The Atlanta Orchid Society Bulletin

The Atlanta Orchid Society Bulletin The Atlanta Orchid Society is affiliated with the American Orchid Society, the Orchid Digest Corporation and the Mid-America Orchid Congress Newsletter Editors: Mark Reinke & Valorie Boyer www.AtlantaOrchidSociety.org November, 2014 Volume 55: Number 11 NOVEMBER MONTHLY MEETING Monday, November 10, 2014 8:00 PM Atlanta Botanical Garden, Day Hall Mark Reinke Marble Branch Farms “Honey, I Shrunk the Or-kids!” (The History of Miniature and Compact Cattleyas) For our November meeting, outgoing president and co-owner of Marble Branch Farms will reprise a program that had its debut at the January, 2008 meeting of the Atlanta A few of the more unusual miniature and compact cattleya alliance hybrids Orchid Society and has since that have been produced by Marble Branch Farms been presented to orchid societies all over the Southeast. their newest crosses that are not yet While the structure of the available to the general public. presentation is the same, it has In This Issue been updated to keep up with Minutes of the October 2014 the latest developments in the Meeting of the Page breeding of small stature cattleya Atlanta Orchid Society type orchids, both at Marble 1, 4 Minutes from the August Branch Farms and the industry as Meeting Date: October 13, 2014, 8:00 pm a whole. The entire program is Location: Day Hall, ABG lled with beautiful 2 ATLOS Volunteer Listing Attendance: 46 people photography, all of which was taken by Mark himself. 3 Events Calendar TThe meeting, with 46 people But going beyond illustrating President’s Message present, was called to order by the the beauty and fascination of president, Mark Reinke. these small gems of Orchidom, 4 Monthly Ribbon Winners Mark will give plenty of helpful August, 2014 Membership chairperson, Geni growing advice for the various Smith, introduced one guest – breeding lines we have today 10 Recent AOS Awards from William Frye. and for the species from which the Atlanta Judging Center they originated. Mark and Gary Carson Barnes moved that the will be bringing plants to sell at minutes from the September 8 the meeting, including some of meeting be approved as published in the newsletter. The motion Class II – was seconded and passed. Carson Barnes conducted the Cymbibum Group monthly rae and silent auction. Announcements: No Entries Mark Reinke adjourned the The nominating committee has meeting. Class III – proposed the following for . Dendrobium Group ocers and trustees for next Minutes compiled by year: Nancy Newton Blue – Dendrobium victoria-reginae – Gary Collier & President – Ellen Brand Atlanta Orchid Society Mark Reinke Vice-President – Barbara Barnett Monthly Ribbon Winners Secretary – Valorie Boyer October 2014 This beautiful species is Treasurer – Jason Mills thankfully becoming much more Trustees – Danny Lentz and Class I – readily available and should be Jan Spenard Cattleya Group grown more often for its steady stream of violet-blue owers. Rick Martinez has agreed to serve Blue – Cattleya Longriver Rather than coming at a specic as a trustee in Ellen Brand’s place Compton ‘Golden Star,’ FCC/AOS season, they are produced along but the current Board of Trustees – Matt Matsumoto the upper portion of mature, must rst approve his often leaess canes, o and on appointment. Registered in 1988 by Long throughout the year. Sometimes locations where dew and mist are Here is a great example of the River Orchids of Taiwan, this 7 generations to C. labiata v. dictates that during the winter there are just a few, and Geni Smith announced that the still frequent. So in cultivation, attractive hybrids possible when classic semi-alba carries on a line semi-alba, which only makes months this orchid needs a rest sometimes the entire plant society won a blue ribbon for the watering should be reduced but Epi. stamfordianum is crossed of breeding excellence in this up a tiny contribution in terms period with infrequent or very ushes with blooms. The plants display at the Birmingham not eliminated in that season, with a cluster owered color form that goes back to C. of how many times it was used light watering, no fertilizer, are slowly, but continually Orchid Show. The following were being careful to not allow the cattleya-type hybrid. In this case Pegi Mayne, introduced by H. compared to the other species, and strong light to perform producing new canes that will awarded ribbons – Carson plants to stay dry for more than a the other parent was Ctt. Selsal’s Patterson & Sons in 1956. That resulting in just 3.1% of its at its best. Too much water or lead to future owers, and a Barnes, David Mellard, Geni day or two. Supernova, a not particularly well New Jersey rm was one of the “genetic pie-chart.” The color fertilizer can produce out of mature plant can be in near Smith, Barbara Barnett and Jason There are a number of hybrids known variety, but a child of the great producers of outstanding pattern of the semi-alba mutation season growth that interferes constant bloom. Mills. Also, Barbara Barnett’s made using Den. victoria-reginae, popular Ctt. Gold Digger, which large owered cattleyas in the of this species is very dominant, with proper blooming and can While it is true this orchid does but they are dicult to locate entry won a trophy. share of its genetic background itself is the other half of another middle two decades in the as was discovered in 1894 when even lead to progressive rot of not like 90 degree weather, it commercially. We have a second and are the most inuential Twentieth Century. While there it was crossed with the yellow C. the rhizome that is eventually doesn’t require truly cool generation cross, Den. Doctor Jason Mills, treasurer, reported in its cultural preferences: C. are 10 dierent species involved dowiana to create C. Fabia, good fatal. Conversely, the less conditions to ourish. Since it Judith, which combines this that the total of all accounts is warscewiczii, C. dowiana and C. in the background of C. Longriver examples of which are still some frequent water and bright light prefers rather shaded locations, it species with Den. gonzalesii and $24,701.69. mossiae. However, the semi-alba Compton, three bear the lion’s of the most stunning semi-alba often encourages additional is easier to keep the plant happy Den. goldschmidtianum that color trait goes all the way back cattleyas today, due in large root growth which improves the during warm weather with Mark Reinke introduced Jason produces, smaller, but deeper part to the dramatic lip patterns overall health of the plant and regular watering and good air Fischer, the speaker for the purple and more numerous possible. Undoubtedly, most size and quality of the owers. movement. In a greenhouse with evening. Jason gave an excellent owers and is also more of the other species involved evaporative cooling, this species and educational talk about vigorous. in our blue ribbon winner were Red – Encyleyvola Grapelade does beautifully in this climate. Phragmipedium hybridization also semi-alba mutations. But ‘H&R’ - David Johnston Mounting on a Kool-Log is and culture. Red – Dendrobium Chao Praya even when a lavender form is another way to maintain cooler Candy - Geni Smith crossed with a semi-alba, the White – Rhyncolaeliocattleya conditions at the roots. There was a break for color blocking genes are usually Memoria Helen Brown ‘Sweet From May till November refreshments kindly organized White – Dendrobium Royal Wings eective in maintaining the Afton,’ AM/AOS watering should be frequent, but by Ellen Brand, hospitality chair, - Geni Smith semi-alba line in the ospring. – Matt Matsumoto drainage should always be while David Mellard, Barbara Getting back to the cultural excellent. We found that plastic Barnett and Helen Blythe-Hart Class IV – requirements as dictated by White – – Laeliocattleya Ann net pots, lled with a porous carried out the monthly table Epidendrum Group the main species involved in Akagi x Cattleya Lana Coryell – media that retains some judging. this cross, they are all bright Nancy Newton & in memory of moisture, work beautifully. In the Blue – Epicatanthe Stephanie growers that come from either David Glass winter months, this native to the Mark Reinke and David Mellard Takasaki ‘Paradise’ - Gary Collier Colombia or Venezuela in areas Philippines receives little rainfall, announced the ribbon winners. & Mark Reinke with seasonal rainfall. This but grows in humid, shaded watering. They are most large owers with narrow wide of the petals, which can droop a spotted, pink phalaenopsis may there was some speculation at commonly grown in small clay spreading petals and colored in bit in some of the less successful be the only one of its kind. I was the meeting when this plant was pots with very little medium dramatic patterns of mahogany examples from the cross. By able to locate a few other photos being presented that perhaps (sometimes only a chunk of on a white background. Paph. contrast, some genetically of peloric forms of this cross, but this has occurred with Bulb. charcoal or nothing at all) or micranthum is a small plant that blessed and well grown plants none of them were as at and dearei also. But based on the mounted on cork or hardwood if produces a single bizarre ower have produced up to three well-shaped as our blue ribbon information I was able to gather, humidity can be kept high. It is on each tall stem with a huge, perfectly formed owers over six winner. Typically when the two it seems to remain a separate reported that a mature plants of inated pouch in pale pink inches in total spread each! petals of a phalaenopsis have species for now.

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