SOUTHERN ONTARIO
ORCHID SOCIETY established in 1965 April 2006 NEWS---Volume 41, Issue 4
Executive: President, Jay Norris 416-463-7411; Vice-presidents, Wayne Eyles and Mario Ferrusi ; Secretary, Sue Loftus 905-839-8281; Treasurer, Joe O’Regan 416-759-2538 Membership: Annual Dues $25.00/Calendar Year. Membership Secretary, Hess Pommells 416-245- 0369, Apt. 503, 370 Dixon Road, Weston, Ontario, M9R 1T2
Web site: www.soos.ca Member of the Canadian Orchid Congress; Affiliated with the Orchid Digest, the American Orchid Society, and the International Phalaenopsis Alliance Honorary Life Members Walter Norman, Terry Kennedy, Doug Kennedy, Inge Poot, Peter Poot, Joe O’Regan
Program: April 2, Toronto Botanical Gardens Floral Hall, Sales 12:30, program 2:00 pm: KEN MEIER on the Catasetinae. Ken is a graduate of the University of Michigan where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Protozoology and Microbiology. Ken has been growing orchids for over 20 years and uses his training in microbiology to grow orchids from seed in a laboratory he built in his home. Ken has traveled to South America over the last 10 years studying orchids in their native habitats. In the late 90's Ken traveled with Arthur Holst, author of 'World of Catasetums', as they explored the various habitats of the genera in Catasetinae. Since then, Ken has traveled to Ecuador, Peru and most recently to Thailand. Ken is Past President of the National Capital Orchid Society, the Hollin Hills Orchid Society and is currently an AOS judge at the National Capital Judging Center. Ken has recently established an orchid-internet business to help reduce the number of plants in his collection and to help defray some of the costs of this addictive hobby. His web site can be found
Ken’s talk will be an introduction to the subgroup Catasetinae which includes Catasetums, Mormodes, Cycnoches, Clowesia, Galeandra and Dressleria. After a pictorial look at some of the more common and easy to find species and hybrids, Ken will take you on a quick tour of the Catasetum habitats in Brazil. A review of some of the cultural needs of the genus will be followed by a question and answer period. Membership Renewal. We need your renewals. Our calendar year for membership runs from January 1 to December 31. So far only 1/2 of our 2005 members have renewed. If your address label carried a red 2005, we have no record of a renewal and you need to contact our membership secretary, Hesse Pommells at 416-245-0369, Apt. 503, 370 Dixon Road, Weston, Ontario, M9R 1T2. If you do not renew by April 2, you will not receive the next newsletter.
1 President’s Message. FLUORESCENT BULB HAZARD and Well Folks it's that time again; time to take DISPOSAL a deep breath between the shows. Time to Summary of Toronto Star article of 2006 03 pause and see what has bloomed since the 04 page B1 last show and what will be available for displays in the next show. With Montreal, Many orchid growers use fluorescent bulbs, London and Ottawa shows all coming soon, either long tubes or compact types. please check your collections for plants to Fluorescent bulbs are very efficient in share with Joe O'Regan and Wayne Eyles; producing light with minimal heat. But these they can't do it all by them selves, but they bulbs contain a small amount of mercury. try!!! The enclosed mercury is essential for the production of light in this design. Once a bulb The Executive is working with the is broken the mercury, as liquid droplets coordinators of the TBG to solve our problems and/or vapour is released into the with our meeting location. I would ask environment. everyone to keep their cool, as we will be Mercury is hazardous to human health and back in the Garden Auditorium for the May it accumulates in our bodies over long time meeting and probably for the Summerfest as periods. All exposures to mercury by humans well, but with Summerfest we will be outside is considered to be cumulative since the with the BBQ. Hopefully we will not have to process of eliminating it is so slow. Food change any dates to avoid conflicts, but we consumption probably accounts for most will work to make it smooth and enjoyable intake but our food absorbs the mercury from for everyone. the environment.
The Show Committee will be having their Ideally, the used bulbs should be stored, post-mortem for our show soon, so if you avoiding breakage and disposed of in an have any suggestions on how the show could appropriate manner. They should be run more smoothly, please send them along. considered as hazardous waste material. A Peter Poot and Doug Kennedy will be process is starting to encourage stores that assuming the roles of Co-Chairs (Well not sell the bulbs to collect them for recycling. quite, Doug will chair and I will attempt to The used bulbs can have the mercury assist, Editor ) for our 2007 show, and we extracted for re-use and to avoid welcome input from everyone. Better still environmental damage. get involved, we always need more volunteers. In the meantime, the bulbs can be disposed of to scheduled hazardous waste days into the I hope everyone enjoyed the show at the garbage collection system in your Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington last neighbourhood. Check with your local weekend, and I look forward to seeing many municipal services. The bulbs can also be of you in Montreal. delivered to collection depots that ahndle other toxic wastes such as paints, oils and Happy Growing solvents.
IF a bulb breaks in your house, the mercury Jay Norris will scatter as little droplets. Wet cloths and mops are more desireable than using a vacuum as it vapourizes the mercury. The
2 mercury laden cloth should be disposed of Please contact Wayne Hingston at 905-649- with the other broken parts of the bulb as 2467 or hazardous waste. Open windows and air out The 5th Annual Native Orchid the area extensively to reduce your Conference will take place June 9-12, exposure. 2006 in Ashland, Oregon. This is a great Life involves risks but you always focus on chance to learn about the terrestrial orchids reducing that risk to yourself and the of South-western Oregon. Ashland is situated environment. Anything dumped into the in the convergence of three mountain environment will eventually come back to ranges. This unusual geological convergence us. gives rise to a unique and diverse flora NEWCOMERS’ MEETING which supports 25 native orchid species, 14 of which bloom in June. Presentations as Monday April 24, 2006 at 7 PM. Boardroom of well as field trips with knowledgeable people the TBG The focus of this meeting is to make the conference a great learning review effective culture of orchids over the opportunity. summer period. We will discuss watering, Registration is limited to the first 100. $100 fertilizing, repotting, light levels and inside US per person or $175 US per couple. versus outdoor culture strategies. This meeting is open to all members but should For more information contact Carol be ideal for those that are learning the basic Ferguson, Conference Co-Chair (541) 552- aspects of growing orchids. Come knowing 6748 or [email protected] or check out the the types you grow or be prepared to find out Native Orchid Conference web site. your orchid's types through examples, bring pictures or the actual plants. Any Show Table Results for March 2006 clarification needed call Wayne Hingston at Class 1: Cattleya Alliance 905-649-2467. 1st Pot. Kate Suns'y #1 Seed Sowing/flasking Workshop I Class 2: Paphs and Phrags have been asked by some members to repeat 1st Phrag. caudatum grown by Jean a seminar on the details of sowing your own Chang orchid seeds. Since this is a technical skill and involves specialized equipment and Class 3: Phalaenopsis and Vanda Alliance dedication over a lengthy period of time, only 1st Phalaenopsis (wrong name) grown by those that are seriously interested in John Allison starting soon should apply. The seminar works best at my home, near Uxbridge, as 3rd Dtps. Taida Salu grown by John Alison everything I need is here. The ideal group Class 4: Oncidium, Brassia, Odontoglossum size is 5 or 6 since this will be Alliance demonstration based, not theory. The 1st Odcdm. Hansueli Isler grown by Eric seminar will take approximately 2 hours Tai plus travel time (1 hour from most of 2nd Tolumnia Mem. Ralph Yagi 'John' Toronto). I would like to schedule it this grown by Henry Glowka spring on a Saturday. A nominal charge of 3rd Oncidium ampliatum grown by Anita $10.00 per person will be expected. If you Kho have seed ready to sow between April and Class 5: Cymbidium June it may be possible for me to use it in No entries this month the demo and you will keep the results. Class 6: Dendrobiums
3 1st Dendrobium schuetzei grown by Kin 15-16, TAOA Show, Toronto. Lam Mok 29-30, Ottawa Orchid Society Show. 2nd Dend. kingianum (?) grown by Mei 3rd Dendrobium Sweet Song 'Memory' May grown by Anita Kho 6, Toronto Centre Judging, 1 pm, Toronto Class 7: All Others Botanical Garden 1st Catasetum saccatum grown by Calvin 7, SOOS meeting, Toronto Botanical Wong Garden 12:30 pm. Poul Hansen on Class 8: Specimen Plants Miltonias No entries this month 20, Montreal Centre Judging. Class 9 Baskets 20-21, Ann Arbor judges seminar, Ann 1st Basket grown by Erika Lorincz Arbor, Michigan. June 3, Toronto Centre Judging, 1 pm, Toronto PLANT OF THE MONTH Botanical Garden Congratulations to Calvin Wong for his 4, SOOS meeting, Toronto Botanical beautifully grown Catasetum saccatum. Garden 12:30 pm. Lance Birk on Calvin writes: Grown in semi-hydroponic Paphiopedilums culture in a mix with hydroton, diatomite 9-12, 5th Annual Native Orchid and charcoal. Summer outside with lots of Conference, Ashland, Oregon water & fertilizer (MSU). Grown inside from August September on, under 400W High Pressure 6, SOOS Orchid Fest ( Ecuagenera ) and Sodium light at ~26-28C and 70% humidity. Canadian Orchid Congress Annual Withhold water totally once leaves started to Meeting, Toronto Botanical Garden. drop and resume water again when roots of the new growth are about 1" long. Under my AOS Judging Results conditions, it only rests for about 4-6 weeks Toronto Centre, March 4 and resumes growing again. Lycaste lacusta ‘Lincoln Green’ CHM-AOS 82 points, Doug and Terry Kennedy. Welcome New Members RBG Show, March 11 Anita Bacher, Dinsha W. Kanga, Maj Lai Dendrobium nobile 'Audrey Kompter' CCM 82 Meng, Martin Young, Betsy Ortiz, Renata Wozniak. pts, Erica & Gerhard Kompter Paphiopedilum Alice Doherty 'Friendships' Coming Events AM 81 pts., (Oynx X Geisha Doll) , Dr. John March 2006 Doherty 24-26, MAOC, Omaha, Nebraska. Phalaenopsis Oriental Fairy 'Crystal Star' 24-26, Genesee Region Orchid Show, HCC 78 pts. (Ever-spring Light x Ho's French Rochester, NY. Fantasia) , Eric & Ellen Lee 25-26, Orchidexpo and Montreal Centre Masdevallia mendozae 'Yellow Doll' CCM 87 Judging, Montreal. pts., Mario & Conni Ferrusi April Odontioda (Picotee X Shirley Maclaine) 'Lilac 1, Toronto Centre Judging, 1 pm, Toronto Delight' HCC 78 pts., Mario &Conni Ferrusi Botanical Garden Cochlioda vulcanica 'Definitely Conni' HCC 2, SOOS meeting, Toronto Botanical 78 pts., Mario & Conni Ferrusi Garden 12:30 pm. Masdevallia Northern Angel 'Orangealicious' 5-9, AOS Members Meeting, Vista, Florida. AM 81 pts., (Southern Sun X Angel Glow), 8-9, London Orchid Society Show. Mario & Conni Ferrusi 15, Montreal Centre Judging.
4 Inge’s Programme Notes: Many thanks to Jay Norris and our speaker Pitson Dantanarayana for their help in putting this together. Since I cannot manipulate Pitson’s charts I show them last and transcribe the rest of the talk first. The first two charts are an alphabetical list of nutrients, what they do in the plant and what the symptoms of their deficiency and excess are. There are three primary macro-nutrients used by the plant in very large quantities (Nitrogen- chemical abbreviation :N, Phosphorus-P, Potassium-K, after the latin Kalium). They are what is listed on the fertilizer container, eg 20-10-30. This means that a 100 kg bag of that fertilizer contains 20 kg of Nitrogen, 10 kg of Phosphorus and 30 kg of Potassium (and 40 kg of inert materials). There are three secondary macro-nutrients used by plants in much smaller quantities (Calcium-Ca, Magnesium- Mg and Sulphur-S). They are not listed prominently on most containers, but are included in many fertilizers, even those that do not claim to be complete. There are many micro-nutrients used by plants in tiny amounts (Boron-Bo, Chlorine-Cl, Copper-Cu, Iron-Fe, Manganese-Mn, Molybdenum-Mo, Nickel-Ni , Zinc-Zn. Complete fertilizers and hydroponic fertilizers contain them. They must be right on in the needed concentration to avoid problems.
The terms balanced and unbalanced fertilizer refer to the ratio of N-P-K in the fertilizer, not to their suitability or lack thereof for a crop. 20-20-20 and 18-18-18 are balanced fertilizers, while 18-30-10 is unbalanced. Adding the numbers gives the amount of useful ingredients/100kg, while the rest is inert.
Other terms we need to understand are simple fertilizers which supply only a single primary macro-nutrient eg. Calcium nitrate Ca(NO3)2 supplies Nitrogen. Complex fertilizers can be binary -supplying two primary macro-nutrients such as N-P, N-K, P- K , or tertiary -supplying all three primary macro-nutrients: N-P-K Simple and binary complex fertilizers can be used to make up your own tertiary complex ones or change their ratios to something you need to manipulate the development of your plants.
There is no such thing as a crop specific fertilizer only a specific formulation that helps the development of the part of the plant that we want to encourage. African violet fertilizer and tomato fertilizer will do just as well on orchids since all those plants are grown for their flowers/fruits and need healthy roots and leaves to do so. You just have to adjust the dilution- more dilute for orchids, but the same ratio.
Primary macro-nutrient functions : Nitrogen encourages shoot, stem and leaf growth. Phosphorus stimulates the plant generally and root growth in particular. Potassium nudges the plant into maturity, which means flowering and fruiting (eg. tomato).
Also, note that sources of nitrogen are not all equally useful. Ammonia -NH4, has to be broken down by micro-organisms before the nitrogen becomes available. It is a slow-release source. Nitrate-NH3 dissociates in water and is rapidly taken up-within 48 hours. Urea does not dissociate and takes a long time to be broken down by bacteria -so slowly as a matter of fact that the plant will hardly get any of the nitrogen. It is not useful as an orchid fertilizer.
A note about potassium (K)- K increases water retention in a plant. Therefore use it for 2 to 3 weeks before exhibiting a plant in a dry environment or cutting the flowers for the cut-flower arrangements. 5 Fertilizing tips: when a plant has a deficiency, even if it is small enough not to show easily, it will have built up a hidden hunger for the missing nutrient. This “hunger” must be satisfied first, before any changes occur. Increase fertilizer strength slowly up to optimum. At optimum the disease resistance will increase as well. Any greater concentration will cause toxicity to set in!! The concentration optimum varies amongst genera or even species/hybrids of plants. Phalaenopsis can use a much higher concentration of fertilizer than Phragmipediums.
To get a great plant and to bloom it when it suits you (works best with hybrids): Fertilize with a high middle number (phosphorus) fertilizer until the plant has a good new root system. Switch to a high first number fertilizer (nitrogen) until the plant is large and robust. Switch back to a high middle number fertilizer for two to three weeks to signal to the plant that a change and extra effort are about to begin. Switch to a high last number (potassium) fertilizer and continue with it until you want the flowering to stop. After all you don’t want the plant to bloom itself to death. Switch to a high middle number fertilizer for two or three weeks /or more if roots are getting scant, then to a high first number one until enough new leaves have formed etc. When you fertilize you should start out with 1/4 to 1/15 th strength and gradually move up to full strength.
The MSU fertilizer for the university’s own mineral-rich water is 19-4-23 and for pure water it is 13-3-15 in other words it is a growth and flowering fertilizer.
Use a foliar spray as your main fertilizer regimen not just the traditional pot watering. The best is to use 70% of the spray as foliar spray and the remaining 20 to 30% as basal potting mix spray. The spray in the pot should not exceed the “field” capacity of the medium in the pot, that is it should be just enough to get to the bottom of the pot, but not drip out and at this it will leave about 3% in air holes. Anything more is over- watering and leaves no air pockets and roots drown.
Mineral Functions Deficiency Excess
Boron Micronutrient. Important for phloem Growing tips become Leaf tips yellow & transport and cell elongation. Aids deformed or die, also die. Leaves look leaf discolouration. production of sugars. Essential for fruit & scorched & fall. seed development. Calcium Secondary macronutrient. Many functions Reduced growth, May cause including structural integrity of cells & deformation or death of deficiency in either growing tips. Poor fruit growing tips. development. magnesium or potassium.
Carbon From CO2 in air, essential to build sugars. N/A N/A
Chlorine Micronutrient. Important in fluid balance & Club roots. Wilted Salt injury causing in breaking down water for leaves becoming leaf burn. photosynthesis. bronze, chlorotic then dying. Copper Micronutrient. Transition metal. Important Similar to Iron May cause distortion of in electron transport & reproductive deficiency if soil new growth. Can occur in peat potting growth. Aids in root metabolism and helps acidic. composts. in the utilization of proteins.
Hydrogen From H2O, essential to build sugars. N/A N/A
Iron Micronutrient. Transition metal. Important Chlorosis. Yellow/white May cause leaf for enzyme synthesis & function. Electron interveinal areas on bronzing with tiny young upper leaves transfer processes and chlorophyll leading to areas of leaf brown spots. synthesis. death.
Magnesium Secondary macronutrient. This is an Chlorosis, leaves Excess rare as well essential part of the chlorophyll molecule. appearing pale green or tolerated. Too yellow. Yellowing Vital in photosynthesis and respiration. between leaf veins much will suppress spreading to younger Calcium &
Mineral Functions Deficiency Excess
Manganese Micronutrient. Essential in Interveinal Reduced growth. photosynthesis & respiration Chlorosis, yellowing Older leaves with including enzyme systems or mottled young brown spots upper surrounded by a breakdown of carbohydrates. leaves. followed by chlorotic ring. brown spots giving Looks like Iron a chequered red deficiency. Can effect. occur in acid soils.
Molybdenum Micronutrient. Essential component of Interveinal chlorosis N/A enzymes for nitrogen fixing. on older leaves which may distort.
Nickel Micronutrient. Found in seeds and fruit. Decreased iron Chlorosis and Needed to help form urease to break down utilization. necrotic leaf urea nitrogen for plant use. Involved in the margins. iron uptake from the soil.
Nitrogen Primary macronutrient. Needed for Pale & lower leaves Dark green over photosynthesis, growth & respiration. It is yellow or vigorous foliage a constituent of DNA, RNA & amino acids dying. Light green which is susceptible which are used to build protein molecules. to yellow to disease & insect Nitrogen is inert & has to be incorporated appearance of older attack & will not into the plant by nitrogen-fixing bacteria in leaves; stunted overwinter well. their root nodes. growth poor fruit Poor fruit & seeds. development.
Mineral Functions Deficiency Excess
Oxygen O2, H2O. Essential for photosynthesis of N/A N/A sugar molecules.
Phosphorus Primary macronutrient. Essential for Slow development, May cause reproduction & photosynthesis & involved poor growth, mi cronut ri ent in energy transfer & formation of oils, flowering and deficiencies, sugars & starches. Helps maturation, fruiting. Leaves especially iron or blooming & root growth. may appear zinc. purple.
Potassium Primary Macronutrient. Activates many Older leaves May cause enzymes, encourages flowering & yellowing around deficiencies of important in osmosis (fluid balance). edges & then dying. calcium & Second to nitrogen in absorption for most Poor growth & magnesi um. plants. Builds disease resistance, improves vulnerable to fruit quality. disease. heat tolerance.
Sulphur Secondary macronutrient. Constituent of Yellowing of young May cause early some amino acids. Enzyme cofactor and upper leaves leaf drop. constituent. Improves root growth & seed spreading to whole production. Electron transfer processes plant. Occurs on new and chlorophyll synthesis. Cold resistance. growth initially.
Micronutrient. Enzyme cofactor, growth Interveinal May cause i ron Zinc hormone synthesis. Transformation of chlorosis/yellowing deficiency. carbohydrates & sugar consumption. on young leaves, reduced leaf size. Rosetting.
Fertilizers-calculations-readymade
DESIRED NUTRIENTS IN GMS/LTS
Nutrients (parts) IN FORMULAE GM/ IN 1 LT 13 14 16 20 20.5 21 33 44 45 53 60 0.11314162020.5213344455360 0.2262832404142668890106120 0.3 39 42 48 60 61.5 63 99 132 135 159 180 0.4 52 56 64 80 82 84 132 176 180 212 240 0.6 78 84 96 120 123 126 198 264 270 318 360 0.8 104 112 128 160 164 168 264 352 360 424 480 1 130 140 160 200 205 210 330 440 450 530 600 1.5 195 210 240 300 307.5 315 495 660 675 795 900 2 260 280 320 400 410 420 660 880 900 1060 1200 2.5 325 350 400 500 512.5 525 825 1100 1125 1325 1500 3 390 420 480 600 615 630 990 1320 1350 1590 1800 3.5 455 490 560 700 717.5 735 1155 1540 1575 1855 2100
Boron;thick lvs,abort side Calcium-blunt tip, irregular chlorosis. shoots,at apical portion deformed leaf Iron;int.veinal chlorosois like Mg,but Sulphur;light from top-downwards green,beige cast Copper:Int.vn.chlorosis Manganese;gen. chlorosis Margin, tip remain green
Molybdenum:pale yellow
Magnesium;Inter-veinal chlorosis like Fe, but from bottom-upwards Potassium.low lvs yellow, necrotic plts Phosphorous;low lvs dark Leaves die upwards green,purple pigments Nitrogen;low lvs light green-yellow,yellowing PLANT NUTRIENTS;DEFICIENCES SYMPTOMS upwards
To be continued 8