February 08 OSNWPA Newsletter - The Mid

The Keiki
The Keiki is an award winning publication of the
Orchid Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania
Volume 17, Number 2
February 2008
President’s
Message
Officers:
President:
Steve Kidder
1645 West 39th Street
Erie, PA 16509
814-866-1830
OFFICERS:
VICE
PRESIDENT:
Linda Donico
1754 West 24th Street
Erie, PA 16502
814-454-6980
[email protected]
Treasurer:
Susanne Lester
4152 Commodore Dr.
Erie, PA 16505
814-838-2522
Secretary:
it for us
Hospitality:
Pat Whitney
Historian:
Ange Saraceno
just have
At Large Members:
Kathleen Erb – 2008
this Pascaran
meeting.– 2009
Thelma
Jean Wilson – 2010
Steve Kidder
This month’s meeting will be held on February 10th from 3-5 p.m. at the
Zoo Activity Center.
Hopefully everyone is doing well along with your plants. Mine are doing well
and a lot of them are in bloom, but once again the little critters have showed up.
I had this problem earlier, sprayed and no sign of them anywhere and then, all
of a sudden I have an invasion!!! So to say the least, I’ve been spraying and
inspecting on a regular basis.
Last month’s meeting was very productive and we resolved a lot of issues. One
of them, for instance, was the membership dues. It was passed last month by a vote
to make the annual membership dues due and payable in January for all established
members. If a new member joins anytime from September thru December, their
membership will carryover thru to the next year. It’s like getting the 3 months free.
Linda borrowed a slide presentation from the AOS on Cattleyas and Marion narrated
it for us. Thank you to both of you. In addition, we had a nice raffle which
consisted of an assortment of Phragmipediums, Cymbidiums and Masdevallia.
This month the meeting will focus on several topics. The first topic will focus on the
show. We need to discuss and appoint committees to oversee and coordinate the
tasks in preparation of the May event. Then we will have a discussion and
demonstration on repotting. Plus this would be a good time to start the culture
sessions back up. So, if you are having problems with your plants or
general questions, this will be the time to ask.
Hopefully the weather will stay decent and everyone can make it to
Membership:
$15.00 single
$20.00 Family
Make check payable to:
The Orchid Society of
NW. Pennsylvania
(OSNWPA) and mail to:
OUR COVER ORCHID
Cymbidium Gold Mine ‘OSOS Sunset”, GA/CSA, AM/
AOS
Susanne Lester
4152 Commodore Dr.
Erie, PA 16505
THIS MONTHS
HOSPITALITY IS
HOSTED BY:
STEVE KIDDER
Gold Mine = Cymbidium Agnes Norton X Cymbidium Jolity
A hard to come by gold medal winner!
Flowers are lemon-yellow with rose-red suffusion, lips heavily banded with red.
An intermediate sized cymbidium, cool growing. January - February blooming
For the Best Blooming of your Cymbidiums, keep them outdoors or in a place which is
cool at night (40-55F is ideal and they are tolerant down to freezing) until the first flower
opens. In temperatures that are too warm, buds may drop. If the location has bright
filtered light, the flower color will be brighter. Keep them in about 55% shade.
When watering a cymbidium, water thoroughly, and then allow the mix to almost dry out
before watering again. Run copious amounts of water through the soil, first to wet the mix
and then again for the roots to drink up. Thorough watering also helps prevent salt buildup, which can result in tip-burn (browning on the tips of the leaves).
THE SUPER BOWL for ORCHID ENTHUSIASTS
Copyright © 2008, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
The 19th World Orchid Conference and Show in Miami was like a big birthday party for orchid addicts. For these
hard-core enthusiasts, the event at the end of January was an experience second only to being transported to the rain
forests of South and Central America to see the orchids in their natural habitats. The show is held once every three
years in some exotic orchid-growing location, which means the only place you won't see it is Antarctica, the one place
on earth where orchids don't grow. This was the first time in more than two decades the show has been held in the
United States, and Miami is the only city to host the show twice. The last time it was held in the United States was
in 1984.
Well-to-do owners of hot-house orchids were once members of an exclusive club, but now that cloning has become
commonplace, so has orchid ownership. That's why you can buy them at The Home Depot and Wal-Mart for less than
a good rose bush. So what is it exactly that makes this flower so captivating?
Maybe it's just the thrill of getting it to rebloom. Orchids are not really as difficult to grow as legend would have it, but
they appear to have minds of their own. After all, most of them don't even grow in soil. If you plug in "growing orchids"
at Amazon.com's book section, you will get hundreds of books. It is a safe bet these books have different, and
sometimes conflicting, advice on how to coax those magnificent blooms out of your plants.
But even the most rabid fan had to get his or her fill from this exhibit's overload of colors, shapes and fragrances. I
bussed down there with a group of garden club members from District XI of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs
late in the morning of the first day. It was probably not the best time for bargains at the 85 vendor booths, but a great
time to peruse and photograph the 75 thematic displays, each awash in hundreds, if not thousands, of fresh orchids
from all the most popular varieties.
There were orchids in trees, orchids near water, orchids around a fake volcano, orchids in picture frames, orchids in
baskets and pots and arranged in vases and orchids lined up on tables for judging. In some places these oh-sotraditional flowers were incorporated into modern sculptures; in others they had live flamingos and parrots as props. In
some ways all the hoopla was a wasted effort; in every case, just the flowers alone would have made the show.
I started to say there were orchids on display from every species imaginable, but since there are between 25,000 and
30,000 identified species of orchids and 130,000 artificially created orchid hybrids, I have to back off that hyperbole.
People watchers had to be amused by the visitors trudging up and down the aisles with bags and rolling carts full of
gangly plants and bobbing flowers. A giveaway of huge, 3- and 4-foot-long unpotted Vandas at the Singapore booth
made it even harder to move through the aisles without getting whacked in the head with a wayward orchid spike. It's
hard to imagine a place with more amateur photographers, most of them trying to figure out how to cope with the
fluorescent lighting that turned those spectacular sweeps of deep purple Vandas blue on their digital displays.
*Christine Winter Juneau is a National Wildlife Habitat steward and president of the Parkland Garden Club.
Singapore orchids turn to gold internationally
Miami,Florida: Orchids and Singapore have become even more firmly
entwined on the world stage. At the prestigious 19th World Orchid
Conference in Miami, orchids from Singapore picked up 26 awards for
individual plants as well as two top display awards.
The event which is the most significant and largest regular event in the
international orchid calendar saw the garden display created by Singapore’s
National Parks Board in partnership with the Orchid Society of Southeast
Asia, taking the Gold Medal for International Display and Best of Show
award, along with two other top awards.
The design titled "Orchids in Harmony" is a 50 sqm display of a modern
Asian courtyard garden which also reflects the cultural diversity of
Singapore through the use of different colours and types of tropical orchids.
WORLD ORCHID CONFERENCE BEST in SHOW:
A spectacular multifloral lady slipper orchid, with long, undulating petals and golden
pouches, won grand champion as best plant of the show at the 19th World Orchid
Conference, open in Miami through Sunday. Exhibited by Krull-Smith of Apopka, the
superbly grown Paphiopedilum Michael Koopowitz is a cross between Paph.
philippinense and Paph. sanderianum. The plant is three feet tall and four feet wide,
with petals extending 2 A1 2 feet. Frank Smith, the company's owner, said the plant is
not for sale, but he estimated its value at $25,000.
The grand champion exhibit was created by R.F. Orchids of Homestead. 'On the Road
to Mandalay' depicts the stone forests of southern China and brims with 1,000 flowers,
including deep blue and lavender Vanda hybrids for which R.F. has become famous.
The exhibit also included the warm-growing Cymbidium Golden Doll, which won
several awards, and 16 other award winners.
Nearly 200 awards were given, according to Robert Fuchs, World Orchid Conference
president and owner of R.F. Orchids. Flowers were brought by growers from all over
the world, from as far away as Taiwan, Singapore, Australia and South America.
The reserve champion plant award went to a huge specimen of Eria javanica, which
has star-shaped, cream-colored flowers. It was entered by Amazonica Orchids of
Homestead.
Eria javanica
Star-shaped, creamy yellow flowers packed onto a graceful arching spike. With very attractive
foliage throughout the year. Warm to Intermediate. Fall blooming. Species from South East Asia.
The reserve champion exhibit award went to Krull-Smith for a Japanese garden of
flowers, including a tree made of pink-flowering Phalaenopsis orchids, and dozens of orange-flowering Phragmipedium besseae
lining the banks of a stream.
Copyright © 2008 Miami.com, All Rights Reserved.
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Q. A recently purchased moth orchid that was loaded with buds bloomed for only a couple of weeks before
the remaining buds dried up and fell off. Do you have any ideas why?
A. While moth orchids (phalaenopsis) are considered one of the easiest orchids to grow indoors, discolored or
dropping buds usually signal one or more problems with temperature or watering.
Moving plants from one environment to another can create a houseplant version of transplant shock, especially in the
winter when insufficiently protected plants are exposed to cold outdoor temperatures. Make sure newly purchased
moth orchids are carefully wrapped for the trip home. Once there, avoid placing plants by windows where nighttime
temperatures can drop suddenly and/or fall below 65 degrees.
Moth orchids also require soil that is evenly moist. Plants should be watered until excess moisture is dripping from the
container's drainage hole. Use only room temperature water. Then allow the potting material to become slightly dry
before watering thoroughly again. Moth orchids will not tolerate soggy roots, so do not allow containers to sit in
saucers with standing water. When repotting, use a quick-drying terra-cotta pot and fast-draining, bark-based orchid
mix. Moth orchids blossoms should last for two to three months.
SPECIES ORCHIDS
Catasetum tenbrosum
This species is native to Peru. It has large pseudobulbs that go
dormant in the cooler months. This plant has pleated leaves, a long
inflorescence in spring-autumn. 2-inch male flower are showy maroon
to brown-red with yellow lip, while the female flowers are yellowgreen.
A pot or basket is required; plants should not be over potted. Use a
rich media that will stay damp but not wet. After the dry dormant
period, plants can be repotted, at which time the bulbs can be
separated to initiate new plants. Catasetums are deciduous and
become dormant in winter, to the extent that plants can be removed
from the orchid house and kept dry until spring. Warm to
intermediate growers, but because they are dormant in winter, they
can be grown in cold climates.
Phalaenopsis schilleriana
One of the most desired and prettiest of all phalaenopsis, with its
mottled silver gray and green leaves. The undersides of the leaves are
a dark reddish purple.
The showy, pink, fragrant flowers are stunning. They have a rose petal
fragrance. It produces many 3 " flowers on a branching, arching to
pendant spike. On mature plants the inflorescence are pendent and can
hang down nearly 3 feet and carry up to 200 flowers. It is an
outstanding plant in or out of bloom.
An epiphytic plant, found high up on trees, from Luzon and other
smaller surrounding islands of the Philippines. A warm grower, it likes
shade, good humidity and even watering year round.
Epigeneium lyonii -
( eh–pee–GEEN–ee–um)
This Genus of sympodial orchids is found in mountainous regions of
Southeast Asia. There are 35 or so species in cultivation. They are
related to the Dendrobium and enjoy similar conditions. Many have a
climbing growth habit and are more suitable for mounting on a large
piece of bark than to plant them in pots. Shallow saucers or hanging
baskets have also been successful with these plants. They also like
semi-shade.
Orchids with sympodial growth have a specialized lateral growth
pattern in which the terminal bud dies. The growth continues by
development of new shoots sprouting from or next to those of previous
years (such as in the genus Cattleya or Cymbidium). The base of the
stem of sympodial epiphytes, or in some species essentially the entire
stem, may be thickened to form what is called a pseudobulb. These
contain food reserves for drier periods. At their end appear one or two
leaves, or sometimes four or more.
Memberships are due now
If you haven’t already done so, your Annual Membership is due now. If you need to renew your membership or you
know someone who would like to join the Society, I have included the membership form below.
The Annual membership dues are as follows: $15.00 for a single membership and $20.00 for a family membership.
Please make check payable to: The ORCHID SOCIETY of NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA – OSNWPA
And mail to: Susanne Lester – 4152 Commodore Drive, Erie, PA 16505
________ $15 Single Membership
_______ $20.00 Family Membership
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2008 CALENDAR of EVENTS
Feb 24 – 25
Greater Lansing Orchid Show and Sale – Michigan State University Easr Lansing, MI
Call: 248-698-3045 for directions
March 3 – 4
Greater Akron Orchid Society Donzell’s Garden Center – 937 East Waterloo Rd, Akron OH
Call Heather @ 330-830-9660
March 4 – 11
2008 Philadelphia Flower Show – PA Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA
Contact Jane Pepper @ 215-988-8800
March 17-18
Ann Arbor Orchid Show – Matthai Botanical Gardens Ann Arbor, MI
March 24-25
OSWP Spring Show “Orchid Party in the Park” at Phipps Garden Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Mar 29 - Apr 1 Genesee Region Orchid Society Show, Eisenhart Auditorium, Rochester 657 East Ave,
Rochester, NY - 585-254-9067
Mar 30 – Apr 1 Southwestern PA Orchid Society – Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA 610-431-7633
'Vanishing Orchids’
By Charles Runnells
Oncidium Papillo
Cattleya Rex
You'll probably never get this close to a real, wild Cattleya rex, or an Oncidium papillo. Not without feeling a pang of
guilt, anyway.
Orchid regulators have banned these rare orchids from coming into the United States and many other countries,
explains orchid expert Jack Kramer of Naples. The reason: Harvesters are stripping the Amazon rain forest, and
regulators fear many of these orchids might go extinct.
Now a new art exhibit at Naples Botanical Garden lets nature lovers marvel at these delicate, endangered beauties —
and still feel good about themselves later. "You'll probably never see these orchids again," Kramer says. "They're lost
to us."
Kramer has been collecting hand-painted, antique illustrations of orchids for four decades. This exhibit shows the
rarest of those illustrations from the 19th century. Some of these color plates are worth $600 to $900 each, he says.
All of them are also available for purchase. The 40 illustrations come from various antique botanical books and feature
some of the most famous artists of the time: The Linden Brothers, Harriett Miner, Walter and Nugent Fitch and more.
Jill Berry, the garden's director of external affairs, says the exhibit fits perfectly with the garden's mission of educating
people about plants and plant conservation. "And they're just beautiful," Berry says”Plants are at risk and need to be
taken care of. It's not hard to give that message when they're so pretty." Kramer certainly knows a thing or two about
orchids. He's written five books about them, including "Growing Orchids at Your Windows," which saw four printings
between 1968 and 1972.
Kramer got his first orchid in 1968 and became fascinated by their color and beauty. He began growing orchids in the
solarium of his apartment building, and soon had about 300 of them.
Tropical Sipper Orchids
Available: 1-15-08
AND
The New Encyclopedia of
Orchids: 1500 Species in
Cultivation
Available: 7-15-08
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