Volume XXXVII, Issue 10, November 2014

that one of our suppliers in Hawaii he Pr t es missed the lava flow and all is well. m id I’m looking forward to seeing o e r you again at our next meeting this n f

t Tuesday. Till then, be well and be

e good. g

a John Foley

s Hello,friends!

s President e M I want to thank you for Our next meeting is: indulging me Tuesday, November 18th, 2014 at last month. I know this is 7:00 pm. not the the type of presentation you have come to expect, but it was very Our Guest Speaker is a frequent helpful for my project.I appreciate Society visitor, Jim Freeman. all the feedback especially the constructive criticism. I’ve made Mr. Freeman has been growing several adjustments, and I’m ready orchids in windows, basements, to go. This month, you are in much balconies and office cubicles for better hands. Jim Freeman is back. years. He is the past President Just a reminder, December is of the Manhattan Orchid Society, our annual holiday party/auction. You and has also written articles for know the drill. It’s a pot luck dinner, their newsletter; his past articles Bring a dish or a dessert, bring cash can be seen online at http://www. check money order (no credit cards) deanstreetorchids.blogspot.com. bring friends, relatives, coworkers, neighbors, strangers. Dick and Mr. Freeman will have some Dave have ordered some wonderful for sale. Show your support! plants, as usual. I’m happy to say

The Staten Island Orchid Society meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. All Saints Episcopal Church, 2329 Victory Blvd. at Wooley Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314 October Show Tables

Brassavola flagellaris

SIOS Page 2 Paphiopedilum Fred’s Moon

SIOS Page 3 BLC. Rustic Spots

SIOS Page 4 SIOS Page 5 Rhynchorides Magic Wand

SIOS Page 6 Vanda Pachara Delight ‘Pink Diamond’

SIOS Page 7 Milt. Earl Dunn ‘Dark Lip’

SIOS Page 8 Sc. Crystelle Smith ‘Aileen’ AM/AOS

SIOS Page 9 BLC. Momilani Rainbow

SIOS Page 10 SLC. Sierra Doll

SIOS Page 11 coerulea Longwood

SIOS Page 12 Darwinara Charm ‘Blue Star’ HCC / AD /AOS

SIOS Page 13 Collector’s Items Dendrobium fytchianum due to the extremely low prices for Bateman ex Rchb.f. which orchids in flower and bud are sold, and people place no value on Reprinted from the AOS Website the once it has flowered. As (http://www.aos.org/Default. a result, a century of indiscriminate aspx?id=167)

In 1863, Captain Grant, author of the book “Orchids of Burma”, was on orchid safari for a very elegant little Dendrobium that had attracted his attention by being worn in the hair of the Burmese girls at Moulmein. Captain Grant was accompanied by Colonel Fytche, the master planner of the city of Rangoon. They had been searching for the plant for the better part of the day along the Salween River, which enters the sea at Moulmein. Though the Colonel was no orchid fan, and probably was after game and fowl, he spied an orchid on an overhanging branch of a tree. It proved to be the desired plant. The name records the circumstances. Dendrobium fytchianum is still the craze of the Burmese girls at Closeup photo of Dendrobium Moulmein today, and it commands fytchianum showing the yellow the best price among the many bristles on the lip. The side lobes native orchids. Sadly, the love of of the lip can vary in color as can orchid flowers in Burma has not been the amount of hairs. But always set accompanied by a love of orchid against pristine white and culture. The cause of this neglect is .

SIOS Page 14 extraction has almost depleted the petals, however. forest of this dainty plant. These plants have been found The upright stems, 1/8” – ¼” only in the Moulmein region, which in diameter, are inclined to slant off is characterized by a five-month the perpendicular at odd angles, as rainy season, from mid-May to if their bases were weak. The older mid-October, when exceptionally stems are reddish-brown, marked high humidities of 85% and mean with a high gloss. The new growths temperatures of 80 degrees F. on which the spikes appear both result. It is in this period that light terminally and laterally are covered intensities are lowest due to the with a sheath. Internodes are 1” clouds. The plants produce all their – 1-1/2”. The stems are 9” – 12”, new growth within this five month but strong plants with eighteen inch period, and immediately after the stems are not uncom- mon. The rainy season is over the lanceolate stems slowly elongate into 3” – 4” leaves turn yellow and are shed. terminal racemes, but many stems Buds initiate at once and the plants also have one or two additional lateral are in bloom by the second week of racemes. The racemes have about November, the flowers lasting about ten flowers ¾” – 1” in diameter, on 20 days. the shorter stems, and about fifteen Of the warm-loving, on the stronger and longer ones. low elevation, Indo-Burmese The lanceolate sepals and dendrobiums having horticultural roundish obovate petals are clear value, this appears to be the only white. The three-lobed lip consists of two small lateral incurved lobes that are deep rose in color. The obcordate apiculate middle lobe is also pure white and as large as the petals. The base of the midlobe has bristle-like yellow hairs that give a striking yellow blotch contrasting with the deep rose of the lateral lobes, thus giving the flower its daintiness and distinction. The Gardeners’ Chronicle (1887, p. 209) records Major General E.S. Berkerley as introducing a variety rosea in 1886. My friends and I have not seen or heard of this plant so far. I do have two variants Another example of this beautiful with strong rose venation on the Dendrobium.

SIOS Page 15 plant that flowers in November. Article by U San Hla, Rangoon, Most warm-growing Indo-Burmese Burma. Reprinted from the AOS dendrobiums flower in summer only Bulletin, VOl.34,#5, May, 1965. after a period of rest and lowered humidity. I have still not been able to place this plant into any particular October Showtable Tallies section of the genus Dendrobium, and would be interested to hear from Greenhouse anyone on this score. I am awaiting Ronald Altman = 21 to see if a most unprobable cross Tano Carbonaro = 6 with Den. phalaenopsis will take, as Dave O’Dell = 53 Colman Rutkin = 21 the large lip of the Den. fytchianum would be an enhancement to the Lights form of the present nearly lipless Pat Cammarano = 27 Den. phalaenopsis hybrids. Sharon Jaffee = 12 At Rangoon, where the rainfall is only 100 inches, as compared Window Roy and Gertrude Fox = 31 to Moulmein’s 180, I have grown Jeff Li = 14 Den. fytchianum successfully in our uncovered lath house, together with . Taking a hint from the heavy rainfall at Moulmein (1” per day), we have potted them in small clay pots, using only coconut fiber as compost. Results have been OFFICERS exceptionally good. The plants have John Foley, President Amy Eli Trautwein, Vice President been fed with the same fertilizer Colman Rutkin, Treasurer and schedule as the cattleyas. Carol Cammarano, Co-Treasurer Sharon Jaffee, Secretary / AOS Rep As far as I am aware, no Keith Lichtman, Membership Secretary photograph of this flower has been previously published. From NEWSLETTER Jeff Li, Editor and Photography observation, one will notice that unlike most orchids, this flower TRUSTEES Ron Altman, D.D.S. is prone to have the lip pointing Carol Cammarano upward, or at a half turn. Some lips Patrick Cammarano do turn downward, but I have not Gerry Cassella Roy Fox noted any spray in which all the lips Renee Lichtman were in the ordinary position. David O’Dell Kathleen Ruoti Karen Silverman

SIOS Page 16 The Orchidist ’s Infirmary We continue this newest addition to A danger to orchids any time The Orchidist, which replaces the the weather is rainy or damp for AOS culture sheets . The extended periods, black rot can Orchidist’s Infirmary is a column quickly destroy an entire plant if that shares what the AOS has left unchecked. Caused by one or concerning about common pests both of the fungi Pythium ultimum and diseases and how to treat them. and Phytophthora cactorum, black rot affects a wide variety of orchids. ~Editor. Cattleyas seem to be particularly susceptible.

Black Rot Life Cycle

The fungi that cause black rot in By Susan Jones orchids can live only in environments Reprinted from the AOS Website where water is available to them. (http://www.aos.org/Default. They consist of spores capable of aspx?id=119) independent movement, called zoospores, which swim through the water. If that water happens to be sitting on an orchid leaf, the zoospores can penetrate the plant tissue and begin the next stage in their life cycle. At this point, the fungus develops a vegetative part or mycelium consisting of hyphae (thin, thread-like tubes), which spread quickly through the affected plant tissues. Once this occurs, the visible signs of infection - small, watery, Black rot moves quickly through a translucent spots - expand quickly plant and can decimate an orchid and change to brown and then black. collection if not treated.

SIOS Page 17 Left untreated, the affected plant 120 cm) above the ground to avoid or plants may infect others and will splash contamination. Do not allow probably die themselves. your orchids’ leaves to remain wet for any extended periods. Good air Symptoms circulation in the growing area is key, and can help plants dry quickly after When the fungus attacks watering or rains. The addition of a seedlings, it is usually at the soil fan or fans to the growing area can line. This can cause the little plants improve the airflow and help prevent to topple and die, and is referred to rots. At first signs of infection, as damping off. segregate all affected plants to In mature plants, the disease avoid contaminating healthy plants. can strike at any point on the plant Finally, some growers recommend (leaves, pseudobulbs or roots), but the use of a high-calcium fertilizer often starts in new leaves or growing in the spring to help avoid black rot leads, and progresses downward in new growth. through the plant until reaching the roots. Mechanical Treatment As it name implies, black rot shows up as dark blackish spots or To stop the spread of black rot lesions on the affected plant part. in your orchid, begin with a sterile The black spot or spots enlarge knife and cut out the diseased rapidly and can spread throughout portion of the plant. Remove all the plant. If allowed to reach the infected plant material, taking out crown of a monopodial (single- a small amount of healthy tissue stemmed) orchid, the rot will kill bordering the infected area as a the plant. Affected leaves may turn yellow around the infected area, and the lesions themselves will be soft and exude water when pressure is applied.

Prevention

Unsterilized pots, media or water sources, as well as water splashed from affected plants nearby, are all excellent means of spreading the fungus. In addition, plants that spend time outdoors Black rot is easily spread by splashing should be elevated 3 to 4 feet (90 to water.

SIOS Page 18 safety precaution. Examine the cut Another poultice that was portion carefully. It is sometimes developed specifically for use on possible, especially in pseudobulbs, orchids is StopRot. The product to see a brownish discoloration contains a Bordeaux mixture in extending into the interior of tissue lanolin. The Bordeaux, a mixture that appears healthy on the surface. of copper sulfate and lime, has In sympodial (many-stemmed) fungicidal properties. The lanolin plants such as a cattleya, it may be seals the wound to keep moisture necessary to cut below the leaves out. and into the pseudobulb to stop Whatever method is chosen, the spread of the disease. If the be sure to cover all of the exposed plant is badly infected, cut into the (cut) area with the fungicide or rhizome, growth by growth, until sealant, so that no new infection can you reach healthy tissue. For a be introduced to the open wound. monopodial orchid such as a vanda Drenching the affected plant or phalaenopsis, remove the infected with fungicide is also an option. portion of the leaf, or the entire leaf Drenches of a protectant fungicide if necessary, to halt the spread of such as Truban or Terrazole are the fungus before it reaches the recommended if the disease is crown. Place the plant in an area diagnosed early. For more advanced that receives good air circulation to cases, a systemic fungicide such as allow the cut to dry. Aliette or Subdue is more effective. Captan, Dithane M-45 and Physan Chemical Treatment 20 have also been recommended by some growers for control of black Once the infected plant parts rot. have been removed, a fungicide To protect seedlings against should be applied to protect the damping off, water with the fungicide remaining healthy tissue. Cinnamon of choice (at the dilution rate for is an excellent fungicide, and seedlings specified in the product’s ground cinnamon may be applied instructions) as soon as they are straight from the spice jar directly deflasked and potted in compots. to the exposed area where infected Afterward, treat with a preventive portions of the plant have been fungicide at two-week intervals. excised. First Rays Orchids also recommends mixing cinnamon with either casein-based glue (such References as Elmer’s) or cooking oil to form a thick paste. This paste is fairly • Simone, Gary W., PhD, and Harry waterproof and can be used to cover C. Burnett, PhD. 1995. Diseases the wound. Caused by Bacteria and Fungi,

SIOS Page 19 in Orchid Pests and Diseases. Flora Laboratories Web site American Orchid Society, West (www.alphalink.com.au/~andre/ Palm Beach. stoprot.htm). • CLAN Tropicals and Orchids R Us, • Thoerle, Lisa, Ed. 1995. Deflasking: Inc. 2001. Common Rots: What To Editor’s Column, Fred Paget’s Do When Your Plant Falls Victim. Section. National Capital Orchid Camp Lot O’Noise Tropicals, Society Bulletin 49(3). Canadian Sarasota. (www.clanorchids. Orchid Congress Web site (www. com/culture/rots.htm). canadianorchidcongress.ca/ • Fortner, Linda. 2002. The Orchid deflask.html). Garden: Wilting Flowers. Suite101. com. http://www.suite101.com/ Susan Jones was the editor of article.cfm/582/87020. Awards Quarterly and assistant • Home-made Remedies and editor of Orchids. Treatments. First Rays Orchids, Pennsylvania. First Rays Web site Reprinted from the October (www.firstrays.com/remedies. 2002 issue of Orchids, The htm). Bulletin of the American Orchid • StopRot. Flora Laboratories Web, Society. Copyright American Mentone, Victoria, Australia. Orchid Society, www.aos.org.

Internet Items Both Member, Kathleen Ruoti and I came across this article from the website Distractify. While the listicle featured many different flowers, I am presenting just a selection of orchids on the following pages. Be sure to visit the site to see more amazing flowers that mimic other things!

~Editor.

Peristeria Elata also known as the Dove Orchid or the Holy SIOS Page 20 Ghost Orchid Flowers that look like something else. Selection reprinted from the Distracify Website: (http://news.distractify.com/ culture/flowers-that-look-like- something-else/)

Habenaria Grandifloriformis, the Angel Orchid

Caleana Major, the Flying Duck Orchid

A Phalaenopsis that looks like a bird of prey.

SIOS Page 21 Anguloa Unifloralooks like This one looks like a ballerina. swaddled babies.

SIOS Page 22 Orchis Italica has more than a passing resemblence to a naked man.

SIOS Page 23 Ophrys bomybliflora

Habenaria Radiata

This last one? This last one is a bit of a surprise. The orchid doesn’t look like anything, but... the Malaysian Orchid Mantis on the right looks like the orchid! http://www.ripleys.com/blog/ma- laysian-orchid-mantis/

SIOS Page 24 Members in the News Member Kathleen Ruoti’s garden, which takes its inspiration from Monet’s garden at Giverny, was recently featured in the Staten Island Advance. Here is a short excerpt and some photos, but be sure to see the full article at: http:// www.silive.com/homegarden/index.ssf/2014/11/in_annadale_a_garden_grows_wit.html

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Kathleen blue-green bridge. Claude Monet’s Ruoti wears a hand-sewn apron and garden at Giverny is her inspiration, holds a basket of rose petals when and a Japanese footbridge was she meets me at the garden gate of the centerpiece of his creations. her Annadale home. The French Impressionist painter All around her corner at Blue cultivated his gardens — then never Heron Drive and Arden Avenue tired of capturing the colors and is new construction of over-sized light he saw in them. houses. The invitation to see the Ruoti has not been to Giverny, garden seems to be one to an old but she was captivated by the model world. at the Bronx Botanical Gardens. “You know this is the worst Two years ago, construction of time to see a garden,” she says an addition to her house left the amiably. Thick auburn hair frames side yard a mudhole with some her slightly mischievous, dimpled unearthed boulders — the perfect face. blank canvas. It is September, easing into fall. The flowers may be spent, but she enters with the passion of a perennial gardener who sees beauty at any stage of the year. “To plant a garden is to be hopeful for the future,” says Ruoti, who tends her’s most months of the year. Across from the gate, bright and vivid among sunflowers tipped over like rusty showerheads, is a

SIOS Page 25 Monet diverted a stream to GLIMPSING SUMMER’S BOUNTY create the pond for his water lilies, the subject of some of his most As we walk along, she points famous paintings. Ruoti has devised out what has bloomed: hostas, her own water scheme. A dry pond phlox, poppy, geranium, echanasia, fills with rainwater water diverted salvia, liatris and golden girl cedum. from the roof gutters. It flows into A few red blossoms of Sweet the pebbled area that suggests a William add a bit of color. The tulip stream with light and dark stones. tree is nearly 10 years old. It has A meandering, circular path some buds set; next spring may be around the garden is bluestone its first bloom. slate on one side of the bridge and In its shade a variety of ferns red brick on the other. A symbolic grow with variations of green gesture of transformation, it is also feathery leaves. The colorful spikes a practical use of materials salvaged of the fluffy Astilbe, also planted from the construction. there have disappeared.

SIOS Page 26 Lots of playful ornamental garden creatures peek out along the way, including a rabbit named Oscar, Monet’s real first name. In addition to sending rain to the dry pond, Ruoti conserves water with a number of rain barrels to water plants and shrubs in the front and back. In the far corner, is a small house where Ruoti has a studio. Having earned an MFA at Pratt Institute, she was in publishing From mail-order nurseries, for years and now teaches sewing, she orders bare-root plants. At two- knitting and crocheting. years old, they are hardy. Having them delivered beats lugging heavy flats and pots of plants. I wonder aloud if an inexperienced gardener would just be overwhelmed by the effort she has put into her cultivating. “Look at it as inspiration. Zone in on one plant; what does that plant need. What is the best location,” she counters cheerfully. “You should always look at something more involved than you can do so you can yearn to do it.” PREPARING FOR WINTER

We go inside for a cup of tea. In the cozy new room / kitchen area we look at photos of the garden through the seasons. In the coming weeks, Buoti says she will be splitting clumps, transplanting some and giving others to friends. Bulbs will be planted by November.

SIOS Page 27