Upcoming Events WITWATERSRAND

2019: ORCHID SOCIETY

P.O. Box 727, Parkview [email protected] www 27 - 28 July – SAOC Orchid Lovers’ Fair, W Sisulu Bot P.O. Box 72007, Parkview 2122 Gardens, Joburg Email: [email protected] 10 - 11 Aug – Rustenberg OS Website: www.witsorchid.co.za Spring Show 17 - 18 Aug - NOS Spring Show 6 - 8 Sep – Plantae O C, Fun & Friendship Through Orchids Pietermaritzburg 21 – 22 Sep - WOS Spring Show 19 - 21 Oct - SAOC National MAY 2019 Show & Conference, White River Meeting: SUNDAY, 26TH MAY 2019 31 Oct - 3 Nov – TOS Autumn Show

TOPIC: walkeriana For more details on these shows, see SAOC website or SPEAKER: Rainhard Lenz individual Society’s website. Date: 26th May 2019

TIME: 13h00 for 14h00

VENUE: The Floreum, Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, off Oliphants Rd, Emmerentia

Cattleya walkeriana

TEA DUTY

The members doing tea duty this month are:

Muff Baxter

RAFFLE

The Den nobile donated by David Crow, was won by Paula Baxter. The first class was held at the Floreum Library on Saturday, 11th May at 14h00. Allan Abel spoke on “Introduction to Orchids” to approx. 14 enthusiastic orchid lovers, including 2 visitors.

The next 2 classes will be held on the following dates;

25th May – Dendrobiums with Stewart Smith

8th June - & Oncidiums with Erhard Schmid

 Attendees may bring along that they are concerned about  Non-members are welcome to attend for a fee of R20 per class.

If you have any queries, please contact Allan Abel on 011 477 7938 or 082 728 8360.

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The East Rand Orchid Society (EROS) recently held their Autumn 2019 Show and congratulations to two of our members who did very well at that Show. They were;

Erhard Schmid won SHOW CHAMPION with his Vanda Loke

Andre van Wyk won RESERVE CHAMPION with his Rlc Haw Yuan Gold.

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By Allan Abel

Rules of the Plant Table

Every member is encouraged to bring and share their flowering orchids with other members.

However, for plants to be entered in the prize selection process, they must comply with the following rules

• All plants must have been grown by the owners for at least 6 months. • Novice section is for those members who are new to growing orchids. A Novice will cease to be a Novice when they; o win a Red Ribbon at a WOS Show or o win the Plant Table Annual Prize.

This month, the plant table consisted of 22 orchids belonging to 6 members.

Erhard Schmid Bulbophyllum Elizabeth Ann ‘Buckleberry’ bella Dendrobium victoriae-reginae David Eastman Laelia anceps Paph concolor Mystacidium venosum Rlc Mystic Isles Paph Hengduan Sweetheart Paph Hengduan Snake Charmer Jan & Ancebeth Grobler Paph insigne (2) Rth Guanmiao City Onc (Oa-3 Viderei x Sunshine) ? Dendrobium Rlc Plinlimmon Chris Steckner Cattleya brevipedunculata Marie Coumbsnotis Habenaria carnea Laelia gouldiana Paph gratrixianum Cym Hanburyanum Paph New Era Paph tonsum Chris Hammond Zygonisia Murasakikomachi Cym Cariad ‘Plush’ Zygopetalum Mack Elle Keith Palmer Mandy & Marinus Kort Vanda Siriporn Pink Ctt (Ctt Chocolate Drop x C. Red Empress) Margaret & Mark Peters Paph insigne Rlc Duckitt Beauty Paph In Charm Gold Gdd Matutina Kaitlin McNally Bulbophyllum Elizabeth Ann ‘Buckleberry’ Mishi Rieckhoff Coelogyne fimbriatum Duncan McFarlane Cynorchis kassneriana

The best orchids, as selected by the members, were:

BEST AFRICAN BEST SPECIES

Mystacidium venosum owned by Cattleya brevipedunculata owned by Erhard Schmid Chris Steckner

BEST HYBRID BEST NOVICE

Onc (Oa-3 Viderei x Sunshine) ? owned Laelia gouldiana owned by Erhard Schmid ( ? Colm Masai Red) Marie Coumbsnotis

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MEMBERS PLANT TABLE ARTICLE

At the last monthly meeting, it was agreed that should the person doing the discussion see any plant of interest, any type of interest, the owner would be requested to supply the information about that orchid. This information would be used to produce a short article for the Newsletter. This is the first one of the series and I will provide a guide-line template for contributors.

WITWATERSRAND ORCHID SOCIETY MEMBER’S PLANT TABLE ARTICLE TEMPLATE

Notes  Must be between 200 – 250 words

 Attach a photo if possible

 Complete all sections please

 If information is unknown, say so

 If a date not certain, estimate

 Any queries on completing this, please phone me 082 728 8360 Complete Form, save to your computer and then email to me as an attachment [email protected]

April Plant Table – Plant of Interest

Cattleya brevipedunculata

Plant name – Cattleya brevipedunculata

Owner – Chris Steckner

Date acquired – February 2009

From whom – Kent Walker

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How I grow it – I grow it in the Intermediate Section of my greenhouse with a minimum of 14° C and bright light, in 9mm bark, and styrofoam chips on the bottom, in a 10 cm pot. Watering is done with 60% reverse osmosis and 40% municipal water, up to 3 times a week in summer, less in winter. Feeding is done every second weekend in summer, the other weekends I use EM (Efficient Microbes) solution. My main feed is Multi Feed Classic and sometimes I use Nitrosol or Wuxal (full strength) weaker in winter

Any special notes- the plant was divided into 2 plants in September 2013, and this plant had 28 flowers on 16 spikes and the other plant had 25 flowers

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INVITATION TO QUITO

The International Orchid Exhibit “Alexander von Humboldt”

This year we are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of Alexander von Humboldt, the world famous Prussian polymath, geographer, naturalist, explorer, and influential proponent of Romantic philosophy and science. Alexander von Humboldt's name stands supreme in the botanical exploration of tropical America. In honor to his discoveries in orchids and bromeliads, many of them in his expeditions through Ecuador, the Botanic Garden of Quito is inviting you to participate in this international event to be exhibited in the magnificent crystal palace Itchimbía in Quito on the 3rd-6th of October 2019. 7 | Page

Ecuador has the largest wealth of orchids in the world with over 4300 species representing 20% of its flora and over 600 species of bromeliads, close to 20% in this family, which are only found in America.

In this event we plan to exhibit over 5000 plants, with the auspices of the Quito Orchid Society, the Municipality of Quito with Quito-Truism and the Cultural Secretariat and the Embassy of Germany through Humboldt & the Americas.

Many orchid societies of Ecuador and neighboring countries along with several commercial orchid growers from Ecuador and other countries will participate with their exhibits, including the Bonsai Society and Ikebana of Quito with highlights of the trajectory of Alexander von Humboldt, Bonpland & Kunth presented by the Botanical Garden of Bern-Switzerland. The event will be presided by the First Lady of Ecuador, Sr. Rocío González Navas.

The Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Environment and customs are giving us full support to assist with the required documents including the phytosanitary and CITES import and export permits. Different tourist operator will offer pre and post orchid tours. Truly yours,

Carolina Jijón Executive Director FUNDACION BOTANICA DE LOS ANDES

GENERAL COORDINATION 6th International Orchid Show “Alexander von Humboldt”

Samia Peñaherrera Solah Alexander Hirtz [email protected] [email protected]

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Committee Members

Position held Name Email Address Contact Details President Vacant – contact Vice-President Vice President Marinus Kort [email protected] 082 447 5081 / 011 794 1041 Secretary Vacant – contact President Treasurer Vacant – contact President Meetings Bill Mincher [email protected] 082 871 3152 Organiser

Newsletter Editor Allan Abel [email protected] 082 738 8360 / 011 477 7938

Extra Member Chris Steckner [email protected] 011 782 3959 Librarian Mandy Kort [email protected] 011 794 1041 Show Organiser Vacant – contact President

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