Bulletin of tke OrckiJ Society of Cankerra, Inc.
Volume 13 Number 1 January 1998 News in brief ^.^Monthly meetings of the society are held on the first Tuesday of each month in Room 1, Griffin Centre. Bunda In this bulletin Street, Civic. Meetings commence at 8:00pm with the trading table and library open from 7.30pm. February Meeting The Editor Notes 2 Laurie Woods will lead a discussion on The Year Ahead... 2 equipment and improvements you can make to improve your orchid culture: this will be of interest to all growers, and will cover all aspects Minutes of the November Meeting 2 of orchid cultivation: watering, benching, housing, fertilizing... Laurie will draw on Sapphire Coast Orchid Workshop 3 experience within the society for the discussion. Why Didn't My Stanhopea Rower? 3 March Meeting From the Webmaster 4 The other Stanhopeinae... We are all familiar with the exotic pendent flowers of the Stanhopeas. What about the other Notes from the Sales Table 4 ^"""^members of the Stanhopeinae; Gongora, Embreea, Acineta and Peristerial Show Time 5 Frank Fogliati will guide us through this Phone List 5 extraordinary group of orchids, introducing many of their delightful eccentricities, and Popular Vote Results 6 attempting to justify their persistent tormenting of innocent little Euglossine Bees. 7-8 March: The Autumn Show The Show Schedule for the Autumn Show will be available at the February meeting. This will Committee meetings: offer an opportunity for many growers whose plants don't flower in Spring. This promises to February: . Robyn Noel be a lot of fun. March: Mark Fraser 14-15 March: Sapphire Coast Workshop See page 3. Clive Halls (Mt Beenak Orchids) will discuss all elements of growing Pleurothallids, Mini Cyms and Odonts. The Bulletin of the Orchid Society of Canberra. Inc. The Editor Notes... April sees Ray Clements from Tinonee Orchids talking We're baaaack! at our meeting You may have met Ray at Peats Ridge or Gosford. Some of you may have bought plants from I hope you all enjoyed the festive season, and are him. Ray has a wide ranging interest in orchids, and looking forward to an exciting new year. We have has chosen to speak on a favourite subject: Catasetums. some excitement lined up for you, with different These are a fascinating group of orchids with elaborate speakers and a lot of activities. trigger mechanisms in the flower. Another case of orchids abusing the unfortunate Euglossine bees.. .a Rapidly approaching is the Autumn Show, held in talk not to be missed. conjunction with the Canberra Horticultural Society. Start grooming those plants up now. We want to make Let the committee members know what you want to even more of an impact than last year. see and do: we want to provide you with a Society that you can all enjoy. Any other events that you think Over the Christmas period Sandra and I flowered might be interesting or appropriate should be raised Encyclia citrina, an unusual Mexican orchid. Withoutwit h us. doubt it is the largest flowered member of its genus, and compares favourably with many of the Cattleyas. Remember also, the elections for the Committee are The flower was large, the petals and sepals being over drawing nigh, and we will need a new President this 6cm long, and brilliant yellow with a very heavy waxy year. Take the opportunity to get more involved in texture. When the sun shone on the flower it produced your SocietyrTf yeu are interested in-joining the a powerful, even overwhelming, lemon fragrance committee come along to a committee meeting, just which was extremely attractive. give us a call so that we can organise appropriate seating. For all the appeal of the plant and the flower, it is not a Mark Fraser popular parent for breeding. The reason for this is its dominant growth habitat. In the wild it grows on the underside of tree limbs, bulbs and waxy leaves hanging straight down. The flower is also pendulous, and does MINUTES OF THE GENERAL MEETING OF 4 not open widely. Despite these features it is still a November 1997 delight to finally see one of these peculiar orchids Attendance: 43 Apologies: 6 flower. Even in cultivation the plant must be grown Vice President Robyn Noel opened the meeting at 8.10 hanging. pm welcoming our members and guests. I had been interested in this species for some time, but it seems to be rarely offered for sale these days. I TREASURER'S REPORT suspect that it might be one of those orchids which has Presented by Sandra Corbett had the misfortune to fall out of fashion in recent years. Current bank balance is $ 8679.50 Everyone who saw the bloom agreed that it was an unusual and attractive addition to a collection. SECRETARY'S REPORT Presented by Frank Fogliati Cheers, Inwards: Mark Fraser Newsletters- Albury-Wodonga - November OSNSW, Wagga Wagga, Gosford & Dist., Griffith, THE YEAR AHEAD... Kiama & Dist - October Mawarra, - September Our February meeting will feature our own Laurie Woods leading a discussion on equipment and Letters- improvements for greenhouses. Vat Canberra Times invoice x 2 OSNSW - notice of Xmas Party & list of guest March will see Frank Fogliati talking about a subject speakers for '97 close to his heart, the 'other' Stanhopeinae. Frank will R.P. Maron - application for membership look at some of the less well known members of this Orchids Australia & invoice popular group, including Peristeria, Embreea, AcinetaGriffi n Centre and the ever popular Gongoras. This is a chance to Norma Stafford - letter & cheque learn about some of the real curiosities of the South and Meso American Orchid World. Catalogues- Lonne's Nursery Also in March we have the Autumn Show. We need Mandurang Orchid Nursery your support for this event, as it does provide an Floralia (Brazil) opportunity to display a different range of plants to the Spring Show. Library- American Orchid Society - August The weekend after the Show sees the Sapphire Coast Australian Orchid Review - October Orchid Workshop. Past experience suggests that this is Orchids Australia - October an exciting event. 2 The Bulletin of the Orchid Society of Canberra. Inc.
Outwards: DOOR PRIZE Angela Wallace, Quin Yuen Chung Rob Marron - membership application The Secretary's And Treasurer's reports were RAFFLE Edna O'Dell, Robert Wallace accepted; moved on the motion of Lila Rose and seconded by Kate Ziesak. Meeting closed 10.16 pm
GENERAL BUSINESS Sapphire Coast Orchid Workshop • Frank spoke about 3 items:- purchase of the Icones CD-ROM; Internet & the Society; new letterhead The Sapphire Coast Orchid Society is once again and information form organising one of its highly informative and • Robyn presented most, but not all the trophies for educational Orchid Workshops for the weekend of 14- our Spring Show. Certificates and balance of the 15 March, 1998. The special guest will be our old trophies to be presented at December meeting. friend, Clive Halls, from Mt Beenak Orchids. Clive • Robyn stated that 56 orchids were benched at the will be discussing all aspects of Pleurothallids, recent Hort. Society Show (1&2/11). Members Odontoglossums and Mini Cymbidiums. were reminded to exhibit at the next show as the orchids always attract attention. This year the Society is proposing a more informal • All library items must be back by the December structure to the workshop, which will also allow them meeting. Members were urged to search for to keep costs down. Saturday night will feature a spit overdue and 'buried' books & journals. Borrowing roast, and Sunday will feature a barbecue. As far as is allowed at the November meeting. Lynne accommodation goes, people are encouraged to make recommended the new book 'Cool Growing their own arrangements with Kianinny Cabins. Orchids'. Bookings can be made on (02) 6494 1990, however • Members were encouraged to attend the Xmas you may find it more practical to group with other meeting, (details per bulletin) people for a cabin, which can result in significant cost • Paul Tyerman spoke about 2 Cym. suave pods savings. which have been donated to the Society. One pod is to go to Ben Wallace and the other to the Society If you are interested in being part of a Canberran (Lila Rose to be custodian) contingent attending this relaxing and informative event, please let the committee know at the next SALES TABLE meeting. This will allow us to better plan for the event. On offer were ferns and newly acquired Phalaenopsis (many in flower or bud). Copies of Orchids Australia Details of the cost of this event (not includiong have been selling well. accomodation) will be available at the February meeting. NEW MEMBERS Megan Chorley, Robyn Corbett, Kathryn & Dennis Sandra Corbett & Mark Fraser Dyason, Joan & Merv Lane, Sandra Robinson, Valda Semets, Glenda Shelley, Martyn Stile, Agus Soesastro. Why didn't my Stanhopea flower? GUEST SPOT By this time of the year some growers may be Martyn Stiles presented a fascinating talk on terrestrial pondering the absence of flowers on the Stanhopeas in orchids, with a particular focus on flowers and their collection. You might be looking at a basket of pollination. He treated members with a comprehensive lush foliage, but where are those amazing flowers? photographic tour across 5 continents. As an The following article is an attempt to answer the introduction Martyn demonstrated the course of question with particular reference to improving or botanical evolution, through floristic features, leading modifying cultural practices. to the orchid family. Martyn stated that orchids are 1. Container A shallow wire basket, 150mm or selective in their pollination and have throats that 200mm diameter is ideal. A 250mm basket is OK if entice by scent, colour or both. the plant size/root run warrants it. I have seen an Terrestrial orchids are pollinated by a variety of example (300mm basket) where an inflorescence agents- carrion fly, butterfly, beetle, bee and even slug- had to travel too far and aborted. The most and Martyn showed photographic slides of various important thing is that the pseudobulbs capable of genera which exemplified these different vectors. For flowering are near the edge. Don't plant a small example butterflies are attracted to reflected UV light division or 'just ready' seedling into the middle of a as exhibited by white or crystalline flowers, whilst large basket. Serapias which has a throat shaped like a hole in an animal's carcass is pollinated by carrion fly. 2. Plant size/maturity Stanhopeas are big plants Martyn spoke a little about the culture of various compared to many other orchids and although they terrestrials, especially the calcareous group which grow relatively quickly they will take require the addition of lime, and the acidic group approximately 4 years ex-flask to achieve flowering which often grow in marshy areas. Finally some local size. In general a mature plant capable of flowering orchids were discussed including the saprophyte will have 4 or more pseudobulbs, the largest of Dipodium violaceum. which will be almost golf-ball size. Remember that the inflorescence develops from the most recently 3 The Bulletin of the Orchid Society of Canberra. Inc. matured pseudobulb. In horticultural terms they flower on 'previous season's growth'. Therefore your plant must have grown at least one mature- FROM THE WEBMASTER size pseudobulb by the previous autumn in order to expect flowers from now onwards. If your The Society's website is still waiting for contributions Stanhopea is a division then the same information from members. As mentioned at general meetings I can applies. Many growers allow their plants to build scan photographs to complement your written article. up to specimen size, filling a 300mm (or larger) If you have an idea for a page please feel free to basket with a mass of pseudobulbs but few or no discuss this with me. Creating and uploading a new flowers. Division into small (150-200mm baskets) page on the website is a lot of fun and not at all is the answer. Stanhopeas respond favourably to difficult. Or perhaps you could review, in a few lines, a division at almost any time of the year (avoid website you particularly enjoyed visiting. Give it a go! winter). Watch for developing inflorescences as Your Society needs you. they are easily damaged. Some new sites to visit are: 3. Season Not all Stanhopeas flower in late summer. Although the species/hybrids usually 1. Welcome to the O zone encountered in collections are strongly seasonal and http://www.orchidworks.com/ozone/ flower at this time (eg. tigrina including var. At this site you can read interesting articles on a nigroviolacea, oculata, Spindleriana), those from variety of topics including the sex life of coastal and montane equatorial regions often flower Catasetums, photo tips-using a flash, and how to throughout the year (my platyceras flowered 4 kill orchids! View a Cattleya bloom progress from times between June and November). Also there are bud to fully open flower. And for exhibitors at our other seasonally dependent species which flower Autumn Show there is the page 'Groomed for well outside of the late summer-early autumn Success'. period. The common but beautiful wardii flowers late April to early May; floridai n June; and 2. Paphiopedilum Species haseloviana July to September. In fact if you grew http://www.ladyslipper.com/paphsp. all 55 Stanhopea species you would have htm This is one for the many Paph. & Phrag. something in flower each month of the year. lovers in our Society. Stunning photographs, including awarded and rarely seen species and 4. Light Stanhopeas require moderate light, subspecies. around Cattleya levels, to flower. 70% shadecloth is ideal, assuming they are suspended at or above 3. Fragrant Orchids (Species) bench height. If suspended under pot covered http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Recreati benches more light will be required. on/OrchidsSNS/frag.html Explore the world of orchid fragrance. Discover how strong a 5. Water & temperature This is tricky for some scent is rated, or the type of fragrance, or what time species as they require the seasonal conditions they of day it is most fragrant. This site is input oriented would experience in the wild. Many of the Mexican and requests that growers leave a comment or species require both 'chilling' (6-8°C minimums) correction regarding any species they grow. I have and drought (no watering, just misting) for 6 e-mailed information concerning several orchids; -lOweeks in order to break the floral inhibition some already listed and others new to their site. period. If you fail to replicate these conditions you Frank Fogliati will have a plant that grows well but never 'feels' it is time to flower. Examples include saccata,
5 The Bulletin of the Orchid Society of Canberra. Inc. Popular Vote Results - November 1997 Cattleya Alliance - Standard Cattleya Irene Harlequin 'Gold Eyes' Robert Rough Cattleya Alliance - Intermediate Sophrolaelia (Laelia xanthhropus x PsychLynnee ) Bullivant Cattleya Alliance - Miniature Sophrolaelia (Psyche x Laelia anceps) Colleen Sinclair Cattleya Alliance - Species Cattleya intermedia var alba Robert Rough Cymbidium Species Cymbidium suave Lynne Bullivant Oncidium Alliance Oncidium spacelatum Ben Wallace Paphiopedilum Paphiopedilum Joanne's Wine Quin Yuen Chung Phalaenopsis Phalaenopsis (California Glow 'Pink Sunrise' Keitx h Alden Gabriella) Pleione Pleione Versailles Ben Wallace Pleurothallid Alliance Masdevallia Charisma 'Pink Blush' Priscilla Greve Sarcochilus Hybrid Sarcochilus (Melba x hartmanni) Robert Rough Sarcochilus Species Sarcochilus hartmanni 'Bluie Knob' Robert Rough Other Vandaceous Alliance Ascofinetia Cherry Blossom 'BGB' Lynne Bullivant Any Other Species Dendrobium thyrsiflorum Brian Phelan
Popular Vote Results - December 1997 Standard Cattleya Laeliocattleya Canhamiaea Robert Rough Other Cattleya Alliance Sophrolaeliocattleya (Laeliocattleya TricRoberk ot rEdward Treat s 'Wpndabah' x Sophronitis coccinea) Cymbidium Cymbidium suave Jane Wright Dendrobiums Dendrobium conanthum x (lasiantheraBen x Wallac e conanthum) Miltonia Alliance Miltonia (Red Tide x Memida Seiga Priscilla Greve Odontoglossum Alliance Odontocidium (Odontoglossum StamfordiemnsLynne Bullie xv ant Tiger Butter) Oncidium Alliance Brassia verrucosa Priscilla Greve Paphiopedilum Alliance Paphiopedilum Vanda M Pearman Frank Fogliatti Phaleanopsis Phalaenopsis mannii Priscilla Greve Pleurothallid Alliance Dracula polyphemus 'Angel' Priscilla Greve Vandaceous Alliance Rhyncovanda Pradab 'BGB' Priscilla Greve Any Other Orchid Angraecum didierii Lynne Bullivant
Advertisement
5 Bmdubi Street, Macquarie, (Jamison Centre) Telephone: (06) 251 7714 Debco Orchid Potting Mixes Are available from The Good Earth Garden Centre, Jamison.
The postal address of the Orchid Society of Canberra is: GPO Box 612, Canberra, ACT 2601 © 1998 The Orchid Society of Canberra, Inc. The Orchid Society of Canberra, Inc. disclaims liability for any loss, financial or otherwise, caused as a result of the contents of this bulletin.
6