Volume XXXVII, Issue 5, May 2014

was amazing. I don’t know what he Pr t es her method is, but as usual it was m id impeccable. o e r So, what went wrong? Beats me! n f

t We are in the red by approximately

e $70 or so. We do have over 30 g

a left. We will discuss this Tuesday.

s Hello,friends!

s Our next meeting has scheduled e M So much has for its speaker the elusive Patti Lee! happened since I guarantee you will be entertained.. our last meeting. First: Our meeting was very John Foley informative. I’ve learned more President tricks about summering my plants outdoors Second: We had our sale / SPECIAL show at Snug Harbor. We had more MEETING TIME DUE TO CHRUCH membership participation then I can remember for many years. On SCHEDULE CONFLICT behalf of Dave, I want to thank all of you for helping him put the show together. I also want to think the ladies from Deep Cut for putting up Our next meeting is: such a lovely display of their own. May 22nd, 2014 at 7:00 pm Everything was perfect. Amy and Coleman gave delightful talks Our Guest Speaker this month as usual. Jim broke the record in will be Patti Lee. raffle sales. People would just stick dollar bills in the bowl to keep him quiet. Jimmy you’re the man! Carol

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 April Show Tables

This month’s pictures come courtesy of Colman Rutkin with the assistance of Amy Trautwein.

SIOS Page 2 SIOS Page 3 SIOS Page 4 SIOS Page 5 SIOS Page 6 SIOS Page 7 SIOS Page 8 SIOS Page 9 Snug Harbor Show

SIOS Page 10 SIOS Page 11 Collector’s Items Caularthron bicornutum

By AOS Publication Committee Synonyms: Reprinted from the AOS Website Diacrium amazonicum Schlechter (http://www.aos.org/Default. Diacrium bicornutum Bentham aspx?id=161) bicornutum W. J. Hooker.

Etymology: The name Caularthron is derived from the Greek kaulos, meaning stem, and arthron, mean- ing joint, referring to the persistent leaf bases that accentuate the ap- pearance of the nodes. The epithet refers to the two hollow callus projections that can be near- ly as large as the lateral lobes of the lip.

Blooming Period: Flowers in January in nature and can be as late as May to June in cultivation. Plants here in South Florida are in spike now (1/16/09). Blossoms are produced in sucession so flowering can last for several weeks. Flowers have a light citrusy fragrance. We find that Flowers are well-held on a tall the inflorescence is a delicacy to inflorescence that needs no staking. sucking insects and usually keep a hand sprayer with 1tsp. Orthene®

SIOS Page 12 to 1qt. of water nearby. A squirt or Description: two every few days will discourage The pronounced pseudobulbs are aphids and thrips from destroying spindle-shaped, to 11.7 x 2.3 in. (30 the bloom spike. x 6 cm). Each pseudobulb carries 2-3 oblong-elliptic, obtuse, leathery leaves up to 7.8 x 2 in. (20 x 5 cm). The terminal inflorescences are erect, long-pedunculate racemes to 25.4 in. (65 cm) long. Inflorescences carry 4-20 white flowers; the basal half of the lip spotted dark red and the callus bright golden yellow. Sepals are ovate-elliptic, subacute, to 1.3 x 0.7 in. (3.2 x 1.8 cm). Petals are broadly elliptic to suborbicular, abruptly acuminate, to 1.1 x 0.9 in. Caularthron bicornutum ‘For Mark’ (2.8 x 2.3 cm). The three-lobed lip AM/AOS Exhib: Sandra Denman is up to 1.1 x 0.6 in. (2.8 x 1.5 cm), the lateral lobes oblong, obtuse, subparallel to the midlobe, the midlobe linear-lanceolate, acute, Distribution: about twice the length of the lateral Long known under the name lobes, the callus a pair of high two- Diacrium bicornutum, this species is found north of the Amazon River along the northern portions of South America and in Trinidad and Tobago at elevations of 650-2450 feet (200-750 meters). Caularthron bilamellatum, a closely related species, is found in the same area as well as Central America. Many populations of Caularthron bilamellatum are cleistagamous (self-pollinating) and the flowers do not open fully, or open only briefly. The two species meet in Trinidad and Tobago. In nature the hollow pseudobulbs are frequently home to Caularthron bicornutum ‘‘Arp’s stinging ! Snowflake’ HCC/AOS Exhib: Gerald K. Arp

SIOS Page 13 lobed horn-like keels. The column is semiterete, flared as broadly obtuse-rounded keels to either side of the stigma, to 0.8 in. (2 cm) long.

Culture: Grow Caularthron bicornutum in small pots or baskets with a medium-grade epiphyte mixture. Provide warm temperatures, very bright to full light, and regular watering throughout the year. The roots should dry out fully between waterings. Care should be taken to avoid over-potting or too frequent watering as the root system doesn’t respond well to disturbance or a decomposed medium. Plants also grow well mounted providing that watering needs can be met. Those living in frost-free climates can use it as a landscape subject. Attach divisions firmly to thin canopy trees.

SIOS Page 14 April Showtable Tallies

Greenhouse Tano Carbonaro = 12 Colman Rutkin = 32

Lights Roy and Gertrude Fox = 14 Vivian Prestia = 6

Window Roy and Gertrude Fox = 14 Vivian Prestia = 14 Amy Trautwein = 29

OFFICERS John Foley, President Jeff Li, Vice President Amy Eli Trautwein, Co-Vice President Colman Rutkin, Treasurer Carol Cammarano, Co-Treasurer Sharon Jaffee, Secretary / AOS Rep Keith Litchman, Membership Secretary

NEWSLETTER Jeff Li, Editor and Photography

TRUSTEES Ron Altman, D.D.S. Carol Cammarano Patrick Cammarano Gerry Cassella Roy Fox Renee Lichtman David O’Dell Kathleen Ruoti Karen Silverman

SIOS Page 15 The 2014 International Shore Orchid Festival will be held Friday June 6th and 7th, from 10 to 5, and on Sunday, June 8 from 10 to 3. The event will be hosted by Silva Orchids, 635 Wayside Rd. - Neptune N.J. 07753.

Returning this year are both ribbon and American Orchid Society judging. If you have a or plants that you wish to be judged, please refer to the schedule below.

Schedule for Registration:

RIBBON JUDGING REGISTRATION: June 3rd and June 4th - 10:00am-12:00pm June 6th -8:00am - 9:30am

AOS JUDGING REGISTRATION: June 3rd and June 4th - 10:00am-12:00pm June 6th- 8:00am - 9:30 June 7th- 8:00am - 9:00am

SCHEDULE FOR JUDGING: June 6th - 10:00am - Ribbon Judging Only June 7th - 10:00am AOS Judging Only

NO PLANTS ACCEPTED FOR JUDGING ON THURSDAY, JUNE 7TH.

SIOS Page 16 Orchid All Star: Silva Interview Kevin Gallagher is a radio host show. Each of those vendors had a at WPKN.org and owner of particular specialty that they were Microbelifestore.com. He recently working on, improving and always sat down to talk with Anthony Silva looking for new things to add. So from Silva Orchids in Neptune, NJ, for us it was not only a show to sell well known growers since 1957. and display but also a great show to Tony recently called Kevin to express buy. And we would exchange plants their pleasure with the results they and try and constantly hybridize were getting with Neptunes Fish and make new things, but also get and Seaweed Fertilizer and Microbe better forms of species that were Life’s Quantum Growth Orchid from available to us. Microbelifestore.com Are people still finding orchids way You can also listen to this interview out in some distant jungle? online at http://archives.wpkn. org/bookmarks/listen/68552#. Oh, yes. You could go to UzoUF2muJbs.email. Ecuador and you will find new orchids there almost every day if you look Orchid growers seem very intense for them. It is a very unique place. about growing orchids and intensely For instance, one side of a mountain competitive. Tell me a little about might have an orchid that only the orchid growers culture, hunting exists there and nowhere else in down or growing the better hybrid the world. And it might not be there orchid plant and putting them into for very long because things change competitions. Give us a sense of and when it does, that orchid might what goes on with that? be gone forever.

Well, there used to be a show How many different types of orchids at Rockefeller Center, where there are there? were sixty orchid growers from all over the world and about forty There are 35,000 species that we societies; so about a hundred know of and I don’t know how many different entities there in that one hybrids. I would say probably in the

SIOS Page 17 hundreds of thousands if not up to How do you grow orchids from seed? a million hybrids that have been made. Actually, the interesting thing about orchids was that they didn’t They make them through breeding? even know how to germinate the seed until 1920. The reason for Oh, yes. There are tribes in that, which is something that I orchids. You generally have to work am kind of going back to now, is within a certain tribe. What I mean because the orchid seed doesn’t by that is, there are families that have any food incorporated into it, have different members in them so when that seed germinates it that will interbreed. But of course actually has to be infected by the if you go outside of that tribe, you right fungus or bacteria, and that won’t be able to breed with other opens up and feeds the seed. What orchids. Like Vandas will not breed that has allowed the orchid to do, onto Cattleyas and things like that. is it has created a much smaller But surprisingly, there are a lot of seed. A Cattleyas seed pod can hold members in a particular group you a million seeds. They are fine, like can work with, many of which don’t dust, and they can be scattered. In look very much like each other. order for it to germinate it needs the Unlike roses or tulips, where you right fungus, mycorrhizal fungus or might make a cross but it still looks bacteria, which is sort of something like a tulip or a rose. With orchids I have kind of gotten back to over you might have something that here at Silva Orchids. comes out which looks like neither I have been using a couple of parent, which is really interesting. products I like a lot. One is Neptune’s Harvest Fish and Seaweed fertilizer, So that uniqueness is coveted? I was very pleased with the results with this fertilizer, because we People like to say that beauty used to use fish emulsion in the is in the eye of the beholder, but I old days, which is great because it don’t think that that is totally true. feeds the bacteria that grow at the I do think there are certain things plant’s roots. There are all kinds of that appeal to people’s eye. If you trace enzymes and vitamins these produce a plant that is really large commercial fertilizers don’t have and it has small flowers, that is to apply to the orchids. So, this something you are not going to fertilizer will do it if you have the want to do again. Certain things right bacteria at the roots. To ensure we do bring out what we consider that, I also got a product called desirable qualities and we hope that Quantum Growth orchid from your the public agrees with us. company Microbelifestore.com.

SIOS Page 18 Between the two products, I because that is what they actually was extremely delighted with the grow on. This actually dovetails results. The plants greened up with that mycorrhizal fungus and almost immediately and I saw a lot of beneficial bacteria that is so helpful. extra growth coming from the base. Funny thing is, a lot of the orchids It sped up my root tip action, which grown in stores today are grown in a is nice to see. You are not trying to sterile medium, the opposite of the push them with a chemical fertilizer, way they grow in nature. Instead that can be hot, which you can only of having a probiotic culture that is go so far with. These products work natural, they use a moss that has with the plant the way the plant a natural antibiotic in it. By using works. The funny thing was when method, some growers are able to they actually did figure out what grow the plant faster, but hold more the fungus was giving to the seed. water making them more disease They just added those elements, and insect prone. in vitro, and achieved 90 percent germination, which made orchids What is the most important thing more available in greater numbers a person should look for when to the public. Until then they were deciding to purchase and grow an extremely expensive and highly orchid plant? prized. Even today, a new orchid can fetch quite a high price. Whenever I think if you start to get into I personally bought orchids in the the hobby, the one thing you want to past, I ended up having a great plant buy is from a reputable dealer with with lots of leaves and no blooms. virus free stock. One of the things you want to do is understand better What should one be on the look out what the orchids actually want. We for when buying an orchid plant? use a bark that we find is key to actually having success with most of The key is to get a good plant. the orchids. It actually also has an Unfortunately a lot of the plants that inoculant added to the bark which are being grown in large quantities helps them to root much faster. today are grown in such a way that Kevin, I am telling you we have they are more prone to insects gotten bark from the west coast for and disease. They do everything years. We started having trouble to speed up the process and make with the bark. I don’t know exactly the plants inexpensive to produce. why. We switched to a bark from We started with the Phalaenopsis New Zealand made by this company orchid here after my father passed called Orchiata. The orchid plants away. We were growing that in large used to take two and a half months quantities. But we always used bark to reestablish. In this new bark they

SIOS Page 19 take about two weeks to see the about half the weight after they are roots starting to come up. I have drained. Once you figure out how to never seen that before. It is a huge water the plant correctly and get the advantage. Between that and some light correct for each type, because other things, we have found that it does vary, some want direct sun, growing a more diverse collection some don’t want direct sun at all. like we have now is easier. Once you have that, they are pretty easy to grow and bloom. So, You are saying is get a good quality bark, a good quality organic What about feeding? I heard that fertilizer, like fish fertilizer from you should avoid feeding during the Neptune’s Harvest and a good product dormant stage. with beneficial microorganisms,like Quantum Growth Orchid, and you That is true. Any flowering are ahead of the game? plant, generally speaking you want tofeed them with the growing Yes. Most of all make sure you season. So, that would start about buy clean stock from a reputable now here in April and finish at the grower that will stand behind their end September. Also the fertilizer product. If you are going to build should be low in urea nitrogen and a collection and invest a certain water soluble. That is the difference amount of money in it, you don’t between an orchid plant and plants want to go ahead and buy plants grown in soil. Soil plants need urea that are going to bring in hard to fertilizer, and that is converted by kill insects and diseases. What is soil bacteria. Orchids do not have the most common mistake people that bacteria at their roots and so make when growing orchids? I think that kind of sits there and burns the basically they either love them to root tips and breaks the mix down. death or they don’t pay any attention So, you want to use fertilizers that to them at all. But generally, they have low or no urea. love them to death. The orchid bark is a medium that doesn’t hold a lot Good advice. Silva Orchid has a stall of water. When you touch it you down at Union Square market in won’t be able to ell if it’s wet. I tell New York City every Wednesday and people, if you water the plant, pre- every other Saturday? Do you want wet it, wait about ten minutes and to tell us a bit about that before we water it again well, from the top. wrap up here? Never sit them in water. That is the key to growing orchids. If you Sure. I was selling orchids in get that part right, and figure out New York for years to the flower when they get light again, usually shops, since 1979 and now I’m

SIOS Page 20 selling for the last seven years at the down there with my products from Union Square Market on Wednesday microbelifestore.com. and Saturday. If anybody has any questions for If people want to come down and you, where can they email you? visit with you to learn a little more from you firsthand and buy an They could email me or Beth at orchid, they can do that? Silva Orchids at Basilva@optonline. net. Beth is my sister-in-law. She They can. If they have any pretty much handles most of the trouble with plants or anything, they inquiries. can bring them down to the market and I will take a look at them for If you have anything to direct my them. way, I am Kevin Gallagher, email me at [email protected]. That’s nice. You are having your orchid festival this coming June? Do you want to give us the dates and your website?

Our website is Silvaorchids. com. The festival is June 6, 7 and 8, 10:00am to till 5:00pm. We have vendors from all over the world. We have three or four vendors coming from overseas and vendors from California, Florida and locally. I have never seen so many unbelievable orchids than at this festival in Neptune, New Jersey at the Silva Orchid Farm. The only thing I can say, is they are so beautifully strange looking. When you see them in great profusion, like when I was down at your festival last year, I saw an amazing array of different colors, shapes and sizes. It is a fascinating thing. I highly recommend a trip down to Neptune in June to see the festival. If you like orchids you’ll like what you see. I know I’ll be

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