are judged by the members attending that meeting; whoever receives the most votes wins that months mini show & will get their name in the next newsletter. The person(s) receiving the most votes at the end of the year will receive a gift from the club. WE ENCOURAGE ALL MEMBERS TO BRING PLANTS TO SHOW THROUGHOUT THE YEAR! FYI: The mini show categories are Novice - those with fewer than 5 years of showing in the mini-show. Advanced those who have shown for more than 5 years in the mini-show & does not sell more than $300 in plants a year. Open those who sell more than $300 in plants a year. Also you must own the plant for at least 6 months before you can show the plant in the mini show. Brian Poot, Mini show coordinator

5 EXPERT BILL HENDRICKS SHARES TIPS FOR CULTIVATING TRENDY SUCCULENTS: By Teresa Woodard Take a look around Bill Hendricks' collection of 4,000 succulents, and it's easy to understand the recent craze for these high-style, easycare plants. One with rosette shapes are taking center stage in container designs and bridal bouquets. More architectural forms are becoming the go-to accessory for today's mantels and tabletops. And still other strappy types are being tucked in living walls, galvanized frames, topiary forms, birch logs, thrift-store stilettos, vintage spice tins, fairy gardens, green rooftops and even doghouse tops. What trendy homeowners are now discovering, the 72-year-old Hendricks has known for decades. "I've always been fascinated with succulents," he says. "I'm fascinated by their diversity, their color and 'wow,' and their stories from different places all over the world." At age 7, Hendricks says, he bought his first succulent, a thick-leaved aloe plant, at a Cleveland dime store. He credits that still-living aloe plant with spurring his lifelong love of plants and leading him to a successful career in the nursery business. Today, he is president of the 500-acre Klyn Nurseries, a wholesale nursery in Perry, Ohio, and was Klyn Nurseries/TNS Bill Hendricks, owner of Klyn Nurseries in Ohio, was named 2014 Grower of the Year by Nursery Management Magazine. He sells hundreds of varieties of plants, but succulents are his real passion. I m fascinated by their diversity, their color and wow, and their stories from different places all over the world. named 2014 Grower of the Year by Nursery Management magazine. While his nursery grows 1,850 species of landscape plants, Hendricks says, he keeps the succulents as a hobby. "I'm not into sports; I'm into plants," Hendricks says. "That led me to an interest in geography and travel. So when I travel, I travel to see plants." Hendricks explains that all cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. Succulents are plants that have the ability to store water within their leaves, stems or roots. Like a camel's hump, these adaptations allow the plants to survive long stretches without water. (Cacti, on the other hand, are a distinct family of succulents and are distinguished by their signature spines.) Today, Hendricks grows succulents and cacti in a 100-by-30- foot greenhouse at Klyn Nurseries. All are meticulously labeled and grown mostly in clay pots packed onto raised tables, with a few hanging from containers. He points to one Eastern prickly pear cactus, or Opuntia humifusa he prefers using plants' botanical Latin names and shares the story of an East German plantswapping friend. In the 1960s, Hendricks had sent him seeds from this succulent found in Castalia, Ohio. Hendricks was surprised to learn in his friend's return letter that he was familiar with the town from his World War II days as a German officer; turns out, he had been a prisoner of war at nearby Camp Perry. As Hendricks walks to the center of the greenhouse, he shares a story of the ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) that once climbed to the ceiling with its Hershey Kiss-shaped base and palmlike top. In 1966, he purchased the plant in a 4-inch pot for $1.25. Over the years, it outgrew its various pots and eventually Hendricks' greenhouse. Although he found a new home for the plant at the Cleveland Botanical Garden, the 1,000-pound plant was too difficult to move, so it had to be cut into pieces and removed from the greenhouse. GROWING TIPS: Hendricks, who is president of the Midwest Cactus and Succulent Society and a frequent lecturer on succulents, offers advice on growing succulents. He not only draws lessons from personal experience but also his library of some 2,000 succulent articles and books. Plant succulents in containers with drainage holes. If there are no holes, add some with a drill or use a liner pot with holes. Water succulents thoroughly. Try placing a succulent pot in the sink and drenching it until water runs out the bottom. Let the pot thoroughly drain, then return it to its saucer on a windowsill. Allow plants to dry out between watering. Succulents prefer neglect, and one of the biggest mistakes made by beginners is overwatering them. Choose a well-draining potting mix. Look for a cactus potting mix or create your own mix with equal parts of potting soil, pea gravel and coarse sand. Give succulents as much sunlight as possible since most are sun lovers. A south- or eastern-facing window is ideal. Occasionally trim succulents to maintain a shape, clip away damaged leaves or clean up dried tips. In northern climates, keep succulents in a dry, indoor environment for the winter, then move outdoors for the summer. In southern climates, many succulents thrive outdoors year-round. Take a class at a garden center or public botanical garden. Continued on next page...

6 EXPERT BILL HENDRICKS SHARES TIPS FOR CULTIVATING TRENDY SUCCULENTS: Continued Many popular classes cover how to use succulents to create wreaths, vertical gardens, and terrariums or dish gardens. Join a local cactus or succulent society. For a listing, see the Cactus & Succulent Society of America's website ( ). SUCCULENT ADVENTURES: You'll find succulents at garden centers, botanical garden gift shops, big-box stores and succulent society plant sales. Also, many online sites specialize in succulents. For newbies, Bill Hendricks suggests the following: Aeonium: Enjoy these showy rosettes in green or dark burgundy. Aloe: Find variegated or textured varieties for something new. Crassula: Try jade plants or stacked varieties. Echeveria: Look for ones with fuzzy, ruffled and bordered leaves. Haworthia: Remember these aloelike miniatures for low-light conditions. Lobivia: Marvel at the vivid flowers of this easy-to-grow cactus. Mammillaria: Try one of the white-haired pincushion cacti. Notocactus: Never fail with one of these globular cacti. Rebutia: Count on these small, round cacti for their colorful blooms. Schlumbergera truncata: Celebrate the holidays with this Christmas cactus. COLD-HARDY SUCCULENTS GO TO EXTREMES: by Maureen Gilmer The Atlas Mountains ramble across northern Africa, rising up from the southern Mediterranean coast. They span from Morocco east to Tunisia, rising as high as the Alps above deserts to create a remarkably cold and dry habitat for plants. Most gardeners haven t heard of these ranges, although they are mentioned on the news more than ever as war spreads through the Middle East. This is the homeland of many sempervivum's, an incredibly cold-hardy genus of succulents that takes snow and drought in stride. Most succulents are from balmy southern Africa, where frost is rare, and the majority of them are too tender for frost-tinged gardens. But if you vicariously climb the Atlas Mountains by exploring these widely available plants, you ll quickly appreciate their tough beauty and versatility. With 40 genera bred into 4,000 named varieties, this is an enormous group that is a mainstay of colder northern European gardens, where much of the early breeding began. Long grown in Europe and Britain, they were dubbed house leeks because, as succulents, they grow well in roof thatch. Originally it was thought succulents helped reduce fire hazards by keeping thatch moist via root networks that would snuff out embers after lightning strikes. Their ability to live in straw over a long time without soil led to their oldest name, live forever the literal translation of sempervivum. Sempervivum's are rosette-shaped, ranging from an inch across to much larger. The traditional usage is in rock gardens, where they are tucked into gaps to hold the earth in place with their dense coverage. As they age, they spread via offsets into larger patches of plants. Those such as Sempervivum arachnoides produce white webby offsets on the end of long stems a feature that allows the plant to dangle off stone faces for a waterfall of color. The most popular way to grow them when the weather is colder is in heavy stone troughs and bowls able to stand out in the winter cold. These can be set on pedestals or raised surfaces to bring the miniature sedums and others up to eye levels, allowing their geometry and textures to be better appreciated. More recently the sempervivums are creeping into small tray or dish gardens for the patio or indoors, blended with less-hardy accent succulents. Often these are mixed into sparkling natural minerals, glass balls and colored gravels to create lovely, small compositions. When getting started with sempervivums, remember that the Atlas Mountains are dry and soils extremely well drained so these plants appreciate similar conditions in pots. Use cactus potting soil or make your own by mixing sharp sand with equal parts quality potting soil for the optimal balance between drainage and fertility. The best part about introducing a new succulent plant to your garden is the ease of propagation. That original becomes the mother of many babies when you sever and root offsets into a new freestanding plant. With hardy succulents, cold-climate gardeners can still enjoy the exciting new look without concern for frost. Grow in rocks, pots or anywhere elevated enough to ensure perfect drainage for jewel box beauty that lives forever outdoors, just as nature intended.

7 JANUARY MEETING PHOTO'S BY BRIAN POOT

8 JANUARY MEETING PHOTO'S BY BRIAN POOT STOCKTON CACTUS & SUCCULENT SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM Annual dues (January-December 2016) Single Membership.$20.00 Family Membership...$25.00 Contributing $35.00 Total Due$ Please Print: Name(s) Address City State Zip Do you want the newsletter Phone ed to you - Check 1 Yes No Birthday (Month Required) *Please mail this form, along with a check made payable to the Stockton Cactus & Succulent Society to the membership chairperson before the February general meeting to continue receiving the newsletter. Roelyn Poot East Hwy 120 Ripon, CA 95366