SOUTHERN ONTARIO ORCHID SOCIETY NEWS December 2012, Volume 47, Issue 11

Web site: www.soos.ca ; 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: Marilyn Crompton, #1908-21 Overlea Blvd., Toronto ON M4H 1P2, phone 416- 467-0018 Executive: President, Yvonne Schreiber, 905-473-3405; Vice-president Laura Liebgott, 905-883-5290; Secretary, Sue Loftus 905-839-8281; Treasurer, John Vermeer, 905-823-2516 Other Positions of Responsibility: Program, Mario Ferrusi; Plant Doctor, Doug Kennedy; Meeting Set up, Tom Atkinson; Vendor and Sales table coordinator, Diane Ryley; Membership, Marilyn Crompton, ; Web Master, Max Wilson; Newsletter, Peter and Inge Poot; Annual Show, Peter Poot; Refreshments, Joe O’Regan. Conservation Committee, Susan Shaw; Show table, Iryna Bonya. Honorary Life Members: Terry Kennedy, Doug Kennedy, Inge Poot, Peter Poot, Joe O’Regan, Diane Ryley, Wayne Hingston. Annual Show: February 16 – 17, 2013

Meeting Sunday, December 2, Toronto Botanical Garden, Sales at noon, program at 1 pm. It is time again for the annual Christmas auction and pot-luck lunch. This eagerly anticipated prelude to the festive season depends on each of us to bring a dish of our choice in order to ensure the pot-luck is a winner. If you have items to donate related to orchids – plants, pots, books, art, and so on – we do need them for the auction. Please let Jay Norris know what you are bringing. The agenda is as follows:

 Announcements 1:00 - 1:15 p.m.  Auction 1:15 - 2:30 p.m.  Pot-luck chow-down 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.  2013 Show Committee Meeting: 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.  Please Note: No raffle and no show table SOOS Display at RBG show by Don Wyatt and Joe  Remember to renew your membership for 2013!!! Madden photo pp

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President’s Remarks Fellow orchid  What I really would appreciate are aficionados Thank you goes out to those of you notes from eagle-eyed proof readers and who brought in treats to share for our comments about usability and layout. What November 4th meeting. Our annual Christmas makes perfect sense to me, might not be so potluck will take place at the December 2nd crystal clear to others. meeting. Please bring along your favorite dish to share after the auction. The options here are  If we are looking for a large scale wide open – salads, main courses or desserts. I overhaul of the site (not a bad idea), then I will need a few people to help organize the would need the help and input of others to come up with a clear plan for that. food. With so much going on at this meeting, there The time to renew your SOOS membership is will be no raffle and no show table. here. We will once again be having the “Early The annual fund raising auction will take place Bird Renewal” draw. There will be two more starting shortly after 1 p.m. If you have an item draws, taking place at the December and or items to be included in the auction please January meetings. To be eligible you must have contact Jay Norris at [email protected]. We renewed your membership prior to that are looking for any item that is orchid related. month’s meeting. If you renew before the first It could be potting supplies, books, or art work, of November, you will be entered for all three not just plants. Your donations will be greatly draws. You must be present to claim your appreciated. prize.

I know that there are many talented people The next meeting of the SOOS Orchid who are members of our orchid society, and I Culture Talks is happening in the TBG am still looking for help. Are you skilled at conference room (the glass room at the top of database management/Excel? Someone is the stairs). In addition to teaching basics to new needed to maintain our membership database. SOOS members, the talks will include Diane Ryley has also indicated that she could demonstration and discussion of best practices use another pair of hands at the Members’ for more experienced growers. These classes Sales table. Consider if you could help out in are free for SOOS members and will be held one of these roles. from 7 pm to 9 pm on the following dates: Our web master Max Wilson has indicated that he too, could use some help with the care and Sept 17 – Intro, Media, Watering maintenance of the S.O.O.S. website. He has highlighted the following areas: Oct 22 – Fertilizer, Repotting

 There is a moderate learning curve for Nov 19 – Pests, Light, Humidity anyone who wants to make changes to the web pages, but not insurmountable. They Dec 17 – Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum would also need to install the software (Dreamweaver MX2004) on their computer. Jan 21 – Cattleya, Dendrobium

 The calendar page is a bit different as it Our annual orchid show is fast approaching. is a self contained database. That can be We will need plants to put into this display so modified through a password protected web take special care to groom your favourites for page. It would be great if someone wants to this special appearance. The sign-up sheets for help with that. I could just give them the the various jobs at the show will be available password and a few minutes of coaching. before and during the meeting. Please consider adding your name to one or more places.

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Remember that if you volunteer to help you will Vanda Roberts Delight 'Blue Star'----Joe get to see the show for free. Madden 1st place Ribbons Talk to me at a meeting; e-mail me at Vanda Roberts Delight 'Blue Star'-----Joe [email protected], or phone me at Madden 905-473-3405. Yvonne Schreiber Phalaenopsis Prinecess Kaiulani ---- Synea Tan Paphiopedilum Doll's Kobold, SOOS Conservation Committee Charlesworthii 'Flat Dorsal' x henryanum 'Jumble Spots'---- Heinz Ernstberger Wanted New Members for the SOOS Asconopsis Irene Dobkins Elmhurst Conservation Committee. Please be prepared to HCC/AOS----Henry Glowka participate in meetings with our small group. 2nd Place Ribbons We initiate projects related to the preservation Blue dendrobium-----Heinz Ernstberger of wild Ontario orchids and rare tropical Brasidium. Fly Away Miami---- Joe orchids. Please e-mail Susan Shaw- [email protected] if you want to join our lively O'Regan group. Lc. Hawian Easter ----Alexsi Antanaitis Slc. Sierra Doll 'Manteca'---- John Vermeer Paphiopedilum concolour album x Gregii album----Don Wyatt VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!! Visiting orchid society Your show committee is hard at work. We need 3rd Place Ribbons your help to run and promote our show coming Paphiopedilum Harmon Andrews, up February 16 and 17, 2013. Our promotion team, Lynda Kafka and Doug Kennedy have a glaucophyllum X glanduliferum----Heinz supply of beautiful posters and $2 off coupons Ernstberger for you to distribute. Pick some up at the next Odontioda. Stirbic----Heinz Ernstberger meeting. Oncidium. Mendenhall “Hildos”----Heinz Volunteer sign up sheets will be out at the next Ernstberger meeting for you to sign up for one or more of the many volunteer jobs that need doing. Phalaenopsis Chain Xen Momo----Synea The show is also an opportunity for you to show Tan your own flowering orchids either on your own or Oncidium Sherry Baby---- Joe O'Regan with a friend or in the SOOS member exhibit. Cymbidium Chengs Ruby---- J. Kieswatter You can also enter art or photographs of Slc Firefighter 'Mem. Dora Menchaca' orchids. Display space is limited and needs to be reserved by January 6, 2013. For orchid AM/AOS---- John Vermeer display space contact Tom Atkinson via Paphiopedilum bellatulum x sib ('Yellow [email protected] or 416-449-7907. For Sunset X Perfect Circle')---- Don Wyatt art or photography contact Frank Maine via Display of 26 or more plants. Display done [email protected] or 519-823-1089. by Laura Liebgott. Congratulations and thank Talk to any of the people sporting the Ask me you to all exhibitors about orchids tags about how.

The winners in the The winners in the SOOS SOOS exhibit at the exhibit at the RBG Society Eastern Canada Orchid show: Don Wyatt and Joe Madden put in the SOOS Society show: display and won a first place ribbon in the Best in Class Society displays 1-15 plants class. 3

Other winners were: st 3, SOOS meeting Toronto Botanical Garden, 1 place Ribbons sales 12 noon, program 1 pm Vanda Roberts Delight 'Blue Star'-----Joe Madden Phalaenopsis Chain Xen Momo----Synea AOS Judging Results Tan 2nd Place Ribbons Please note, all of these awards are provisional Phalaenopsis No id Joe O’Regan until published by the American Orchid Society rd 3 Place Ribbons RBG Ontario Orchid Society Show Blc Goldstone x C. Chocolate ?? Joe O’Regan October 27: there were seven awards. Slc Sierra Doll ‘Manteca’ John Vermeer Congratulations and thank you to all exhibitors. Toronto Centre Judging November 3, Dracula Lynn’s Choice, CCM-AOS 88 points, AM-AOS 84 points, Mario and Coming Events Conni Ferrusi. DECEMBER Schoenorchis buddleiflora ‘Stacey Ann’ CCM-AOS 84 points, Sherry Decyk 1, Toronto Centre judging 1 pm at the Toronto Botanical Garden Stanhopea connata, AM-AOS 80 points, Terry and Doug Kennedy. 2, SOOS meeting Toronto Botanical Garden, Lycaste Karina x Shoalhaven, HCC-AOS 75 sales 12 noon, program 1 pm points, Terry and Doug Kennedy. 15, Montreal Judging Centre Monthly Judging, Rhyncholaeliocattleya King of Taiwan, Jardin Botanique de Montreal CCM-AOS 85 points, AM-AOS 84 points, Wilson Ng.

2013 Note! The next regular judging will be held at the JANUARY TBG on December 1 at 1 pm. AOS Judging is a service of the American Orchid Society and is 5, Toronto Centre judging 1 pm at the open to all! Bring us your flowering orchids. We Toronto Botanical Garden need the practice. 6, SOOS meeting Toronto Botanical Garden, sales 12 noon, program 1 pm Plant of the Month. Sherry and Peter Decyk 15, Toronto Judging Centre additional judging brought their wonderful Schoenorchis buddleiflora at the Orchid Society of the Royal Botanical that was awarded a Certificate of Cultural Merit of 84 Gardens. points the day before –and won “Plant of the Month”! 23, Wednesday, 7:00 pm, Montreal Judging Centre Monthly Judging at ECOS Monthly The plant was like a dainty drape of thin leaves, Members Meeting interlaced with 30 inflorescences of sprays of pretty lilac flowers. They had bought the plant as a sprig 27, SOOS meeting Toronto Botanical Garden, mounted on tree-fern from J&L in 2002. But under sales 12 noon, program 1 pm their expert care the plant had to be moved –tree-fern February and all- onto a piece of cork bark. They keep the plant in their NW facing lean-to greenhouse in a place that 16-17, SOOS Orchid Show, Toronto gets medium or diffused light, when the sun reaches Botanical Garden the greenhouse from noon to sunset. 23, Montreal Judging Centre Monthly Judging The greenhouse is kept at a warm temperature with at the Jardin Botanique de Montreal the minimum set at 62 degrees Fahrenheit. March Watering is done with rainwater. In summer the watering is done about every second day, in the 2-3, Toronto Centre Judging and Orchid Society of the RBG show at the Royal Botanical winter about once a week. Gardens in Burlington. 4

though...... Another wrinkle to this cross is that it was registered again in 1985 as Rhrds. O-So- Nice, but neither AQ+ nor Orchid Wiz have a record of this error. The trigeneric cross of an Aerides, Rhynchostylis and a Vanda is called Perreiraara (Prra), as in Perreiraara Luke Thai, a cross of Rhy. coelestis and Aerdv. Vieng Ping. The latter parent is a cross of Aerides flabellata and Vanda denisoniana. Most awarded clones had full, flat flowers. Most were chartreuse, some with moss- green tessellation and with a contrasting lavender lip. One was golden yellow, while the clone ‘Mike’ AM-AOS was apple green with a deep lavender-blue lip. A pretty cross! Crossing a Perreiraara with Neofinetia gives the quadrigeneric cross Sanjumeara (Sjma). Sanjumeara Luke Neo is a cross of Neof. falcata X Prra. Luke Thai. The unawarded clone shown had flat white flowers, the petals smaller than the sepals and a long, quite wide lip, overlaid solid rosy-lavender, but leaving a thin white margin. Charming! Another quadrigeneric cross is Ronnyara (Rnya) created by putting the four major Pat Vuurman and Sherry Decyk with the plant of vandaceous genera together: the month photo pp Rnya. (Aerides lawrenceae X Vascostylis Five The Decyks fertilize at every fourth watering with Friendships) is not registered as of this lecture, MSU fertilizer at the rate of one cup per 20 gallons of but not surprisingly is another variation on the so dominant Aerides lawrenceae. water. Renanthera hybrids Air movement is always brisk in the greenhouse. The red colour found in most of the flowers Congratulations on a job really well done! found in this genus is a siren call for hybridizers. The problems to be overcome by hybridizers are Vandaceous Intergenerics by the large growth habit of most of the colourful Robert Fuchs Part 2 species and the very narrow dorsal sepal and petals and the tiny lip of the flowers. The assets Transcribed by Inge Poot continued from last are wide, but clawed lateral sepals and of month. course the reds and yellows of the flowers, plus A New Combination: floriferousness. In the previous section we have considered the Renantanda Charles Jones (Ren. philippinensis progeny of Aerides and Rhynchostylis. Many X V. coerulea) is an example of such a (even if hybrid genera have been produced using both of unawarded) cross. The clone shown had an these in their make-up. upright inflorescence of lots of well-spaced blue- purple flowers of only slightly wider segments Rhynchorides (Rhrds) registered in 1968 is a than the Renanthera parent and taking on the V. direct combination of Rhynchostylis and Aerides. coerulea 90 degree twisting of the petals. No Rhynchorides Memoria Suranaree, a cross of more than a stepping stone hybrid! Rhyn. coelestis and Aer. lawrenceae, produces long dense sprays of open to full white flowers Using Renanthera storiei gives slightly better whose segments are tipped either blue-purple or results. Renantanda Tuanku Bainun (V. pink and with a lip of a darker shade of the tip Keeree’s Delight X Ren storiei) was illustrated colour. Clones of it have been awarded a few with a clone having a moderate number of well- times, for both pink and blue tipped cultivars. spaced, fairly full, soft red reticulated flowers on Only some of the awards were to flat flowers a horizontal inflorescence 5

Another cross Renantanda Istana (Ren. Kaisom Pararenanthera (formerly: Renanthopsis or a X V. Golden Temple), where Ren. Kaisom was a hybrid genus with Phalaenopsis) is a cross of cross of Ren. philippinensis and Ren. storiei, Renanthera and Paraphalaenopsis (Pps.). was illustrated by the clone ‘Crownfox’ AM-AOS. The flowers were again fairly open, a soft orange, suffused red, especially on the larger lateral sepals, while the tiny, round cup-shaped lip was a deep red. Kagawara is the hybrid genus of the three genera Renanthera, Vanda and Ascocentrum. The Ascocentrum should reduce plant size and equalize the flower segments somewhat. Since two of the parents can be red, many Kagawaras have intense red-orange colours. Kagawara Christie Low (Ren. Nancy Chandler X Ascda Mem. Choo Laikeun) was illustrated with a lovely clone of beautifully arranged round, full, flat flowers of orange speckled red. The only fault were the slight curling-under of the lower petal edges on mature flowers.

Pararenanthera Divine Flame 'Ramirez Ruby' AM-AOS 81 points Paraphalenopsis x Renanthera photo AQ+ Pararenanthera Amy Russell ‘Magnifico’ AM- AOS is an example of such a cross (Ren. Brookie Chandler X Paraphalaenopsis denevii). It had star-shaped light red flowers, very heavily overlaid with deep red dots. The edges were crisped and the lip was small, but darker solid red. The cross Pararenanthera Redlands ( Pps. Boediardjo X Ren. storiei) is similar, the clone ‘Crownfox Inferno’ HCC-AOS was the only clone Kagawara Samreng 'Red Dragon' AM-AOS 84 points, awarded and it is a bit narrower than the Amy Renanthera x Ascoscenda photo AQ+ Russell ‘Magnifico’ described above. Kagawaras can also come in other colours if an There are four species of Paraphalaenopsis appropriately coloured other parent is used. used in hybridizing. However they seem Kagawara Judy Mezey (Ascda. Aileen Garrison genetically incompatible with Phalaenopsis, but X Ren. storiei) can produce fairly full flowers cross well with genera close to Vanda. The four from grape purple to rose-red, smooth or species usually used in hybridizing are: tessellated. The clones ‘Crownfox’ AM-AOS and ‘Crownfox Jewel’ AM-AOS were a nice grape Pps. laycockii (white to palest pink, some with purple with deeper purple tessellations, but central red streaky overlay, lip with a fish-tail some edges were turned under. The clone shaped end, spotted red-brown, side-lobes solid ‘Tom’s Surprise’ FCC-AOS was a lovely smooth red-brown, petals gracefully down-swept) deep purple with only the proximal dorsal sepal Pps. labukensis yellow flowers with heavy red- edges turned under. brown spotting and flushing on sepals and 6 petals, leaving a narrow margin unmarked. Lip were much more narrow than the sepals. Pretty slightly forked, spotted and barred red-brown on but not stunning! mid-lobe, lined and spotted on side-lobes, While Aerides, Rhynchostylis and Renathera are Pps. serpentilingua similar to Pps. laycockii in the most commonly used parents for shape, but white with no spotting, while the lip Intergenerics, several other vandaceous genera has a decided fork and a yellow flush as well as have also been used extensively in hybridizing. the red-brown spotting and solid colour overlay Arachnis hybrids: on the side-lobes. Matching Arachnis with vandas produces the and Pps. denevei with the fullest flowers of all genus Aranda the species used in hybridizing. The flowers are usually cream, densely dotted rust, leaving a Aranda Broga Giant ‘Crownfox Big Boy’ AM- narrow cream border. Lip white with deep ruby AOS had strikingly coloured open flowers with red spotting and barring and becoming solid red somewhat spoon-shaped segments. The on the tips of all three lobes. Mid-lobe barely combination of rich fuchsia on the front surface forked. contrasted beautifully with the more lilac reverse and the small, but almost black lip mid-lobe and Crosses with Paraphalaenpsis are rarely an the white anther cap. improvement over the parents, but are interesting. One of the most successful crosses, Combining Arachnis with vandas and is the the cross of Pps. laycockii with Rhy. Ascocentrums produces the hybrid genus coelestis called Parastylis Seletar Jewel. The Mokara. clone ’Crownfox Pink Glow’ AM-AOS produces Mokara Redland Sunset’ Robert’s Ruby’ HCC- star-shaped pink flowers with a darker lip. AOS had 25 flowers of slightly cupped, but full Crosses with Ascocendas result in fuller flowers, form, yellow overlaid and tessellated cerise red but with the ruffled margins of the Pps. parents. on sepals and petals.(Aranda Singapura X Ascda. Yip Sum Wah) Paravandrum is the successful hybrid genus of a Paraphalaenopsis(Pps) and an Ascocenda. Mokara Michael Coronado ‘Fuchs Spots’ AM- This is different from the less successful AOS (Redland Sunset X V. tessellata) had 18 Paravanda, the cross of a Pps. and a Vanda. flat, quite full flowers on one inflorescence. The flowers had a yellow-orange base colour and the Paravandrum was called Deverauxara while sepals and petals were spotted and tessellated Paraphalaenopsis was included in the genus garnet, the garnet colour becoming solid along Phalaenopsis. Some examples are described the margins. Very showy! below: Christensonia vietnamica : Paravandrum Crownfox Sundance (Pps. Asean X Ascda Udomchai) was illustrated with a plant RF Orchids started a breeding progamme with with Pps plant habit and bouquet type the recently discovered Christensonia arrangement of flowers, but the flowers were vietnamica, a wonderful compactly growing quite full, soft rust-red with a darker, small species that produces lovely green flowers with Vanda-type lip. The slightly wavy edges of the an exceptionally large spur and a bright wide segments added grace. white lip mid-lobe. Since most genera in the vanda alliance have small lips this is a real find. Paravandrum Dato Anuar Bashah ‘Chili Pepper’ RF Orchids have registered two new hybrid AM-AOS a cross of Pps. Lenggeng X Ascda genera with this species: Dhongchai Pusavat) had inflorescence of 21 somewhat star-shaped rich red-purple flowers, Coronadoara is the result of crossing whose centers were high-lighted with yellow lip Christensonia with Ascocentrum and Vanda. side-lobes and a white anther cap. The most gratifying cross was Coronadoara Michael’s Delight (Ascda Crownfox Golden Paravandrum Maria Wood ‘Crownfox Plum Tart” Dawn X Christensonia vietnamica)for which they AM-AOS (Pps. Nonito Dolera X Ascda Yip Sum were proud to receive an award of distinction Wah) is similar to the above, but another (AD) The lip is not as wide as in Christensonia awarded clone had streaky pink flowers. vietnamica, but more like lips in Aerides. Paravandrum Nadia Butler ‘Paul’s Passion’ The clone receiving the AD was round, flat and HCC-AOS (Pps. laycockii X Ascda. Meda full, yellow spotted red-brown. Arnold) had 16 flat, open, rose-pink flowers on one inflorescence, but in this clone the petals

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The clone ‘Mike’ HCC-AOS had less full flowers Chrisanda Crownfox Key Lime (Vanda ? than the AD clone, a yellow base colour, on the sanderiana? X Christensonia vietnamica) does sepals and petals overlaid with a rose-red flush not seem to be registered yet, but a picture and spotted to almost reticulated brick-red. found on the internet showed a full, round flower with overlapping segments, white base colour, The clone ‘Debbie Gianchini’ HCC-AOS had dorsal and petals flushed pink, lateral sepals petals that were smaller than the sepals and overlaid deep charteuse, and the proximal half were a bit cupped. The base colour was yellow- of dorsal and petals spotted and laterals green, the sepals and petals spotted brick-red reticulated red-brown. The lip unfortunately was and had their edges flushed a softer brick-red. a typical Vanda sanderiana lip. Maybe sibbing The lip was bright yellow with the mid-lobe over- this would get some of the Christensonia laid a solid dark brick-red. A striking flower! characters back. RF Orchids also crossed Christensonia Chrisanda Crownfox Limade ‘Redland Lion’ AM- vietnamica with Vascostylis Five Friendships RHS (June 2011) (Vanda Golden Doubloon X giving the the new hybrid genus Fuchsara and Christensonia vietnamica) a picture of this cross the grex Crownfox. All awarded clones had found on the internet showed a long upright widely spaced flowers that were flat to a little inflorescence with slightly open golden- cupped and had the segments just touching. chartreuse flowers whose segments had slightly The base colour was cream to chartreuse and crisped edges and the whole set off by a long, the lip had a wide mid-lobe of a nice fuchsia vertically held, strap-shaped white lip with a bi- colour. lobed apex. Fuchsara Crownfox ‘Boris’ AM-AOS illustrated Christocentrum Wai Ron (Christensonia chartreuse flowers with a magenta lip and vietnamica X Ascocentrum miniatum) was Fuchsara Crownfox ‘Bob’s Delight’ AM-AOS was registered in Singapore. The image shown on the nicest of all the awarded clones and the internet showed a white open flower with illustrated the creamy yellow version of this slightly crisped edges, the petals were held cross, but this clone had a slight distal pink flush horizontally as in Vanda coerulea and the lip on the segments, a very wide lip mid-lobe of a was large with fuchsia markings. A graceful good deep fuchsia. delicate flower, but where the Ascocentrum has gone is not clear???? Some other interesting Christensonia vietnamica hybrids are starting to appear: Chrisanda Penang Angel (Christensonia The Intergeneric combinations in the Vanda vietnamica X Vanda Rasri Gold registered in alliance seem to be endless. As this breeding Malaysia. A clone of this shown on the internet progresses, we can look forward to more and had somewhat open pastel pink flowers with more unusual colour combinations from vibrant ruffled edges, a lip with gold side-lobes and a to pastel and to a profusion of flowers with wide, deep fuchsia mid-lobe and a white anther spots, flares and tessellations. It appears that cap. Rather pleasing! there is no end to the fascinating and beautiful combinations that the vandaceous genera can produce. Culture Never Pack Sphagnum around these vandaceous plants. Put a pot or a basket around the base of the plant and pack the sphagnum around the outside of the pot or basket. To get a plant through a winter in a house where it is much drier than in a greenhouse, take a tall glass jar, put a bit of rain-water or distilled water on the bottom and suspend the plant in the container by jamming in some Styrofoam pieces into the neck of the container around the base of the plant.

Chrisanda Mem. Anri Bracker 'Charles' AD-AOS Vanda x They like high humidity. Cristensonia photo AQ+

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To conserve moisture in stressed plants do not in spring. She pots them in coconut fiber and wrap them in plastic but in burlap. They will cook Styrofoam. in plastic. Remember that Coconut fiber must be changed To get plants to bloom, fertilize with 10-30-20, after two years. use Superthrive and Epsom salts( at the rate of Phalaenopsis should never be repotted unless one tablespoon per gallon or 4 liters of water). they have a new leaf coming. If it has no flowers If this does not do it either, move them around. A and no new leaf, it is not active and re-potting it temperature change does not usually induce at that time will likely kill it. flowering, but a change in the amount of light is Restrepias should be re-potted every year or more likely to induce blooming. year and a half. The minimum temperature is 50F (10C)

Wind chill can cause big problems. A temperature difference of 20 Fahrenheit (10 Celsius) degrees or more between air and water temperature is very harmful. Coconut fiber must be changed after two years, since salts build up to toxic levels. If a Vanda has poor roots or is dehydrated DO NOT let it bloom. Blooming will kill it. So break off the bloom spike! After re-potting do not let a Vanda bloom for about a year Another Vanda grower had told us that vandas need to be watered when the roots turn white. You then water them lightly, wait half an hour and water them again UNTIL THE ROOTS TURN GREEN. Some days you may have to water twice a day. Water in the morning, unless it is so hot and dry that you must water again in the afternoon. To see Vandas at their best, go to the Redlands Festival in Florida, held the week-end after Mother’s day. Question about whether Vandas are fragrant: Big Vandas generally have no fragrance. Hybrids of the fragrant species Vanda tessellata, Rhynchostylis gigantea and Aerides houlletiana generally have good fragrance in first generation hybrids. Later generations tend to diminish in fragrance. Cultural tips about other genera given when discussing the show table: Never repot Cattleyas when they are dormant. Repot just as new roots are coming out of new leads. Catasetums need to get a dry rest of no water for two months starting in November. If this does not happen they rot in the spring. Repot in the spring, feed heavily while they are growing. Cathy Tacoma gives her Catasetums Nutricote

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November 2012 Show Table

Class First Second Third

Laeliocattleya Cariad’s Mini-Quinee Cattleytonia 'Why Not Walk’ Rhyncattleanthe Taichung Class 1 (Guaricattonia 'Why Not Walk') Beauty 'Rouge Cattle' BM/JOGA Heinz Ernstberger Cattleya Alliance Vivian Brownell Vivian Brownell

Phragmipedium Class 2 Elizabeth Castle ‘Dandy’ AM/AOS Paphiopedilum Doug and Terry Kennedy

Class 3 Neostylis Lou Sneary ‘Bluebird’ Phalaenopsis and John Spears Vanda Alliance

Oncidium Oncidium Class 4 Sharry Baby ‘Sweet Fragrance’ Green Valley Honey ‘Sweet Lady’ Oncidium and related Joe DiCiommo Joe DiCiommo

Cycnodes Wine Delight Lycaste (Karina x Shoalhaven) Class 7 Rosanna Li Doug and Terry Kennedy All Others

Schoenorchis buddleiflora Class 8 Peter and Sherry Decyk Specimen Plants 10