GREATER NORTH TEXAS ORCHID SOCIETY FEB out all of her daughter. In the interval since she , lead- has returned to Texas she has been Next Meeting: Essential Tricks for Making ing her to get Training Director and then Center February 7 Orchids and People Bloom her first green- Chair for the Dallas Judging Cen- house, an 8' x ter as well as a past President of Speaker: Judy describes her life as fairly nor- 12', under the GNTOS. Her current greenhouse Dr. Judy Cook mal until she was 37 when she was tutelage of Nancy and Rayo Mc- is 35' x 60' feet (2,100 sq feet), in San Antonio to do a psychiatry Cullough who belonged to the so- containing a few thousand plants. residency and decided to go to the ciety. This was added to a few years Although her collection is mostly Orchid Society Show in a local later with a 12' x 20' addition to Cats, Paphs/Phrags and Bulbos, mall not far from the her house. she has a wide array of many dif- medical school. Those When she was in private prac- ferent genera, some of which she sweet white-haired ladies tice of psychiatry, orchids became had the opportunity to collect She found out told her how easy it was an integral part of her office décor, in the wild in South America or to grow orchids; she was first with living plants and later in- import while judging shows out that ‘resistance is awed by the beauty of cluding her photos as well. When of the country. Some of her plants futile’ when it the orchids and bought the Texas economy collapsed in have been with her since the early herself a lovely lavender 1991 she moved to Alabama, tak- 80’s and some of you probably comes to orchids Cat – similar to Arid ing all of her orchids. Her collec- have pieces of them as well as her Acres or Nellie Cohen tion remained of ‘reasonable size’ other plants. – for her 37th birthday. with a 16' x 28' greenhouse until She recently retired from full- It was an instant addictive love she joined the Atlanta Judging time practice and plans to spend affair that continues to bloom and Center and began training to be an more time relaxing with her or- grow exponentially even today. She orchid judge. That led to convert- chids as well as speaking on issues found out that ‘resistance is futile’ ing a swimming pool into a second related to both orchids and mental when it comes to orchids. She col- greenhouse. She became accredited health and happiness, hopefully lected several plants while in San in 2004 and became the Training traveling the world while doing so. Antonio, then moved to Dallas Director at the Atlanta Center, but She also wants to encourage all of during the great heat wave of 1980 that was a short-lived job because you who can, to go to the World for the first of two times the north she moved back to Texas to be Orchid Congress in Guayaquil, 1 Texas weather would totally wipe near her son and a young grand- Ecuador, Nov 8-12, 2017. Happy New Year, Presidents Welcome to 2016! Barb McNamee OfficeRS Wow, Message Minutes 2015 went by so fast, but now your Board is excited about the upcoming year! Mike opened the meeting at 3:05, we had 31 people Last month’s meeting started our year out really great, with in attendance, 6 visitors - 3 have joined!

PRESIDENT Dotty Woodson as our first speaker. Dotty can explain things in The semi-annual December auction tally – Mike Beber a way, you just “get it”! The topic was “Growing Orchids Under $800+ for our society – attendance was low that day. Lights”, but I believe everyone, including greenhouse growers, took DUES are due for all members – every January VICE PRESIDENT Rhonda Whitson away tidbits of wisdom; I know I did. Thanks, Dotty! dues are due regardless of when you joined. There is an upcoming Tri Center Judge’s Seminar, February 13 PARKING: we have been asked to park at the SECRETARY for those who want to go even deeper into learning about orchids west side of the building - that’s the far right as you Barbara McNamee and judging them. The Seminar topic will be “Judging Miscella- look at Northhaven to free up parking spaces for TREASURER neous Orchids” (AKA SWROGA 700 Section). The seminar’s focus customers. Please comply. Kathy Halverson is learning about orchids we don’t see very often; Masdevallias, Rhonda introduced our speaker Dotty Woodson SWROGA DIRECTORS Draculas and Cymbidiums. Two Great speakers for the seminar are of D&B Orchids in Ft. Worth, who gave an excellent Brandenburgs Carol Klonowski and Kevin Hill. If you would like more informa- program on “Growing Orchids Under Lights”. She NEWSLETTER EDITOR tion, take a look at the Dallas Judging Center’s website (http:// spoke about different kinds of lights and intensity, David Gould gntos.org/djcwpnew/2016-judging-seminar). temperatures, meeting growing requirements, how to measure light, re-blooming, where to find grow- GNTOS WEBMASTER Don’t forget, to get dues into Kathy Halverson before January Manuel Aybar 31, to be listed in this year’s GNTOS membership directory and ing information and supplies, etc. Very good pro- listed with SWROGA. gram, thank you Dotty! You can also see Dotty on PAST PRESIDENT Sunday mornings on channel 5. Gerry Darver And as always, if you have any topics that you would like to see presented at one of our meetings, contact our VP, Rhonda, or Please sign up to bring snacks for our meeting anyone on the board. breaks – we need 2 people each meeting and you Happy orchid growing AND blooming! Mike receive raffle tickets, see Tham Johnson for further information. The raffle was conducted by Barb McNamee. Kathi McKenzie The table was announced by Nancy Cropp. & Lorna Kissling DUES reminder Orchids 101 Thanks to Kathy Halverson and Tham Johnson for Orchids 101 classes are tailored to the beginning snacks provided, February meeting is Kathi McKen- orchid grower. It will be an informal discussion so zie and Barb McNamee. come bring your questions. Meeting was adjourned at 4:30. We meet in the greenhouse at 2:30 for 30 minutes so we can get all questions answered in time for the 2 meeting at 3:00. Plant Table Nancy Cropp Jan. 3, 2016, Plant Table Judging Results PAPHS & PHRAGS Blue – Paph. Bruno 'Model' Judges: Rhonda Whitson & David Hines – Judy Cook Red – Paph. Leeanum – Judy Cook CATTLEYA ALLIANCE Blue – Blc. Empress Range – David Gould VANDAS & PHALS Red – Bc. Maikai 'Louise' – Judy Cook Blue – Vanda (no name) White – Ctna. Jamaica Red – David Gould – Kathy Halverson Red – Angreacum disticum – DENDROBIUMS & OTHERS Judy Cook Blue – Cym. Cinnamon Twist White – Phal. Chocolate Disco – Jim Williams – Barb McNamee Red – Zygo. MacKayii – Kathi McKenzie White – Chondranthes 'Andrea Niessen' SPECIES OF THE MONTH – Kathy Halverson C. bowringiana – Judy Cook Neolauchea pulchella ONCIDIUMS – Charles Hess Blue – Oncidium Sunlight 'NW' Angreacum disticum – Judy Cook – Kathi McKenzie Red – Oncidium no ID – Charles Hess PEOPLES CHOICE Cym. White – Burr. Sweet and Sassy Paph. Bruno 'Model' – Judy Cook Cinnamon Twist – Jim Williams ‘Cinnamon’

C. Pink Elephant 3 Photos by Forest Shipp AOS Dallas Judging Center Jan. 9, 2016

Dallas Six plants entered for consideration, two Judging awards given: Paph. Chiu Hua Dancer 'Orchid Konnection Too' Center (gigantifolium x sanderianum) Nancy Cropp HCC 75 points Owner: Orchid Konnection, Dallas

Rlc. Robert Ferguson 'Florida Sunset' (Oconee x Golden Slippers) HCC 78 points Owner: Don Ghiz, Houston

4 gastrochilus bellinus

Gastrochilus bellinus is a cute miniature orchid which is native to dense forests in Myanamar, , southern and Laos. The genus name comes from the Gastrochilus fuscopunctatus Greek “gaster” (belly) and “cheilos” (lip). It was discovered in 1873 in Burma (My- anamar) by William Boxall, a plant collec- tor for the orchid firm of Low and Co. Low and Co. introduced the plant as Saccola- bium bellinum (it was later transferred to Gastrochilus). It is a vandaceous plant with rather leathery leaves. It may bloom at vari- ous times of the year, especially winter. It produces flowers on short inflorescences, so that flowers seem to nestle close to the base of the Orchid of the Month leaves. The most striking Kathi McKenzie feature is its lip, with a gold center sur- rounded by fringe. Gastrochilus bellinus Its roots prefer not to be confined, but allowed to ramble a bit, so Gastrochilus bellinus is best grown mounted. It may be grown in moderate-warm conditions, preferably with just a bit more light than , and with good humidity. There are a number of other species in the Gastrochilus genus, including fusco- punctatus, japonicus and obliquus.

5 Location, location, location. of a rainforest area is drasti- This is the mantra of real es- cally reduced due to logging, Saving the Wild Orchids tate agents when they tell you farming or mining, it cannot how much you can get for your retain all the characteristics house when you’re selling, or it originally had. Animals can how much you’ll have to pay no longer migrate and breed when you’re buying. Location freely, resulting in a greatly di- is always the most important minished gene pool. Seeds are factor, because it determines not naturally scattered widely, what resources you can ac- reducing the opportunities for cess from your home (schools, the parent plants to reproduce culture, etc.). In other words, and survive as a species. Polli- location tells a great deal about nators may become unavailable the quality of life for the in- because the area in question habitant of the house. is too far removed from other When it comes to conser- rainforests to make visits by vation of orchids and thou- the pollinators feasible. These sands of other plants and ani- are just a few examples of what mal species, location is also the happens when forests disap- most important factor. Why is pear. The geographic location that so? is still there, it may be produc- First, the location has to tive for a particular purpose, exist. That’s a pretty simple and it may be profitable for a Orchi d concept to understand, but not very small number of people. so easy to carry out. The areas But the native plant and This orchid (Phragmipedium lind- Conse rvati on where orchids and many other animal species, and even some leyanum) is one of several rare and species live are getting fewer human populations, will suffer beautiful orchid species found in and smaller every single day. greatly. Grensgebergte Mountains. Many rare Up date The more habitat that disap- A recent report by the species occur on these distinctive by Charles pears, the fewer species will be International Union for Con- granite outcroppings in Suriname. and Trudy Hess Species such as this that occur on able to survive because they servation of Nature (iucn. mountaintops are highly vulnerable have nowhere to go. org) tells us that a full third of since they are unable to migrate Second, the location must the world’s cactus species are upslope. offer not only a geographical endangered. Orchid enthusi- Photograph: Conservation International area where species can live, it asts may not care one bit about must also offer the means for those prickly wonders, but this 6 them to live. When the size is yet one more example of how interrelated plant and animal species world, happily attached are, and how the loss of habitat has far to trees in forests, thriv- reaching consequences. The article ex- ing on the nutrition plains it this way: that nature provides? Cacti are key components of New World If we really care about arid ecosystems and are critical to the sur- orchids, shouldn’t we vival of many animal species. They provide care about their survival a source of food and water for many species in the wild? including deer, woodrats, rabbits, coyotes, This leads to the turkeys, quails, lizards and tortoises, all of obvious question: What which help with cactus seed dispersal in re- can we do about it? How turn. Cactus flowers provide nectar to hum- can one little person in mingbirds and bats, as well as bees, moths North Texas possibly and other insects, which, in turn, pollinate have an effect on the de- the plants. struction of ecosystems Cactus species are widely used by people around the world? in the horticultural trade, as well as for food The answer is to out for ways of being a good steward of In Peru’s Alto Mayo and for medicine. Their fruit and highly nu- have an attitude of conservation. We must the Earth’s resources. It means having a region, small-scale agriculture is a tritious stems are an important food source understand that it is not possible to care respect for the environment, and a love of nature. It means being aware of our car- major cause of for rural communities. The nutritional value about conservation of a particular plant. deforestation. of one cactus stem of Opuntia ficus-indica We can have an effect only if we dedicate bon footprint and taking steps to reduce Conservation – a ‘prickly pear’ cactus popular in Mexico, ourselves to conservation in general. it. International is where it is known as ‘nopal’ – is often com- This involves hundreds of little chang- All of us can do something. Some working with local pared to that of a beef steak, and the roots of es we can integrate into our life style. In a of us will happily do many things. It all communities to provide incentives species such as Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus future column we will give some specific depends on how much we care, and how willing we are to pay attention and make for leaving forests which is listed as Near Threatened, are used tips and ideas for how to get started. The standing. as anti-inflammatories. changes are simple to implement and little changes. We cannot allow ourselves Of course we will continue to see they don’t involve spending money. In to become discouraged and think that many animal species in zoos and in pre- fact, they save us money. They also don’t what one person does is too little to mat- serves scattered throughout the world. involve huge sacrifices. Rather, they have ter. Everything matters. And we can continue to buy orchids in significant benefits. We will do the earth “If you think you are too small to make a stores, and trade them among ourselves. a lot of good, and create well-being for difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” That won’t go away. But do we want this ourselves, by having a conservation con- kind of world? Are we really willing to sciousness. The Dalai Lama allow so many valuable ecosystems to be What does that mean, having a destroyed? Don’t we want to know conservation consciousness? Simply 7 that there are orchids all over the put, it means always being on the look- Orchi dS Monthly Checklist for Through January and February Cattleya Watering and fertilizing will is helpful. Some growers cut the leaves off be at a minimum, as will potting. Be on at the pseudobulb, but this removes part the lookout for senescing sheaths on of the attractiveness of this elegant orchid. your winter-into-spring bloomers. Care- Resist picking up the plant to inspect those 2016 ful removal of the dying sheaths will still beautiful buds and then setting it down in allow buds to develop without the danger all different directions as the flower buds by Ned Nash of condensation-induced rot. Low light will will be forced to re-orient themselves to the and James Rose lead to weak spikes, so, and as noted above, light source each time and will not open as staking is critical. If you have a chance to nicely as they should. Keep plants a little get out to nurseries, there may still be a drier during the shorter days. chance to acquire good plants in sheath for spring bloom. Getting them now not only Odontoglossums Odontoglossums ensures that you’ll have them, but allows and their intergeneric hybrids offer a great them to acclimate to your conditions and splash of color now. Though once thought bloom at their best. of as being difficult to grow and requiring cool temperatures due to the emphasis on Cymbidium We are well into the odontoglossum breeding, the new interge- flowering season now. Outdoor growers neric hybrids made using Oncidium and should be cautious of freezing tempera- Brassia, for example, are just the opposite. tures. Damage starts to occur below 30° F. These plants are quite content in more Be diligent about tying the inflorescences intermediate conditions. New growths for best arrangement of the flowers. Also generally emerge in the spring, later form- watch closely for slugs and snails. If weather ing beautiful plump pseudobulbs. Look for is quite wet, protect the plants from the the flower spikes to emerge from the inner rain and this will help to reduce the risk of sheath of the pseudobulb. If your plant’s botrytis spotting. pseudobulbs are shriveled, then the plants have been kept too dry or too wet. Inspect Lycaste The most glorious of all orchids, the roots to determine which condition Lycaste, will be moving toward their flower- prevailed. If the lead pseudobulb is large, ing season. Make sure the palm-like leaves plump and green (and back bulbs are shriv- do not interfere with the emerging inflores- eled) but no flower spike is evident, the 8 cences. Tying them loosely together often plants may have been kept too dry. Paphiopedilum The standard is vital to avoid mechanical damage to the Paphiopedilum insigne-derived hybrids, flowers, as well as rot-related problems. which are called “bull dogs” and “toads”, Keep spent blooms cleaned up to avoid are at their peak. Unlike most other botrytis inoculation. Do not repot this orchids, they can even be potted while in month. Now you’ll be seeing lots of pha- bud. There really is no wrong time to pot laenopsis at orchid shows and sales. a paphiopedilum, and no other orchid Zygopetalum For the most part, the responds so favor- flowering season will have ended for this ably to fresh mix and group, providing the grower a chance to There really is no a cleanup. Keep an do some repotting. The plants will then wrong time to repot a eye on watering until have a chance to become well established roots begin to grow. before the hotter months of summer ar- paphiopedilum, and no rive. Most growers use bark mixes, but Phalaenopsis some exceptional results have been seen other orchid responds Now is the peak of lately using rock-wool blends. You may so favorably to fresh spike development, want to try this mix, but do not change with the first plants your whole collection over to this new mix and a cleanup in full flower. Staking media until you are sure it is right for you. and plant prepara- First, experiment with a few plants to see tion is a must for how they respond. those all-important spring shows. Correct staking now will give a better display and also make it much easier to transport to your society meetings and shows. Care with watering

Paph. Chiu Hua Dancer 'Orchid Konnection Too' (gigantifolium x sanderianum) HCC 75 points Owner: Orchid Konnection, Dallas

9 Orchi d Growing Indoors: Raising Humidity Growing For the first time in many years, I with de-ionized Tips am growing indoors like many of water, rainwa- you reading this column. If you ter, or distilled read this column regularly you may water. Rarely by remember that my orchid collection will bacteria Courtney Hackney and I are moving to Jacksonville, and fungi grow Florida. In the interim, many of my on leaves with orchids are not in a greenhouse, but few nutrients or growing on windowsills and under sugars and these lights until the new greenhouse is waters have up. virtually noth- A monthly growers Even Florida has days where the ing in them. advice column by air is far too dry for orchids. My first Under lights, the Courtney Hackney. challenge has been to get and keep water evapo- Hackneau@comcast. the humidity high enough under my rates quickly net lights. Fortunately, a neighbor was and since it is discarding some old carpet pad- pure water it Laelia anceps ding, the type that goes below most will not leave unsightly spots. Using This column was carpet. This padding is an ideal way tap water, which usually contains written in humid to hold moisture if it is the type that some level of dissolved salts, can coastal North is totally synthetic. Cut the pad- stain leaves and flowers. One dose Carolina and Florida, ding to fit in your growing area and of minerals on leaves is not really and the advice given then set your orchids on the pads. It significant, but if this occurs each should be adjusted to is not necessary to soak the pad as day when you mist, minerals can our climate. the pad will become moist if you set build up to the point where they are pots that were just watered on them. not only unsightly, but block light The weight of the pot will make a from reaching the leaves. depression that will retain some Some of my orchids have also water too. been consigned outside under the When the home heating system eaves because they are too large. In is running, mist indoor orchids this location they receive low light 10 most of the day and bright sun for without a greenhouse. 3-4 hours every afternoon. Lae- My Jewel Orchids have really Orchi d lia anceps is the one species that enjoyed being inside. They reside remains outside unless there is a in a bathroom window box facing Growing heavy frost warning. Many times north. They get very little direct growers in California have told me light, but are thriving in this loca- that they got the best blooms on L tion. Remember that the term Tips anceps when they had seen frost on the ground near their L anceps, which they grew outside. Without a doubt, these are the best flowers ever for my L anceps this year. Most cattleya species and hybrids, however, do not like night temperatures below 55° F, but many will get by without any damage if day temperatures rise quickly and the plant is not wet at night. Buds and flowers are more sensitive to these low tempera- tures and will drop off. A quick check of orchid books devoted to species will provide some idea of the natural conditions and are an excellent way to determine which orchid groups, species and hybrids can best tolerate low tempera- tures. “Jewel Orchid” refers to a diverse Jewel Orchid A few folks in my neighbor- group of unrelated orchids, mostly hood are retired and grow orchids terrestrial, which have beautiful and other Tropicals on carts. They leaves. A few have colorful flow- wheel them outside each morning ers, but most do not. Because they from their garage after the sun has naturally grow on the forest floor, warmed the air to some minimum they are extremely tolerant of low temperature. While these folks light levels. are not true indoor growers, they 11 are growing orchids successfully that year that upset several members of the North Texas Orchid Society, so several members Society History chose to leave and form another society call- Membership The history of the GNTOS goes way back. In the ing themselves the Dallas Orchid Society. Percy GNTOS membership dues are paid mid-40s there were only three orchid growers Larkin was one of the members who left to form Due s yearly by January 31, in order for you in town: Eli Sanger of Sanger Brothers, which the Dallas Orchid Society. This society was never to be listed in the published Yearbook. was Dallas’ biggest department store at that sanctioned by the AOS. time; Roy Munger, known for Munger Place and The following year with much encourage- • $30.00 – New or Renewing Member Munger Street, and Percy Larkin. ment from Homer Baldwin, most of the mem- (individual) Margie Corn, a garden columnist, was the bers from the Dallas Orchid Society came back • $15.00 – Additional Member source of any orchid information they could to join the original society. (each additional person in same find and she gave their names to a woman Later, they decided to become affiliated with household) running Hardy’s Seed Company, Mrs. Moses. the American Orchid Society so they wrote a They gathered at her house one day in 1946 Constitution and Bylaws for the society. On Please mail completed form with and it was Mr. & Mrs. Polhemus, Mr. & Mrs. March 19, 1954, they were issued a charter by payment to: Roy Carter, Homer Baldwin, Percy Larkin and the AOS as the Greater North Texas Orchid Kathy Halverson a young man from Waxahachie named Costa- Society. 1922 Baylor Drive lanus. They decided they would apply for AOS They put on a show in the Dallas Garden Richardson, TX 75081 membership and started receiving the Bulletin Center but there weren’t enough plants in the Make check payable to GNTOS. and meeting monthly. More and more people area so the bulk of the show was made up of started to show up and they elected Percy Lar- boxes of blooms sent to them for free from kin, Jr. their first president in 1947. This was the commercial growers. They’d get five, six, or seven New Member Renewing Member North Texas Orchid Society. boxes of flowers from different growers from Name (#1): ______They held their first show in 1950 at the all over the country – even overseas. Marsh Kaiser Fraiser automobile agency on Of course, Homer had mailed cards to Name (#2): ______Ross Avenue. Jack Morris was president of everyone who had an the society and Homer Baldwin sent out ad in the Bulletin to Address: ______invitations to everyone who grew achieve this. orchids in Dallas. Fortunately for ______Invitations also went to Homer, Lena Baldwin City: ______the big orchid firms who knew how to type and she would send representatives and another woman spent State/Zip: ______from around the country to half the night writing the show. They had everyone letters on two typewriters Phone:______sign a book that came to that but it worked and they E-mail (#1): ______show. had orchids for the show. 12 There was an incident E-mail (#2): ______