GREATER NORTH TEXAS ORCHID SOCIETY MAR

Next Meeting: March 6 GNTOS is blessed with many members that are very knowledgeable about orchids. At our March 6 meeting, bring your questions about orchids – could be about growing, blooming, potting material, taking care of pests, or whatever you have wondered about but have not gotten to ask or read about.

The panel answering questions will consist of: Linda Horton, Jim Williams, Kathi McKenzie, and David Gould.

See you March 6!

1 Hi GNTOS members and friends, Barb McNamee OfficeRS Wow what a display Presidents Minutes of well bloomed Mike started the meeting at 3:00 p.m., 31 people in PRESIDENT plants we had at our Mike Beber Message attendance, 2 visitors. meeting last month! VICE PRESIDENT Now get ready to ask a panel of our members questions about how Rhonda introduced the speaker, our own Dr. Judy Rhonda Whitson they grow, thanks to our VP Rhonda Whitson. Bring in your ques- Cook who presented a program titled “Essentials SECRETARY tions or a problem plant that you might need some help with. For Making Plants and People Bloom”. She talked Barbara McNamee If you bring in a plant or a leaf that may have bugs, please put about environment, pollinators, cloud forests, water it in a clear baggy so we don’t have anything possibly infecting TREASURER PH and insects, then went on to talk about Bulbo- Kathy Halverson other plants brought. phyllums, her ending remarks – talk to your plants. Can you believe that February is gone without as much as a SWROGA DIRECTORS Thanks Judy for an excellent program. Brandenburgs little snow or ice, or for that matter, too much cold weather. Don’t get too comfortable yet. We still have mother nature just waiting to NEWSLETTER EDITOR Please remember to vote for your favorite plant and surprise us, and in Texas we all know the weather is always chang- David Gould buy raffle tickets. Tham has some openings for re- ing. The warmer weather will bring out bugs early. Keep an eye on freshments, please sign up if you haven’t already. GNTOS WEBMASTER plants that have been in close proximity to one another since they Manuel Aybar were brought inside for the winter. Dave Gould mentioned the Home and Garden PAST PRESIDENT On a special note, I want to thank all our members who have Show next month at Market Hall and another in Gerry Darver been participating as speakers and filling volunteer positions within Fort Worth, we may be able to get a table to solicit the society. new members, anyone interested in helping please Keep blooming, and I will see you all at the next meeting, contact Dave or Mike. Mike

Mike conducted the plant raffle. Nancy announced the plant table winners – we had a huge number of plants this month great job and beautiful display. Kathi McKenzie Also, our plant point system will be published in the & Lorna Kissling Orchids 101 newsletter. Orchids 101 classes are tailored to the beginning orchid Meeting was adjourned at 4:20 p.m. grower. It will be an informal discussion so come bring your questions.

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 Feb. 7, 2016, Plant Table Judging Results VANDAS & PHALS Blue – Rnst. Bangkok Beauty Judges: Rhonda Whitson & David Hines – Daniel Callahan Red – Phal. unknown CATTLEYA ALLIANCE – Forest Shipps Blue – Lc. Mari’s Song – Judy Cook White – Dtps. Kaoda Twinkle C. Percivaliana ‘Summit’ FCC/AOS Red – Rhyncholaelia digbyana – Daniel Callahan – Robert Marsh White – Blc. Pamela Hetherington SPECIES OF THE MONTH – Mike Beber Laelia anceps v. Workhauseri – Judy Cook DENDROBIUMS & OTHERS C. aurantiaca 'Marigold' Den. Speciosum Blue – Ludisia discolor – Charles Hess – Daniel Callahan Red – Den. speciosum – Kathi McKenzie Ludisia discolor – Charlie Hess White – Chysis bractiescence Den. speciosum – Kathi McKenzie – David Gould Paph. venostum – Judy Cook C. Mildred Rives ONCIDIUMS PEOPLES CHOICE Blue – Brsdm. Masai Red – Jim Williams Rnst. Bangkok Beauty – Daniel Callahan Red – Colm. Pussycat – Gerry Darver White – unnamed Oncidium 54 plants this month!! – David Gould Wonderful!!

PAPHS & PHRAGS Blue – Paph. Mem. Nicholas Hamenn – Judy Cook Red – Paph. Odette’s Charm – Judy Cook White – Paph. delenati – Karl Varian Ludisia Discolor

Chysis Bractescens

3 Photos by Forest Shipp Lc. Mari’s Song ‘CTM 217’ HCC/AOS Nancy Cropp AOS Dallas Judging Center Dallas Feb. 13, 2016 Twenty-seven plants entered for Judging consideration, three awards given:

1. Paph. rothschildianum Center ‘Orchid Konnection Too’ HCC 75 points Owner: Orchid Konnection, Dallas

2. Rlc. Remar’s Elation ‘Remar’ (Tiny Titan x Little Toshie) HCC 75 points Owner: Marvin & Renee Gerber Houston 2 3. Lc. Blazing Sun ‘NN’ (Ctt. Kauai Star Bright x Ctt. Blazing Treat) 3 HCC 78 points Owner: Orchid Konnection, Dallas

4 1 Phalaenopsis schilleriana P. schilleriana is a beautiful species from the Philippines and Lu- zon, where it grows high in the trees. It was introduced to Euro- peans by Consul Schiller at Hamburg Germany in 1859. In 1869, it was described by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach, a well-known botanist, and the foremost German orchidist of the 19th century. P. schilleriana is a beautiful orchid whether in or out of bloom, as its foliage is an attractive gray-green with barring on the leaves. In bloom, its inflorescence tends to branch, and can be heavily laden with lightly fragranced pink blooms (one gardening journal of 1892 remarks on a plant with 174 blooms). Phal schilleriana is one of the easiest of phalaenopsis species to grow, and will tolerate a wide range of conditions. Like other phals, it is suitable for growing under lights and in a windowsill, and does not require a greenhouse to be happy. It is an intermedi- ate grower, but needs cooler night temperatures (55° or so) in the fall to initiate spikes. With leaves that may grow a foot long on a mature Orchid of the Month plants, it is often grown mounted or Kathi McKenzie in a basket, with the flowers spilling downwards. As a side note, you may see Phal schilleriana described with the citation “Rchb.f ”. This indicates that it was described by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach (the note “Rchb.” alone indicates his father, also a famous bota- nist). Reichenbach was responsible for cataloging many of the thousands of orchids that were being discovered and shipped to Europe during his lifetime. After his death, Frederick Sander commissioned artist Henry George Moon to paint 192 watercolour plates of orchids with descriptions by Reichenbach. These became known as the Reichenbachia and are considered to be one of the 5 richest reference sources on orchids ever produced. The choices we make at the only the most commercially supermarket are our best voice important species were tar- for saving species, whether geted for rescue. they be orchids or orangutans. Environmental conserva- As promised in an earlier tion had not yet entered the article, here is some help in public’s consciousness, and how to make environmentally therefore the ongoing defores- sound selections. tation was seen as a great busi- Recently much has been ness opportunity, rather than written about the impact of the environmental disaster palm oil production on our it actually was. Certainly for already vanishing forests, orchid lovers, our only impact particularly on the rainfor- on this dreadful situation was orchid lovers’ ests around the world. We are the preferences we expressed losing forests at the rate of 60 as customers for certain orchid supermarket guide acres an hour, due to not only hybrids as they came on the palm oil demand but also a market. variety of other needs, such as Fast forward 30 years, Rainforest Trust Borneo preserve wood pulp and lumber. and we see how, as a result Palm oil had already been of globalization, agriculture in fairly wide use before we is no longer simply providing even became aware of its subsistence to local peoples, impact. We first read about but has become a player in Orchi d palm oil deforestation in a the international commodi- 1983 AOS Bulletin article ties markets. Major agricul- Conse rvati on about a conservationist rescu- tural giants sit at all segments ing orchids in Malaysia ahead of the supply chain, from of the lumber saws. This early those who grow the products, Up date attempt at conservation, whose to those who transport and by Charles main goal was to find new refine them, ending with the and Trudy Hess orchid species for hybridizing, numerous companies who certainly saved many orchids manufacture the thousands of from being lost forever. Be- packaged food varieties we buy. cause time was of the essence As a result of ever increasing as the lumber companies world-wide demand for pro- encroached deeper and deeper cessed foods, a great many of 6 into the rainforest habitats, which contain palm oil and its derivatives, we see major deforestation to our great disap- dients. Not what we taking place in many parts of the world. pointment, our would call ecofriendly. We are fortunate that so many organi- favorite brand of soy This little example zations such as the World Wildlife Fed- milk. The soy milk just goes to show that eration are active players in maintaining container label lists we all have to remain public awareness, in hopes that the public Vitamin A Palmitate, alert, and take the time will pressure corporations to reduce their which is a palm oil to read labels, and stay impact on deforestation. How much pres- product. All is not informed. Conserva- sure is applied to this effort depends en- lost, however. We tion is not a spectator tirely on us, and on the choices we make can still have our sport. We are all in the when we purchase food and personal care soy milk for our battle together if we products. coffee and cereal. Just recently, we have want to see our orchid habitats survive for This is discovered Westsoy Organic Soy Milk, the future generation of orchid lovers. trickier than one which happily does not contain Vitamin A might think. Palmitate. Palm oil is an For a more complete list of names and ingredient in products, go online to: tens of thou- http://www.deforestationeducation.com/ sands of prod- products-that-contain-palm-oil.php ucts and is listed This site also lists many brand names under a variety that will help you in your shopping deci- of names. Some products containing palm sions. The small amount of extra effort oil are easy to spot. One villain of particu- required for being informed is definitely lar note is “Nutella”, which is a hazelnut worthwhile, when we remember that with spread, clearly marked as having palm oil every purchasing choice we save an orchid and sugar as major ingredients. or some other form of wildlife. Palm oil lengthens food products’ Unfortunately, manufactures have no shelf life and also adds texture. It has incentive to make the job easier for us. steadily increased in usage and currently Recently while browsing the shelves in replaces unhealthy trans-fats with satu- Sprouts we came across a package of treats rated fats (also unhealthy). If the product for children. The green leaves and ador- label boasts that it “contains no trans- able jungle critters on the package exterior fats”, this is often a clue that palm oil has were designed to denote an ecofriendly been used to provide the feel and texture food, meant to attract children. However, the customer expects. Palm oil is found upon checking the label we found – you in low fat yogurt, low fat milk and, guessed it – palm oil on the list of ingre- 7 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 year 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 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 2016by 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 Controlling Orchid Rots Growing There is likely no more important or infested plant tissues. Air needs Tips subject to orchid growers than pest to be exchanged with fresh outside and disease control. Many new hob- air to lower bacterial and fungal byists lose orchids to both before spore levels. Indoor hobbyists may by realizing there was a problem. Typi- have the same problem when their Courtney Hackney cally, by March, problems in your growing area is semi-enclosed. These growing area manifest themselves steps alone solve at least half of the because orchids are crowded togeth- potential bacteria/fungal problems. er in cold windows and greenhous- es. This provides the ideal environ- Botrytis, black spots on flowers, is ment for disease and pests to spread a common problem in winter or It is a shame to wait all year for flow- A monthly growers from plant to plant. in overly humid greenhouses. This ers and then have them ruined by advice column by is rarely a problem when there is Botryris. Courtney Hackney. I often get numerous inquiries good air movement or when night The fungus is prevalent during cool, Hackneau@comcast. asking what I use to combat pests temperatures are above 65° F. Once damp spells of winter. net of various kinds and disease. My Botrytis appears in a greenhouse it reluctance to specify any given pesti- can be difficult to eliminate. It can cide or product is not because of the be done, however. First, remove all This column was writ- fear of a lawsuit, but because there dead tissues from benches, floors, ten in humid coastal are so many variables that go into and plants. Flowers with these black North Carolina and a successful control program. There spots will also need to be removed. Florida, and the advice are, however, some general products Spray walkways, benches and other given should be ad- and approaches that have worked non-living surfaces with Physan or justed to our climate. well for me, and are worth sharing. another agent that kills bacteria at There are also cautions. the recommended dose. Note that there are usually two different Phy- The first and most important rule is san mixing formulas, one for orchid good sanitation, which includes ad- applications and one for sterilizing If conditions are proper, Botrytis equate air movement, maintenance non-living surfaces. Some growers spores can quickly spread from the lesions it makes of appropriate temperature and use a 10% Clorox solution to kill humidity, and the removal of dead bacteria on non-living surfaces. 10 © AOS The next step is to kill the spores that are protective gloves, respirator, and cloth- hiding on plants. One of the best prod- ing. It never hurts to be over cautious. Be Orchi d ucts is an old copper based product called especially careful when preparing the Ko- Kocide. It is relatively inexpensive, but cide solution as the fine powder can easily Growing not always readily available for the hobby- become airborne and inhaled. ist. Apply at the recommended level to all plants, but not on flowers. It will leave a Tips blue sheen on leaves. It also has the added Treatment Details Indoors? benefit of inhibiting slugs as copper is deadly to them and they will not cross a Cinnamon Use this natural treatment mostly for Safe indoors and leaf covered with this product. prevention of fungal infection (such as in your food. on a freshly cut leaf). Cinnamon has The next step is very important. Increase been heralded as an effective treatment air movement beyond what you had be- for fungus in orchids. fore. Every flower in the greenhouse needs Physan 20 For more significant fungal infections, Both Physan 20 and Captan to move in the breeze you create. Never or Captan these sterilizing chemicals should be come with warnings for water if there is even the slightest chance used when fungal problems have humans and should be used that the day will be cloudy. Remove any gotten out of hand. with careful adherence water remaining on leaves before night- to the products instructions. fall. If new spots appear, apply hydrogen They are not terribly toxic, peroxide. This is the same concentra- but use caution nonetheless. tion used for cleaning a wound and can Hydrogen Certain orchids don’t respond well to Safe indoors. be purchased at any drug store. Dab the Peroxide Physan on their foliage. It has been infected area with a cotton ball or remove suspected that Physan actually strips the flower. If more spots appear, then air the protective coating off leaves, making movement is not adequate or night temps themeven MORE susceptable to fungal are below 65° F. and other problems. The answer to this problem is to use Physan 20 only on the roots of the plants, either soaking, Fungi also prefer moist conditions and if bare-root, or in watering, and to use respond to the same control measures. All a solution of 30% hydrogen peroxide four of these products (Clorox, Physan, sprayed on the plant. Kocide, and Hydrogen Peroxide) have been around for a long time, which gives me Athlete’s Some have has success with spraying Safe indoors. Foot Spray a mist of generic athletes foot spray some confidence that there are few un- above their orchids with very positive known side effects. They are all dangerous results. This works with seedlings as poisons and I treat each as if it was the well mature plants of all types. 11 most toxic product on the planet and wear 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. Invita- Fortunately for ______tions also went to the big Homer, Lena Baldwin City: ______orchid firms who would knew how to type and she send representatives from and another woman spent State/Zip: ______around the country to the show half the night writing They had everyone sign a book letters on two typewriters Phone:______that came to that show but it worked and they E-mail (#1): ______There was an incident had orchids for the show. 12 E-mail (#2): ______