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November 2003
NOVEMBER MEETING November
10, 2003 Stanhopeas Nina Rach, an AOS judge from Houston, Texas, will speak on Stanhopeas November
10, 2003 Beginner's program (starts at 6:30 p.m.): Michael Corn will discuss Dendrobiums. Plant Table: Bring your blooming orchids to show. Sales Table: Members may bring up to 10 plants to sell. Raffle: Win a new orchid for your collection. COMING UP December: Christmas party January: David Morris of Clackamas Orchid will talk about Maxillarieae tribe with an emphasis on Lycastes February: Justin Schroeder will discuss the orchid program at the Woodland Park Zoo March: Open April: Bill Bergstrom of Bergstrom Orchids May: Harry
from Andy’s Orchids will talk on mounting and growing mounted orchids. Got a suggestion for a speaker or program? Contact Jerry Hoffmeister at at jerry@hoffmeisters.com or 206-932-9912. NWOS FALL SHOW COMES TO SEATTLE CENTER NOV. 22-23 There are only a few weeks left before our show! It is hard to believe, but all the hard work is finally coming together. The Show Committee has had another meeting, and more of the details are in place. All we need now is a final count on society displays, a few little things, the Trophy sponsors and some volunteers. Many people have been calling me with questions about pre-sales. We will not have the cash registers ready on Friday night, but will be allowing members and volunteers to make selections of plants and goods before the actual sale begins. Friday night, between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. will be the time to preview the sale. Volunteer to help us setup on Friday night and you will be among the first to see what the vendors brought. We will let people put a “hold” on desired items to be purchased on Saturday. If you want to purchase something at the “pre-sale” you can put your name on a hold slip and attach it to the item you want. We will expect you to pay for it before the judges are done on Saturday. There will not be a holding area or hotel, so please do not ask if you can come back at a later time. Any items with hold slips on them that have not been paid for by noon on Saturday will go back on the sales tables. We are looking for volunteers for many things. The jobs are all easy, and we are expecting the time to be fun. The positions are: Admission: These people take the money for tickets, stamp hands, and direct traffic to the Show area. Volunteers are needed at three entry doors. This is entry only. No one may leave through these doors. Cashiering: The cashiers enter the dollar amounts into the cash register and take the money. There will be a short orientation for all that wish to help in this area. It is a fun job with lots of people involvement, and you get to see each item that is purchased. The cash registers are all programmed, and this job is very easy. Membership: We need to have humans at the membership table for the NWOS and the AOS memberships. This person will hand out free things, answer questions about the Society, and direct people to the various areas of the show. Everyone in the Society should be able to do this job. You do not need to know a lot about orchids, just be able to point out those in the room who do. Hosts (wanderers): We need people who are willing to be told what is needed to do by the Show Committee. Hosts will walk around the room and check to see that everything is calm and under control, as well as do little tasks as needed. If you don’t know what to volunteer for, this is the job for you. We will find you and put you to work doing something. Set-Up/Tear Down: This is the most fun of all the jobs because there is such a variety of needs that the time flys by. The tables and general layout of the room will already be done before we get there. For set-up we need to cover the tables with plastic, hang signs, set up the membership area and the cashiering stations, help the vendors unload their wares, help hang art, and clean-up before the show starts the next morning. Previews and “holds” will happen at set-up, so it is a very good time to offer your help. Ribbon Judging: If you have never been to a show, or if you want to learn more about the wonderful orchids in the displays, this is the job for you. A ribbon judge is part of a small team of people who have the opportunity to see the plants on display before the general public. We are hoping to have actual AOS judges on the judging teams. Plants are carefully looked over and first, second and third place ribbons are awarded to specimens of high quality. The ribbons are not always a reflection of the awards that AOS judges will be deciding on. The ribbons will remain on the plants throughout the show. If you volunteer to be on a ribbon judging team, please do not sign up to do an early morning job on Saturday. This is a great opportunity for beginners to understand what orchid judges look for when they are awarding plants. AOS judges and Ribbon judges will be served a box lunch on Saturday. Art will also be judged with ribbons. If you are on a Ribbon Judging team, you may also be part of the Art Judging. Ribbon awards will be given to art of exceptional quality and style. Criteria for art judging will be available at the show. We hope to have the best show ever this year, and with all of your help, it will be. Thank you for volunteering. All current NWOS members will get into the show for $3.00. General admission is $5.00 for adults, and free for volunteers and children under 12. Pre-sales are only available to current NWOS members who volunteer for set-up. Trophy sponsors are still needed for some of our designated trophys. The list will be available at the next meeting. if there is a specific plant or trophy you would like to sponsor, please either sign up at the next meeting, or contact Robin Kemph. Trophy sponsorship is $25, and the money goes directly to the winners. The NWOS does not keep any of the trophy money. This year the Show Committee is sponsoring the “Steve Skoien People’s Choice Award.” A $25 check and a fancy ribbon will go the display that is voted best by the people attending the show. Steve Skoien, who was a prominent orchid grower and beloved member of our society, volunteered for many events of the NWOS, including several shows. His love of orchids and enthusiasm for the Society has inspired the Show Committee to honor him in this small way. He will be missed. A short memorial about Steve will accompany the ballot box at the show. – Robin Kemph, Show Chair
Directions
to Seattle Center from I-5: FROM THE PRESIDENT Okay, it’s now show time. Yes, this month is our long- awaited orchid show on the weekend before Thanksgiving. Are you excited? Have your got your sales plants ready? Are you hoping for the best flowering ever of your late fall-early winter blooming plants? I have many things in spike, it’s just a question of what will be in bloom next month. At the last meeting, I was looking at the volunteer sign-up lists for the show and one particular list that I noticed that had very few names—the ribbon judging list. Ribbon judging is not only a good time but educational as well. We now try to have an AOS judge on each team to impart their expertise and educate us on flower quality. The show committee need to know how many people want to ribbon judge so that we can order the right amount of box lunches. That’s right as a ribbon judge you will get fed. I believe the ribbon judging starts at 8 a.m., an hour before the AOS judging. So sign up! What else? At the December meeting we will be having a dessert/appetizer potluck and competition for the Shoenfeld Trophy. What is the Shoenfeld Trophy you ask? Well, it’s the trophy cup that the society offers every year to the best specimen plant in bloom brought to the December meeting. The plant that wins is by popular vote. Everyone who attends gets to vote and the winner gets the trophy to take home for a year and do what ever they wish with it (like use it for a shrimp bowl). Last year’s winners were Frank and Judy Vincenzi. Anyone who is a member can enter the competition. Speaking of being a member, all paid-in-full members receive a free plant if they attend the December meeting. I know this may seem a little early for this but we are starting to look for new Board members. Next year, we will need a new president and some trustees and other positions. So if YOU would like to make a difference in YOUR society, step up to a board position. See you all at the next meeting. Jamie
Notman NOVEMBER/DECEMBER ORCHID CHECKLIST Cattleya Days are becoming shorter, hence cooler; the sunlight has less intensity as a result of the sun’s lowering angle, nights are longer and generally cooler. Plants are responding by slowing and ripening their growth in preparation for winter. The first cultural change noticed should be a reduced frequency of watering, as the plants dry out more slowly. This is a function of both the reduced day length and lower temperatures, as well as the plants’ slowing growth rate. Reduced water needs signal a reduced need for fertilization. Feed less frequently and at lower dosage, but feed. Growths, made during summer’s heat will be ripening—hardening—in preparation for a brief period of rest (in many cases). Cool-Growing Orchids One can almost hear a sigh of relief from all of the cool-growers, from masdevallias to odontoglossums. As day temperatures decline, one can see a noticable improvement in these plants. Shorter days and lower light levels do not seem to bother them. Repot before winter arrives. Cymbidium Finally we begin in earnest the main cycmbidium season. The season lasts for about seven months, adding color to any collection. There are three important things to do: stake inflorescences ramrod straight for best presentation, watch for slugs and snails (especially just after a rain), and fertilize with a mild balanced formula regularly. Paphiopedilum The flowering season for the “toads” or “bulldog” paphs is just getting underway. These cannot be grown everywhere, but where cooler summer nights allow their growth, there is no longer-lasting or more exotic display than these. Paphiopedilums are, in general, not heavy feeders, and it is especially important with this type to reduce nitrogen levels now for best flowering and spike length. As the spikes emerge, do not change the orientation of the plant toward the light, as this can lead to a crooked or twisted spike. While paphiopedilums rarely like to dry out entirely, water needs are significantly reduced beginning now. Overwatering at this time of year can quickly lead to root rot or erwinia problems. Now is the time to practice good sanitary practices in your greenhouse or growing areas, as pest and disease problems have a way of multiplying rapidly in the darker and more crowded conditions that generally mark the winter growing area. Phalaenopsis Shortening days and cooler nights are the signals for inflorescence initiation in phalaenopsis. In more northern climates, or on the west coast, growers have already begun to see the early inflorescences that may be ready for Christmas. A reduction in nitrogen levels will go a long way to giving the best possible spiking, as will a boost in potassium and phosphorus. In other words, a “bloom booster”-type fertilizer is definitely indicated in the next few months. Disease and pest problems are best dealt with now, especially as mealybugs hide in the bracts and flower buds. Once they have established themselves, they are difficult to eradicate, and flower damage or crippling results. Potential disease problems can be dealt with by the application of a copper-based compound to control/alleviate rot problems before they start. – Ned Nash and James Rose, American Orchid Society IMPORTANT DATES NOVEMBER
8-9, 2003 NOVEMBER
22-23, 2003 JANUARY
17-18, 2004 FEBRUARY
4-8, 2004 FEBRUARY
19-22, 2004 |
