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May 2006
MAY MEETING May 8 , 2006 Annual Orchid Auction Members may bring up to five plants to auction off (NWOS takes a 20% commission) and as many more as you wish to donate for the Society’s benefit. Please complete both halves of the auction form and bring it with you to the meeting. For the first time, we can accept credit cards at the auction.
Beginner’s program: (starts at 6:30 p.m.) Display Table: Sales Table: Raffle: COMING UP: Speakers and topics are subject to change. Got a suggestion? E-mail Jamie Notman, VP for Programming
NWOS MOTHER'S DAY SALE – MAY 13-14 May 13 May 14 All plants in bloom! Center for Urban Horticulture MEETING NOTES APRIL GENERAL MEETING Brian Anderson MEMBERSHIP SURVEY We have enclosed the membership survey in the newsletter again this month because so few people have responded. If you haven’t completed yours yet, we encourage you to do so as soon as possible. Your responses will help us tailor our programs and efforts to the needs of our members. You need the Adobe Reader program to open the PDF version. You may obtain Adobe Reader for free for either Windows or the Mac here. If there is more than one person in your household who is a member, please fill out a separate survey for each person. Your Board regards this as very important and the information that you provide will affect decisions the Board makes. So, we urge you to take a few minutes and respond. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me by telephone or by e-mail. – Michael Corn P.S. None of your responses will be linked to you personally, so please be assured that we will respect your privacy. BOARD SLATE FOR 2006-07 ANNOUNCED; WILL VOTE AT MEETING The slate of 2006-07 officers and trustees for the Northwest Orchid Society is detailed below. This serves as official notice to the membership. Members will be asked to vote on this new board at the meeting on May 8. President: Jay Perez Trustees serve two-year terms; all other officers are elected every year. With this election, there will be a total of XX trustees; four trustees carry over from this year. Because Jay Perez is continuing as President, Jerry Hoffmeister will continue to serve on the board as Past President. If you have questions about the election or nominating process, please contact George Krasle. HOST NEEDED FOR JULY SPEAKER Our July speaker would prefer to stay with a member than in a hotel. If you are interested in learning more or opening your home to an orchid expert, please contact Jamie Notman. ALLELOPATHY IN ORCHIDS Do you have orchids that just sit in their pots and do not appear to grow or flower and appear stunted? In fact, they have been like that for so long now that they have a thick carpet of moss on top of the bark mix! Do you lose many of your flasked or replated seedlings? If so, read on as you are probably suffering the effects of allelopathy. Allelopathy is a chemical process that a plant uses to keep other plants out of its space. There are several types of chemical allelopathy. In one kind, the plant that is protecting its space releases growth compounds from its roots into the ground. New plants trying to grow near the allelopathic plant absorb those chemicals from the soil and are unable to live. A second type of allelopathy releases chemicals that slows or stops the process of photosynthesis. An allelopathic plants may also release chemicals that change the amount of chlorophyll the plant has in it. When a plant’s chlorophyll levels are changed, it cannot make the food it needs and the plant dies. Allelopathy refers to the harmful effects of one plant on another plant by the release of chemicals from plant parts by leaching, root exudation, colatilisation, residue decomposition and other processes in both nature and in our greenhouses. There are several ways in which an allelopathic plant can release its protective chemicals: Leaching: All plants lose leaves. Some plants store protective chemicals in their leaves. When the leaves fall to the ground, the decompose and give off chemicals that protect the plant. Exudation: Some plants release defensive chemicals into the soil through their roots and those chemicals are absorbed by the roots of orchids near the allelopathic plants. Volatilization: Allelopathic plants release chemicals in the form of a gas through small openings in their leaves. Other plants absorb the chemical and die. First widely studied in forestry systems, allelopathy can affect many aspects of plant ecology, including occurrence, growth, plant succession, the structure of plant communities, dominance, diversity and plant productivity. Early research grew out of observations of poor regeneration of forest species, crop damage, yield reductions, replant problems for tree crops, occurrence of weed-free zones and other related changes in patterns of vegetation. The purpose here is to introduce the concept in cultivated orchid species. Nature of Allelopathy Commonly cited effects of allelopathy include reduced germination and seedling growth. Like synthetic herbicides, there is no common mode of action or physiological target site for all allelochemicals. However, known sites of action for some allelochemicals include cell division, pollen germination, nutrient uptake, photosynthesis and specific enzyme function. Allelopathic inhibition is complex and can involve the interaction of different classes of chemicals like phenolic compounds, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, steroids, carbohydrates and amino acids, with mixtures of different compunds sometimes having a greater effect than individual compunds alone. Furthermore, physiological and environmental stresses can affect allelopathic suppression and allelopathic activity will vary over a growing season. Allelopathic chemicals can also persist in bark mix and medium. What can I do to protect my orchids? Do not leave seedlings in compots too long or you will end up with a few healthy ones and lots of runts. Many orchids contain their own allelochemicals, particularly in the roots, but few if any have been tested. Also, replate seedlings often. Repot regularly. If you use bark, ensure that it has been well soaked to free it of all allelochemicals. The bark of most Pinus species is heavily loaded with allelochemicals. When you water, flood the pot to flush any salts and built-up chemicals. Make sure all pots have good drainage. Make sure that water draining from your Vandaceous plants does not spill into other orchids below as many Vandaceous orchids contain allelochemicals. Sphagnum moss contains antibiotics and is generally free of phenolic compounds and allelopathic inhibitors. However, not all orchids like to grow in sphagnum moss. Phragmipediums adore it! Remove all signs of any other mosses or ferns. The tight compact moss may keep the surface of your potted orchid looking tidy but this moss has one of the worst allelopathic effects. Ferns, too, are loaded with allelochemicals. Venture into any forest and note how nothing else grows where there are ferns. – Mike Meads ORCHID SHOWS PAST AND FUTUREPast Show: Spokane
In addition to those mentioned above, thanks very much to the following members for sending plants: Caroline Mann, Ingrid Bridge, Mike and Donna Foster, George Krasle, Kyong Hu, Harry Mar, and Cylvia and Myself. Many thanks especially to Ingrid and Barry Bridge who came to the show on Sunday and helped us take down the display (pictured below).
Next Show: Oregon Orchid Society Spring Show, May 13-14 (Mothers’ Day Weekend) George Grantham TIME TO RENEW MEMBERSHIP SOON Current NWOS members will be asked to renew their membership next month. Renewal forms will be mailed out with the June newsletter. Members who joined in February 2006 or later do not need to renew until next year. PROPOSED BY-LAW CHANGES APPROVED At the April meeting, members unanimously approved changes to the NWOS by-laws that primarily created Third Vice-President position that will be responsible for promoting membership in the Society and marketing the Society. BRING PLANTS FOR OREGON SHOW Craig Williams will be taking care of the NWOS display at the Oregon Orchid Society Show on May 13-14. If you have blooming orchids to loan, please bring them to the May meeting or call Craig (206-767-0226) to make other arrangements to drop them off. DISPLAY TABLE THANKS The NWOS would like to thank the following members for bringing in plants for the display table last month: Shannon Boling Make a resolution to get involved! The NWOS desperately needs a new newsletter editor—the old one is all worn out! No real experience is necessary. Basic writing/editing skills, desktop publishing or web experience will be helpful but are not required. This position requires a commitment of 8-10 hours per month. Volunteers will need to have their own computer and an e-mail account that they check regularly. The editor is also responsible for printing and distributing the newsletter. If you are interested or have questions, please contact Brian Anderson at nwos_news@nwos.org. For additional volunteer opportunities, click "Volunteer Opportunities" in the side menu on this page. |
