Get Involved With Your Orchid Society

7/28/2019 Get Involved With Your Orchid Society

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Get Involved with Your Orchid Society

Becoming a member of a local orchid society is one of the best ways to learn about orchid

growing in your area and getting involved in the activities of that club is particularly rewarding.

You will make friends with others who share your interests be they one particular type of

orchid or windowsill growing.

Most societies have smaller groups such as beginning growers who learn how to grow their

orchids better, especially under local conditions. Intermediate groups work on learning more

about specific orchids and many societies are associated with judging centers where in depth

study of many orchids is conducted.

One of the most interesting activities that you can do is to become involved with a show. There

are always many opportunities to help, from setting up the exhibits, to security positions

watching that no plants are carted off. There are of course other opportunities at a show such as

selling tickets, helping with hospitality, working with vendors, etc. Any of these will help out

the society and give you a chance to become better acquainted with your fellow members.

During a show there is also the opportunity to clerk with the judges who will be assessing the

plants and the exhibits to determine which wins which prizes. Youll find this particularly

interesting as you can listen to the judges discussing the merits of each plant they review as well

as the comments against the plant or flower. This was a real eye-opener to me when I first did it

and I recommend that everyone who is truly interested in orchids try it at least once. It will also

give you a perspective on what judges are looking for in exhibits so that when you try one of

your own you will have an idea of what to do.

As part of their educational mission, many societies will hold seminars during the year. There

are opportunities to help there as well as the chance to learn more about your hobby. Do take the

time to go to one or more of these if you are able. Youll learn more about your hobby and will

get a chance to spend more time with people who are interested n the same thing you are. There

is a lot of work involved in setting up these seminars and help is always appreciated. Contact

the chairs of the committee putting on the show to see what you can do to make it run smoothly.

Go to an American Orchid Society Orchid Show

One of the best educational opportunities for most beginner orchid enthusiasts is to attend a

local orchid show. They are always spectacular, even the smallest show. There are masses of

flowers in the show itself and most shows have a large area dedicated to vendors of all kind of

orchid plants and items. The American Orchid Societyweb site has a listing of the shows put on

by their affiliated societies. Just choose "Calendar" from the linked page. You will see what is

possible with almost any kind of orchid. It is also probably the only place you will be able to see

many rare species of plants.
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Theres nothing like being able to see what the flower and plant really looks like of the plant on

your wish list. Ive revised my opinion on several plants I thought I wanted when I saw the size

of a full grown plant of that variety. On the other hand, Ive also decided I wanted something

that didnt look very interesting from a picture on a catalog.

As you look at the plants, be sure to talk to the vendors who are local and get their business

cards. This is the very best way to find local places to visit throughout the year to get the best

orchids for your area. A local nursery will generally be more than happy to work with you and

provide knowledge and expertise for your growing questions. They are also one of the best

sources for learning what grows well in your area of the country. Many nurseries put on

periodic classes on how to care for your orchids, how to repot, etc. Get on their mailing lists so

youre aware of what is going on.

In many areas there will be one specialty grower who will exhibit and sell at local shows. If you

are interested in the same kind of plant as he/she has you can gain a valuable friend by meeting

them at a show. We have a world-renowned Equitant Oncidium (now know as Tolumnia)

breeder in my area who loves to give tours of her greenhouses when her orchids are in bloom.

A friend of mine and I who were both interested in orchids, set up a monthly excursion to a

local nursery to really meet and talk with them on a one-on-one basis. The amount of

information you can learn in just one such visit is extraordinary. Ask questions. If youre having

problems with a plant, take it with you (leave it in your vehicle so you dont spread diseaseand/or pests) and ask if they will look at it for you. Often you can not only find out what the

problem is, but get the solution all in about 10 minutes!! And of course you can get a flowering

plant as a bonus!!

Join an Orchid of the Month Club

One thing to consider seriously is joining an Orchid of the Month club. There are many

availablealmost every commercial nursery has one. There are many price ranges and some

have a six month or year signup requirement so be sure you know what the rules are before

signing up. The one that I used wasHaleahi Orchid of the Month. This is a month-to-monthplan with no long-term prepayment. Another important thing to remember is that if you live in

the colder Northern climates it may become necessary to stop your subscription during the

coldest months, or have heat packs added to your shipments. Conversely, for those of us in the

deep South, July and August are very bad times to get plants unless theyre coming from

similarly hot areas.

The main advantage of starting your collection this way is that you will get a flowering plant

each month to enjoy right now and you will also accumulate plants that will give you flowers

around the year as they should also bloom next year at approximately the same time. This willeventually allow you to have flowering orchids year round. Unless you have the opportunity to
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shop somewhere local every month and purchase a flowering plant, this is difficult to do on

your own. I set up a display location in my dining room for the blooming plant of the month and

then moved the non-flowering plants to a bedroom where I had more humidity and light for

them to rest, recover, and re-bloom.

Look through the vendors onOrchidMall and find those who offer an Orchid of the Month

Club. Try to tailor your choice of club with the type of orchid you are interested in collecting. If

youre interested in cattleyas and are growing indoors, then try to find someone who will

provide miniature or compact size plants for you.

If you are not sure which genus you are interested in, look for a club which will send a variety

of plants. This gives you a chance to determine which ones you like best and which ones grow

in your environment. One club I used sent a Cattleya and a special free plant each monthso I

discovered Dendrobiums, Brassias, and Oncidiums and found that they survived and re-bloomed for me.

Recommended Orchid Vendors

Several of our readers wanted me to write about vendors. There are orchid and orchid supply

vendors in the hundreds on the web. One good place to find vendors is The Orchidmall that lists

vendors alphabetically with links to the websites. I thought about this for a long time and

decided that I would do an article only on the vendors Ive used personally and had good

relationships with. If you purchase from one of these vendors, please let them know that you

heard of them from BellaOnline.

Andys Orchids is a California-based company specializing in species orchids. They have a

wonderful website with great cultural information. Andy has been growing orchids for most of

his life. Their customer service is wonderful!!

Bergstrom Orchids is located in Hawaii where he grows Bulbophyllums, Stanhopea, and

Catasetinae as well as a select number of species Cattleyas (mostly rare clones and varieties).

Bill Bergstrom has been growing, collecting and selling orchids for years and is well known as a

provider of seed-grown species. He has attended shows around the country for a number ofyears.

Oak Hill Farmhas been in business since 1973. They are located in Dundee, Illinois. Oak Hill

has species orchids as well as many clones and hybrids. They have been at a number of shows

in Texas during the last several years and always have wonderful plants.

First Rays Orchidsis one of the oldest online-only orchid suppliers. The site has wonderful

information for beginners and experts alike and Ray is one of the most helpful people Ive ever

seen. You can e-mail him directly from the site and he has a forum for questions. Ray originatedthe semi-hydroponic (S/H) culture method and is the ultimate expert. First Rays offers supplies
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for (S/H) growing.

Jims Orchid Supplies is a vendor specializing in supplies for your orchid growing needs. He

has everything from fertilizers to reverse osmosis systems to fan systems. I have used him for

several years and have always had quick, courteous service even during the summer hurricaneslast year. They are based in Fort Pierce, Florida.

Miranda Orchids Miranda Orchids is a Brazilian vendor who attends many shows in the US and

has a distribution center here. His site is has a wealth of information about Brazilian Orchids

and wonderful photography and botanical artwork. I have purchased from Francisco at several

shows here in Houston and the plants have grown beautifully.

Norman's Orchids is one of the truly good suppliers of orchids in the United States. They have a

really state of the art web site and fantastic customer service.

Orchids & Tropicalsis a Houston vendor who does a great deal through the Houston Orchid

Society. Their plants are well grown and they devote a lot of time to educating their customers.

Palmer Orchids is a Houston vendor that I use a great deal. Beautiful plants and great help in

learning how to grow orchids.

Another great Houston area vendor is Spring Orchids, owned and operated by Denny and Rene

Haase. They do not have a website, but may be contacted at Phone: 713 460-5060 or E-Mail [email protected].

Parkside Orchids Nursery was the subject of an earlier article I did. The quality of the plants and

the amazing packing job on blooming orchids put this vendor close to the top of my list of

choices. They are located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Size Descriptions in Orchids

Most hobbyists I have spoken to started their collections with one large blooming plant and then

got a bunch of seedlings because they were less expensive. Most of those who did this werelater sorry they did so2-3 years to wait for blooms is a very long time. Here is the generally

accepted definition of the various sized orchids and what you can expect from purchasing each

of them.

Compots

A compot is a small pot with a number of very small orchid seedlings in it. It is the second

phase of the growing cycle for cultivated orchids after the seedlings are removed from flask.

The seedlings in compots must be transplanted into small pots for the next growing phase. They

tend to be very particular about their requirements and should not be considered unless you arean advanced grower.
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Orchid Seedlings

This is the most inexpensive way to purchase orchids if you have a lot of patience and time.

Most seedlings will take 2-3 years (depending upon genus) to bloom. Generally they are

shipped in 2-3 pots. In many cases seedlings are much harder to grow and keep alive thanmature plants. Their humidity requirements are generally higher and they cannot tolerate neither

very high nor very low temperatures for the particular species.

Near Blooming Size Orchids (NBS)

These orchids are generally mature enough to bloom within 1-2 years. This is a good size to

purchase if you have room to keep them and again, patience!! This size is generally shipped in

3-4 pots, depending upon type. They are hardier than seedling size and are a good size for

someone with room to purchase.

Blooming Size Orchids (BS)

For a beginner hobbyist this is the recommendation of all the experts. Your orchids will bloom

within the next year, usually in their next blooming season. It will give you real pleasure and

encourage you to continue with the hobby. Many times they will be blooming when you

purchase them so you will get immediate enjoyment. It is very easy to get carried away and

want every orchid you see, but I would encourage you to purchase only blooming size plants.

Orchid Growth Types--Sympodial, Monopodial

There are two main growth types in orchids sympodial (multiple stem) and the monopodial

(single stem). In order to grow orchids successfully, its important to understand each type of

growth so that you can treat them correctly.

The first growth type is sympodial. This growth type is more common among orchids. Most

sympodial orchids have pseudobulbs which function as storage reservoirs for food and water.

The plant will hold pseudobulbs vertically and send out new growth horizontally between the

pseudobulbs. They function very much like rhizomes on terrestrial plants. Many times more

than one growth at a time will be present.

The growth begins at the base of the pseudobulb and is called a lead. Both the shoot and roots

will grow from this lead. Leaves can last for several years and provide nourishment to the plant

until they turn brown and die. Even without a leaf, the pseudobulb will continue to support the

plant.

Examples of sympodial orchids are Cattleya, Paphiopedilum, Oncidium, and Dendrobium.

The second growth type is monopodial. In this type of growth pattern there is one main stem

which grows indefinitely from the center of the plant. Normally, the stem grows straight up and

aerial roots sprout from where the stem and leaves meet. The plant will lose its leaves from the

ground up, continually growing new leaves from the tip and making new roots along the stem.


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Examples of monopodial orchids are Phalaenopsis and Vanda. The foliage is generally thick

and leathery and grows alternately on the stem. Inflorescences rise from the stem at the base in

the case of Phalaenopsis or from between leaves in the case of Vanda.

What size Cattleya should I choose?

When I first became interested in orchids, I fell in love with the cattleyas. It was the gorgeous

flowers and all the different colors and flower shapes that captivated me. So I began ordering

from the Internet and from eBay (see related articles Where should I buy orchids?). I picked

which flowers I liked best and ordered the plants regardless of the plant size.

There are many different size cattleyas and you should be aware of this before you start

collecting (unless you have unlimited space for them, like a large greenhouse). I will review the

different sizes here and give you some pointers on how they grow that you should be aware of.

Standard Cattleya

In general, these are the plants that produce the six-inch corsage orchids that we are all familiar

with. Standards actually come in a variety of sizes, too, but they are all large. Some like a

Cattleya amethystoglossa can grow to three feet tall and three feet wide. They need more light

than is generally available indoors in order to bloom.

Hybrids are generally not as large, but are also rather large for growing inside. Many have

leaves 18 inches long and about three or four inches wide. Depending upon their growth habit,they can spread when specimen size to two to three feet wide. Needless to say, they are

wonderful plants to grow for the flowers, but when mature need large amounts of space.

Another thing to remember about the standards is that they take somewhat longer to mature than

smaller varieties since they need to be larger before they bloom.

Compact Cattleya

Compact is defined as growing to approximately 12 inches high and are generally more

compact in growth habit as well. That means that the pseudobulbs generally grow fairly close

together and have multiple growing directions. The plants also have been bred to grow in avertical direction (leaves held in a vertical direction) rather than spreading out horizontally as

many standards do.

These plants take as long to mature as the standards, but will produce multiple flowers and

stems earlier than the standards. The compact size is good for inside growers and they are

generally quite floriferous even though they generally require less light to flower.

Miniature Cattleya

Miniature is defined as less than 6 inches high. A great deal of work has gone into the breeding

and hybridizing for miniature size recently because these plants are ideal for growing under


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lights or by a window inside due to their small size. Some have smaller flowers (but just as

beautiful) and others are bred for large flowers on a small plant.

You can enjoy more plants with the miniatures since many of them will grow and flower in a 2

to 2 inch pot. Since these plants are small in size, they also tend to take less time to grow toflowering size and this, too, is an advantage.

Growing Orchids on Mounts

Since the vast majority of commercially grown orchids are epiphytes (growing on trees in

nature) or lithophytes (growing on rocks in nature) mounting is one of the most natural ways to

grow orchids. Were going to go through the most common mounting types here, but there are

many that work just as well as these, such as coconuts, grape vines, and various types of

hardwoods.

This is a wonderful way to grow if you are able to put your orchids outside in the summerjust

hang them up in a handy tree and spray with the hose a couple of times a week (or every day if

in a hot or dry climate). The American Orchid Society has just put an artificial tree in its

greenhouse to show more naturally how orchids grow in the wild. Indoors, mounting is

generally reserved for terrariums or Wardian case growing where it is an extremely effective

way to increase the number of plants which can be contained in a specific space.

Tree Fern

Tree fern for horticultural growing is cut from the external root system of South Americanferns. They are available as totems, plaques, sticks and in various carved shapes such as

monkeys.

Cork Bark

Cork bark is the most commonly used medium for mounting orchids. Cork is a renewable

resource since the tree will re-grow its bark if correctly harvested. It is commonly referred to as

virgin cork barkwhich means that the bark comes from the first two cuttings from a tree.

Subsequent cuttings are more commonly used to make wine corks, corkboard, etc.

Wooden Plaques

Wooden plaques are one of the newer ideas for mounting orchids. They are made of teak or

cedar and look something like the bottom of a vanda basket. I found mine at Quarter Acre

Orchids. I like this idea because they are easy to hang flat against either the side of a greenhouse

or on a tree.

Tree Mounted

If you are lucky enough to live in South Florida or Southern California where you can actually

mount in a tree this is the most natural way to go. Santa Barbara Orchid Estatesite has a very

nice article on tree mounting.
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Once you have selected your mounting material soak it overnight in water. Depending upon the

size of the orchid youre mounting, also soak about a handful of Sphagnum Moss. Then remove

your orchid from its pot and clean off any medium attached to the roots without actually

breaking any of them. Spread the moss on the mounting, arrange the roots over the moss andthen use six to ten pound fishing line to tie the orchid to the mount. Fishing line is

recommended because it can be left on the mount and is nearly invisible. Keep the orchid in a

somewhat shady spot for a couple of weeks and spray sparingly until you see new roots growing

and then move it to the location where you will be growing it.

Semi-Hydroponic Orchid Growing

There is a lot of interest in growing orchids in Semi-Hydroponics or S/H. This technique was

originatedRay Barkalow , who maintains a wonderful website with a great deal of information

on both orchid culture in general and semi-hydro in particular. Most orchids can be grown inS/H Ray has a list of those that he has currently under this culture.

The method is based on the use of a porous, inert medium in a self-contained pot which allows

the plant to pull water out of the medium as needed. The media is soaked at the time of watering

and a reservoir of water remains at the bottom of the container and is wicked up through the

media as the plant uses water.

The main advantages are:

plants do not need to be repotted as often since they can be put in larger containers to beginwith. This eliminates the broken roots and growth setbacks associated with repotting.

roots are not subjected to breakdown of media and the media stays very porous which allows

for wonderful root growth. The roots never get too much water either, so there is much less

chance of rot.

There are a number of different containers and media available for use. A number of vendors

have special hydroponics pots made out of several different materials. For orchids you want a

container with a reservoir at the bottom of approximately 1 which will allow for water to be

wicked upward as the plant depletes upper layers. Above that point you need openings tocompletely drain out any water so roots are not subjected to water around their roots for too

long.

The most used media is a clay aggregate material in the coarse size in order to allow for the best

air circulation. It is important to make sure that the medium you choose is reusable in order to

make the economics more favorable. One of the most recommended clays is Prime Agra.

Watering is required much less often than in a traditional set up. Fertilizer is also reduced since

the plants can use all the fertilizer that is provided to them rather than having it all run out thebottom of the pot.
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If you are interested in S/H, I recommend that you go to Rays website and join the S/H forum

there. There is a lot of good information already there, and you can ask questions from

experienced growers too.

Growing Orchids in a Terrarium or Wardian Case

A decorative idea for growing orchids in the home is the use of a terrarium, conservatory or

Wardian Case. The concept behind the use of these items is that you create a mini-greenhouse

inside to grow plants. They come in all sizes, colors and shapes to suit almost any dcor. The

story behind the discovery is rather interesting if youd like to find out more: History of

Terrariums.

It is important to understand what will and will not work for orchids in this type of

environment. The major thing to remember is that we are trying to replicate the growingconditions for the orchids we are putting in the chamber. Thus, high humidity, good air

circulation and adequate lighting are required.

Terrariums by definition are self-contained ecosystems designed to live without disturbance

for a year or more. The water in the container is constantly re-circulated by evaporating and

dripping back into the soil or growing medium. Most orchids will not survive well in this kind

of an environment because they need more air circulation or they will rot.

A Conservatory or Wardian Case is actually a mini-greenhouse with air vents, perhaps fans,

lights, everything necessary to grow indoors. There are any number of combinations that can be

used, depending upon your needs.The Orchidarium site has the most complete information Ive

seen, including what accessories are available. If you are considering building your own there

are several really good articles available. The Do It Yourself Wardian Casearticle by Prem

Subrahmanyam published in the Tallahassee Orchid Society Newsletter is extremely helpful and

detailed.

In corresponding with several people who have successfully grown orchids in enclosed gardens,

the primary comments were that it is necessary to have fans going 24/7, keep an opening to

allow in fresh air, and to choose orchids which prefer high humidity, have lower light

requirements and like the warmer end of the growing spectrum. It is extremely difficult to

provide cool temperatures in enclosed spaces while using artificial lighting. One lady even

mentioned trying to reduce evening temperatures by putting ice in the bottom of the enclosure,

but found that that didnt work adequately. And, most importantlydo not have pots or plants

sitting in water!

It is important to have automated controls on a Wardian Case because it doesnt take much to

cause conditions that will kill your plants. In order to keep the humidity up while the lights are

on, misters are recommended. It is recommended that lights be used for 12-14 per day.
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Recommended orchids mentioned were Pleurothallids althoughMasdevallias dont seem to like

it as much as theRestrepias and mini-Dendrobiums.

One thing that I didnt hear much about, but I would recommend is that you try mounted plants

in a Wardian Case, especially if you are looking for a decorative display. Mounted plants needhigher humidity to allow their roots to gather water than those in pots.

Thanks to the AOS Forum members who contributed and to Dorothy Potter Barnett and Sharon

Theriault for providing information on their experiences with growing in Wardian Cases.

Miniature Orchids Series

We had a guest editor, Terri Lewin who provided us with a couple of really good articles on

miniature orchids. Since there were so many people who have been looking at these articles and

sending emails, I decided to continue the series on my own.

In researching the subject, I decided to limit the inquiries into a relatively manageable size.

There are literally thousands of orchids that would fit in a miniature category. By determining

certain criteria, I hope to give you a good cross section of species miniatures which will provide

years of enjoyable growing.

The criteria I chose were:

Miniature size, less than 6 inches or 15 cm in height, not including inflorescences.

Most are not white, there are many, many white miniatures, and this will provide a much morecolorful mix.

Either successive flowerings, or flowering for quite a long period of time.

Unless one has an extensive series of greenhouses or basement lighting areas, it is almost

impossible to be able to grow all these orchids, so I do not necessarily have direct experience

with them. Any species I originally chose that were in any way listed as picky were removed

from my list. I hope that you will try some of these plants and that they do well for you. If you

have a wonderful miniature that you would like showcased or need information on one youve

heard about, let me know. I would love to hear from you!!

As far as quality suppliers of species orchids Ive put together a list of companies who provide

quality plants only produced from seed. Seed produced plants grow better in captivity and

eliminate the destruction of species in the wild. All these vendors provide reliable service and

good plants. The listing is in alphabetical order and a website link is provided. I have personally

purchased from these vendors, or know people who have.

Andy's Orchids

Bergstrom OrchidsCarter and Holmes
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First Rays Orchids

Hoosier Orchid Company

Miranda Orchids

Neptune Orchids

Normans OrchidsOak Hill Farm

Parkside Orchids Nursery

Quarter Acre Orchids

Tropical Orchid Farm

Of course, not all species are always available. If youre interested in something, talk to some of

these vendors to see if theres another variety that is close. Often the only difference would be 8

inches tall versus 6 inches or a different colored flower. Also, please mention that you are

calling as a result of seeing them recommended on BellaOnline Orchids.Learn Through Your Local Orchid Society

One of the best places to learn more about orchids is to visit your local orchid society. Not only

is this a great source of information on orchids, but the members are experts on local conditions

and what does well in your area. Most societies welcome guests. To find a local society check

the American Orchid Society site. The meeting times, contact information and location of the

societies is listed. If the society has a web page, then that too is indicated.

Our society has monthly meetings with a speaker on a specific subject with a question andanswer period afterwards. These speakers are very often experts in their field. An auction and

raffle of plants provided by members is held each monththese are plants that have been

growing in your area already. They are usually affordable and there is no shipping or handling.

You can talk to the person who had been g rowing the plant to find out exactly what kind of

growing conditions worked, when the plant flowers, etc.

We also have a display of flowering orchids each month. Each plant is reviewed and described

for the audience with a commentary on whether it is usual for our area. This is done by one of

the members who is a judge if there is one available. The plant is described by name, a historyof the genus is given, and the particular plant as well as its cultural requirements are reviewed. I

find this of particular interestboth to see plants Ive only read about and to find out what is

needed to grow them locally. A tag giving the plant name and the grower is provided with each

plant. This allows you to speak personally with the person who grew it. A vote is taken of best

plant by genus of either species or hybrid.

Another great idea used by many societies is to have a beginners series of meetings where a

small group will meet and tour facilities of more experienced members. Normally done at a

meeting time different than the regular society meetings, the group is smaller, there is more timefor individual questions, reviews of specific plants, and of course the host member shows off the
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plants he/she is particularly interested in growing.

This is important not only from the perspective of how the plants themselves are taken care of,

but to allow beginners to see what environments work for others, both inside and outside.

Get Involved With Your Orchid Society

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