The Atlanta Orchid Society Bulletin Affiliated with the American Orchid Society, the Orchid Digest Corporation and the Mid-America Orchid Congress 2001 Recipient of the American Orchid Society’s Distinguished Affiliated Societies Service Award Newsletter Editor: Danny Lentz Society Librarian: Elaine Jacobson Volume 45: Number 2 www.altantaorchidsociety.org February 2004 FEBRUARY EVENTS The Meeting: 8:00 PM Monday, February 9, 2004 in Day Hall Mr. Dick Cavender, Red’s Rhodies Cultivation of Pleione and other hardy orchids Dick Cavender of Red’s Rhodies in Sherwood, Oregon has a lot of experience with growing Pleione and other hardy terrestrial orchids that are seldom seen in U.S. cultivation. If you wish to pre-order plants, please visit his website at http://www.hardy-orchids.com/contact.html. He will be bringing plants to sell. About 20 years ago, a friend gave Dick several flats of Pleione orchids. This gift has expanded to fill a good sized shade house and Dick now has one of the largest collections of Pleione in the U.S. The Pleione grow in his garden among the Rhododendrons and have lead him to other terrestrial orchids, such as Dactylorhiza, Orchis, and some of the Asian Cypripedium and Cymbidium orchids. The collection of other hardy orchids is expanding rapidly. He is eagerly propagating many of these fine plants that have been overlooked by gardeners in this country. His Sherwood, Oregon, location gives him a superb growing climate, good soils, and clean water, all necessary for fine plants. Red and his wife, Karen, do most of the work with some help from occasional employees. He has offered plants by mail-order for more than 10 years. His goal is to see the type and quality of plants that he would like to purchase. *** Southeastern Flower Show Info is on Page 6 *** DUES ARE DUE (YES IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN!!!!!!) Dues ($30 single, $45 household) for the calendar year 2004 are due. Your membership dues continue to bring you a monthly newsletter and underwrite the cost of speakers and programs presented throughout the year. Prompt payment helps us determine our budget for the year. Dues can be paid directly to Scott Smith at the December or January meeting or paid by check (payable to the Atlanta Orchid Society) mailed to Scott at 481 W. Ontario Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia 30310. Inside This Issue Atlanta Orchid Society 2004 Officers……………………………………………………..….…………….Page 2 Collector’s Item……Pleione formosana Hayata..…..……….……………………………..…………….. .Page 2 Events Out and About………………Dates for your Calendar…………...………………….…….……….Page 3 Minutes of the December Meeting ….Teresa Fuller...…….…...……….…….….…………………….…..Page 3 The January Exhibition Table…....…..………......…………….………….………………………………..Page 4 Notes on the Exhibition Table………..Ron McHatton……...……………………………….………….....Page 5 Southeastern Flower Show Schedule..……………………………………………………..……...……Page 6 “pH Management and Plant Nutrition Part 2: Water Quality” by Bill Argo………………….….…Page 7 Paphiopedilum Culture by Ron McHatton………………………………………………. ……...……Page 12 Recent AOS Awards from the Atlanta Judging Center……………………………………………………..Page 14 Coming Next Month …………….…………………………………………….……………..…...……Page 15 Page 2 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org February 2004 THE ATLANTA ORCHID COLLECTOR’S ITEM SOCIETY Officers Pleione formosana Hayata President PLEE –o-nee for-moe-SAN-ah Evan Dessasau, III Tribe: Coelogyneae 2431 Elkhorn Drive Decatur, GA 30034 Subtribe: Coelogyninae 404-241-4819 Etymology: Greek Pleione, Mother of Pleiades Vice-President/Programs There are approximately 17 species of Pleione widespread from David Mellard 3409 Regalwoods Drive central Nepal to Taiwan and from central China south to southern Doraville, GA 30340 Burma, northern Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. The genus is closely 770-270-5758 related to Coelogyne and it was once considered to be a section of that genus. The pseudobulbs are characteristically ovoid, flask- Secretary shaped or reminiscent of a top. The flowers are large, showy and Teresa Fuller appear either before or along with the new growth from the base of 2090 Rockdale Circle Snellville GA 30078 the mature pseudobulb. Inflorescences are one or, at most two 770-972-2634 flowered. Plants are best grown in shallow, well-drained pans. One mix that Treasurer has worked well is a mixture of chopped sphagnum, perlite or Scott Smith polystyrene granules and fibrous loam in equal parts with a little bone 481 W. Ontario Ave. Atlanta, GA 30310 meal and fine-grade charcoal. Plants should be repotted every year 404-752-6432 before new growth appears. The pseudobulbs should about ½ covered. They should be watered sparingly until new growth is well Immediate Past President underway. Once the roots are well formed and the plant is growing Linda Miller strongly they can be fed regularly. From October to December the 135 Pheasant Drive Marietta, GA 30067 plants should essentially not be watered and they should be kept at a 770-953-2853 night temperature near freezing. Pleione formosana is by far the most common species in Directors cultivation. The species is closely allied to P. bulbocodioides and P. Term Expiring 2004 pleionoides. This species is quite variable ranging in color from Frank Decaminada white to deep pink, often with a white lip. In addition to the island of (770) 992-8309 Taiwan, this species’ range extends westward to at least the eastern Andrew Dott part of mainland China. 404-256-7858 Term Expiring 2005 Mark Reinke 404-622-4872 Jeff Whitfield 706-675-3583 Term Expiring 2006 Richard Ackerman 770-978-6109 Fred Missbach 404-237-1694 Refreshments Page 3 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org February 2004 EVENTS OUT AND ABOUT MINUTES OF THE JANUARY MEETING FEBRUARY 2004 Saturday, 2/7. Gulf Coast Orchid Society The new officers were sworn in by past President Linda Show, Gautier, MS. Contact: Glen Ladnier Miller, and the meeting was called to order by new (228) 832-0999. Set up is Friday and show President Evan Dessasau. This marked our first meeting begins Saturday. in our new location, Day Hall. Monday, 2/9. Atlanta Orchid Society The minutes were approved as written. monthly meeting, 8 PM Atlanta Botanical Evan asked that everyone be careful to park only in Garden, Day Hall. designated parking areas. Margo Brinton spoke of the upcoming SEFS and the Saturday, 2/14. American Orchid Society credentials that the volunteers will need. monthly judging, Atlanta Center, 2 PM, Anyone having trouble receiving the newsletter please Atlanta Botanical Garden basement contact Danny Lentz, our new newsletter editor. workshop. If entering plants, please try to The MAOC speaker’s forum will be held May 21-23 at arrive before 1:30 PM to allow time for research and paperwork. A 30-minute the Galleria Renaissance Waverly Hotel. There will be training session sometimes starts at 1:30 orchid sales, speakers and judging. Volunteers are PM. needed. Dues are now due and payable to Scott Smith. Monday, 2/16. Set up for the Southeastern We are still in need of a volunteer to be in charge of Flower Show. Plant registration is 6:30 PM refreshments at our monthly meetings. Teresa Pociask had to 8:30 PM at the Georgia World Congress a sign up sheet for volunteers to bring food to the Center, Hall C. See write up on page 6 in February meeting and got a whopping TWO people. this newsletter for more details. Elaine Jacobson announced that the library is still open Sunday, 2/22. Southeastern Flower Show downstairs during our monthly meetings even though we closes at 6 PM. Plant removal takes place are in Day Hall now. from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. You must pick Scott Smith announced that raffle plants donated to the up your own plants or have made society are potentially tax deductible. Be sure to sign your arrangements for someone to pick them up. name each time you bring plants so that there is a record. Please see Scott about the proper forms. Saturday, 2/28. IPA Meeting at Peachstate We welcomed several visitors to tonight’s meeting. Orchids. See last page for details. Refreshments were served. Thank you to Marianne MARCH 2004 Gilmore, Helen Weil, and Barbara Hutto for the food they Saturday, 3/6. Orchid Show, Orchid brought. And thank you to Rhett Nowell and Carolyn Society of East TN, Bristol, TN. Contact: Dufano for volunteering to bring food next month. Leonard Passmore (423-282-5126). The Results of the Show Table judging were announced by Paul Thurner. Judges were David Mellard, Bob Monday, 3/8. Atlanta Orchid Society Grzesik, Gail Southwick, Ben Lyda, Paul Thurner, and monthly meeting, 8 PM Atlanta Botanical Randi Kiermaier. Garden, Day Hall. Speaker: Demetri The raffle was held after the speaker with plants donated Hubbard, Atlantis Hydroponics. Demetri by Peach State Orchids and Fred Missbach. will speak about instrumentation that can be used in growing plants. The silent auction plant, a large, budding Epidendrum Hokulea, went to Cathy Caine for $15.00. What a Saturday, 3/14. American Orchid Society bargain! monthly judging, Atlanta Center, 2 PM, There being no further business the meeting was Atlanta Botanical Garden basement adjourned. workshop. Respectfully submitted, Saturday, 3/20. Orchid Show, Greater Teresa Fuller, secretary Pensacola Orchid Society, Pensacola, FL. Contact: Mary Roberts (850-477-4935). Page 4 www.atlantaorchidsociety.org February 2004 JANUARY 2004 EXHIBITION TABLE AWARDS CLASS 1: Blue Laelia mantigueirae Lyda CATTLEYA Blue Laelia anceps 'Bulls Variety' Hallberg ALLIANCE Blue Blc. Gorgeous Gold 'Pokai' Brinton / Park Red Laelia anceps 'Veitchiana' Collier / Reinke Red Blc. Keowee ' Newberry' Rinn White Laelia anceps Rinn White Brassavola cordata Hartong White Potinara Love Call 'H&R' Dampog CLASS 2: Blue Cymbidium Ming ‘Manchu’ Brinton / Park CYMBIDIUM Red Cymbidium lancifolium Mellard / Marino White Cym. Red Beauty 'Evening Star', HCC/AOS Rinn CLASS 3: Blue Dendrobium Wonder Nishii Rinn DENDROBIUM Red Dendrobium Stephen Batchelor Rinn White Dendrobium rennellii Dampog CLASS 4: Blue Epidendrum coriifolium Hallberg EPIDENDRUM CLASS 5: Blue Colmanara Wildcat 'Ocelot' Hallberg ONCIDIUM Red Aliceara Sheila Mobley 'Cathy,' HCC/AOS Lyda ALLIANCE White Oncidium kloztschianum Hallberg White Colmanara Wildcat 'Everlasting' Lentz / Morgan CLASS 6: Blue Phrag.