Click to join from your computer, tablet SOUTHERN or smartphone: https://www.gotomeet.me/CathyDunn/ ONTARIO 2021-06 or Dial in using your phone: Canada: +1 ORCHID (647) 497-9373 Access Code: 226-011-165 SOCIETY NEWS

June 2021, Volume 56, Issue 6 New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be Meeting since 1965 ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/226011165

June 6Virtual Meeting: Please note that because this meeting is being produced via an internet program the participation capacity is limited to SOOS members only. Be sure to check that you have renewed your membership for Spencer Hauck, Sandhill Botanicals 2020. 2020 Memberships have been extended to the end of 2021.

What’s bugging your Orchids? Virtual Show Table Our members are growing and th blooming amazing orchids and you are not shy about sharing Sunday, June 6 , 2021, 1:00 photographs of them. Our virtual show table has doubled in size in less than six months. We often receive over 100 PM (EDT) entries from over 25 different members!!

Since we need time to organize the photos and to have them Followed by the judged, photos need to be received by the Wednesday before the Sunday meeting. SOOS Virtual Show Table Submitting photographs to SOOS constitutes permission for Entry Rules: SOOS to publish those images. No remuneration is offered or 1. Take photos between Sun. May 23rd implied. nd and Wed. June 2 . Send your best photos. Points will be given in the usual manner towards the ‘Orchid Grower of the Year’ program for 2. Email photos to [email protected] by participation and winning. Flowers will be judged and nd midnight of the 2 . awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each category and the ‘ of the Month’. Winners will be posted on the SOOS website and the 3. Send one line about what you love SOOS You-Tube Channel. about your plant. Elements of a Good Orchid Photograph: 4. Include the name of your orchid.  Clean the leaves and remove debris. 5. Limit of 10 slides per member;  Stake the flower and remove clips. displays allowed.  Use a backdrop that is bigger than your plant.  Pick a backdrop whose color is in contrast with the flower. Usually black is best.  Declutter the background.  Take the photo in bright, indirect natural sunlight. Our February Show could be a reality in 2022. A lot still needs No flashing! to happen, but our normal timeline means that we need to  Clean the camera lens for crisp resolution. start planning by late summer. A successful show requires a  Get close to the flower. Don’t zoom in. They won’t lot of volunteers, so start thinking about how you can help, bite. and perhaps join the Show Committee chaired by Cathy  Use a tripod and a remote. (Now available for a cell Dunn. phone for under $30 CAD). Ontario is experiencing its 3rd and worst COVID wave and we  Use the highest resolution possible. are locked down again until June 2. These lockdowns have  Check that your photo is in focus. been difficult for many smaller businesses, including your Don’t forget that you can post your photos on the SOOS local orchid vendors. We hope that you can continue to Facebook Group Page anytime of the month! support them during these challenging times.

Participation at our virtualized meetings has been strong, and President’s Remarks Welcome Orchid Enthusiasts our virtual Show Table has been extraordinarily successful The warmer weather has finally arrived (mid- May) after a with over 80 entries once again in May. Please continue to long and drawn-out winter where our daily activities participate with your beautiful photo submissions. Please continued to be dramatically altered by the global COVID-19 send your photos to [email protected] during the May 23 – pandemic. It feels good to be outside again, rejoicing in the June 2’nd submission window fresh air and the warming sun upon our faces. We will continue to host virtual monthly meetings until At our last virtual meeting, a member asked when I bring my further notice, and our Program Director, Terry Kennedy has outside for the summer, and my response was “when lined up a fantastic roster of speakers including.. the forecasted night time temperatures were at least 7-8C.“ Those conditions have now been met, so my plants are going June 6, Spencer Hauck, Kitchener, Ontario will present on out to enjoy the fresh air, higher humidity and spring rains. In Pests and Diseases, with tips and advice on how to rid your the fall I often leave my plants (mainly Cattleyas, and a few plants of the “nasties”. Phals) out until the temperatures get as low as 4C (sometimes Aug.1, Virtual Orchid Summerfest lower by accident), with no observable detrimental impact as they have acclimatized to the cooler temperatures over the Jim Heilig, California - "Habenaria , late summer. Culture, and Breeding”

Remember, if you summer your orchids outdoors, as part of Jim began his American Orchid Society (AOS) judging our Summer Orchidfest program we would like you to send in career at the Great Lakes Judging Center in Ann Arbor, MI and is now a judge at the Pacific Central photos of your Orchid Summer Home, before and after your Judging Center in California. He is also currently plants have taken up residence. This will allow other serving as the Treasurer of the AOS. members to compare, and perhaps come up with new ideas for their plants. Please submit your “before and after” photos 2’nd speaker, to be determined to [email protected] Terry Kennedy, our Program Director has lined up other One year ago, I wrote “some members may not feel exciting speakers for the Fall, so stay tuned. comfortable congregating in groups and may not attend our Many of you have joined and participated with others on the meetings until there is a vaccine or an efficient treatment SOOS Facebook Group page available.” A lot has transpired since then. We have been https://www.facebook.com/groups/SOOSOrchid/. Please successfully running virtual” video meetings, and COVID continue to post photos of your flowers and plants there, and vaccines are now rolling out with increasing speed and will feel free to comment, share your knowledge or ask questions. supposedly be available in Ontario to anyone 12 and older by May31. Hopefully by years end, anyone who wants to be fully Stay safe and healthy, and I hope to see you and your orchids vaccinated with their second shot, will have the opportunity. at our upcoming virtual monthly meeting. Perhaps we will be back to in-person meetings at the Toronto Botanical Garden. John Vermeer Conservation Corner May 2021 Contributed by John Alexander. Submitted for May 15 – June Newsletter It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Spring ephemerals, bird migration and the promise of orchids to come. Usually by mid-May we will start to see some of early blooming native orchids showing their colours. Two of the earliest to bloom are the Moccasin Flower (Cyp. acaule) and the Showy Orchid or Showy Orchis (Galearis spectabilis – which sounds like a magic spell from Harry Potter to me). If you find yourself hiking in a pine forest that is slightly damp, look for the Moccasin Flower. Or if you are in a mature hardwood forest, keep your eyes open for the much smaller Showy Orchid amongst the trilliums, hepatica and ferns. One of the He fertilizes once or twice a month with a phytoplankton recommendations for Covid is to spend time in nature. derived complete fertilizer produced by the BC company called MARPHYLL. A fan is blowing on the pot. The It is a well-known fact that this improves your state of plant sits on an east facing window in a condo with mind and general well being. When you do get out, stay Sunblaster LED’s over the plant on for 8=10 hours. He on the path, brush the soles of your boots before you keeps the temperature at 16-18C at night and 23-25 go, and after your hike to avoid spreading any invasive during the day, maybe a bit cooler at night in the winter. plants like garlic mustard and dog strangling vine. Leave our orchids and all our native plants where they grow Very impressive, Andrew! for others to enjoy. If you find yourself Toronto bound because of stay-at- home restrictions, there are many great ravines in the About SOOS Web site: www.soos.ca ; SOOS city to explore. You may not find orchids, but there is a Facebook group: bounty of spring beauty just waiting for you to see. O.K. https://www.facebook.com/groups/298874747302722/ – now sing it with me – It’s the most wonderful time …… Member of the Canadian Orchid Congress; Affiliated with the (And don’t forget to bring the bug spray.) American Orchid Society, the Orchid Digest and the International Phalaenopsis Alliance.

Membership: Annual Dues $30 per calendar year (January 1 to December 31 ). Surcharge $15 for newsletter by postal service Membership secretary: Liz Mc Alpine, renew or join on line at soos.ca/members. 2020 Memberships have been extended to the end of 2021. 2021 new memberships will renew free of charge for 2022..

Executive: President John Vermeer, Vice-President ? Treasurer, Cathy Dunn, Secretary, Sue Loftus; Past President Laura Liebgott,

Other Positions of Responsibility: Program, Terry Kennedy; Plant Doctor, Inge Poot; Meeting Set up, Yvonne Schreiber; Vendor and Sales table coordinator, Lynda Satchwell; Plant of the Month:. Cynorkis angustipetala Membership and Library, Liz Mc Alpine; Web Master, Eric Tai 'Maddy’s Dandy Flower', grown by Andrew Geimar and Max Wilson; Newsletter, Peter and Inge Poot; Annual Andrew did an amazing job with a difficult plant to grow Show, Cathy Dunn; Refreshments, Joe O’Regan. Conservation and flower! He pots his more successful of two plants in Committee, various C.C. members; Show table, Synea Tan, New Zealand sphagnum. He repots the plant yearly just Cultural snapshots, Alexsi Antanaitis, Directors at large Marion as the new growths emerge in the spring, at which time Curry, Jay Norris, Anne Antanaitis, Doug Kennedy. Honorary the old leaves may still be there, but will wilt soon. He Life Members: Terry Kennedy, Doug Kennedy, Inge Poot, waters the plant with deionized water every 2-3 days Peter Poot, Joe O’Regan, Diane Ryley, Wayne Hingston. when the water in the clay saucer is just about gone, tossing the remaining water. He top waters with enough water so that some remains standing in the saucer. We are on facebook at: Watering: https://www.facebook.com/groups/298874747302722 Most Paphs prefer good quality water such as rain or Reverse / Osmosis water. And www.facebook.com/SOOSOrchid/ They will tolerate harder water, but then thorough watering on Instagram at instagram.com/soosorchid/ becomes even more important, to wash out any accumulated salts at each watering. Toronto Judging Centre of the American Orchid Society: ttps://www.facebook.com/groups/457408221588858/? ref=pages_profile_groups_tab&source_id=3043672087 91

Some Future Virtual Events:

Saturday, June 5: Toronto Judging Centre Judges Virtual Business Meeting at 9 am.

Sunday June 6, SOOS Virtual meeting 1 pm

Sunday August 1, SOOS Virtual Summerfest.

Paphiopedilum Culture by Dave Sorokowsky, transcribed by Inge Poot (Photos courtesy of the speaker unless otherwise stated)

Dave, the owner and founder of Paph Paradise, was originally from Canada, but was lured to the USA by many things but the California climate must have been a major attraction. That climate also contributes to the success of the California table wine industry and it must be far easier to get a good bottle of California wine when you live in that state! (If it were not for the earthquakes I would be living on the West Coast too….)

Dave must also have quite a heavy dose of perseverance since he is still trying to get CITES documentation for the Use a Dramm water breaker 400 to 1200 to aerate the water. plants had been planning to send as pre-orders. But Alas no Also hold the watering wand high above the plants so that luck so far, but he is hoping for the end of May…. the water has to travel through and pick up as much air as possible before hitting the potting medium. Have it hit the Dave’s plants have garnered many awards which speaks for pot from four different angles to make sure it wets the entire the fact that he sure knows how to grow Paphiopedilums, medium. Lift a plant out of the pot to check that you have since 90% of any award is due to good culture. He says that figured out how to wet the entire medium and that the roots the most frequent question he gets from his audiences is: are also going into the centre of the pot, not just around the “Why can’t I grow Paphiopedilums?” perimeter. A similar presentation by Dave can be found on the AOS web- Toronto water at 150 parts per million of solute is OK for site in their offerings of webinars. Paphs, but do flush with rain or RO water. General Culture of Paphiopedilums: Potting Media: David feels that Orchiata is the best medium, because it is The pH should be 5.8 to 6.0 very hard and therefore will last longer. For up to 3.5 inch pots he mixes standard Orchiata classic with #3 Perlite and MSU fertilizer lowers the pH to 4.5 Charcoal. He gets the Besgrow brand. Use Potassium hydroxide (KOH) to bring it up into the desired range.

When the mix is Dave makes his own mixture for fertilizing because the poorly drained the commercial source is too expensive. plants will show it He puts on the sprinklers for half an hour to leach, but to by growing their prevent a total loss of nutrients he then fertilizes with a 25- roots on top and on 50ppm solution and this way avoids yellowing of leaves. the sides of the medium in the pot. Three times per year he supplements with Epsom Salts: in This quickly April, early May and September. He uses it at the rate of 1 happens in a peaty teaspoon per gallon, adjust the pH to 5.0 mix (I presume he means such as Pro- Pests: Mix). Mealybugs are the worst problem on Paphs. Our speaker does Mites are a problem under low humidity conditions. Leaves not recommend start looking unthrifty and dull when they are attacked by sphagnum moss as mites. a potting medium for Paphs. It is too easy to get it either too wet or too dry for this . It may also be too acid for There are some fungal problems as well. Paphs. Use Telstar or Avid three times to combat mealybugs and You can grow semi-hydroponically in expanded clay products mites. such as LECA but use hydroponic fertilizer such as MSU for rain water, because the medium will contribute no nutrients. Mealybugs may also be combated with Safari and Enstar As a matter of fact, use of a hydroponic fertilizer for plants in organic media is recommended too. You can tell fungal infections from bacterial ones by smelling the infected areas. Fungal infections have no smell, bacterial Coconut husk medium kills the roots of Paphs and is not infections usually have a vile smell. recommended. It is a tricky medium to use, because it absorbs and hangs on to salts very readily and it is hard to Bacterial infections are very rare in Paphs but move very flush the salts out. It also tends to be too wet. quickly.

Our speaker adds oyster shell to the Paphs originating in SE Asia since they grow on limestone.

Fertilizing:

Water early on the day you are going to fertilize your Paphs.

Use MSU at a rate that will give you 150ppm of Nitrogen (N) in the fertilizer solution. MSU has a composition of 13-3-15, where the13 stands for 13% nitrogen.

Increase the concentration to 250ppm for those long sunny Best policy is to cut off the infected part of the leaf(ves) and summer days. treat with agricultural streptomycin. If you don’t have that in the house try cinnamon powder or cinnamon suspended in Decrease it to 100ppm for the winter. 50% isopropyl alcohol. Using 3% hydrogen peroxide as a watering solution for a The odd plant because of its parentage will become month on plants troubled by a fungal infection might help. susceptible to fungal and bacterial infections when grown warm. So if you see a lot of such problems on a plant, try growing it cooler.

Our speaker felt that some growers are a problem…..Cat When budding give them a bit more water to avoid crippled saliva is very problematic when they bite the leaves. Get the flowers. cats wheat grass instead….. In winter keep a bit drier The Easy Paphs to Grow: Our speaker discussed the groups when it is cold. of Paphs in order of ease of growth, starting with the easiest and ending with the most difficult. Multiflorals are the next in line: The easiest Paphs to grow are Maudiae type Paphs.:  Multiflorals  They require less light make larger plants than most other orchids.  They tolerate  They like the same drying out better temperatures we do.  They need more  They may bloom light. They can be grown multiple times per year. with Cattleyas.  They come in many  Paph colours. sanderianum needs it  With their mottled leaves they are decorative even warmer with 60F (15C) when not in bloom. nights and days in the 80’sF (27+C) Things to remember:  Pot size will  Never let them dry out completely. Re-water just need to be larger than 3.5 inches (9cm) before they become dry. This usually means  Use a larger grade of bark and #4 Perlite. Generally watering once a week. repot every two years.  Repot once a year. Most paphs want that but  When watering. Soak, let get almost dry, soak etc. Maudiaes lose roots in stale medium easily. Thorough watering is still important.  Grow in a North or East window. South or West  In winter can tolerate cooler temperatures if they windows get too bright after 11AM. are kept drier. Typically water every two weeks.  Summer day temperatures: 80-85F (27- 29C) Parvisepalums are the next hardest group to grow: Summer Night temperatures: 60’s F (15+C) Winter day 70F (21C) Winter Night 58F (14C)

The next easiest Paphs to grow are complex Paphs often referred to as “toads”

This group has larger and more robust growths.

They require about the same conditions (light , water, repotting) as the Maudiae Many Parvi hybrids are good choices for indoor growing. types, but they tolerate cooler temperatures. They tolerate a wide range of temperatures. They flower in winter. The flowers can last three months. They don’t like wet feet. Dave grows his plants in bright light but not as bright as Fragrant!!!! Multiflorals. For him they seem to grow well alongside the Complex Paphs. Paphiopedilum villosum: The strain developed at Paph Paradise They get warm summers and cool to cold winters. blooms twice per year! The species forms large specimens rapidly. Many of their best hybrids are with Multiflorals. Grow such The species has shiny, long-lasting flowers . hybrids in bright light. Eg Paph Doll Goldie The plants are cold tolerant and can take temperatures down to the 40’sF (4.5C Many Parvis appreciate oystershell in the mix. minimum) A well drained mix is important. Most grow in the wild in cracks of limestone with moss over their roots. Paphiopedilum gratrixianum:

Some species like a drier winter, but the hybrids are generally This species is similar to Paph more forgiving. Best to back off the water in the winter! villosum in growth habit and flowers, but it is not as cold tolerant. Species Paphiopedilums: (the following group is easiest to grow)

Paphiopedilum henryanum:

This is a colourful compact growing species. Our speaker mentioned that the strain they developed at Paph Paradise is very good. The clone shown is certainly proof of that!

At Paph Paradise they grow them with both the Maudiaes and the Complex Paphs and they do fine. Paph venustum is a very vigorous species. It is the easiest to But they are not as cold tolerant as the Complex Paphs. grow for many growers. Needs moderate light. Sequentially Blooming Paph species: Blooms reliably. But the fly in the ointment: it is a mealy bug magnet!!! So use The plants stay in bloom for month it as an indicator for the presence of mealy bugs in your on end! collection!!! At Paph Paradise they give them a bit more light than Maudiae types, Paphiopedilum wardii: but not as much as Multiflorals. Our speaker mentioned that Paph

moquettianum stays in bloom for a year! Your transcriber’s Is a robust grower that forms Paph. liemianum ‘Charlie’ has been in bloom for two years clumps quickly. and does not look like it is planning to stop anytime soon! Needs moderate light. Paphiopedilum victoria-reginae has a 10 inch (25cm) leaf span Spring bloomer. and stays in bloom for 6 months. Worth their growing space!

Paphiopedilum haynaldianum:Produces Paphiopedilum delenatii: has several colour varieties. The up to six stunning flowers per ones with deep purple pouches are inflorescence.Just needs to be warm and especially appealing. bright. Does not tolerate cold. At It is a reliable spring bloomer, temperatures below 60 -65F (15 – 17C) it needs moderate light. rots!!! Must have good drainage.

Paphiopedilum lowii: 75F (23C). Days should be 90F (32C)! heat mats to the rescue!

This species is similar to Paph It is rained on very frequently in its native habitat, but since haynaldianum, but the inflorescences they grow on limestone rocks, their feet are never soggy. tend to be more compact and carry more flowers. The plants need the Paphiopedilum sanderianum: same warmth and bright light as the a moderately difficult previous species. multifloral! Paphiopedilum rothschildianum: This species is very slow to This species has majestic mature from seedlings! Dave inflorescences with typically suggested that buyers get a four proud flowers per plantlet with a minimum leaf inflorescence but awarded span of 12 inches (30cm) so clones can have up to seven! you have to wait (hopefully!) The plants need space! They only three years for first grow large and need bright bloom. light. Like Brachys it grows on limestone cliffs and gets rained on Their only problem is that they are very slow to mature. It very frequently but never sits in water. takes 8-10 years from flask to first bloom and after that they bloom every second year for a while until strong enough to It needs high humidity for the petals to reach their maximum bloom reliably every year. length. And just like Paph niveum it needs warm days and warm nights and maybe a heat mat! The next group of species are moderately difficult to grow: Paphiopedilum sukhakulii: Brachys (Brachypetalum): This species grows in a wide  This group of plants need variety of elevations and very good drainage should be easy to grow, but  Nights must be a many growers complain about minimum of 70F (21C) as some it declining for them. come right from the equator. Use The best advice Dave was ever seedling heat mats set for 70F given was to never let it dry (21C) under them. Give them Phal out! Spot water it between violacea, Paph haynaldianum and Paph lowii for waterings. All that water makes the mix break down fast. company on the mats and Therefore re-pot annually without fail. keep THOSE species alive Paphiopedilum charlesworthii: llustrated by a line-bred too! beauty of unusual flat shape and even  At Paph Paradise dark colouring would make anyone they grow them in the want to rush out to buy one! shadiest part of their growing area. This is another species that should be  Their short easy to grow, but….. inflorescences make them ideal subjects for under- light culture. In its native habitat it grows clinging to rocks (excellent drainage) and it has a distinct dry season. Be Paphiopedilum niveum: needs a few special notes! sure to give it much less water in winter.

This species should be easy to grow, To be continued in a future nesletter but remember that it is very warm growing! Winter nights must not go Group order KultanaOrchids: Vanda, Tolumnia and below 70F (21C) and are best kept at Cattleyas Contact Ed Cott :[email protected] May 2, 2021 Show Table Ribbons

Class First Second Third Class 1 Guarianthe skinneri, David Rhyncattleanthe Shinfong Little Cattlianthe Sakura Candy, Cattleya Alliance Bryan Sun 'Youngmin Golden Boy', Colette Theriault Silvie Porter Cattleya Cariad's Mini-Quinee Rhyncholaeliocattleya Jennifer 'Angel Kiss' BM/JOGA HCC/AOS, Enanthleya Twilight Magic, Off 'Joan' HCC/AOS, Leslie Synea Tan Synea Tan Ee/ Grower David Bryan

Guaricyclia Kyoguchi, Peng Zhang

Class 2 Paphiopedilum hangianum 'First Paphiopedilum Excitingly Wood, Phragmipedium Ekolu, Ed Paphiopedilium Class Charlie', Leslie Ee/Grower David Bryan Cott John Marcotte Paphiopedilum wardii Phragmipedium Hanne Popow, 'Monster', Leslie Ee Linda Will

Class 3 Aerangis James G. Coyner, Elena Phalaenopsis japonica Phalaenopsis tetraspis f. Phalaenopis and Vanda Chilova 'Daruma', Elena Chilova imperatrix 'Purple', Alliance Andrew Geimar Chiloschista lunifera, Synea Phalaenopsis Penang Tan Violacea f. alba, Synea Tan Phalaenopsis Ron-E Glamor 'Tipo', Joe Di Ciommo

Class 4 Miltoniopsis Hajime Ono 'Maui Trichocentrum luridum 'Synea's Rossioglossum ampliatum, Oncidium and related Falls', Andrew Geimar Brown Bee' HCC/AOS, Synea Inge & Peter Poot Tan Tolumnia Di Ciommo Giuseppe, Joe Di Ciommo

Miltoniopsis Limelight 'Imogene Smith', Steve Koczekan

Zelemnia Midas 'Synea' HCC/AOS, Synea Tan

Class 5 Cymbidium goeringii 'Haruka', Cymbidium goeringii Cymbidium Green Apple, Cymbideae &Catasetum Michael Hwang/ Taras 'Setsuzan', Taras Kowalczuk Albert St. Pierre Kowalczuk Cymbidium goeringii 'Tama no Yuubae', Michael Hwang/Taras Kowalczuk

Class 6 Dendrobium Rainbow Dance Dendrobium Pixie Charm (4N), Dendrobium farmeri, Dendrobium 'Akatsukinjan', Synea Tan Synea Tan Albert St. Pierre

Dendrobium Spring Dream Dendrobium fimbriatum, Sue 'Apollon' HCC/AOS, Synea Loftus Tan

Class 7 Cynorkis angustipetala 'Maddy’s Pleurothallis erythrium, Joyce Coelogyne xyrekes, All Others Dandy Flower', Andrew Medcalf Andrew Geimar Geimar Pleurothallis bivalvis 'Hill Island' CHM/AOS, Joyce Medcalf

Coelogyne pandurata, Rob Vanderheyden

Class 9 Cymbidium goeringii Display 1, Cymbidium goeringii Display 2, Spring Orchid Bouquet, Ken Baskets and Displays Michael Hwang/ Taras Taras Kowalczuk Hendry & Carol Wilson Kowalczuk

Consult SOOS’s very own Orchid Doctor,

Send your questions to

Inge Poot at Alexander Arts Thank you for supporting a Canadian Artist! [email protected] Stay safe. Stay healthy. Be Hopeful Answers will be given at the next We have a new site ready for you to shop! It includes both our digitally virtual SOOS meeting printed scarves and those we bring to the orchid shows. Here is the new site for our scarves: https://www.alexanderarts.ca/ For cards and prints, please see our shop on the Signatures.ca site. https://shop.signatures.ca/artisan/alexander-arts/

If you can’t wait to get your purchase through the mail, we can do curbside pickup at our house, just let us know Please share among your friends and families