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Home , Phalaenopsis, Sarcochilus, Sarcochilus falcatus

SOUTHERN ONTARIO ORCHID SOCIETY NEWS February 2015, Volume 50, Issue 2 Celebrating 50 years SOOS

Web site: www.soos.ca ; Member of the Canadian Orchid Congress; Affiliated with the American Orchid Society, the Orchid Digest and the International 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, 189 Soudan Avenue, Toronto, ON M4S 1V5, phone 416-487-7832, renew or join on line at soos.ca/members Executive: President, Laura Liebgott, 905-883-5290; Vice-President, John Spears, 416-260-0277; Secretary, Sue Loftus 905-839-8281; Treasurer, John Vermeer, 905-823-2516 Other Positions of Responsibility: Program, Mario Ferrusi; Doctor, Doug Kennedy; Meeting Set up, Yvonne Schreiber; Vendor and Sales table coordinator, Diane Ryley;Library Liz Fodi; Web Master, Max Wilson; Newsletter, Peter and Inge Poot; Annual Show, Peter Poot; Refreshments, Joe O’Regan. Conservation Committee, Susan Shaw; Show table, Synea Tan . Honorary Life Members: Terry Kennedy, Doug Kennedy, Inge Poot, Peter Poot, Joe O’Regan, Diane Ryley, Wayne Hingston, Mario Ferrusi. Annual Show: February 14-15, 2015

Next Meeting Sunday, January 25 , in the Floral Hall of the Toronto Botanical Garden, Sales 12 noon, Cultural snapshots will return at the March meeting. Program at 1 pm: Jay Norris and Terry Kennedy on what you need to do to enter into our show. Terry has many years experience preparing and entering plants at orchid shows, Jay is in charge of clerking at our show. Both are AOS judges and have grown and shown orchids for many years. Terry is currently the Chair of the Toronto Judging Centre and Jay is the award photographer. They will have tips on what classes to enter your plants in.

Renew your Membership now at the membership desk,

or you can renew at our website www.soos.ca

Don’t miss our 50th anniversary

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President’s Remarks Welcome Orchid purchase a set of books on miniature orchids called 'A Compendium of Miniature Orchid Species Volumes 1 Lovers. Once again, winter has reared its head. and 2'. These are terrific books from England. The price We don't know what each day will bring. What a way to is approximatly $88.00 per volume. To order them, th start our 50 year. I do know that this month, we are please contact Terry Kowalczuk at having an anniversary draw. Make sure you are there. [email protected] You will have to make the financial arrangements with Terry. This offer has been Thank you members (A through B) for supplying the extended until the second last week of February. The th treats for the January 4 meeting. They were delicious. books purchased will then be distributed at the meeting. th Treats for the January 25 meeting, will be from members whose last names begin with the letters C Looking forward to our next meeting. through D. (Note the date please) Laura Liebgott This brings us to the next reminder. Our “February” Questions or comments: Please contact me at: th meeting will actually be January 25 as we are heading [email protected] or 905 883 5290 into our show. At this meeting, our speakers Jay Norris and Terry Kennedy will walk you through the process of getting your plants ready for display at the show and how to register them for judging. Coming Events

Our show will take place Valentine's weekend (February 2015 th th 14 and 15 ). We still are in need volunteers. Be sure to JANUARY sign up for one of the volunteer positions on January 25, SOOS meeting, Toronto Botanical Garden, sales th 25 , if you haven't already. 12 noon, program 1 pm. Preparing for Show

Don Wyatt and Kyla Foti will be the main designers for FEBRUARY the SOOS exhibit. If you would like to get your fingers 14-15 SOOS Show+TJC Monthly judging, into the display, please come along and help these two Toronto Botanical Garden. out. Don has asked for plants to come in no later than 8 21, Montreal Judging Centre judging Jardin pm Friday February 13th. It takes a substancial amount botanique de Montreal of time to organize and reorganize the plants to show 21, Jump on Spring, 10am-4pm Toronto them off to their best advantage so.... the sooner you get Botanical Garden. them in, the earlier the group will be able to complete the 28, Mar 1 RBG Show + TJC Monthly Judging, Royal display. Botanical Gardens, Burlington.

This starts the show season. MARCH February 28th — March 1st is the RGB's show — Don 8, SOOS meeting, Toronto Botanical Garden, will be organizing the SOOS display. sales 12 noon, program 1 pm. Tom Shields et al March 21st — March 22nd is London's show — I will be on Conservation. organizing the SOOS display. 14, Montreal Judging Centre judging Jardin March 28th — March 29th is the Montreal French show — botanique de Montreal. Don Wyatt will be organizing the SOOS display. 14-15, Genesee Region Orchid Show, Rochester, These are just a few shows in the near future. With your NY. plants, we can create a masterpiece! 21-22 London Orchid Show 20-22 Manitoba Orchid Show, Winnipeg. Some of our future speakers will be: *26-29 Saskatoon Orchid Show and Canadian th January 25 Jay Norris and Terry Kennedy Topic: Orchid Congress Annual Meeting, Saskatoon. Getting ready for the SOOS show 28-29 Les Orchidophiles de Montreal Show, March 8th Tom Shields Topic: Conservation th Montreal. April 12 Ron Burch Topic: Cypripediums May 3rd To be announced APRIL June 7th Fred Clark Topic to be announced 4 , Toronto Judging Centre, Monthly Judging, 1 pm Toronto Botanical Garden Our cultural snapshots will be returning for the March 12, SOOS meeting, Toronto Botanical Garden, sales meeting. Once again Wayne Hingston and Alexsi 12 noon, program 1 pm. Ron Burch on Cypripediums. Antanaitis will be delivering the topics. Please stay 11-12 Toronto Artistic Orchid Show, Toronto. tuned. There will be a list of the topics in the March 11- 12 Quebec City Orchid Show newsletter. 18-19 Ottawa Orchid Sodiety Show and MJC judging *29- May 3 AOS Trustees Meeting – Portland OR

For those of you who were at the meeting on January th 4 , we had Terry Kowalczuk offer the society a chance to

May Laeliocattleya City Life HCC-AOS 75 points, Joe 2, Toronto Judging Centre, Monthly Judging, 1 DiCiommo pm Toronto Botanical Garden Laeliocattleya City Life HCC-AOS 75 points, Joe 3, SOOS meeting, Toronto Botanical Garden, DiCiommo sales 12 noon, program 1 pm. Lepanthes aristata ‘Shooting Stars’ CBR-AOS, Ed Cott. 23, TJC Business Meeting, Jardin Botanique de (Mormodia [Mo.] Lime Tiger x Catasetum expansum) Montreal. Montreal judging. HCC-AOS 78 points, Lynda Vuurman. 23, MtlJC Monthly Judging, JbMtl Note! The next judging will be held at the Toronto Botanical Gardens, Saturday, January 14 after ribbon judging of the SOOS show. AOS Judging is a service of the American Orchid Society and is open to all! Plants SOOS Annual Valentine Orchid Show, for AOS judging do not have to be entered into the show. February 14 – 15, 2015 at the Toronto Botanical Garden. We Need you to Plant of the Month volunteer to help us with the Show. Please sign up. Our show date is fast approaching, are you ready? Participation gets you free entry to the show.

We will need your flowering plants for the SOOS display in the show. This year in honour of our 50th anniversary there will be a trophy for the best orchid in the SOOS display. So start grooming your potential winners.

Our show also features an exhibition of orchid art and photography. Contact Judy Palmer ([email protected] ) for the rules and to reserve Mario Ferrusi won the honour this month with space. his lovely two lead plant of Fredclarkeara Enter

We need you to volunteer to help with setup and Night AM-AOS. It had been awarded the day teardown, kitchen food and drink distribution, show before at the Toronto Judging Centre Meeting supervision (security), plant and coat check, show and had received an 87 point AM. It had three tours, clerking and judging. Sign up sheets for these inflorescences with 9, 10 and 11 big, dark wine jobs with the details are at each of our meetings. Please flowers respectively, the flowers enhanced by sign up, we need you to pre-register yourself so we can prepare name badges. colourful spotted lips. Mario grows the plant in his usual mix of bark, Thank you for your help. Peter Poot, show chair. crumbled Styrofoam and chopped sphagnum. He gives it cattleya light all year. He keeps it For a list of Vendors selling at our show see dry in winter but gives it as much water and our previous Newsletter. fertilizer as possible in the summer growing period. A wonderful plant, beautifully grown! Congratulations! AOS Judging Results Please note, all of these awards are provisional until published by the American Orchid Society. Toronto Judging Centre January 3, 2015: Inge’s Programme Notes: Dendrochilum bicallosum ‘Pink Coral’CCM-AOS 83 points, Doug and Terry Kennedy. Last month Jean Allen Ikeson gave us a great Fredclarkeara Enter Night AM-AOS 87 points, Mario and talk about the Conni Ferrusi. . Cycnodes James Davidson ’B-C’ AM-AOS 80 points, Bernie Butts and Chuck Lefaive. 3

This mostly Australian genus consists of about of the flower and has been nick-named the 24 species. They are epiphytes (grow on trees poached egg orchid! trunks) or lithophytes (grow on rocks) or twig Last but not least, S. hartmannii tends to pass epiphytes (grow on thin twigs that die and fall on its multiple lead habit to its hybrid progeny off after a while, forcing orchids perching on and quickly grows into a specimen plant. them to get to bloom soon and not get too heavy. They tend to be short lived). The plants in this genus are subcompact, almost like miniature and are happy on To get more pink colour into the plants the an east-facing windowsill. They like a minimum lithophytic species Sarchochilus ceciliae was of 50F (10C) and a maximum of 80F (27C) but used especially when a weak but very dark can tolerate short periods a bit below 50F pink clone of the species was found near death (10C) and of around 100F (38C) when plants are older and have lots of humidity and fresh air, but not too much water! More on culture at the end! Any hybrids originating from will be tough, because they have been selected for tolerance of conditions close to neglect.

The species used to get good form in the hybrids is mostly the lithophytic Sarchochilus hartmannii, since its good form is dominant in in the wild. The species has wide and crosses. The flowers open sequentially on the , but the form is cupped and the size is up to 10 (15 in the wild) flowered small. The loss of vigour in using this clone of inflorescences. It comes in two geographically the species and the persistent cupping, normal separated strains one with sprays of all white to all clones of this species makes it less flowers and the other with sprays of white desirable in hybrids than it might otherwise be. flowers with red spots restricted around the But since it tends to spread any colour present centre of the flowers. The flowers have - in its hybrids all over the flowers it is used like narrowing of the segments towards the nonetheless. base and a small pouch-like lip. Line breeding has improved the form and size tremendously. Another lithophytic species similar to S. An albinistic form has been found as well that hartmannii, is the rather variable Sarcochilus produced golden yellow spots near the center fitzgeraldii. It comes in some really dark wine 4

coloured clones that add great colour to sticking up and the lateral sepals pointing hybrids. The slight rotation forward of the down. But the olive sepals and petals have deep red tips and the relatively large lip is white with red markings. Cross it with S. hartmannii and you get somewhat open yellow–green flowers with central red markings and if crossed again with S. hartmannii the result is some of the progeny are clear yellow with central red spots!

petals as in Vanda coerulea is hard to get rid of in the hybrids. Another one of its faults is that the colour of the flowers tends to darken as the inflorescence opens sequentially. It makes it look as if the older flowers had faded. The hotter the environment the more colour the flowers will show. However this is similar to Harlequin Phalaenopsis and sure enough it is used to get Harlequin sarchochilus such as the clone Sarchochilus Misty ‘Spangles’.

To get yellow background flowers hybridizers used the homely species Sarchochilus

dilatatus. It is a dry growing twig A similar result is obtained by using the twig epiphyte that epiphyte a species needs high which is even homelier and looks like a less humidity but colourful version of S. dilatatus! It needs the cannot tolerate same humid, but low water culture as that wet conditions. It species. has narrow spoon-shaped an epiphyte, comes in segments with three forms. All are white, but one form is about the petals 5cm and may be up to 7cm in natural spread, a 5

the sepals and petals. This is controlled by a separate recessive gene, so crosses with S. hartmannii and S. fitzgeraldii respectively, will not show that trait in the first generation, because it is not there in a double dose. But crossing the progeny with each other gets about one quarter with a double dose of this gene and a picotee will reappear. It gives some stunning progeny with the white background and various amounts of the dark central colour of the dark fitzgeraldii used and some with the addition of a picotee.

valuable trait for improving size in hybrids. A second form is white with red marks on the lip like the normal form, but it also has an almost solid magenta tip to the lip. It is referred to as the “purple chin” variety. It often gives a blue hue to its hybrids –again increasing the colour palette in hybrids. S. falcatus also opens all its flowers at once on the inflorescence and it is dominant in this trait over the successive opening of species such as S. hartmannii and S. fitzgeraldii. That way the plant is not in bloom as long, but produces a much better show. The last species that has a pronounced effect on colour is . The species has cupped pale yellow to pale green flowers with large red-brown to purple central spots. The up to 8cm inflorescences can carry up to 17 flowers-nothing to sniff at!. Some clones have deep indigo blue spots and add a wonderful different colour available for spots. On top of such forms when the species is combined with S. fitzgeraldii, an explosion of spots all over the flowers is the result. Too bad there is a fly in the ointment! S. weinthalii is hard to grow and so are its progeny. But hybridizers are working on breeding out this finicky behaviour from modern hybrids and will undoubtedly eventually succeed.

Sarcochilus hirticalcor another twig epiphyte is a green species with heavy waxy flowers. Some good clones have light to very dark red- brown colour near the center and the best part is the leaking of this colour along the edges of 6

Look for hybrids with S. Fitzheart, S. Heidi and S. Melba . They are proven good parents.

Culture:

As mentioned in the beginning the genus can take 55F to 92F in summer but plants bloom better at 86F. In Australia plants are grown in “bush houses” and have to be able to survive the low 30’s F and the over 100F spells.

A caution: They are scale and even mealy-bug magnets so be vigilant!

Use Superthrive (mostly vitamin B1/thiamine) when repotting and taking out of flask. It will cut mortality.

Grow them in a bark and chopped sphagnum The cross Sarc. Lara is not generally available mix with more sphagnum for young plants than yet, but contains S. hartmannii, S. fitzgeraldii,S. older ones. hirticalcar, S. dilatatus, S. falcatus. This is the future!!!! If you have high humidity in your growing area you can grow this genus in a mix of gravel, lava Intergeneric hybrids have been made but so far rock, expanded clay pellets, all mixed 50:50 your transcriber has been underwhelmed by with bark, charcoal or large sponge rock. Do most of the results… The crosses with not use perlite since it breaks down into a dust , especially with Rhy. gigantea, that the plants dislike. Broken up Styrofoam is show promise, especially since the form is fine. rather nice right from the start. There should be lots of flowers and ease of culture. 7

Even though Australian growers prefer clay adds another fan on the floor at the opposite pots because the evaporation through their end if it gets too hot in the summer. sides cools the roots, here in cold Canada they . do better in clear plastic pots with extra holes If the leaves start to wrinkle it could be that drilled into the sides. Jean also grows some in the mix has become toxic and is killing roots, or tall black plastic 4” pots with tightly packed too much water is killing the roots, or the plants sphagnum as the medium. are not getting enough water. So check the roots. A clear plastic pot allows that without The plants must have good drainage, they yanking them out of the pot –possibly the coup do not tolerate standing in water, but must de grace! not dry out completely either. Don’t overwater in hot weather. It cooks the A hint for plant buyers, buy plants that are roots. “clumpers” like the S. hartmannii. That way you Rain water is best, but some tap water may be will get a showstopper fast. tolerated. If the leaves get black spots it means they do not like your tap water. Water To learn more about this genus consult Jean thoroughly when watering to flush out Ikeson’s special issue on the genus printed by accumulated salts. the AOS and available from them. A copy should be available for consultation in the TBG Humidity of 75% or better should be aimed for. library, since SOOS subscribes to the Orchids Use pebble trays to increase local humidity, but magazine. do not let the bottom of the pot touch the water. In a greenhouse a pan of water under the From the AOS: Our webinars for the next Sarcochilus bench helps local humidity. two months:

Light should be as for mottled leaved January 22, 2015, 8:30 PM EST Paphiopedilums. Increase to Phalaenopsis light Ron McHatton will present The Orchids of three weeks after the shortest day and Madagascar: The Land that Time Forgot. decrease again to mottled–leaf Paph. light Madagascar is a world hot-spot for orchids. when the buds start to open. Do not put them Orchids are the largest family of flowering next to a south or west window in the summer. plants on the island, almost 1000 species make Jean has her plants in a double walled up some 10% of Madagascar's flora; 90% of polycarbonate greenhouse and this is them are endemic.. They occur in almost every equivalent to 60% shade in a glass house. habitat, from coastal and montane forests to Jean gives them something close to “northern cold mountain tops and dry spiny forest. Join Vanda Light” when she wants them to bloom. Ron McHatton, Director of Education, and learn about this amazing land and its orchids, Fertilizer should be applied at ¼ the strength including Darwin's orchid, Angraecum recommended for heavier feeders. David Butler sesquipedale. an excellent Sarc. grower advises against using slow release fertilizer because too much February 25, 2015, 8:30 PM EST is released when the medium gets hot in Harry Gallis, Accredited AOS Judge and Board summer. Stop fertilizing in winter when Sarcs of Trustees Vice President will stop growing. present Demystifying AOS Judging: What are those Judges Looking For? Jean has a large ceiling fan for her 50 foot Dr. Harry Gallis has been growing orchids greenhouse that these plants are growing in since 1980, and currently has about 380 plants. and another fan at one end of the house. She The largest groups are cattleyas, phalaenopsis, and dendrobiums, the latter being his current 8

passion. His plants have received 41 AOS awards and, says Harry, "I very much enjoy growing plants for shows and awards.” He entered the AOS judging program in 1991, and is an Accredited Judge and Past Chair of the Carolinas Judging Center in Greensboro, NC. In 1999, he was asked to take on the position of national training coordinator for AOS judges. He served as Chair of the Judging Committee for two years. Harry knows lots about judging; getting plants awarded, and will help us all understand what the judges want and how we might get one of those awards. .Crystal Star Orchids

If you are already an AOS member, sign up for broker service with over 15 top orchid the webinars today on our nurseries website www.aos.org. If you are not yet a Summer Open House member, now is the time to become one and From June to August weekends only start enjoying all the many benefits of From 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. By appointment only Tel: 905-478-8398 or membership! email : [email protected] 20815 2nd Concession Road In the January 2015 issue of Orchids, there are East Gwillimbury Ontario L9N 0G9 plenty of wonderful articles chock-full of great information. Here are some of my favorites: Ching Hua Orchids, In Charm, Krull Smith,  • Broughtonia by Thomas Mirenda and Sunset Valley. explores the beauty of this Jamaican genus, with their bright colors and full . form.  • Growing Phalaenopsis by Sue Bottom, is an in-depth look at what can go wrong and how to fix things. It will answer a lot of the questions that I get asked about this genus.  • A New Form of Cattleya dowiana and the of its Color Variation, is a fascinating look at this highly-treasured species. I personally am entranced by the rosita form.  • Great Ideas “Telephone wire loops to support Phalaenopsis spikes” teaches us an easy and inexpensive way to help our Phalaenopsis look their best.

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Houw Khoe,

905-506-9279 [email protected]

New Zealand Sphagnum Moss

T5HO 6400K Lamp + Nano Tech

Reflector

January 4, 2015 Show Table Ribbons

Class First Second Third Class 1 Laeliocattleya City Life Rhyncholaeliocattleya [Rlc.] Lc.City Life Cattleya Alliance Joe DiCiommo (syn. Potinara or Pot.) Joe DiCiommo DiCiommo Jessica Yu C.Irene’s Circle Joe DiCiommo Joe DiCiommo

Class 2 Paphiopedilum Paph. Doctor Brian Edwards Paph gratrixanum Paphiopedilium venustum var album Incharm (Paph. In-Charm Ken Yau Erika Lorincz White X Paph. Pinocchio) Synea Tan Class 4 Onc. Sherry Baby 4N Rossioglossum Rawdon Oncidium and Synea Tan Jester Synea Tan related Class 6 Den. Andree Millar Dendrochilum wenzelii Dendrochilum Dendrobium Synea Tan Peter & SherryDecyk glumaceum ‘Debres’ Alex Antanaitis Class 7 Fredclarkeara Enter Clowesii Rebecca Northern Melleola constricta All Others Night Joe O’Regan Peter & SherryDecyk Mario & Conni Ferrusi Ludisia discolor Joe O’Regan Class 9 Basket Baskets and Henry Glowka Displays

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