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 Rower? 3 March Meeting From the Webmaster 4 The other ... We are all familiar with the exotic pendent of the Stanhopeas. What about the other Notes from the Sales Table 4 ^"""^members of the Stanhopeinae; , , 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 . 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 don't 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 , 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 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 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 , 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 agents- carrion fly, butterfly, beetle, 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 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, needs and respond to the typical 'less in winter and more in summer' water and warmth regime. NOTES FROM THE SALES TABLE 6. Fertiliser Growers who have a few Stanhopeas among a mixed collection (particularly It's time to return to the Sales Table. Just when you Cymbidium and other winter/early spring flowering thought it was safe to go back to the Griffin Centre we plants) may be feeding excessive nitrogen at the have an enormous range of goodies to tempt you. wrong time. A more balanced formula will result in Plants, books, wire products...the list seems endless. good growth and flower production. If you use Plants on the Table sphaghnum instead of bark then even less nitrogen We have some unusual Slipper Orchids from Nicky is required. Currently I use HSO 12 and HSO 22 Zurcher. These are mainly flowering size plants, and alternating each week. In other words a flowering here are a few of them to whet your appetites: formula followed a week later by a growth formula. Paph (callosum x urbanianum) NFS Anticipating large Not very scientific, but it is simple and gets results. Maudiae type flowers, with boldly striped dorsals and Frank Fogliati purple petals. 4 The Bulletin of the Orchid Society of Canberra. Inc. Paph Mem Helen Colbert x mastersianum FS Smaller, brighter coloured Maudiae types on tall spikes, very Clearance Sale appealing and very tough. Finally, in order to make room for our other stocks, we Paph (insigne x Small World) FS Unusual, basically are having a clearance on Feathers and Fins fertiliser. the flower is like a GIANT insigne. $1.00 a container, or 3 for $2.00. Due to the low level Paph (Dramatic x Gael 'Snowdrop) Large seedling of demand we will probably stop stocking this item, so What do you get if you cross a large complex standard get some now, for your orchids or your garden. yellow with a huge albino Maudiae type. Expect very large flowers with huge dorsals in yellow green and white. This is something of a new line of breeding, but SHOW TIME some of the similar crosses between complex hybrids and vinicolours have proved most successful The schedule for the Horticultural Society's Autumn Show, which will be held on the weekend of 7-8 March More Phalaenopsis plants will be available. These 1998 at the Albert Hall will be available at the plants are good quality, but are mainly unnamed. If February meeting. If you are unable to attend the meeting call Lila Rose for schedule details. This event you haven't tried growing Phalaenopsis this is a good gives us the opportunity to publicly display some of opportunity to get some good sized plants. our Autumn flowering orchids, and have formal Plants to Come judging of the plants presented. There is also a the Just to whet your appetites, coming soon we have some trophy to compete for. new hybrids from John Apperley, and more cooler/smaller growing Vandaceous orchids from As with previous Horticultural Society Shows, you will Brighton Orchid Nursery. Given the success of our need to register your plants on the preceding order last year the catalogue will be available at the Wednesday (4 March). Registration is quite simple, February meeting if you have any specific orders. but if you are uncertain about categories please call (You may recall the Neofinetias and Rhyncostylis we Mark Fraser on 6287 1106(ah). had for sale last year) In addition to displaying plants, we will need a number Also on the table we have fresh stocks of the wire of people to act as floor walkers around the orchids, hangers, including a new line, the 50mm twin hook providing both information and security. More hanger, ideal for small tube stock and the more minute information will be available at the February meeting. members of the Pleurothallid Alliance. If you grow a lot of seedlings or miniatures you need these. The Current Members' Phone Frank Fogliati & Family David Rentz 6286 3045 List 6236 3281 Ms Sandra Robinson 6297 8966 Mark Fraser 6287 1106 Lila Rose 6288 0600 Keith and June Alden 6297 3351 6216 2029(bh) Robert, Audrey & Tanya Rough Irene & Gloria Altinger 6281 3315 Priscilla & Heinz Greve 6241 2729 Simon Barry 6254 2067 John and Robert Ryan 6254 3590 Dr Robin & Susan Bedding Vic Grosvenor 6227 5561 Kath Seeuwen 6249 8168 6251 2125 Bill & Jenny Handke 6231 7461 Ms Valda Semets 6291 6719 Mrs Ping Block 6253 2698 Stefan Herndl 6251 3427 Ms Glenda Shelley 6278 3373 Lynne Bullivant 6288 1248 Miss P Hewlings Frances and Allan Sheriff Pat Butt 6258 1392 Mrs Ann Howarfh 6290 1350 6295 0401 Neville Callanan 6248 9430 Helen Hufton 6286 4485 Bastien Small 6295 6210 Ms Jenny Cameron 6231 1600 Remedios Humphries 6288 8315 Murray Smith 6258 5616 Don & Elan Chesher 6259 1041 Huynh Minh-Huan 6292 1932 Tony & Julie Smith 6258 8114 Ms Megan Chorley 6282 3781 Bill Keeley 6288 5605 Mr Agus Soesastro 6241 0421 Quin Yuen Chung 6259 1357 Joan & Merv Lane 6254 0339 Mr Martyn Stile 6259 2357 Ivan & Kratai Clarke 6251 1917 MartaLarko 6249 1907 Miss Kyra Suthern 6241 1656 Chas Cook 6231 4042 Brian & Moyna Leedham Sylvia & David Timms627 9 1859 Ms Robyn Corbett 6241 7150 6251 6621 (w) 6231 7058(h) Sandra Corbett 6287 1106 Felicity Leigh 6254 6673 Terry & Julianne Turner 6216 1485(bh) Les Lincoln 6254 7602 6287 1963 Sheila & Peter Cudmore Joyce Linden (044)711384 Paul Tyerman 6254 9682 6288 4817 John Litchfield 6253 2905 Ben Wallace 6241 4277 KaiDetto 6287 3018 Scott Mann 6288 8172 Gary and Ellen Waters 6258 9572 Mr Hans de Vries 6286 1811 Mrs Diana Martin 6254 6109 Bob Wong 6286 2988 Kathryn & Dennis Dyason Mr Rob Maron 6251 1825 Laurence Woods 6258 6187 6230 3335 Mrs Mari A. Millucci 6254 4802 Jane Wright & David Rees Geoff Dyne 6231 3681 Robyn Noel 6258 5734 6254 1119 Robert Edwards 6251 4503 Edna O'Dell 6242 7381 Pat & Ken Wyatt 6231 7032 Bill & Jean Egan 6251 2008 Mrs J Osborne 6254 4475 Kate Ziesak 6299 5256 Mrs Joyce England 6251 1769 Jessie Pearce 6241 7375 Bob & Jean Evans 6295 3802 Brian Phelan 6288 4813 Jeremy Evans 6249 4795(w) Robert Pollock (044)553304

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

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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.

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