Golden Gate Cymbidium Society September 2018 A branch of the Cymbidium Society of America, Inc. Steven Beckendorf: Why Are There So Many Orchids?

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1 Golden Gate Cymbidium Society September 2018 A branch of the Cymbidium Society of America, Inc. The General Meeting September 26th, 7:30p.m. Lakeside Park Garden Center 666 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland, CA NEWSLETTER Steven Beckendorf: Why Are There So Many Orchids? Steve started growing orchids in the early 1980s and quickly became fascinated by Odontoglossums and their close relatives because of their beauty and variety. They had a glamorous past as the most sought after plants in the orchid frenzy that gripped Europe in the 19th century, and excellent hybrids were available on the West Coast. He soon realized that few of the species in this group were readily available, so he began collecting them for propagation and use in hybridizing. His attempts to find unusual or lost species have led to many trips to the cloud forests of Mexico and South America. As a geneticist and developmental biologist at the University of California, Berkeley, Steve has worked on the mechanisms that define tissues and organs in early animal embryos. Because of this background, he has been interested in several of the scientific aspects of orchids, including molecular taxonomy and deceptive pollination strategies. 1

2 Steve is passionately involved in orchid conservation and is a director of the Orchid Conservation Alliance (OCA) and a member of the Conservation Committee of the American Orchid Society. He is also an accredited AOS judge. President s Message Presidents message September 2018 Greetings Everyone! Oh my goodness! It is September already and time for us to come together again! I hope everyone had a wonderful summer and we all got our cymbidiums snug in new pots & medium.. Right? Hmmmm.. I still have a few left.. Oh well there s next year. We have some great speakers joining us this fall. Unfortunately I will be absent from our first meeting back. I hope many of you will turn out to support them and our society! I need everyone thinking of show themes, as that will be looked at next month. Please submit ideas to myself or Audrey. The winning name will receive a 1 year membership to CSA. Start setting some of your newly repotted plants or extra cymbidiums to donate to our auction in December.. Summer can be the most rewarding season for cymbidiums. Growths should be coming strong now. The leaves of the new growths are best when they are broad and fairly stiff. The color should be a light green to nearly yellow. Early flowering varieties should be showing flower spikes, so move the plants into a cooler area with lower light. For mid-season varieties, lower the dosage of nitrogen to assist in spike initiation. SueEducational Corner: The flower on a Cymbidium looks like a miniature Cattleya except the colors are not quite as dramatic. However, the Cymbidium is almost bullet-proof as far as its growth requirements and care are concerned. Cymbidiums grow and bloom best in a favorable outdoor environment and are hardy to temperatures as low as 25 F. There can be from 8 to 18, four inch flowers on each spike in a one-gallon sized container. The spikes will be as tall as or a bit taller than the leaves in the pot. Cymbidiums grow equally well in terra cotta, plastic or wooden containers. They will be happy there for up to three or four years when they should be put into a larger pot or divided. Care of Cymbidium Orchids When Dormant September - January Yes, cymbidiums are dormant when in bloom! What s happening: Almost like people, orchids need a chance to regroup before bursting from the gate with their year s best performance, the bloom. In fall, the leaves will stop growing as the plant s energy is diverted toward 2

3 the creation of that winter s bloom. In other words, much is going on beneath the surface. What to do: Reduce watering at this point and place the plant in a cooler, darker area for several weeks to signal the cooler season required to signal winter. Indoors a north facing window can work. Use a low nitrogen fertilizer September through January once a month. Use low nitrogen fertilizer form August until January to give the plant a rest. High nitrogen causes rapid foliage growth at the expense of the bloom. Different levels of the three components of fertilizer (Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium) signal the plant to expend its energies to specific parts of the plants. Nitrogen fuels growth of the fronds. Phosphorous revs up the blooms, and Potassium targets the roots. Keep media barely dry to almost moist throughout the winter. Happy Blooming! FYI Upcoming GGCS Programs Calendar of Orchid Events If you have online access please see the event calendar on our website: dlecturer #orchidclass #orchidraffle. Sept 22, 2018 Gold Coast Cymbidium Growers Present the Marron Honigman Orchid Collection Sale. Saturday 9 am - 2pm, 2351 Alto Avenue, Half Moon Bay, CA consisting of over 800 high quality Cymbidiums. Marron was an avid collector of the best of the best when it came to Orchids, especially 3

4 Cymbidiums. The plants have been cleaned and spriayed and many have been repotted and tested for virus. This is an opportunity to pick up some phenomenal plants with everything priced to sell! There are NO PRE-SALES. Come early for best selection & CARPOOL AS PARKING IS SPARSE. See Attached PDF for map and more directions. September 22, 2018 California Orchids Fall Sale Saturday, 9 am - 4 pm. Bolinas. Call Mary Nisbet directly to find the latest dates for their sales events (415) , September 26, 2018 Golden Gate Cymbidium Society - First Meeting of the Cymbidium Season Wednesday, 7:30pm. Lakeside Garden Center, Lake Merrit, 666 Bellevue Dr., Oakland. Meetings are the 4th Wednesday of the Month. Monthly meeting with a Show and Tell of lovely cymbidiums and other orchids, interesting orchid Lecturer and slideshow, members snacks and a Raffle table of great plants! Steve Beckendorf will be speaking on an interesting lecture of the "Diversification of the Orchid Species". For more speaker info, see the Next Meeting Page of their website at or Facebook 4

5 at GoldGateCymbidiumGrowers. #orchids #flowers #cymbidiums #SFBayArea #Oakland #growingbetter #mastergardeners #gardening #orchidlecturer #orchidclass #orchidraffle. September 29-30, 2018 Fascination of Orchids International Show and Sale Saturday 10 am - 5 pm, South Coast Plaza Village 1621 West Sunflower, Santa Ana (across from South Coast Plaza). Orchid Plants from local area growers of very notable collectors. Proceeds willbe donated to the Orchid Conservation Alliance to Preserving Orchids and their habitats. Check them out at GOLD COAST CYMBIDIUM GROWERS' PRESENT THE Marron Honigman 5

6 Orchid Collection Sale OVER 800 HIGH QUALITY CYMBIDIUM SEEDLINGS AND DIVISIONS OF SPECIES, AWARDED AND UNUSUAL H Y B R I D S - M U S T S E LL SAT.SEPT. 22 9:00AM-2:00PM 2351 ALTO AVE. HALF MOON BAY,CA MAP FOR THE MARRON HONIGMAN ORCHID SALE 2351 Alto Ave. Half Moon Bay This is a difficult place to find so read the directions below carefully and LOOK FOR THE BALLOON BY THE GREENHOUSE TAKE HWY #92 TO HWY #1. TURN RIGHT AND CONTINUE 1.5 MILES TO THE SCHICKENBERG NURSERY SIGN. THIS WILL BE OFF THE ROAD ON THE RIGHT AT THE SECOND DIRT ROAD (EXTENSION OF YOUNG AVE.) BEYOND THE STOP LIGHT AT RUISSEAU FRANCAIS AVE.. GO THROUGH THE GATE AND CONTINUE STRAIGHT TO THE SECOND SET OF GREENHOUSES ON THE LEFT JUST PAST THE WATER TOWER ON THE RIGHT. PARK WHERE POSSIBLE. FOR INFORMATION GOLDCOASTCYMGROWERS@GMAIL.COM OR CALL

7 Golden Gate Cymbidium Society Officers and Directors 2017/2018 President Sue D Vice President - Audrey Y-T Secretary - Ed M Treasurer & Membership - Helga M Past President - Cheryl P Directors: Terry B, Jim D, Trudy H, Jane T, Walter B, Audrey Y-T Web Mistress - Audrey Y-T Newsletter Editor - Walter, Margaret (510) CSA Rep - Florence I, [Cymbidium Society of America] 7

8 Golden Gate Cymbidium Society Next Board Meeting October 31, 6:30 p.m. Next General Meeting October 7:30 p.m. Lakeside Garden Center, Oakland, CA 8