SOUTHERN ONTARIO ORCHID SOCIETY April 2019, Volume 54, Issue 4 Meeting since 1965 Time to renew your Membership for 2019

Next Meeting Sunday, April 7, 2019, Floral Hall of the Toronto Botanical Garden.

Vendor sales noon to 1pm.

Noon, Culture talks on the stage by Alexsi Antanaitis. Topic: Watering

Program at 1pm . Four simultaneous round table sessions on: Recognizing pests and diseases by Inge Poot, Potting media and repotting by Alexsi, Humidity by Synea Tan, Orchid genealogy by Terry Kennedy. Each session will be repeated four times to give everyone a chance to participate.

Monthly show table. Bring your flowering for show and tell and points towards our annual awards.

Raffle

more time outside. Hopefully my orchids will be outside by mid-May. My plants have done quite well this winter as I diligently fertilized them weekly (weakly) now that I have an AquaBlend injector. I mix up a batch of concentrate, turn on the hose, and away I go. For those with big collections, it is a real time saver and much more efficient for me than the old Hozon that I used years ago. I hope that you were able attend Dave SOOS Display at RBG Show Sorokowsky’s (Paph Paradise) presentation on Paphiopedilum’s at our last meeting. Dave is doing President’s Remarks Welcome Orchid his own breeding with one of the goals to develop Enthusiasts, The clocks may have moved ahead quicker (and easier) blooming multi-floral Paph’s. and the days are longer, but there was still ice and Many of you purchased plants, so I’m looking snow on the ground, and some in the air too, as I forward to seeing the results on the show table in write this in mid-March. I’ve usually taken my the future (hint, hint). mulching mower to my herbaceous perennials and On April 7, we are having our Round Tables where grasses in the garden by now, but there is still too a number of our own SOOS experts will share their much snow on the ground. I’m anxious to spend knowledge and tips, on 4-5 subjects. These are interactive sessions that last 10-15 minutes each, Nov.3 George Hatfield, Hatfield Orchids , before it is time to switch. Oxnard, CA Cymbidiums Don Wyatt, Chee Chong, Cathy Dunn and John Vermeer took to the road for the Orchid Society of The treats for the April meeting “social break” fall to the Royal Botanical Gardens Show in Burlington on the members with the last names beginning with H Feb. 23-24. Initially it appeared that I might have to through to K. Thank you to the members E do the show on my own (that was a panic!!), but through to G who brought treats for our previous thankfully the weather and circumstances fell into meeting. place so that did not happen. I learned a lot about Stay warm, and we will see you soon. all the hard work that goes into arranging for plants, the logistics for getting them to the show, and back John Vermeer (safe and sound), registering the plants, doing the tags and then how to put together a wonderful award winning display (“Best Visiting Orchid Society”), with numerous ribbon awards. Long time SOOS member, enthusiastic orchid hobbyist Thanks to all involved in setting up, taking down and conservation activist Tom Shields has passed away. and those behind the scenes securing and Tom was a conservation committee mainstay and providing plants (Synea, Jocelyn, Agnes, Laura and served additionally as the conservation person for the Heinz). Canadian Orchid Congress. He was instrumental in SOOS will be participating in the following spring promoting conservation displays at our annual shows. shows which are coming up fast and furious every His family has requested privacy at this time, but we 2 weeks; extend Monika and her daughters our deepest London Orchid Society Show: Mar. 16-17 sympathy. We will all miss Tom a great deal. – Laura Liebgott and Jocelyn Webber will be doing the display Les Orchidophiles de Montreal, Mar. 30- 31 – Laura Liebgott will be doing the display Toronto Artistic Orchid Association Show Apr. 13-14 – Don Wyatt will be doing the display Ottawa Orchid Society Show, Apr. 27-28 - Laura Liebgott will be doing the display Our show, and the other shows we participate in, would not be nearly as successful without the participation of visiting orchid societies. Please help Laura, Don, and the other travelling SOOS ambassadors by allowing your flowering beauties to travel to out of town shows as part of the SOOS exhibits. Terry Kennedy has done a wonderful job arranging for speakers at our meetings, and has a full line-up for the rest of the year; Apr.7 Round Tables May 5 Shawn Hillis, Garden Slippers, Calgary, Alberta, Cypripediums Jun.2 Melissa McCormick, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Washington, DC (topic to be determined) Aug.4 Orchidfest, Alan Koch, Gold Country Orchids, Lincoln, California Sep. 1 Glen Decker, Piping Rock Orchids, Plant of the Month for March, 2019. Galway, NY Sue Loftus walked away with the honors this month with her striking Laeliocatanthe Tzeng-Wen Love Oct.6 Dr. Kristen Uthus, New World (Laeliocattleya Puppy Love x Guarianthe aurantiaca). It Orchids, Manchester, Michigan had lovely pink clusters on tall stems – unmistakably a Laelia anceps progeny! She grows it in a Ethical growers approved by NANPS at all sales with cool SW facing bay window where the plant gets good knowledgeable volunteers available for assistance. Free bright afternoon sun. She puts it under lights to make it admission and parking. www.nanps.org for more set flower spikes. The light set-up contains nine pairs of information. tubes. The plant makes two growths per year and both flower in late winter. She has had the plant for about two years. It ia in a bark mix and she has not repotted it AOS Judging Results so far. Congratulations on a lovely flowering result, Sue! RBG Show, February 23, 2019. kingianum (‘?’) JC-AOS, ?. We are on facebook at: Paphiopedilum Fiesta Lights ‘?’ HCC-AOS 78 points, Dr. https://www.facebook.com/groups/29 Busse. 8874747302722/ Toronto Centre, March 2, 2019. And Paphiopedilum Petula’s Love Song ? AM-AOS 82 points, www.facebook.com/SOOSOrchid/ Lehua Orchids. on Instagram at Paphiopedilum Hawaiian Love ? HCC-AOS 75 points, instagram.com/soosorchid/ Lehua Orchids.

London Ontario Show, March 16, 2019: Coming Events 2019 Clowesia B-C Fernande ‘Snowdrift’ AM-AOS 80 points, March Bernie Butts and Chuck Lefaive 22-24, AOS Members Meeting, San Diego, California. 28-31, Manitoba Orchid Society Show, Winnipeg. Paphiopedilum delenatii ‘Double Bubble’ HCC-AOS 75 28-31, Genesee Orchid Society Show, Rochester, NY. points,?. 30-31, Montreal OrchidExpo and Montreal Judging. Paphiopedilum (Sin Ying Heron x sukhakulii )’?’ HCC-AOS April 76 points, ? 6, TJC Monthly AOS Judging at TBG. 6, Quebec City Orchidofolie. Paphiopedilum haynaldianum ‘Sheila’ CCM-AOS 82 7, SOOS meeting, Toronto Botanical Garden, sales points, John Marcotte 12 noon, program 1 pm, Floral Hall 13-14, TAOA Orchid Show, Toronto. Paphiopedilum Leeanum ‘Sarah’ CCM-AOS 84 points, 27-28, Ottawa Orchid Society Show, Ottawa. Sean Moore. May

4, TJC Monthly AOS Judging at TBG. Next judging April 6, 2019 at the TBG Agenda Education 10 am 5, Ontario Rock Garden Society Plant sale at TBG Floral a) Dendrobium cuthbertsonii-Leslie Ee, Hall, 11-2 PM b) aurantiaca and Its Hybrids-Liz 5, SOOS meeting, Toronto Botanical Garden, sales McAlpine, 40 min. 12 noon, program 1 pm, Floral Hall? 18, Monthly Montreal AOS judging, Jardin botanique de Judging 1 pm. Montreal AOS Judging is a service of the American Orchid Society and is open to all! Bring us your flowering orchids. The North American Native Plant Society is proud to announce three native plant sales planned for this spring. RBG Show, SOOS Display Ribbon winners May 4 | Toronto Botanical Gardens | 777 Lawrence 1st place ribbons Ave E | Toronto | 9:30 - 2:30 | Pre-order available AOS Affiliated Society Display of more than 15 flowering soon orchids Southern Ontario Orchid Society 1st +BEST in May 19 | Riverwood | 4150 Riverwood Park Lane | CLASS, Don Wyatt Mississauga | L5C 2S7 | 12 - 4 Cymbidium sinense Max Wilson May 26 | Christie Pits Park | 750 Bloor St W | Paphiopedilum Leeanum Heinz Ernstberger Christie Subway Station | Toronto | 12 - 4 Phragmipedium humboldtii 'Fortuna' Synea Tan BEST in CLASS Phalaenopsis Yu Pin Polar Bear, Synea Tan Phalaenopsis Dragon Tree Eagle x Nobby's Fox, Synea Tan Cattleya Rth. Toshie's Charm, John Vermeer Cattleya Rth. Star Fire, John Vermeer Cattleya Rlc. Hsinying Angel 'Hsinying' John Vermeer Epidendrum Yellow Magnolia John Vermeer

2nd place ribbons Epidendrum Yellow Magnolia John Vermeer Phragmipedium China Dragon Agnes Hastick Phalaenopsis Sogo Relex Synea Tan Phalaenopsis Taisuco Mickey 'Burgundy' Synea Tan Clowesia Rebecca Northern 'White Wonder' Chee Chong

3rd place ribbons Paphiopedilum delenatii fma vinicolor '#3' x delenatii fma vinicolor '#7', Synea Tan Cattleya Rlc. Ruby Ace 'Abe' Synea Tan Chysis bractenscens, Chee Chong Dendrobium Mini Snowflake, Synea Tan () Trichocentrum splendidum, Laura Liebgotttt Prosthechea cochleata, Laura Liebgott Cattleya Mcv. Frances Fox, Laura Liebgott Phragmipedium Sedenii , Cathy Dunn Phragmipedium Nicholle Tower, Agnes Hastick Phragmipedium Rosy Gem, Agnes Hastick Cattleya Rlc. Toshie's Magic, Jocelyn Webber Coelogyne Bird in Flight , Agnes Hastick .Crystal Star Orchids Cattleya Rlc. Husky Boy 'Michael', John Vermeer

broker service with over 15 top orchid

nurseries

Summer Open House From June to August weekends only From 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. By appointment only Tel: 905-478-8398 or email : [email protected] 20815 2nd Concession Road East Gwillimbury Ontario L9N 0G9

Ching Hua Orchids, In Charm, Krull Smith, and Sunset Valley.

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March 3, 2019 Show Table Ribbons

Class First Second Third Class 1 Lc. Tzeng-Wen Love Rth. Toshie's Charm Rlc.Stippled Sunset Cattleya Alliance Sue Loftus John Vermeer 'SVO Sunspot' X C. C. Orchidglade 'SVO' Katherine Clarkson HCC/AOS X C.Fire Fantasy 'SVO' HCC/AOS 'H&R', John Vermeer John Vermeer Rth. Star Fire John Vermeer Class 2 Phrag. humboldtii Paph. thaianum ‘Wedding Paph. wenshanense Paphiopedilium 'Fortuna' Synea Tan Bells’ AM/AOS, Stanley Luk X belatullum Paph. wenshanense Stanley Luk Stanley Luk Class 3 Phal. Dragon Tree Eagle X Aerangis luteoalba var Phal. Hornglin Gentle Phalaenopis and Nobby's Fox rhodosticta Joe DiCiommo Alliance Synea Tan Synea Tan Class 6 Den.nobile type Den. no name Dendrobium Sue Loftus Sue Loftus

Tolumnia Culture by Susan Wedegaertner, transcribed by Inge Poot

Susan just finished being chair of the Pacific Central Judging Centre and has now taken on the daunting job of president of the American Orchid Society. In between these time gobbling jobs she has also done a lot of travelling, lately to Taiwan and Japan. And on top of all that, she takes care of her extensive collection – beautifully!

Tolumnia used to be called equitant . The old name is derived from their succulent, leathery that are arranged in fans. They are miniature plants that only do well if their requirements are properly met.

The is native in the Caribbean, with many coming from Cuba. The pale blue-green shaded area of the ocean of the map gives you the distribution of the genus. Yellow is the predominant colour of in the genus. But some red occurs too and is selected for in hybridizing.

Temperatures: If you have ever visited the Caribbean you will have noticed that it is warm there: 60F (15C) nights and 80F (27C) days are an average. Extremes are 25F (-3.5C) and 150F (66C). Tolumnia hate temperatures below 15C/ 60F. So as long as you can give them a good temperature drop at night, house temperatures are not bad.

Air Movement: Being surrounded by oceans, the air is always moving in their homeland: so supply a slight breeze with a fan blowing beside the plants, but not right onto them. Without breezes they take too long to dry out and become prone to rot – they did not have to get adapted to still air and the resulting fungus attacks, so they succumb quickly to rots if they stay wet too long. They like the breeze to be warm – so no cold blasts from open windows in the cool to cold months.

Watering and humidity: when Susan waters, she waters as early as possible in the day as possible (to be sure they are dry by nightfall and she waters twice to give the roots time to absorb the water. Any water that is suitable for other orchids is just fine for Tolumnias. In her greenhouse she needs to water every one to two weeks in the summer and every two to three weeks in the winter. Here in Toronto that may not be often enough, because we do not have the humidity, especially in the winter. At best we may have to reverse the order and water once per week in the summer and twice per week in the winter. Less often if the humidity is high. Do not water or mist every day! But do try to get the humidity to 60-70%. Keeping the plants as warm as and misting every day may be needed, for reluctantly blooming species. Susan heats her greenhouse with radiant heat from a hot water pipe put in the ground. (It would increase humidity too as long as the soil above the pipes is kept moist).

Fertilizing is done during three waterings and then the fourth watering is with plain water. Susan uses the same fertilizer as for any other orchid, in her case 18-18-18. Remember that using a fertilizer that has all the micro-nutrients added will make the plants more resilient under less than perfect cultural conditions.

Potting: Because the genus is prone to rot, it is important to pot correctly. Always pot the plant high enough so that the medium is below the crown. Susan mounts most of her Tolumnia on cork bark. She drills a hole in the top and puts in a hook. She then places a small pad of sphagnum on the cork bark and places the plants’ roots over the pad.

Then a bit of wet sphagnum goes over the roots.

She then uses clear fish line to tie the plant on top of the pad unto the bark, tightly.

She then pushes a finger, pencil or similar object behind the plant so that it is not touching the bark, but leans out a bit. This allows air and water to get right into the roots and sphagnum, but not keep the crown wet. Repot only when the plant falls off the mount or looks unhappy. Pantyhose had been suggested to use instead of fish line, but Susan finds that the tied part in the back of the mount gets too bulky.

Since all her pieces of cork bark have a hook in them, the rafts can be hung easily. They really only need vertical space, created by putting corn-crib or chicken wire around posts in the greenhouse and hanging the rafts from the wire.

Susan gets new, rejected corks from a factory near her and they work great for small plants. If you want to use corks from your emptied wine bottles, make sure you soak them well to get all the acid and alcohol out first. Some people prefer to plant Tolumnia in clay pots and use expanded clay, (eg. LECA), as a medium. You have to water more often than if they are on sphagnum on a raft and you must be sure the base of the plant is above the medium.

Some tips that don’t fit under the above topics:

Many Tolumnias make “keikis” or baby plants, on old flower spikes. So don’t cut any finished flower spikes as long as they remain green! One clone that does the keiki trick really well is Tolumnia Golden Sunset ‘Bob’, a bright yellow flowered clone.

For transport be sure to stake inflorescences. The stakes can be inserted between the plant and the cork mount. When the growing area gets too hot the first thing that happens is that the flowers wilt and die.

To show us what lovely flowers her plants can produce, our speaker showed us the slides of two awards she received in 2009: These are intergeneric crosses with the related genus Rodriguezia. However, Tolumnia very much dominates in these crosses. The red-pink and white have quite disappeared in both crosses!

Pests: Mealy bugs and scale insects love Tolumnias. They must be gotten rid of or they may kill the plants. Spray with rubbing alcohol that contains 50% isopropyl (not ethanol!) alcohol after manually removing all adults that you can see. Spray the sphagnum moss lightly too since especially mealy bugs hide in media. 3% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is another option which is even good for the roots, because it releases oxygen as it decomposes. Safari (granular) applied at the rate of 1/8th teaspoon per American gallon (4 liters) of water works very well! Quarantine any infested plants and treat them individually, since none of the treatments are exactly beneficial to these somewhat delicate plants.

Sources of plants: Orchidom in the Dominican Republic is the only large commercial source left for this genus. They are breeding mainly for reds and purples.

Jeanne Keading, a judge of our Toronto Judging center who resides in Rochester, NY also does some Tolumnia breeding.

Multifloral Paphiopedilums by David Sorokowsky, transcribed by Inge Poot Introduction: What is a multifloral Paphiopedilum?  Paphiopedilums from sections Corypetalum and Paradalopedilum  It is a Paphiopedilum that produces an inflorescence with two to 10 or more flowers per inflorescence.  Flowers open sequentially, but quickly enough that all (or most) will be open at the same time The species of the sections Coryopedilum and Pardalopetalum fit these criteria, but species of section Cochlopetalum are sequentially flowering and are not included amongst the multifloral Paphiopedilums.

Main Species: The most valuable species for producing stunning hybrids are in section Coryopedilum:

Paphiopedilum rothschildianum is the most important species for these types of hybrids. Strengths of the species:  Large blooms of 30cms natural spread or more  Flowers have great form and pass that on.  Flower colour is bright in strong reds and mahogany, often with a gold background colour.  There are 3-7 flowers per inflorescence.  The inflorescence has a majestic upright habit.

Weaknesses:  Slow growers – it takes 10 years or more to first flowering from flask.  Plants are very large, 3 feet across is not uncommon, but some clones such as ‘Mount Milay’ have been found that are smaller growing at about one foot across. The flowers of the latter are fewer and smaller, so it will not win any high awards, but even a windowsill grower can enjoy the elegant flowers. Hybrids with it will also be more manageable in size.

Paphiopedilum philippinense

Strengths:  Long  Bright colours  Good flower count at 5-7 or more per inflorescence Weaknesses:  Small flowers  Narrow petals  Many varieties, which means that you have to choose parents carefully

According to current the species comes in three varieties: Compactum with 2-3 flowers per inflorescence Roebellinii with lots of flowers and twisted petals. Laevigatum with almost flat petals.

To be Continued in the next newsletter

About SOOS Web site: www.soos.ca ; SOOS Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/298874747302722/ Member of the Canadian Orchid Congress; Affiliated with the American Orchid Society, the Orchid Digest and the International Phalaenopsis Alliance. Membership: Annual Dues $30 per calendar year (January 1 to December 31 ). Surcharge $15 for newsletter by postal service Membership secretary: Liz Mc Alpine, 189 Soudan Avenue, Toronto, ON M4S 1V5, phone 416-487-7832, renew or join on line at soos.ca/members. Executive: President John Vermeer,; 905-823-2516 Vice-President ? Treasurer, Cathy Dunn, Secretary, Sue Loftus 905-839-8281; Past President Laura Liebgott, 905-883-5290 Other Positions of Responsibility: Program, Terry Kennedy; Plant Doctor, Doug Kennedy; Meeting Set up, Yvonne Schreiber; Vendor and Sales table coordinator, Lynda Satchwell; Library, Liz Mc Alpine; Web Master, Max Wilson; Newsletter, Peter and Inge Poot; Annual Show, Cathy Dunn; Refreshments, Joe O’Regan. Conservation Committee, Show table, Synea Tan, Cultural snapshots, Alexsi Antanaitis, Directors at large Marion Curry, Jay Norris, Sherry Xie, Eric Tai, Anne Antanaitis.

Honorary Life Members: Terry Kennedy, Doug Kennedy, Inge Poot, Peter Poot, Joe O’Regan, Diane Ryley, Wayne Hingston. Next Annual Show: February , 2020