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Masdevallia rolfeana Photo courtesy Clackamas Orchids |
November 2002
NOVEMBER MEETING November
11 , 2002 The Pleurothallids This month, David Morris of Clackamas Orchids will be giving us a program on pleurothallids, a group of orchids that include the popular Masdevallias, Draculas, Restrepias, as well as seldom seen genera such as Octomeria and Restrepiopsis. The pleurothallids have approximately 5,000 species making it the largest group of orchids at about one-fifth the entire Orchidaceae. He will also have great plants for sale and we will be buying some of our raffle table plants from him. Beginner's
program (starts at 6:30 p.m.): BASIC CARE OF MASDEVALLIAS Masdevallia is a genus of some 350 species usually from cool, misty mountains of the New World Tropics. Masdevallias are best known for their showy flowers consisting of sepals fused into a tubelike structure. Their origins in cool, damp environments make them an excellent choice for cool or coastal climates. Most species and hybrids are compact enough so that they can be easily accommodated on windowsills or under lights. LIGHT should be like that given for phalaenopsis and paphiopedilums. Plants grow well under standard fluorescent fixtures and can be summered outside in shade. In the home, place in an east or shaded south window or under artificial lights. TEMPERATURES should be cool to intermediate. The plants will grow slowly and eventually expire if temperatures remain high for long periods. Cool evenings help reduce heat stress during the day. Nights of 55 to 60 F are ideal; day temperatures should be 65 to 75 F. Evaporative cooling pads or humidifiers are useful in maintaining these conditions. Avoid day temperatures higher than 80 F. WATER is critical for these plants because they have minimal water-storage tissue. Roots should be allowed to become almost dry before watering again; if drainage is adequate, constantly moist roots are fine. Good-quality water low in dissolved solids is imperative for success. HUMIDITY is an important factor in the successful culture of masdevallias. The ideal range is 60 to 80 percent. In the home, set the plants on trays of gravel partially filled with water. In the greenhouse or enclosed growing area, humidity can be increased by use of a humidifier, while evaporative coolers help raise humidity and lower temperatures. FERTILIZE regularly with a dilute solution while plants are actively growing. Applications of 30-10-10-type formulations twice a month are ideal for plants in a bark-based medium. A 20-20-20-type formulation should be used for plants in other media. If weather is overcast, applications once a month are sufficient. POTTING is best done in the winter or early spring, before the heat of summer arrives or as new roots are produced. Plants must be repotted every one to two years, before the potting mix decomposes. A fine-grade potting medium, such as fine fir bark or tree-fern fiber, is often used with plastic pots. Sphagnum moss is also used, especially for establishing plants. Spread the roots over a cone of potting medium and fill in around the roots with potting medium to the junction of the roots and the plant. Firm the medium around the roots. Keep humidity high and the potting medium slightly dry until new roots form. Courtesy American Orchid Society (www.orchidweb.com). FROM THE PRESIDENT Back to the future What's new in the orchid world? Well, at the beginning of this month I put on a display for the Mum Society at the Edmonds Floral Pavilion with my plants and plants from Carolyn Mann and Georgie Jacobson. Everyone like it and on Sunday the orchid society got top billing through the mistake of the advertisers, but at least it drew a lot of people to the Mum show. Let me be the first to inform you on the show committee's decision with board approval that we are moving our fall show from the Tukwila Center back to our old stomping grounds the Seattle Center. Our fall show in 2003 will be the weekend of November 21-23. That's one week before Thanksgiving and the beginning of the Christmas buying frenzy. The reason we are moving more than anything is the price. We can get a bigger space at the Seattle Center for about half the price of the Tukwila Center and the other factor being better foot traffic. We will be renting the Snoqualmie room, which is the same space we have used for our show in the past. Now with the remodel the lighting has been upgraded and we won't need to rent extra lighting which is also a money saver. In my last message, I said that we are in the process of developing a chat room for the orchid society and I believe that Mike Pearson has just about got that together and we should be seeing an article on the whys and wherefores sometime soon. Next month at the annual Christmas Party we will have a potluck of sorts, one where we will request you, the members, to bring either a dessert or a finger food type of appetizer to share with the group. It's also Shoenfeld trophy time, which is where anyone who has a specimen-type plant in bloom is encouraged to bring it in and then, by popular vote, the plant with the most votes wins this trophy cup that is now in the possession of Mark Srull. We have also decided to hold a silent auction in which the Society will provide all of the items to be bid on. There will be some large specimen plants and some surprises. Jerry Hoffmiester tells me our next speaker is David Morris from Clackamas Orchids in Oregon. He has spoken to us before and I have always enjoyed his informative talks. I am looking forward to his presentation. Hope to see all of you at the next meeting. Jamie
Notman WEB SITE OF THE MONTH Andy's Orchids This is the last month to buy some orchids via the internet before the winter weather sets in. Anyone who has seen the orchid sales display set up by "Andy's Orchids," knows the top quality and rare orchids that Andy's offers. At many shows, Andy sets up a jungle of chain link fences to display his huge array of hanging orchids. Another name for this grower is "Orchids on a stick." Check out the beautiful pictures and be sure and find the monthly sales section. Once you've bought your orchids, be sure and bring them to the meeting once they start blooming for you. I want someone to buy and bloom one of the featured orchids, "Bulbophyllum plumatum." I might have to buy it myself! — Darrow Chan October
2002 Web Site of the Month: Calwest
Orchid Supplies FALL SHOW SET FOR 2003 The NWOS Fall Show will have a new home next year—back in Seattle proper. The Snoqualmie Room at Seattle Center (much upgraded from the last time we used it) will be the Fall Show's new venue. Not only will this move be a significant savings for the Society, it also puts us in a more central, high-profile location. The Show Committee has also decided to hold the Fall Show closer to the holiday shopping season—November 21-23, 2003. Planning will get underway next summer. If you would like to be involved, please contact Robin Kemph. — Robin Kemph, Show Chair "ORCHID HUNTER" TO AIR NOV. 26 ON KCTS NOVA presents "Orchid Hunter" on Tuesday, November 26 at 8 p.m. on PBS (KCTS 9 in Seattle). For nine months in 2000, Tom Hart Dyke was a captive of guerrillas who seized him while he was collecting wild orchids in the Colombian rain forest. Now Hart Dyke is at it again in the most orchid-rich and politically unstable part of Papua New Guinea. NOVA investigates an all-consuming passion that for some people is more precious than life itself. This program is sure to be of interest to the orchid-growing community, don't miss it! NEW TREASURER NAMED Chris Peterson will take over as treasurer for the Society effective November 5. Peterson, a very active member who previously served on the board as president two years ago, will fill out the remaining term for Roger Smith, who asked to step down because of other commitments. NEWSLETTER SUBMISSION WELCOME FROM EVERYONE As your newsletter editor has confessed before, he is more of an orchid observer than an orchid grower. Obtaining articles, without crossing into the shady territory of plagarism or copyright infringement, can be difficult. That's why I like to encourage all members, no matter what your level of expertise, to send something for inclusion in the newsletter. Visit an out-of-town orchid show recently? Tell us all about it! Found a neat little potting trick for cymbidiums? Our readers want to know! Finally got your first bloom on that Paph. rothschildianum? That's a major news story for us! Share your experiences (and photos if you have some) with everyone. Send your news to nwosnews@attbi.com. Don't have e-mail? Mail to the P.O. box address on the front of the newsletter. HOW DO YOU SAY THAT? Ever been tongue-tied trying to pronounce the name of an orchid species? Here's a helpful guide to some of the more common ones. Aerangis
ay-er-RANG-giss OTHER NEWS Got a suggestion for a speaker or program? The fall schedule is currently open and first vice president Jerry Hoffmeister is interested in knowing what you would like to hear about at upcoming meetings. E-mail at jerry@hoffmeisters.com or call him (206-932-9912) with your suggestions. 2003 AOS Calendar Discover the "Wow!" factor in the world of orchids with this glorious calendar that makes a great gift for friends--and for yourself. The calendar takes a look at 12 orchids whose special qualities seduce their admirers. Cultural hints for growing each plant picutured are provided. 12 color photographs. 11x22 when open. Price: $10 for NWOS members who purchase at the monthly meeting. Ridesharing Some of our members in the suburbs are unable to attend meetings because they don't drive. Taking the bus, especially in the evenings, can make for a very long trip; taxis are too expensive. If you live on the Eastside or in the North or South End and either would like a ride to meetings or would be willing to offer a ride to meetings, e-mail nwos_news@nwos.org or call and leave a message on the NWOS line at (206) 781-5805. We will try and match up drivers and passengers wherever possible. Orchid Pests and Diseases - 2002 Revised Edition. This update of the 1995 edition of this popular book, published by the American Orchid Society, is packed with practical advice on insect and noninsect pests, bacterial and fungal diseases, orchid viruses, and physiological disorders along with suggested cures and treatments. New features include a chapter on the natural control of insects and mites, a glossary of more than 95 terms and a list of centers that identify orchid ailments. 77 color and 25 black-and-white photographs. Softcover. 118 pages. Price: $10 for NWOS members who purchase at the monthly meeting. UPCOMING EVENTS NOV.
2-3, 2002
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