S P I K E Newsletter of the Ottawa Orchid Society
www.ottawaorchidsociety.com November 2015
This month, our guest speaker will be Andrew Buchanan from Buchanan [email protected] Lighting Ltd. Andrew is the President of the company located at 129 Loretta Past President Ave. North, Ottawa (three blocks from the Tom Brown Arena). Andrew will pro- [email protected] vide information on most lighting available for orchid growing and will answer questions related to your lighting needs. As light is the most important aspect Secretary of growing orchids, this is an opportunity to get it right from a well-reputed pro- fessional.
613-722-6738 [email protected] ORCHIDS 101 with Marilyn Light @ 12:30 p.m.
Cana Balay 613-523-6767 Understanding what your Orchids are Telling You. [email protected] I need answers: Why is the orchid not blooming? Why is it losing leaves? How André Couture 613-233-7335 can I get my orchid to re-bloom? [email protected] Bring your questions, your problem plants, and even infested ones but please keep those in a closed transparent bag. Any and all questions, simple to com- plex, are welcome. Group discussion will follow. [email protected]
Plants for Sale [email protected]
Publicity This year again, we have invited Laurent Leblond from Le Paradis des Orchidées Karina Isert 613-729-0175 to come and sell his plants. Members wishing to pre-order can do so by visiting [email protected] his web site at http://www.leparadisdesorchidees.com/ [email protected]
Joyce Medcalf 613-659-2760 [email protected]
1 President’s Message Hi Everyone Now that we have all spent our allowance on Colombian orchids, it’s time to think of getting our collection to thrive and flower in time for our April Show. Our first Show Committee meeting will be November 26 and there are some va- cancies to fill. As in all societies, the more you get involved, the more you get out of it. Over the years I have come to know many members from other Societies and together, we have a great time. Last Saturday was our first beginner class for this year. We had 5 new members/ growers attend and they were given the opportunity to repot some Phalaenopsis that were generously do- nated to the Society. It gave us the chance to get to know each other in the relaxed setting of Jean Hol- lebone’s solarium and hopefully, our new members will not find potting such a daunting task in the future. Our next class is scheduled for November 21 and will address pests and diseases on our orchids. There will be a sign up sheet at the November meeting. Also at our November meeting will be our 2016 calendar. Sales were quite brisk at the last meeting but there are still some left and at $20 they are a bargain. Arlene Lang’s photos are gorgeous and Dave Cooper’s photo of Showy Ladyslippers on the cover makes you want to hang it on your wall right now. All our meetings for 2016 are clearly marked so no excuse for missing one! Our Show weekend is highlighted also. I will close by thanking Joyce Medcalf and Pat Vuurman for taking the OOS display to the Montreal Show and coming home with many ribbons for the display and for individual orchids. This is a lot of work as Joyce lives IN THIS ISSUE... near Gananoque and Pat in Southern Ontario. I know Joyce didn’t get home on Sunday until 11:00 pm after dropping off orchids in Ottawa en route. In spite of Pagethe hard work and long hours, it is an exhilarating experi- SetemberpMeeting ...... 1 ence and I encourage you to participate …maybe startPresident's with our Messages display ...... at our coming Show??? 2 AOS News, Calendar Info, Webinar ...... 3 OOS News, Corrections ...... 4 Janet Johns Show Volunteers ...... 5 Orchid Society of Great Britain Membership Info ...... 6 In This issue Chinese Orchid Tour ...... 7 Upcoming Shows ...... 8 Show Table Results ...... 9 November Program …………………..….…….….1 Best of Show Table/Member's Choice ...... 10 Show Table Photos ...... 11-14 President’s Message ……………………………….2 Home Remedies ...... 15 Editor'sAndrea Wrap ...... and 16 ECOS Show Results …………………….…..……3-4 Andreas October Show Table Results…...…………...5-8 Niessen from April Show Orchidophilia………………………...8 Colombia at Beginner’s Workshop: Repotting…….….9-10 our October Meeting Orchids 101 Notes…………………………..…….11
Upcoming Shows…………………………..……...11 Member’s Corner, COC & AOS updates...12
Editor’s Note ………………………………..…..….12
2 Eastern Canada Orchid Society (ECOS) Show Results
A big thank you to the Members of the Eastern Canada Orchid Society for hosting another great show in Montreal, the weekend of October 17-18, 2015. Thanks to the following Ottawa Orchid Society members who generously loaned plants to help make a winning display: Angèle Biljan, André Couture, Jean Hol- lebone, Janet Johns, Peter Mazerolle, and Joyce Medcalf. Thanks also to my very helpful assistant, AOS judge Pat Vuurman from the Orchid Society of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington. Joyce Medcalf (Ribbon results below with key for photos taken by Joyce on the next page)
Grower Ribbon Name Photo # Joyce Medcalf 1st Promenaea Cachaca 'Sunset Valley Orchids' HCC/AOS (Promenaea 1 Norman Gaunt x Promenaea Florafest Cheetah)
André Couture 2nd Paphiopedilum Robinianum (Paphiopedilum lowii x Paphiopedilum 2 parishii)
2nd Encyclia (Atropine x cordigera) 3
Janet Johns 2nd Dendrobium Enobi Purple 'Splash' AM/AOS (Dendrobium Enobi Ko- 4 machi x Dendrobium Laguna Princess)
3rd Cattlianthe Portia (Guarianthe bowringiana x Cattleya labiata) 5
Jean Hollebone 2nd Paphiopedilum spicerianum 6
2nd Paphiopedilum Hybrid no name 7
2nd Dendrobium Hibiki (Dendrobium bracteosum x Dendrobium laevifoli- none um)
3rd Phalaenopsis Samera (Phalaenopsis bellina x Phalaenopsis violacea) 8
Angèle Biljan 1st Cattlianthe Sagarik Wax 'Nathaniel Biljan' HCC/AOS (Cattleya Sum- Page 3 merland Girl x Cattlianthe Chocolate Drop)
2nd Phragmipedium caudatum f. sanderae 9
2nd Phalaenopsis hybrid 10
2nd Cattleya intermedia f. amethystina none
2nd Phragmipedium Don Wimber (Phragmipedium Eric Young x Phrag- 11 mipedium besseae) 2nd Vanda Peaches (Vanda falcata x Vanda curvifolia) 12
3rd Phragmipedium andreettae 13
Peter Mazerolle 2nd Phalaenopsis No Name Hybrid 14
2nd Tolumnia Jairak Firm 'Butterfly' (Tolumnia Rainbow x Tolumnia 15 Plush)
3 OOS Display
First for Display (16-25) of 21 plants AOS AWARD: Angèle Biljan's plant, Cattlianthe Sagarik Wax First for Visiting Society 'Nathaniel Biljan' HCC/AOS was awarded an HCC/AOS of 78 points.
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4 Photographs by Arlene Lang
Monique Savard, Judge, announces the results assisted by Jean Hollebone, Head Clerk. October Show Table Results
Jan Johns with her Best of Show orchid for October, Phalaenopsis No Name.
Maria Martins with her Member’s Choice orchid for October Prosthechea André Couture, Judge, announces results assisted by trulla. (detail shown on Jean Hollebone, Head Clerk. right)
5 CLASS JUDGED BY PLACE NAME OWNER PHOTO # Cattleya Alliance 1st CattleyaOrbiter Angèle Biljan 1 Judged by Monique Savard 2nd Cattleya maxima (var. tipo) Angèle Biljan 2 3rd Guarianthe bowringiana Angèle Biljan 3 3rd Rhyncholaeliocattleya Ports of Angèle Biljan 4 Paradise 'Green' Cypripedium Alliance 1st Paphiopedilum spicerianum Helgi Fatovic 5 Paphiopedilum 2nd Paphiopedilum gratrixianum Angèle Biljan 6 Judged by André Couture Phragmipedium 1st Phragmipedium Memoria Dick Monique Savard 7 Clements Oncidium Alliance 1st Prosthechea trulla Maria Martins 8 Judged by Monique Savard (WRONG CLASS - This belongs in
2nd **Oncidesa Sweet Sugar Rita Shand 9 (Oncidesa Aloha Iwanaga x Gomesa varicosa) 3rd Aliceara Peggy Ruth Carpenter Betty Warrington-Kearsley 10 Dendrobium Alliance 1st **Dendrobium No Name Dirk de Snayer 11 Judged by Monique Savard 2nd Dendrobium Enobi Purple Angèle Biljan 12
Phalaenopsis Alliance 1st Phalaenopsis No Name Jan Johns 13 Judged by André Couture 2nd Phalaenopsis Lioulin Barbie Angèle Biljan 14 2nd Phalaenopsis No Name Angèle Biljan 15 3rd Phalaenopsis No Name Cana Balay 16 3rd Phalaenopsis No Name Cana Balay 17 Vanda Alliance 1st Vanda Doctor Anek Angèle Biljan 18 Judged by André Couture 2nd Angraecum Lemförde White Angèle Biljan 19 Beauty Miscellaneous 1st Paradisanisia Azur (Aganisia David Kalb 20 cyanea x Paradisanthus micran- Judged by André Couture thus) 2nd Bulbophyllum lobbii (Syn. Rita Shand 21 Bulbophyllum sumatranum) Novice 1st Phalaenopsis No Name Samantha Som 22 Judged by André Couture 2nd Phalaenopsis No Name Juan Antonio Cabieses 23 Best in Show Phalaenopsis No Name Jan Johns Judged by Monique Savard
Member's Choice Prosthechea trulla Maria Martins Judged by Patrick Boisvert
**Indicates updated name. Photos by Arlene Lang on following pages according to the number listed here. Member's Choice: Single inflorescence, citrus fragrance, displays well. 6 1 2 3
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7 18 19 20
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April Show - Orchidophilia It’s that time of year again when we start to plan for next year’s Show and we need to make sure we have people ready to fill the key positions on the Show Committee. At the moment we are looking for someone to look after the Art Gallery, the OOS Exhibit, the Raffle and the OOS Plant Sales. If you are interested in taking on any of these roles, please let Dave know. Of course you will have other volunteers to help, but we need someone who can organize the activity and participate in the Show Committee meetings. We plan to have four meetings between now and April, and each meeting is just a couple of hours starting at 7PM at the McNabb Center. Meeting dates are as follows: November 26 (Thursday), January 26 (Tuesday), Febru- ary 25 (Thursday) and March 29 (Tuesday). As you probably know, one major change is that we are moving to the RA Centre this year so we will need to have increased publicity to make sure everyone is aware we are no longer at the Sportsplex! The change will obviously affect the floorplan and the physical setup, as well the hospitality where we plan to make more use of the facility catering, but most other functions will be the same as previous years.
Dave Cooper ([email protected]) and Janet Johns ([email protected])
8 BEGINNER’S WORKSHOP (REPOTTING)
held by Jean Hollebone and Janet Johns
This orchid had many air roots The plant was removed and Many of the air roots were Once trimmed, the orchid was and needed a trim. the roots were carefully in- removed after inspection. repotted with about 1 inch of spected after shaking off the There were many healthy Styrofoam packing chips at the old potting medium. roots, but some were black bottom of a small clear pot or had lost their vellum and followed by a mixture of 2 were trimmed. parts medium bark, 1 part On Saturday October 21, Lise Chislett, Juan Antonio Cabieses, Candida Quast, perlite or sponge rock and 1/4 Cana Balay and myself, Jan Johns, attended the hands-on repotting workshop part activated charcoal pre- mixed. The bark was soaked held in Jean Hollebone’s delightful greenhouse solarium. Janet and Jean each in hot water overnight. A pack- repotted a phaleanopsis to show us how do do it. Then we potted one of our ing chip was placed under the own under guidance. I learned that orchid roots are much tougher than I crown and the roots were se- thought and which parts should be trimmed. Was it valuable? Well, I went cured with the mixture. It home and immediately repotted some orchids I had already repotted rather looks much happier now! badly. On behalf of the participants, thanks Jean and Janet for taking the time to teach us. The next Beginner’s Workshop on Pests and Diseases will take place on Saturday, November 21 from 10:00 am to noon at 1176 Castle Hill Crescent. Sign up at the November meeting. Workshops are limited to 8 partic- ipants. Jan Johns
Left: Potting materials (see next page for sources)
Right: Jean and Janet demon- strate.
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Sources for Potting Supplies
The list below is not exclusive and does not contain any US suppliers who will mail supplies (with shipping costs). Ottawa Sources Fine and Medium Bark and MSU fertilizer Angèle Biljan OOS member 613-225-2925. Phone ahead in the evenings to place order before meetings or to arrange for a pickup. Plastic and Clay Pots: Ritchie Feed & Seed, Artistic Landscaping and Lee Valley have the transparent plastic pots (the latter two are relatively more expensive) . Perlite: Ritchie Feed & Seed, Windmill Lane. Charcoal: at any Petsmart or pet store in the reptile and pond section. Brite-Lite Indoor Garden Centre 104-1675 Cyrville Road just off Innes Rd near Hwy 417. 613-842-8599 and Hydroculture Emporium 1315 Richmond Road. 613- 715-9472 sell lights and light stands, trays, ferti- lizers (in large quantities). Lee Valley also sells trays and lights and light stands, pots and coconut husk chips. At our Show and Mail-order Plastic orchid pots in many sizes, fine medium and coarse back, premixed orchid bark, Chilean moss, plant tags, Ravenvision, (Jay Norris and Robin McLaughlin), Toronto, come to all the shows and have excellent materials at reasonable prices. www.ravenvision.ca. They will mail from Toronto (with shipping costs). General The Canadian Orchid Congress lists orchid growers and vendors who also sell supplies www.canadianorchidcongress.ca under Orchid Information, Orchid Vendors. Also Orchid Magazine, the AOS publication, contains advertisements from a number of American suppliers like rePotme. Contributed by Jean Hollebone
Below: Janet assists Lise with repotting. Left: Jean’s gorgeous solarium.
Right: Juan, Candida and Lise take notes during the demonstration.
10 Understanding what your Orchids are Telling You © Marilyn H.S. Light Orchids 101 - November 2015 Can your orchids tell you what they require? Of course orchids cannot speak but they can and will exhibit subtle and not so subtle signs that they are either content with growing conditions or need some help from you to thrive. It is up to you, the grower, to learn how to interpret these signs and respond accordingly. Some signals are common to all orchids and are easier to interpret while other signs can vary with the genus, species, and even between plants of the same species or hybrid. Signs of contentment or distress can appear weeks, months or even a year or more after the triggering event. It takes time to learn how to interpret what your orchids are telling you, especially with delayed responses to triggering events, and even more time to learn how to cor- rectly respond to the orchid ‘messages’. Some signs and interpretations By the time you realize that your orchid is performing differently, many weeks or months may have past. One of the biggest chal- lenges is in dealing with delayed response by a plant to its past growing conditions. It helps to note changes with fertilizer, water- ing/water quality, temperature, lighting, and repotting. Use a pot stake to note when a plant is divided/repotted and a diary to record dates. Your mature orchid has not flowered since you bought it in bloom last year. The plant is otherwise healthy and robust. Why does it not rebloom? This is the most frequent question I am asked! Look to photoperiod, day/night temperature differential as possible reasons. Phalaenopsis need several weeks of cooler night temperature during September through November (16-18°C) to initiate blooming. Be certain that the plants are not continuously illuminated during the night. Your typically reluctant bloomer suddenly bursts into abundant bloom. Why? Look to changes in growing conditions months earlier. Repotting, different fertilizer, more light? Knowing what you did right will help repeat the desired effect. Your plant is shrivelled, wilting or exhibits accordion pleating of new growths. Why? First look to the roots. If the roots are healthy then look at the temperature, humidity, watering frequency. Cooler, more humid conditions may be required. Your plant is pale, yellow, has brown leaf tips, is losing leaves one by one, or has blackened new growths. What is the problem? Root problems may be implicated, temperature also, but nutritional imbalances are likely responsible. Repotting is recommended. Fertilizer type/use and water quality/quantity should be considered.
UPCOMING SHOWS
Nov 14 - 15: The Essex County Orchid Society will be holding their 6th Orchid Show and Sale at Colasanti's Tropical Gardens, 1550 Road 3 E., Ruthven ON Feb 13 - 14: The Southern Ontario Orchid Society: The SOOS Annual Orchid Show will be held at the Toronto Botani- cal Garden, Edwards Gardens, Toronto ON
Feb 13 - 14: Victoria Orchid Society Spring Orchid Show: It will be held at Our Lady of Fatima Hall, 4635 Elk Lake Drive, Victoria BC across the road from the Commonwealth Pool.
Feb 27 - 28: Orchid Society of the Royal Botanical Gardens : 680 Plains Rd., Burlington ON Mar 19 - 20: La Société des Orchidophiles de Montréal: Orchidexpo 2016 at Collège de Maisonneuve, 2700 rue Bourbonnière, Montreal QC Mar 26 - 27: The Vancouver Orchid Society Annual Show will be held at the Van Dusen Botanical Garden, 5251 Oak St., Vancouver BC
April 9 - 10: The Toronto Artistic Orchid Association Show: CICS (Centre for Information and Community Service), 2330 Midland Avenue, Scarborough, ON (N.W. Of HWY 401/Midland) Apr 16 - 17: The Ottawa Orchid Society 35th Annual Orchid Show and Sale: RA Centre, Riverside Drive, Ottawa ON (CHANGE OF LOCATION).
11 MEMBER’S CORNER: TIPS, TRICKS AND IDEAS I encourage you to share what you do and what you have learned about anything orchid related. Have you watched a wonderful webinar? Did you read a delightful book? Have you found a website that wows you? Are you friends with an orchid grower who has a great set up or skill? Please send me an email by the first of the month and share with your fellow members. I look forward to hearing from you at [email protected] (despite the email address, I am Jan, not “the” Janet!).
Canadian Orchid Congress (COC) News
You should have received a copy of the COC Newsletter by email this month. The newsletter comes out every two months. It highlights news of interest to Canadian orchidophiles. The November issue introduces the new updated web site and hints at changes to come to The Orchid Journal.
Pictures include the recently-awarded orchid Phragmipedium Fox Valley Fireball “Dragon’s Breath” grown by Dana and Chris Schreiber at the Central Ontario Orchid Show in September and our very own Marilyn Light receiving her COC Certificate of Recognition from Vice-President, Marlene Young.
Did you want to find a fragrant orchid species or one that blooms long or frequently? Check out the COC website under Documents. American Orchid Society (AOS) News
UPCOMING WEBINARS : GREENHOUSE CHAT WITH RON MCHATTON, American Orchid Society Director of Education Wednesday, Dec 2 , 2015 from 8:30 – 9:30 p.m. EST. FREE TO ALL. Please submit your questions by Dec 1 to [email protected]. To register, go to http://www.aos.org/Default.aspx?id=509 CYPRIPEDIUMS OF NORTH AMERICA Wednesday December 9. Go to the Webinar tab at www.aos.org for more information.
FREE HELP FOR YOUR NOVICE GROWERS IN YOUR SOCIETY: The “All About Orchids” tab on the AOS website has a section called “Orchid Basics” in the drop-down menu including the answers to Frequently Asked Ques- tions. THE NEW ORCHIDS AWARDS PAGE ON THE AOS WEBSITE For more than 90 years the AOS has documented the best-of-the-best of the world’s most popular flower through its premier judging system. Each awarded orchid is meticulously described, measured and photo- graphed. The AOS is pleased to announce that these awards and the stunning photographs that accompany them—previously accessible by AOS members only—are now open to the public at large thanks to a newly de- signed awards page on the Society’s website. Go to www.aos.org and click on the Recent Awards tab.
Editor’s Note
Just a reminder for those sending emails to Janet Johns, President, and myself … and, I know, it’s confusing!
Janet Johns (President) her email is [email protected] Jan Johns (Editor) my email is [email protected] Jan Johns
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