Orchidacea. Orchidacea. Speaker for April 12, 2004 Rolf Wilhelm New Intergeneric Oncidiums Woodland Orchids

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1 Speaker for April 12, 2004 Rolf Wilhelm New Intergeneric Oncidiums Woodland Orchids R olf was born in Germany but moved to Australia when he was 18. It was there that he learned to speak English, thus explaining his somewhat "different" German accent. He traveled the world extensively in these earlier times and saw orchids both in botanical gardens as well as in the jungles He has done such interesting things as back-pack across New Guinea and spent 3 days lost in the jungles of Borneo. His interest in orchids started but at the time he had not been seriously infected with that incurable disease that we all suffer - ORCHIDIDOUS When Rolf first moved to the US, he moved to Louisiana, thus explaining a little more about his "different" German accent. After moving back to the Carolinas, Rolf met Linda, he was interested in what the funny looking little plants were that were growing all around the house. When she told him they were orchids, the bug finally got him and he caught up for all of that lost time. Eventually out of this "HOBBY" sprang Woodland Orchids a business since Both Rolf and Linda (an accredited judge for the American Orchid Society) enjoy going to shows and doing programs for orchid societies because of the many interesting, really great people that they get to meet. Their specialty in both speaking and growing is the Oncidiinae Alliance but like all good addicts, they enjoy growing and talking about just about anything related to orchids. Rolf & Linda Wilhelm 1816 Hart Road Charlotte, NC Phone: Fax: Linda at orchid_frau@woodlandorchids.com Your Thailand Orchids from Kultana will be at the April Meeting. Jack Webster informs us that TOS ordered over $3,000 worth of orchids with the total order from the 3 NC clubs totaling over 1450 plants. If you can t attend the meeting please contact some who will be there to accept your orchids. Newsletter of the Triangle Orchid Society Inside this issue: Minutes of last meting Treasurer s Report AOS Awards Announcements Jack Webster Greenhouse Grown Show Table Ribbons Orchid Crawl Greenhouse tour Jack Webster Non Greenhouse Ribbons Growing Tips for April 8-9 New Secretary George Bizub Mini Program Jack Webster will tell us about the care & feeding and potting up techniques of our imported bare rooted orchids. The Triangle 4 9 Orchid Society meets at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Durham, NC The Second Monday of the Month at 7:30 PM OrchidSociety.org

2 Page 2 TOS Officers and Board Members President Nicholas Plummer nickplummer@att.net (919) Vice President Michael Cory (919) April -March 2005 mcory@nc.rr.com Secretary George Bizub GBizub@bellsouth.net cell # Treasurer Michael Levy mlevy@nc.rr.com (919) Board of Trustees: 2003 Past President Nolan Newton nolan.newton@ncmail.net Board of Trustees: 2004 Amy Marshall (919) amy_marshall@urscorp.com Kenneth Sugioka (919) KennethSugioka@aol.com At Large Trustees 2005 Terry Moorhead transichun@aol.com Thom Reincke (919) reinckefamily@msn.com At Large Trustees 2006 Jack Webster (910) JWebster@pinehurst.net Judith Goldstein (919) OrangeGr@aol.com Minutes of the Last Meeting he March 2004 meeting of T the Triangle Orchid Society was held on Monday, March 8 th at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham NC. The meeting was called to order at 7:35 by President Nick Plummer. The minutes from the February meeting were accepted, as was the Treasurer s report. Announcements: Thom Reincke announced that the Orchid Crawl would probably take place on May 1 st, and asked all interested members to sign up on a sheet he had at the Welcome Table. Nick let us know that the plants from the Kultana orchid order would be distributed at the April meeting. As the evening s speaker did not have any plants for sale, there was a Members Plant Sale. There were a huge number of plants on the Show Table. Both Nick and John Martin reviewed the table plants. After a break for refreshments, Judith Goldstein made a plea for a new person to take on the Secretary job. LC Gold Digger-Species Analysis L cinnabarina C mossiae C lueddemanniana C dowiana C warscewiczii C mendelii Vice-President Mike Cory then introduced the speaker for the evening, Dr. Warren Stoutamire, who spoke about terrestrial orchids living in Mediterranean climate systems Dr. Stoutamire had some great slides taken in Australia and South Africa of plants that so far are not amenable to cultivation. The Jack Webster Award plants were as follows: for nongreenhouse grown, first place went to a Austrochilus rothchildiana grown by Terry Moorhead, second place went to a candy striped phalaenopsis grown by Suzanne Alexander, third place to Lc Gold Digger grown by Terry Moorhead. In the greenhouse-grown category, first place went to jumella arachnites grown by Alan Miller, second place to an ascocentrum miniatum grown by John Stanton, and third place went to Arpophyllum giganteum also grown by John Stanton. There were two raffle plants. The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 pm. Minutes submitted by Judith Goldstein, Acting Secretary Species unknown contribution 12.5U% C aurantiaca 50.00% C dowiana 14.06% L Lueddemanniana 3.13% C mendelii 1.56% C mossiae 1.56% C warscewiczii 4.09% L cinnabarina 12.50%

3 Page 3 AOS Awards at North Carolina Piedmont Orchid Society Show held in Charlotte on March 2, 2004 and the monthly judging held on March 20, NCPOS Paphiopedilum Ernest Read Aaron Cain AM 83 points, Dorcas Brogden, Mocksville, NC Dendrobium gouldii Riverwood s Magnifico CCM 88 points, Harry and Susie Gallis, Cornelius, NC Dtps. Orchidheights (Dtps. Sun Prince X Phal. Chih Shang s Stripes) HCC 77 points, Owens Orchids, Pisgah Forest, Coelogyne longibulbosa Shan CBR, Carolina Orchids, Fort Mill, SC Carolina Judging Center Raleigh Six lovely plants received AOS awards at the CJC monthly judging held on March 20, Paphiopedilum Cordovan Mentha HCC 78 points, Robin Mentha, Raleigh, NC Dendrobium sanderae var major Buckingham, HCC 79 points, Kelly and Elizabeth Sheeks, Statesville, NC Phalaenopsis aphrodite Chadwick, CCM 84 points, Chadwick and Sons, Powhatan, Va. Paphiopedilum Moussetianum Chadwick, AM 83 points, Chadwick and Sons, Powhatan, Va. Paphiopedilum delenatii Spirit, AM 84 points, Jack and Margie Kepley, Summerfield, NC Dtps. Rocky Roseblush (Dtps. Achy Breaky Heart X Dtps. Cloud Ballet) HCC 78 points, Breckenridge Orchids, NC Triangle Orchid Society Meeting Agenda: 7: 7:30 Set Up Show Table and Chairs 7:30-7:45 Business Meeting, Announcements 7:45-8:10 Show Table Review 8:10-8:30 Refreshment Break Calendar 2004 April 12th May 10th Speaker Rolf Wilhelm Woodland Orchids, Jack Webster Southern Pines Topic Intergeneric Oncidiums Quito, Ecuador and the Quito Show 8:30-9:20 Program 9:20-9:30 Show Table Awards, Raffle and Door Prizes June 14th Lucinda Winn J & L Orchids Hartford CT Warm Growing Masdevallias 9:30 P.M. Meeting Ends Welcome Table Refreshments April Barbara & Stan Martinkosky Claudia & Rey Aponte May Terry Moorhead Claudia & Rey Aponte

4 Page 4 Jack Webster Show Table Awards Greenhouse Grown First Place Ribbon Jumella arachnanthe Grown by Alan Miller Third Place Ribbon Arpophyllum gigantea grown by John Stanton Second Place to Ascocentrum miniatum grown by John Stanton

5 Page 5 TOS May 1st Orchid Crawl Please join us on May 1 st for our Spring TOS Orchid Crawl. Come for the whole day or pick-up with the group at the member's house you would like to visit. Lunch will be at John and Jeff's. Bring a sack lunch and we will provide drinks, cups, plates and silverware. If you need directions, please consult Mapquest. 9:00-10:00 Rick Cavallaro 6705 Foxfire PI, Raleigh, (Doughnuts and coffee will be served) Main green house is a kit from National Greenhouse. 12 ft X 28 ft built on a brick kneewall for added height. It is aluminum I beam construction with twin wall polycarbonate glazing. Natural gas heat, cool pad and lots of fans for air movement. It has a southern exposure. There is a smaller ( 6 ft X 12 ft) redwood frame, fiberglass glazed greenhouse on the north side of my garage with 680 watts of HID lighting to supplement the inferior northern light. This is my cool house in the winter and is heated with a 220 volt space heater. 10:30-11:30 Mike and Candy Joehrendt Birchfalls Dr., Raleigh, (18 min. drive from Rick's) Turner kit Greenhouse - 14x18. Easy to assembly kit for those who do not want to design it themselves. The Greenhouse consists of galvanized steel ribs and fiberglass covering. 12:00-1:15 John Martin and Jeff Bottoms Falls of Neuse Rd, Wake Forest, (17 min. drive from Mike and Candy's) John Martin has been growing orchids since about His first greenhouse was home-made, and has been moved and added onto several times. An engineering background proves beneficial for do-it-yourself growers. Jeff Bottoms became partner in 2000, having a strong horticultural background. The collection is varied, concentrating mainly on the slipper orchids. Other interests include exotic tropical and garden plants, and garden and floral design.

6 Page 6 2:00-3:00 Merlise and Ed 2529 Perkins Rd, Durham, (39 min drive from John and Jeff's) 3:30-4:30 Nick Plummer 9709 Greenfield Rd, Chapel Hill, (32 min drive from Merlise and Ed's) ' My greenhouse is a 10x16 structure built from pressure treated lumber and glazed with 8 mm twinwall polycarbonate panels. Building the greenhouse was a bit more work than a prefab kit, but I saved a significant amount of money. I learned a lot during construction and now have lots of ideas for improving my next greenhouse! For those who are interested in building their own, I found the Ortho book "All About Greenhouses" and the design guide at to be very helpful. The greenhouse is heated by a Southern Burner propane heater and cooled by an under-the-bench misting system. Since it houses a collection of succulents as well as tropicals like orchids and pitcher plants, I water by hand and do not mist above the benches. Region 13 International Phalaenopsis Association Meeting and Seagrove Orchid Fair The spring meeting of Region 13 IPA will be held at Seagrove Orchids in conjunction with the Seagrove Orchid Fair on Saturday, May 1, from 9 AM until 5 PM. There will be three speakers, an auction and lunch for a nominal fee. Please bring lawn chairs as the event will be held outside under the big top. There will be a limited number of folding metal chairs but they are not the most comfortable in the world. The Seagrove Orchid Fair will feature three outside vendors and everyone is welcome to attend. For more information, please contact Linda Thorne at orchidlinda@rtmc.net or

7 Page 7 Jack Webster Show Table Awards Non Greenhouse Category First Place Ribbon went to Austrochilus rothchildiana grown by Terry Moorhead, Second Place Ribbon to a Candy Striped Phalaenopsis grown by Suzanne Alexander Third Place Ribbon to Lc Gold Digger grown by Terry Moorhead

8 By Courtney T. Hackney at B y definition fertilizers are elements required by plants for growth. There about 30 to 40 of these depending on which book you read. Most of these elements are required in such small quantities that orchids acquire all they need from water unless you are using rainwater or R/O (Reverse Osmosis) as your water source. Community water that comes from rivers or groundwater almost always contains enough of the majority of micronutrients. Most orchid hobbyists need to worry about only five elements, notably Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, and Magnesium. The most important are the ones represented by the three numbers on fertilizer labels. They are Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium, and are always listed in that order, e.g Fertilizers with CalMag on the label have additional Calcium and Magnesium added. If the fertilizer label says Micronutrients, then the minor elements, usually present in most water, are also added to the fertilizer. These should be used if very pure water is used in your culture, such as rainwater or R/O water. Before worrying about fertilizer, be sure you understand what is in your water. Chlorinated water is not a problem for orchids if the water is suitable for drinking. Many homes, however, have water treatment systems to remove iron and excess minerals and soften water before it comes from the tap. While the water may be better for humans and your pipes, it should never be used on orchids. Softened water contains salts that are toxic to orchid Growing Tips for April Just adding fertilizer to water does not, however, insure that your orchid will derive any benefit from these nutrients. Page 8 roots. Fertilizers are salts too, and can harm orchids if used in excess. Far more damage is done to orchids by over-fertilizing than by under fertilizing. Just adding fertilizer to water does not, however, insure that your orchid will derive any benefit from these nutrients. The ph or acidity/alkalinity balance of water must be within a certain range before most nutrients are available. The best water for orchids is slightly acidic, 6-7 ph. Most water systems will provide you with an analysis of the water they supply. Such analyses usually include both ph and dissolved solids (salts) levels. Adjusting ph is more than most hobbyists are prepared to handle. To make this equation even more complicated is the fact that different fertilizers cause ph to change. That means that water that is nearly perfect for your orchids with respect to ph can be too high or too low for your orchids to take up nutrients once you add the fertilizer itself. This of course defeats the whole purpose of adding nutrients. When nitrogen in fertilizer is in the ammoniacal form or as urea, the ph at the plant root surface is lowered. Contrastingly, the nitrate form in a fertilizer causes ph to rise. When nitrogen is added, bacteria on the surface of the medium will also lower the ph of the medium. This is probably more complicated than most hobbyists can handle so here are a few rules. First, water thoroughly before adding fertilizer. This insures that roots absorb water first, which will dilute fertilizer that is added later. Thoroughly means running water through the pot or even coming back a second time to insure the pot and roots have been soaked. This also flushes out any salts on the medium and pot. More porous media require a more thorough soaking. After soaking the pot and medium go back and fertilize.

9 Second, use a dilute fertilizer solution. No matter what kind of fertilizer you use, the less you add, the less the ph will shift. Using ¼ to 1/8 the recommended level will provide all the nutrients your orchids need without any risk of damage. Page 9 Many hobbyists have adopted another approach that is being used by commercial operations as well. They use time-released fertilizer, which eliminates the need to fertilize at all. Nutricote, also sold as Dynamite at Home Depot stores lasts about six months and works extremely well. There are several different formulations with different ratios of nutrients and time release, but the balanced one that is used up after 6 months is probably best for most hobbyists. Sprinkle these granules around the pot as the growing season begins in late winter or early spring and don t worry about it until next year. The release of nutrients is amazingly constant with this product. By the time the nutrient release ends the growing season is over and orchids will not require additional nutrients. Phals, Paphs and other orchids that grow more or less continuously, however, will need fertilizer added in the fall to maximize blooms. Editor s note.: If you soften your water with Potassium Chloride instead of Sodium Chloride the softened water is not toxic but becomes a fertilizer. Rolf Wilhelm uses Potassium softened water. TOS has A New Secretary A fter Judith Goldstein laid her guilt trip on the membership, George Bizub volunteered to be the TOS s new Secretary. About George: George Bizub (biz'ub) Background: Chemical Engineer working in a data center as a Oracle Dba on large systems. Moved from Aiken, SC to Cary in 1999 for a job change. I have lived many places in the US; so I don't really claim any place as home. I really prefer Phoenix, AZ. Getting started: I saw some Orchids in Home Depot Winter of 2000 which were very healthy. Asked a couple of questions and purchased two. To my surprise they were still living after 3 months. For me house plants normally last about a month mostly because of the inconsistent watering schedule. Currently: I currently have about 100 Orchids in an extra room with a large grow light, clay pots, no water. I don't have enough time to handle the hard to grow varieties. I would get a small outdoor greenhouse but the home association does not New Secretary George Bizub, allow them. I have learned a lot from the Society and Acting Secretary, Judith Goldstein presentations which has reduced the failure rate. I do have many other plants outside and prefer the unusual. My greatest Orchid challenge is having the plant to re-bloom; since they seem to live now!

10 Page 10 Exit 14 The Triangle Orchid Society meets at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Durham, NC The Second Monday of the Month at 7:30 PM Exit 13 Program for April 12th Rolf Wilhelm Woodland Orchids Intergeneric Oncidiums From the East. Exit 13 on the Durham Freeway(#147) South on Chapel Hill Rd. right on Anderson St. Gardens on left. From the West. Exit 14 on the Durham Freeway (147) South on Swift Ave right on Campus Drive, right on Anderson St. Gardens on left. Associated with Sarah P Duke Gardens Alan J. Miller, Editor 5703 Orange Grove Rd. Hillsborough, NC (Fax (253) Phone (919) Triangle Orchid Society Dues $18 per year single, or $24 per year for two persons living at the same address. Mail to : Michael Levy, Treasurer, 2132 Beneventum Court Raleigh, NC Visitors are Welcome!