Newsletter April 2015 - ctorchids.org · Tips & Tricks : Watering Tips…..10 1 Apr 2015 Connecticut Orchid Society Mission Statement The Connecticut Orchid Society is an incorporated,

Wednesday, April 8, 2015 Farmington Senior Center

321 New Britain Ave., Unionville, CT(See last page for map & directions)

6:30 pm.: Doors open. Socializing be-gins. Come early and help set-up forthe meeting.

7:00 pm: Business meeting begins

7:30 pm: Featured speaker/presentation begins.

Guests are always

welcome!!!

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onnecticutrchid

ociety

Affiliated with the American Orchid Society and Orchid Digest

Newsletter April 201556 Years & Growing

The First, Original Orchid Society in Connecticut

Next Meeting Inside this IssueApril 2015 Volume LVI Issue IV

Regular FeaturesNext meeting …..1This Month’s Featured Event…..1COS Mission Statement …..1COS Membership Information …..2COS Officers and Posts — 2015 …..2Mentor List/Membership Policy/ContentAcknowledgement …..2Calendar of Upcoming Events …..2Around the Greenhouse—Editor’s keiki’s ..3Monthly Meeting Minutes …..4Show Table …..4—5President’s Monthly Message…..6News, Notes & Happenings …..6—7AOS Corner, Laura Newton…..11Show Fliers…..12Directions to next meeting….13Special FeaturesTrivia Fun: Solution to the Word Search….3Conservation & Appreciation….8—9Monthly CheckList: March & April, by NedNash and James Rose…..8-10Tips & Tricks : Watering Tips…..10

www.ctorchids.org 1 Apr 2015

Connecticut Orchid Society Mission StatementThe Connecticut Orchid Society is an incorporated, non-profit association for the preservation and extension of

knowledge concerning the conservation, ecology, science, cultivation, hybridization, appreciation and uses oforchids; and to carry on such activities as may be necessary or desirable to effectuate such purposes.

Members with lastnames beginning with“A” through “M”, pleasebring goodies for thismonth’s refreshment table.

For notice of last-minute or inclementweather cancellation,visit our websitewww.ctorchids.org.

This Month’s Featured Event

What Makes Japanese Or-chids Stand Out in a Crowd?

Neofinetia falcata is the

perfect houseplantPresented by Dr. Kristen Uthus

Dr. Kristen Uthus is the owner of NewWorld Orchids which specializes in or-chids from Japan including Neofinetiafalcata, Dendrobium moniliforme,Sederia japonica, and Asian Cymbi-diums. In addition, she is a plant evolu-tionary ecologist who has taught ecol-ogy at the University of Michigan andEastern Michigan University.

Japanese orchids are not typical in theorchid world. Dr. Kristen Uthus willspeak about what makes Japanese or-chids stand out in a crowd and whatmay make Neofinetia falcata the per-fect houseplant.

Neofinetia falcataPhoto credit: www.orchidweb.com


PRESIDENTVICE-PRESIDENTTREASURERDIRECTOR -AT- LARGEDIRECTOR -AT- LARGERECORDING SECRETARYMEMBERSHIP CHAIRPERSONCORRESPONDING SECRETARYEDITOR, LIBRARIAN/HISTORIANAOS REPRESENTATIVECONSERVATION CHAIRPERSONSPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATORREFRESHMENT COMMITTEEWEB MASTER

2015 Connecticut Orchid Society Officers & Posts

Cheryl MizakGeorge SabolcikSherry PendletonBen EsselinkWilliam PendletonCarla KochMary RamponeSharon SmithDelisleSharon SmithDelisleJudy BeckerVacantCheryl MizakVacantVacant

(203) [email protected](203) 272-3498(203) 222-1694(203) 272-3498(203) 272-8121(203) 263-2831(203) 744-1849

(860) 435-2263——

(203) 264-6096

——-

Mentor ListThe following COS members are available to an-swer your culture questions and help you withany orchid growing problems you may have:

Judy Becker [email protected] (860)435-2263 (8:00--8:00 pm) Greenhouse growing

methods: Wide variety of species & hybrids

Sam Hinckley [email protected] (860) 688-0943(After 7:30 pm) Windowsill growing methods: Species & hybrids

Jeffrey Richards [email protected] (Contact anytime).Greenhouse growing methods: Specializing in Paphiopedilums.

Sharon SmithDelisle [email protected] (203) 744-1849(Contact anytime) Under lights & windowsill growing methods: Bul-bophylums, Cymbidiums, Dendrobiums, Paphiopedilums, Milto-niopsis & mixed genera.

David Tognalli [email protected] (860) 521-7249 (Contactevenings & weekends) Windowsill & outdoor growing methods:Warm growers, Cattleyas, Dendrobiums & mixed genera.

Membership Policy Membership is open to anyone inter-ested in orchids. Members join the Society by payment of annualdues. Memberships may be individual, student, family, life or honor-ary. Honorary membership is for life and is made by nomination of theBoard of Directors and majority vote of the membership present at aregular meeting. The newsletter is published each month except Julyand August. Annual membership includes subscription to the news-letter — electronic or paper copy as determined by member prefer-ence.

Upcoming Events

Apr. 4 AOS Judging, Northeast JudgingCenter, Town Hill Botanic Gardens ofWorcester, 11 French Dr., Classroom C,

Boylston, MA, 12:00 pm. Send cut flowers to: RobertWinkley, 80 Florida St., Unit 9, Dorchester, MA 02124.

Apr. 8 COS Monthly Meeting, 7:30 pm, What Makes JapaneseOrchids Stand Out in a Crowd? presented by Dr. KristenUthus, Farmington Senior Center, 321 New Britain Ave.,Unionville, CT.

Apr. 11—12 Connecticut Cactus and Succulent Society 32nd An-nual Show & Show, Naugatuck Valley Community Col-lege, Exit 18 off I-84, April 11, 10-5:00pm, April 12, 10—4:00pm

Apr. 11 &12 and Apr. 18 & 19 Hollandia Nurseries Spring GardenExpo, Bethel, CT , Basic Orchid Growing on 4/11 presentedby Monty Sabolcik and Repotting Demonstration on 4/18

Apr. 18 Connecticut Department of Energy and EnvironmentalProtection Outdoor Recreation/State Parks Public Out-reach, Kellogg Environmental Center Environmental Edu-cator, 500 Hawthorn Ave., Derby, CT, Basic Orchid Grow-ing Lecture, presented by Dave Tognalli, 10:30 am

Apr. 18 AOS Judging, Northeast Judging Center, Bartlett Arbore-tum and Gardens, Silver Educational Center, 151 Brook-dale Rd., Stamford, CT, 12:00 pm. Send cut flowers to:John Sullivan, 299 Village Place, Wyckoff, NJ 07481

COS Membership Information : $20/yr. Individual $25/yr. Family$200 Individual or $250 Family Lifetime Membership (never paydues again!)Visit www.ctorchids.org to apply for/renew membership. Weaccept Paypal. Contact Membership Chairperson Mary Ramponeat [email protected] for more details.

Connecticut Orchid Society (COS) is an incorporated non-profit501 (c) (3) organization founded in 1959. Please consider mak-ing a charitable contribution to COS. Most donations made toCOS are tax deductible

Content Acknowledgement All information, opinions, reportingand recommendations that appear in this newsletter are those of theeditor (unless otherwise noted) and do not necessarily reflect those ofthe Connecticut Orchid Society. The editor is deeply indebted to theAmerican Orchid Society for the free reprinting of articles, photos, tips& tricks, advice, checklists, etc. from its monthly magazine Orchidswithout which the COS newsletter, and its membership would be thepoorer.

Around the Greenhouse -- Editor’s keikis

Letters to the editor are always welcome. Your feedback about any issue that is onyour mind will help us improve our Society, as well as the newsletter. Please writeto me at [email protected] or 38 Robinhood Rd., Danbury, CT 06811.

The deadline for submissions to the May issue of the newsletter is April 24th

Contact us: Write: Connecticut Orchid Society, Inc. Editorial Office P.O. Box 198 Farmington, CT 06034-0198 E-mail: President Cheryl Mizak

[email protected] Editor: Sharon SmithDelisle

[email protected]

Letter to the Editor Board of DirectorBen Esselink recently received the followinge-mail, which he forwarded to presidentCheryl Mizak along with the suggestion thatit be published in the newsletter. It is am-bassadors like Ben who help spread theword about our society.

Ben was visiting the New York BotanicalGarden orchid show recently, and hap-pened to strike up a conversation with anorchid enthusiast while in the gift shop.Ben suggested joining an orchid society andpromised to send him our newsletter.

Here is the thank you e-mail Ben received:“Hi Ben:

My name is Michio, we had met at the NYBotanical Garden’s orchid show last month.

I read both months of your newsletterswith avid interest, thank you for sendingthem! The local New York City orchid socie-ties do not put out anything like this, itspeaks well of yours that there is a thrivingcommunity of enthusiasts who can put outsuch a publication monthly. It is interestingto see that there seem to be so manyshows going on in the region.

As I may have told you, I’m relatively newto orchid growing and am in the midst ofbuilding a small vivarium for my assortmentof plants in my apartment. Eventually, Iwant to scale up to a greenhouse in largerquarters. My fellow New Yorkers seem tobe mostly be windowsill growers, and thereis nothing wrong with this but I assume thatpeople outside the city grow plants in lar-ger facilities.

I’d love to drop in on one of your meetings.I travel semi-regularly to Boston, and spendtime upstate during the summer across thestate border from Sharon, CT; not so farfrom you. So keep me posted on futuremeetings and if it is okay for me to RSVP


to attend, I’ll do so.

Thanks Ben,Michio”

Trivia Fun

Solution to the Early Spring Word Search.Did you find all the words? There were 31!Congratulations!

MarchMeeting Minutes

Carla KochRecording Secretary

March Show Table

Genus/Parentage Owner Culture

COS MEETING 3-10-15

Our speaker was Dr. Mustafa of A and P Or-chids, and the topic was his method of Hy-droponic growing. He has developed a mix-ture of perlite, horticultural rockwool, andpolystyrene which he calls”Infinimix.” It pro-motes rooting and healthy roots.

Mastering watering is basically the key togrowing orchids. Once a week often works,although “when in doubt, don’t water.” Hismix should be moistened before repotting.He suggests watering 2 or 3 days beforetransplanting—removing the original me-dium—then not watering for 2 or 3 weeks,only misting. Warmth and shading also pro-mote rooting. He usually feeds once aweek, and feeds lightly until the plant is es-tablished.

He grows many diverse general in this mix,even vandaceous plants. Infinimix can bereused, since it is inert. He gets cymbidiumsto bloom in 2 years; and instead of 3 years,his sarcochilus bloom in 14 month fromflask.

— Carla Koch

Brassolaeliocattleya Mahina Yahero 'Mishima' B. Esselink i, g

Brassolaeliocattleya Young Meng Orange 'Golden Satisfaction'B. Esselink i, g

Cattleya Dream Weaver Syn. Slc. P. Phillips i, g (Fire Fantasy X Beaufort)

Cattleya Mem. Grant Eichler 'Lennette' HCC/AOS B. Pendleton i, w (James Hausermann x Irene Finney)

Cattleya (Lew Sykora x Richard Degenhard) B. Esselink i, g

Cattleya Purple Cascade Syn. Lc. T. Zamojski i, w (Interglossa x Tokyo Magic)

Cattleya maxima 'Stewart's'G. McGeough i, l

Cattleya schroederae 'Guava Dream' , G. McGeough i, g

Cattleya trianaei 'La Moriaquita' G. McGeough i, g(Show Table con’t next pg.)



Culture is as noted: c – cool i – intermediate w – warmg – greenhouse ws – windowsill l — lights

The monthly Show Table list is researched and pre-pared by AOS Accredited Judge, and COS Honorary LifeMember Judy Becker. Any photos included with theShow Table plants were taken by the editor SharonSmithDelisle.

Judy Becker

Cymbidium ‘Chinese Maiden”Brought to Show Table by George Mc Geough

Photo Credit: Sharon SmithDelisle

Coelogyne mitida M. Rampone i, g

Cymbidium Dorothy Stockstill 'Forbidden Fruits' M. Rampone i, g (Phar Lap x Miss Muffet)

Cymbidium Mad Irishman B. Esselink i, g (Mary Pinchess x madidum)

Cymbidium hybrididum ign. S. Smith Delisle c, w

Cymbidium hybridum ign. Sister Lioba c, g

Cymbidium hybridum ign. C. Koch c, g

Cymbidium hybridum ign. C. Koch c, g

Dendrobium Fire Wings J. Becker i, g (Big Alex x Silver Wings)

Dendrobium kingianum B. Esselink i, g

Dendrobium Super Ise 'Split Personality' B. Esselink i, g (Super Star x Ise)

Dendrobium Wave King 'Akebono' AM/AOS B. Pendleton i, w

Epidendrum polybulbon M. Rampone i, g

Lepanthes caprimulgus S. Smith-Delisle c, w

Oncidium Pacific Panache 'Keenan' Syn. Wils. S. Smith Delisle i, w (Sphacetante x Lisa Devos)

Paphiopedilum St. Swithin HCC/AOS D, Landrey i, l (rothschildianum x philippinense)

Paphiopedilum (Wend Valley x Pete's Fire) C, Mizak i, g

Paphiopedilum hybridum ign. George i, w

Phragmipedium Mt. Fallu J. Becker i, g (FGrande x longiflorum)

Pleurothallis picta C. Mizak i, g

Rhybcattleanthe (Hunabu Delight x Orange Nugget) T. Zamojski i, w

Cattleya Mem. Grant Eichler 'Lennette' HCC/AOS(James Hausermann x Irene Finney)

Brought to Show Table by B. PendletonPhoto Credit: Sharon SmithDelisle


News, Notes & Happenings

President’sMessage

Cheryl MizakHI

I want to thank everyone for bringing so many plantsto the March show table. It was wonderful to seesuch a large variety of blooming plants in the middleof very cold winter. Special Congratulations to Deb-bie Landrey for being awarded her first AOS award. Ihope you had a chance to see her Paph. St. Swithin’HCC 79 points with 10 perfect flowers— way to goDebbie!

Van Wilgen’s annual Escape to Spring event was wellreceived. Thank you to everyone who staffed ourbooth.

April is shaping up to be a very busy month startingwith the Cactus & Succulent Society show inWaterbury April 11 & 12. COS will have an informa-tion table at this event. We need some help talkingCOS & Orchids.

Please check the April event calendar to see whereseveral members will be giving talks. Please feel freeto attend any of the talks; it is always nice to see afamiliar face in the crowd. Southbury Garden Club Hollendia Nursery, Bethel DEP Derbyare all on the schedule.

This month we welcome Dr. Kristen Uthus. She willspeak about what makes Japanese orchids stand outin a crowd and what may make Neofinetia falcatathe perfect houseplant.

— Cheryl Mizak

Debra Landrey earns her first AOS award —

For many orchid growers, attaining an AOS award is thehighest achievement and greatest recognition possible for allthe hard work put into growing and blooming a special plantwell. These awards are recognized worldwide and highlycoveted by growers because such awards lend value to theindividual plant; and creditability for the quality of its parent-age in breeding. Debra Landrey recently earned her firstAOS award for her plant Paphiopedilum St. Swithin’. Thisplant received an HCC (Highly Commended Certificate)award for scoring 75 to 79 points inclusive on a 100-pointscale. (Debbie’s plant scored 79 points). This plant has 10perfect flowers on three inflorescences. Debbie reports thatshe obtained the plant in 1996 as a seedling. Congratula-tions to Debbie!!

Winner of the raffle plantat Van Wilgen’s Escape toSpring event —-

Rita from Cheshire was the proudwinner of the raffle plant featuredon our display table.

Debra Landrey with her AOS award winningplant Paph. St. Swithin’ HCC/AOS

Photo Credit: Sharon SmithDelisle


April 10th , Basic Orchid GrowingLecture at 1:00 pm, Out Reach Pro-gram at Southbury Garden Club,Southbury Library— Cheryl Mizak willconduct a lecture at the Southbury Garden Clubabout orchid growing basics.

Connecticut Cactus and SucculentSociety 32nd Annual Show and SaleApril 11, 10:00—5:00 & April 12,10:00—4:00, Naugatuck ValleyCommunity College, exit 18 off I-84— Volunteers are needed to help spread theword at our information booth at this event.Please contact Cheryl Mizak if you can help out.

April 11—19th, Hollandia Nurser-ies, Spring Garden Expo, Bethel, CTOut Reach Program — April 11th MontySabolcik will give a lecture about orchid growingbasics. April 18th, COS will conduct a repottingdemonstration at 9:00 am.

April 11th,Earth Day atNorth HavenHigh School,North Haven —Martha Shea has vol-

unteered to help out at the COS informationbooth at North Haven’s Earth Day event.

April 18th, Connecticut Departmentof Energy and Environmental Pro-tection Outdoor Recreation/StateParks Public Outreach Program,Kellogg Environmental Center, 500Hawthorn Ave., Derby, CT — Dave Tog-nalli will conduct a basic orchid growing lecture at10:30 am.

SEPOS International Orchid Show & Sale, April 24 — 26Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA

Visit www.sepos.org for more details.

AOS Annual Members MeetingThe Doubletree Hotel Lloyd Center, Portland, Oregon.

Register at :www.portland orchid society.org/calendar/2015AOS.php


Monthly Checklistfor March and April

By Ned Nash and James Rose

Cattleya

Although March is, in many parts ofthe country, still a cold blusterymonth, the lengthening days andwarmer temperatures allowed byincreased light are long-awaited har-bingers of the coming change of sea-son. Some of the best standard cat-tleyas of the year will be in bloom, orwill be blooming soon. The last of thewinter-flowering hybrids will join theearliest of the spring hybrids in awonderful display. Be on the alertfor senescing sheaths that need re-moval. If these yellowing sheathsare not removed, the moisture theytrap can lead to bud rot. Careful re-moval of the sheath will allow thebuds to develop, although they willneed additional support. Changinglight conditions can also be a problemin March and April. An exceptionallybright day, especially immediatelyfollowing a rain, can lead to sunburnof the foliage if shading is not at-tended to properly. There can still beperiods of dull days where spikes canbe weakened owing to the lowerlight. (Con’t top of next page)

C. Cornelis’ Love ‘SVO’ AMPhoto: A. PinkersPhoto accessed from www.Sunset ValleyOrchids.com on 2/08/15.

Scientists completed the first orchid

whole genome sequencing

Date: November 25, 2014Source: ResearchSEA

As one of the most diverse plant fami-lies, orchid now has its genome se-quenced and the result is published atNature Genetics as a cover article.

This study is an accomplishment of theOrchid Genome Project, an in-ternational collaboration led by Lai-Qiang Huang and Zhong-Jian Liu atTsinghua University and National Or-chid Conservation Center in ShenzhenChina, with colleagues from differentinstitutions, including Chengkong Uni-versity in Taiwan, Ghent University inBelgium, and Institute of Botany ofCAS in Beijing.

The team carried out whole genomesequencing on Phalaenopsis equestris,which is an important parental speciesfrom breeding of commercial pha-laenopsis strains. P. equestris is alsothe first plant with Crassulacean AcidMetabolism (CAM) for which the ge-nome has been sequenced. The as-sembled genome contains 29, 431predicted protein-coding genes. Theaverage intron length is 2,922 basepairs, which is much longer than inany sequenced plant genomes. Fur-ther analysis indicate that transpos-able elements in introns are the majorreason why orchid genes have so bigintrons.

As heterozygosity post great challengefor whole genome sequencing andassembly, the orchid genome is by nomeans an exception. In the orchidgenome, they found that contigs likelyto be under-assembled owing to het-erozygosity, are enriched for genesthat might be involved in self-compatibility pathways. Those genescould be candidates for further re-search on the mechanism of self-compatibility in orchids.

Phalaenopsis equestrisPhoto credit: en. Wikipedia.org

As in many plant genomes, theyalso found evidence for an or-chid-specific paleopolyploidyevent that preceded the radia-tion of most orchid clades. Thisis possibly an important clue towhy orchids developed into oneof the largest plant families onearth.

By comparing with homologgenes in other plant genomes,they found gene duplication andloss in CAM genes along the line-age to orchids. This result sug-gests that gene duplicationmight have contributed to theevolution of CAM photosynthe-sis in P. equestris.

Finally, they found expandedand diversified families of MAD-box C/D-class, B-class AP3 andAGL6-class genes, which mightcontribute to the highly special-ized morphology of orchid flow-ers.

All around the world, orchids arehighly endangered species be-cause of illegal collection andhabitat loss. The complete ge-nome sequence of P. equestriswill provide (Con’t. on pg. 10)


(Monthly Checklist con’t from prev. page)Lengthening days will mean increasedmetabolic rates necessitating in-creased water and fertilizer. Theplants will indicate needs by dryingmore rapidly, which means more fre-quent watering and fertilizing.

With the passing of the season forwinter bloomers, and the beginningof the season for spring bloom, it isalso the time to be on the lookoutfor plants that will need repottingafter they bloom. Immediately afterblooming has proven to be the besttime to repot winter– and spring–flowering cattleyas. In most cases,they will be ready to grow roots, so ifpotted at this time, they will root intofresh mix with little or no setback.

Cymbidium

Plants should be putting on a spec-tacular show this time of year. Adjustall staking and twist-ties and be onthe lookout for aphids, slugs andsnails. Give adequate water becauseflowering strains the plants. As newgrowths appear later, increase thenitrogen level in the fertilizer. Shoulda plant look healthy but not beblooming , try increasing the lightduring the next growing season. Thenumber-one reason for no flowers islack of light.

Cymbidium Magic MountainPhotographed at Longwood Gardens inearly April. Photo credit: G. AllikasObtained from AOS website, www.aos.org

Dendrobium (Australian)

These hard-cane dendrobiums will beat their flowering peak now. It is notunusual to see a specimen of this typein an orchid show boasting 1,000 flow-ers. The secret with this group —bred primarily from Dendrobium kin-gianym and Dendrobium speciosum— is to provide ample water, fertilizerand light during the growing season.

Lycaste

This genus of superb orchids will becoming to the end of its flowering sea-son. Soon you will see the beginningof new root growth, which is an excel-lent time to repot into fresh media. Asnew growth emerges, provide amplefertilizer and water. A sign of goodculture is an increase in the size ofpsuedobulbs witheach successiveyear.

MiltoniopsisMiltoniopsis Martin Oren-stein shows off a beautifulpattern on its labellum.Photographed at LongwoodGardens in early April.Photo credit: G. AllikasObtained from AOS website,www.aos.org.

Dendrobium Australian Robbie McInnesPhoto credit: orchidsonline.com.au

Lycaste skinneriPhoto credit: www.wikipedia. Org.

This marks the beginning of the flower-ing season. Amazing displays of colorwill dazzle the grower over the nextfew months. Prepare your plants foroptimum display by staking spikes (ifneeded) and cleaning off the older yel-low foliage. Do not miss the wonderfulfragrance as the flowers unfold.

Paphiopedilum

March is the beginning of the season ofheaviest potting of lady’s-slipper or-chids. However, it is a month wherethe volume of plants needing attentionis still small. It is an excellent month totake the time to work with yourpaphiopedilums before the pressure ofother potting prevents your doing thethorough job you should. Look at eachplant: Is it clean of dead and dying foli-age? Is it weed free? Does it need pot-ting? Is it in spike? Does it have an in-sect problem? Cleaning and restagingyour paphs is one of the most satisfyingtasks of the orchid year. Cleaned andpotted paphiopedilums look happy.

The summer-blooming types will beshowing the first of their buds in Marchand April. Be on the lookout for thebuds, as well as any insect pests thatmay have found their way into thecrowns of your plants. It is especiallydifficult to clean mealybugs, in particu-lar, once they have become establishedin the plants. Better to get them beforethey get a good toehold.

Increasing light levels should giveemerging spikes the strength they needto grow straight and strong. (con’t. pg. 9)

Paphiopedilum charlesworthiiPhoto credit: www.orchidweb.com


Monthly Checklist for March and April, con’t frompg.8)Do not be too anxious to stake thespikes, because if they are staked toosoon, the flowers may develop a“nodding” stance, where the dorsalwill not stand upright. If the spikesseem to develop at an angle, let them,and stake after the flower has hard-ened for best carriage, especially on thehybrids with fairrieanum background.

PhalaenopsisIn most of the country, March is thepeak blooming month for phalaenopsis.Staking needs to be carefully attendedto, so that the flowers will be displayedat their best for orchid shows and judg-ing — even those intended for yourhome will look best if properly staked.One of the most decorative aspects ofphalaenopsis spikes is the way they

gracefully arch. If not staked properly,the spike will lack this grace and willnot be as pleasing. Most growers liketo have the final support just belowthe first flower, allowing maximumsupport, without sacrificing the beautyof the arching spike.

Rapid-growing spikes and open flowersplace extra demands on the plant.Careful monitoring of watering andfeeding will give the plants the energythey require to give their best floraldisplay. Remember, too, that thelengthening days will also increase thefrequency at which plants need water.

Beware of the invasion of sucking peststhat accompany the flowering

Phalaenopsis stuartianaPhoto credit: Flickr003.jpg, en. Wikipedia.org

season. Flowers and spikes are fa-vorite targets of mealybugs andscales. Bo on the lookout for theirpresence, often indicated by the ap-pearance of sooty mold resultingfrom the exudates of the bugs, andtreat before flowers or buds are tooadvanced. If flowers and buds aretoo far along, the chemical treat-ment maydamage orabort them.

Pleurothal-lidsMembers ofthis large andincreasinglypopular groupwill be lookingtheir best now.If plants arenot in flower,the next fewmonths pro-vide an excel-lent time todivide if needed or repot into freshmix. Taking care of these tasks nowwill allow enough time for yourplants to become established beforethe hot weather arrives.The AOS thanks Ned Nash and James Rose for this

Masdevallia HighlandMonarch ‘Free Spirit’ AM/AOSPhotographed at Parkside Or-

chids, Ottsville, PA. Photocredit: G. Allikas, www.aos.org

Scientists completed the first orchid genome sequenc-ing, con’t from pg. 8)an important resource to explore orchiddiversity and evolution at the genomelevel. The genome sequence will also bea key resource for the development ofnew concepts and techniques in geneticengineering, such as molecular-assistedbreeding and aid orchid horticulture re-search._________________________________ This article cited from: ResearchSEA.“Scientists completed the first orchidwhole genome sequencing.” Science-Daily. ScienceDaily, 25, November 2014.<www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141125095444.htm>.

The COS display at the Deep Cut Orchid Society’sAnnual Show & Sale, Feb. 5 — 8, 2015

Tips

&

Trick

s

The following suggestions were ob-tained from the Marlow Orchid web-site www.marloworchids.com:

Water “Top Down” — gravity willpull the water all the way throughthe pot. Be sure to water wellenough that the plant’s pot isflushed thoroughly as you don’twant any dry spots in the center ofthe pot where mold and fungus cangrow.

Fertilize after initial watering — fer-tilizers contain “salts” (ionic com-pounds resulting from neutralizationof an acid and a base — wikipediadefinition), which will burn your or-chid’s roots if the mix is dry. Waterwith plain water first, then follow onwith water containing fertilizer.

The April 2015 AOS Corner- From the desk of Laura Newton,Membership and Affiliated Societies Chair

The Webinar for this month:

This month we have a double-header!

Greg Allikas will present — Cattleya luddemanniana on April 14, 2015 at 8:30 EDT/5:30 PDT. This webinar isfor members only.

and a week later

Ron McHatton will conduct an AOS Greenhouse Chat on April 21, 2015 at 8:30 pm EDT . This webinar is opento everyone.

The April issue of Orchids typically concentrates on judging and the 2015 issue is a must read:

Judging Paphiopedilum rothschildianum — The New Standard, by James Fang, this article outlines whatmakes this species awardable.

Judging Masdevallias by Mario Ferrusi, an indepth look at this genus that has many shapes and colors.

The Best of the Best, by Lois Posey describes the AOS Special Judging awards for 2013, with wonderful insightsabout the award winning plants and their owners.

Paragons — The 2014 First Class Certificate, by Kathy Barrett, is a photo essay of the fabulous flowers thatscored over 90 points in 2014.

For those of you who are not into judging, there are other great articles: on Repotting, Bletia, Ornithidium andCamaridium, and an article on the Redland International Orchid Festival which is coming up this year May 15— 17th.

It is not too late to plan to attend the AOS Spring Members Meeting at the end of this month that will be held inPortland, Oregon and hosted by the Portland and Cherry City Orchid Societies, April 29th thru May 3rd at theLloyd Center Doubletree. You don’t want to miss out on this great opportunity! Check out all the details at thewebsite below:

http://www.portlandorchidsociety.orgh/calender/2015AOS.php

The Members Meeting in conjunction with the Slipper Orchid Alliance, The Phalaenopsis Alliance, and the Pleu-rothallid Alliance have an awesome array of fabulous speakers, which include:

Frank Smith — Keynote Speaker, Graham Wood, George Hatfield — Cymbidiums, Alan Koch, Wally Orchard —Disas, Carlos Fighetti — Phalaenopsis, Norman Fang, Kristen Uthus— Neofinetia Culture, and Alfonso Doucette— Coolers for Cold Growers.

Something that I found recently in the conservation area of the website that I think is great — an Orchid Emer-gency Card that can be found at this link: http://aos.org/images/img_content/carecard.gif.

Let’s grow together,

Laura Newton


New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show: Chandeliers, Feb. 28 — April 19,2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY, 10 — 6, Tues.—Sun, visit www.nybg.org for more details.



Documents

Newsletter April 2015 - ctorchids.org · Tips & Tricks : Watering Tips…..10 1 Apr 2015 Connecticut Orchid Society Mission Statement The Connecticut Orchid Society is an incorporated,