Volume 31, Number 2October, 2009

www.geneseeorchid.org

There really isn’t much of a chill in the air

just yet, but as October gradually comesinto view, our thoughts turn to the

inevitable change ofseasons and a busy

orchid schedule. Ourspeaker in October will be Jean

Ikeson, owner of Windsor Greenhouse inFalmouth, Nova Scotia, and a recognized

author on Cattleya breeding. Jean will be pre-senting a program on The BreedingCharacteristics of Cattleya Species, a subject onwhich she published a piece in the AOS maga-

zine, Orchids. Jean is also an AOS ProbationaryJudge affiliated with the Toronto Judging Center.

W indsor Greenhouses specializes inproviding greenhouses for homesand schools in northern climates,

and also maintains an extensive Cattleya collection(both species and hybrids) acquired from the stud

house of the original California firm of StewartOrchids. Jean will be bringing plants from Windsor

Greenhouse for sale at the GROS meeting.

We will be taking Jean Ikeson to dinner at Applebee's, 3349 Monroe Avenue, Pittsford, prior to the meeting. Members wishing tojoin us (everyone pays for his or her own meal) should contact Alan Salzman in advance at 377-3213.

Don’t forget: the Auction is coming on Sunday, October 18th! Details are up onthe website.We’ll have a full plant listing complete with the entire Auctionschedule on the site as soon as we’ve finished unpacking and logging in the

orchids. Once again, there will be a slide presentation at the Auction displaying eachorchid as it comes up for bid. It’s great to be able to see what a particular orchid’s flowers will look like when you’ve got an out-of-bloom orchid on which to bid.

The Show Table will be back, so please remember to bring your flowering plants.We’ll see you there!

NEXT MEETING: MONDAY, OCT. 5, 2009“Orchids 101” 6 :00 p .m.� Soc ial "Hour" 7 :00 - 7 :15 p .m .� Meeting begins at 7:15 p.m.

Senior Adult Lounge at the Jewish Community Center, 1200 Edgewood Avenue, Rochester, NY

C. walkeriana v. coeruleaGrower: John Shepard, 2005 GROS Show

Photo illustration ©Phil Matt

IN THIS ISSUE:

Meeting MinutesPresident’s Message

Show TableCattleyas!

Membership Roster

D2D2D3D3D4-5

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Thoughts from thePresident…Etiquette is a code of behavior that influences

expectations for social behavior according to

contemporary conventional norms within a so-

ciety, social class, or group.

As I sat down to write a small article for our

monthly newsletter, I quickly found that the

task before me was not as easy as one would

have thought. Not because I did not under-

stand the idea behind the article. Not because

I find it difficult to express my thoughts to a

large group of people. I found that I struggled

with the need to write an article on etiquette for

a group of adults.

As some of you may or may not know, my email

box was inundated with a large number of com-

ments after last month’s meeting, the subject of

which completely took me by surprise. As Kim

and I sat behind the group listening to Norito’s

talk last month, little did we know that our

speaker was the focus of ridicule and scorn.

To make matters worse, the comments were

within the earshot of our speaker.

I am completely baffled by this behavior on a

number of levels. First and foremost, it is trou-

bling that a speaker whom we have asked to fly

and drive a great distance to speak to us should

be subject to this type of behavior. Secondly, a

great effort has been initiated to bring in the

best speakers available and this type of behav-

ior is an insult to those who have worked so

hard to make these talks possible. Thirdly, this

type of behavior reflects poorly on the member-

ship and thereby, the whole organization.

This discussion is not meant to scold a group

or to single out an individual, but to make

everyone aware that a significant amount of

time and energy is invested behind the scenes

to make GROS meetings interesting and suc-

cessful. While we try to offer a variety of speak-

ers from a broad range of backgrounds and

specialties, we inevitably cannot offer a speaker

who “speaks” to everyone, every time.

We owe our speakers common courtesy, not

sarcastic comments. I am asking that we make

the atmosphere at our meetings as welcoming

and positive as possible. We are all here for the

same reasons; to learn and share our love of

orchids.

So let’s enjoy the time we spend together at

our meetings and help our guests to feel wel-

come. Thank you all for your attention to this

important matter.

- Paul BatzPresident, GROS

Meeting Minutes forSeptember 8, 2009President Paul Batz called the meeting to order

at 7:20 p.m. Tonight the meeting is being held

in the Auditorium to enable chair space for

members plus anticipated guests. Paul wel-

comed one guest, Estelle, as well as four mem-

bers of the Niagara Frontier Orchid Society.

The minutes for our May meeting were ap-

proved. (There was no business meeting at the

picnic in June.)

Ron Uhlig, Treasurer, brought us up to date on

our financial situation:

Previous balance (7/1/09) $12,535

Income: $945 (all from Dues)

Expenses: $1007 (Projector, AOS Show

Registration, Newsletter, Orchid Digest,

misc)

Current balance (9/1/09) $12,473

Paul reminded us that the newsletter will no

longer be mailed to members. It will be sent in

an email (as a link) to all members in good

standing. The most up-to-date information will

be on the website and members are urged to

check this out frequently for announcements.

Vice President Kim Hober talked about the

Hospitality Committee and the Welcome

Table. The Hospitality group will be taking

care of bringing in refreshments for our meet-

ings as well as cleaning up afterward.

Kim asked for people to sign up and she will

contact (by email) a couple each month to take

care of these responsibilities. The more people

that sign up, the less often any one of them will

need to help.

The Welcome Table is going to be set up at

each meeting to make information about our

programs and society available, especially to

guests and new members. One board member

plus a volunteer will staff this table each month.

Nametags, membership pamphlets, etc. will be

available at the table.

Newsletter Editor/Webmaster Phil Matt edu-

cated us on the website advantages. He urges

all members to register on the site so that they

can participate in forums and discussions, post

pictures and enjoy extras not available to non-

members. It will take Phil less than half a day

to process a registrant. He said to use your real

name for registering. He assured us that we

won’t get spam as a result of signing up. Phil

will be looking into setting up a way to email

other members without revealing their email

address.

This year’s Auction chairman, Jeff Snyder, told

us that the Auction is Sunday, October 18th.

He has enough workers to set up this event

this year and says to check the website for times

and the plant list of orchids to be auctioned.

Paul thanked the executive board for their hard

work this past summer on planning for this

year’s budget and other society business.

Ron made a motion to approve the budget for

2009/2010. A second was offered by JeanneKaeding and the budget was passed by a show

of hands.

Assistant Program Chair Alan Salzman intro-

duced our September speaker, Norito

Hasegawa of Paphanatics Unlimited in Orange,

CA. A Trustee of the AOS, Norito has grown

orchids for 45 years. He has clocked in 3 mil-

lion miles preaching orchids, from Alaska to

Denmark and from South Africa to New

Zealand. The topic of his delightful program

was New Directions in PaphiopedilumBreeding.

After the raffle, the show table was presented

by Jeanne Kaeding. Thanks to everyone who

brought in their plants to be enjoyed and ad-

mired by their fellow memebrs.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:20.

Respectfully submitted bySandi Uhlig

Secretary

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SEPTEMBER SHOW TABLEPlease note especially all names and abbreviations in boldface, and correct or

complete your records, including parentage and new registrations.

Cypripedium Alliance

Paph. glaucophyllum var. moquetteanum (Java) Pfromm

Paph. Maudiae (callosum × lawrenceanum) Weimer

Paph. Stealth (Hsinying Maru × rothschildianum) Usuki

Paph. Chastity (Astarte × Nell Gwynne) Eliaszewskyj

Cattleya Alliance

C. Mark Jones (Caudebec × Fascelis) Levy

Rlc. Memoria Crispin Rosales (C. Bonanza × Rlc. Norman’s Bay) "

Rl. digbyana "

Lc. Angel Heart (Puppy Love × C. Penny Kuroda) Espinosa-Barone

Rlc. Susan Fender (Caesar’s Head × C. Mary Ellen Carter) Wischoff

Brassocatanthe (Bct.) Little Marmaid*(C. walkeriana × Bsn. Maikai) Matt

Guaricattonia (Gct.) Dr. Matt Cohen

(Ctt. Mini Doris × Grt. Why Not) Murphy

C. Haw Yuan Angel (Orglade’s Glow × Janet) "

Rlc. Lady’s Favorite (Vicky Gold × C. Little Oliver) "

Rlc. Kyle (C. Little Sunbeam × Rlc. Waikiki Gold) 2 plants "

Rhyntonleya (Rly.) Island Flare (Rlc. Oconee × Ctna. Peggy San)

Vandaceous

Neof. falcata Hober

Phal. lueddemanniana "

Ascda. Pacific (?) Blue (Peggy Foo × V. coerulea ) Weimer

Rangaeris amaniensis† Wischoff

Aërgs. biloba "

Phal. unknown Fleischman

Eurychone rothschildiana Levy

Oncidium Alliance

Psychopsis (Pyp.) Mendenhall (Butterfly × papilio) Levy

Odm. praestans × Onc. leucochilum Murphy

Wils. Golden Afternoon (Tigrina × Onc. sphacelatum) "

Bakerara Flying High (Alcra. Jet Setter × Odm. McNabianum) "

Milt. Earl Dunn (Goodale Moir × Minas Gerais) "

Bllra. Marfitch (Mtssa. Charles M. Fitch × Oda. Fremar) "

Bllra. Peggy Ruth Carpenter

(Tahoma Glacier × Milt. Purple Queen) Fleischman

Brs. Rex (verrucosa × gireoudiana) Weimer

Brs. Eternal Wind (Bracdiana × Rex) Butcher

Dendrobium

Den. lamyaiae Hober

(-to page 7)

Cattleyas! When people think of an orchid, they generally

think of Phalaenopsis, the “moth orchid,” or

Cattleya, the “corsage orchid.” Cattleyas are

among the most popular orchids for several rea-

sons; they come in various shapes, sizes, colors,

scents, and their culture often forms a compar-

ison for how to grow other orchids. The genus

Cattleya comprises 46 species from Cattleyaaclandiae to Cattleya warscewiczii and several

thousand hybrids, including 32 natural hy-

brids.1 With such diversity within this genus,

there is a plant for everyone, from beginner

to advanced grower.

The first documented large-flowered Cattleyaspecies was found in Brazil in 1817 and later

arrived at the Glasgow Botanic Garden in

Scotland in 1818. The genus Cattleya was

named in honor of the English horticulturist

William Cattley by the famous botanist John

Lindley in 1821. John Lindley was hired by

Cattley to draw and describe the exotic plants

in his collection. In 1821, Lindley published his

book Collectanea Botanica, and the public got

their first view of William Cattley’s favorite

plant, Cattleya labiata. Horticulturists every-

where wanted to see this famous species but

with only two locations available, chances were

limited. By 1825 Cattley had only two healthy

Cattleya labiata plants remaining. Out of his

extensive collection of exotic plants, he consid-

ered his C. labiata to be the most beautiful

plant he owned.

Although John Lindley introduced the world

to the beauty of the Orchidaceae and in partic-

ular C. labiata, he was partly responsible for the

death of countless orchid species. The prevail-

ing theory of the time was orchids needed a

high-heat, heavy-shade, high-moisture, stag-

nant tropical environment to thrive. Only the

most resilient orchid could tolerate those con-

ditions for long and that advice is probably the

fastest way to kill any Cattleya.2

Joseph Paxton, the head gardener to the sixth

Duke of Devonshire at Chatsworth, was respon-

sible for the cultivation of the largest and most

impressive orchid collections in Britain during

the early 1800s. Mr. Paxton did not follow the

advice of Lindley and other "experts" of the

time. He provided very bright light and strong

cool breezes to the plants as well as removing

(-to Page 7)

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5

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Marlow’s Orchids4 Orchid Collections AcquiredMany new & unusual plants for sale!* Gretchen Miller Bulbophyllum Collection - (Buffalo, NY)

* Charles M. Murray Paphiopedilum Collection - (SC life-long collector)

* Randy Humphries Orchids (Bristol, NY) - Assorted species & Hybrids.

* Dowery Orchids Species Collection - (South-East Virginia) many unusual

species including uncommon Jewel orchids, Cattleya species. Bothrochilus,Cyrtopodium, Laelia, Dendrobiums, Paphiopedilums, Vanda species,

Tricoglottis species & more.

* We are now dividing many large specimen plants from these collections,

as well. Call Jim Marlow to see these seldom-seen orchids! Many of these

plants will be sold at orchid shows outside Rochester in the next 6 months.

www.marlowsorchids.com

2272 Scottsville Rd., Scottsville, NY 14546 (585) 889-7083

Near RIT and Marketplace Mall(Please call ahead!)

Fall Open House

Sat. Nov 7, 9am - 5pm

(-Cattleyas, from Page 2)the wet fog that normally bathed orchids of the

time. Joseph Paxton devised the method of

Cattleya culture that we use today, with an em-

phasis on better drainage, high light, and at-

tention to the plants root structure.2

When discussing Cattleya culture, light is the

most important factor in growing and flower-

ing your plants. A bright east, or shaded south

or west window is ideal with temperatures be-

tween 55 to 60°F at night and 70 to 85°F dur-

ing the day. Mature Cattleyas need to dry out

between waterings, and if in doubt, it’s best to

wait a day or two before watering again.

Humidity should be between 50 to 80% with

a gentle breeze provided by a fan or open win-

dow. Cattleyas like to be fertilized when ac-

tively growing with a dilute fertilizer

appropriate for the growing media.3

The October meeting with Jean Ikeson, owner

of Windsor Greenhouse, will be a chance to

explore in greater detail the breeding charac-

teristics of Cattleya species. Jean will be bring-

ing plants for sale and will be available for

questions during the meeting.

- Jeremy Bechelli

References:

1. http://www.kew.org/

2. The Classic Cattleyas by A.A. Chadwick and

Arthur E. Chadwick

3. www.AOS.org

It’s Really All AboutRelationships!

Ask an orchid expert how often to water, or

what potting medium you use, or what per-

centage of shade to provide, and the expert will

answer, “It depends.” This, of course, invari-

ably frustrates the beginner, but nevertheless,

it’s true. All these cultural factors, and more, in-

teract with each other, so there’s no correct

value for one without knowing the others.

Here’s a summary of some of these relation-

ships, and a few rules of thumb, as well.

1.)The more heat, the more humidity is

needed. Orchids can’t tolerate hot, dry condi

tions. In Connecticut, where I live, hot and

humid weather go together naturally, so this is

not a problem. This relationship does not work

in reverse: if you provide high humidity (which

most orchids enjoy), you don’t need to raise

the temperature. In general, excess heat is

harmful (although in summer it can’t be

avoided.) Most orchids prefer cooler temper-

atures, especially at night.

2.)The more heat, the more you should water,

since the plants will be transpiring more.

Remember, though, that far more orchids

are killed from overwatering than from under-

watering.

3.)The more heat, the less light you should

provide. In other words, give more shade in

hot weather. This helps prevent leaf-burn. For

the same reason…

4.)The more heat, the more air movement is

needed and 5.)The more light, the more air

movement is needed.

6.)The more light, the more you should water,

since the orchids will be growing faster. In gen-

eral, try to provide as much light as the orchid

will tolerate, since light promotes growth and

flowering. As a rule of thumb, most orchids

can’t tolerate full sunlight all day long, but many

do well with 50% sun all day long, or full sun

part of the day.

7.)The more light, the more you can fertilize,

since the plants will be growing faster. Don’t

use a stronger fertilizer solution, but fertilize

more often instead.

8.)The bigger the pot, the less often you should

water, because it takes the medium longer to

dry out.

9.)The better the drainage in the pot, the more

often you should water. For example, clay pots

should be watered more often than plastic; tree

fern more often than bark.

10.)The better the drainage, the less often you

have to repot.

11.)The more you water, the more often you

have to repot.

12.)The more you water, the more often you

can fertilize, because all that watering will tend

to flush the fertilizer out.

So, what’s the ideal mixture of these cultural

factors (if you could control them all)? It would

be to provide conditions similar to the natural

environment, which for most orchids means:

cool to moderate temperature, high humidity,

moderate light (as much as the plant will

stand), lots of fresh air, frequent watering, small

pots with excellent drainage, repotted often (or,

better yet, mounted plants), and frequent but

weak fertilizing.

You indoor growers can provide most of these

ideal conditions in the summer by moving your

orchids outdoors - May is the month to do it.

Pick a spot with dappled sun (or full morning

sun), water every day, and fertilize say, once a

week. If you haven’t tried it before, you’ll be

amazed at how much this increases flower pro-

duction.**

- Larry KuekesConnecticut Orchid Society

Newsletter, Sept. 2009

**There will be a program on this very topic

at our January meeting. January, of course, is or-

dinarily not the best of times to experiment

with outdoor growing in Rochester…- Ed.

AB

7

- Show Table, from Page 3)

Miscellaneous

Gga. quinquenervis

*The aberrant spelling is probably due to fears of copyright issues.

†Rangaeris is a quasi-anagram of the related genus Aërangis.Please note: if there are any names you have questions about, don’t hesitate to call or email.

-Iris Cohen315-461-9226

The Orchid Collection is a publication of the Genesee Region OrchidSociety. It is published ten times per year for our members. Singlemembership is $20.00, family membership is $25.00 annually. Duesshould be sent to the GROS at P.O. Box 20606, Rochester, N.Y. 14602

Phil Matt, Editor. P.O. Box 10406, Rochester, N.Y. 14610

The Editor receives e-mail at webnews@geneseeorchid.org

8

The Genesee Region Orchid Society (GROS) meetsevery month from September through May at theJewish Community Center, 1200 Edgewood Avenue,Rochester, NY, on the first Monday following the firstSunday of each month. (Dates sometimes vary due toholidays, etc.) The GROS is an Affiliate of The American

Orchid Society and of The Orchid Digest Corporation. Material in ournewsletter, The Orchid Collection, may be freely reprinted in other orchidsociety publications with proper attribution. Copyrighted illustrations,photographs or articles may not be reprinted without the express written permission of the artist or author.

first class mail

Savinglots of trees!The Orchid Collectionhas moved to an allelectronic formatwith the October, 2009issue. Questions? Ask any Board member.

Genesee Region Orchid Society Officers 2009-2010

President Paul Batz 356-0999 pres@geneseeorchid.orgExecutive VP Kim Hober 383-1994 veep@geneseeorchid.orgProgram VP Diana Polle 637-2882 prog@geneseeorchid.orgTreasurer Ron Uhlig 387-9940 treas@geneseeorchid.orgSecretary Sandi Uhlig 387-9940 sec@geneseeorchid.orgMember at Large Alan Salzman 377-3213 matlarge@geneseeorchid.org

GROS Committee Chairpersons 2009-2010

AOS Rep. Dave Weiss 544-3561 aosrep@geneseeorchid.orgAuction Jeff Snyder 377-5895 auct09@geneseeorchid.orgEducation Jeremy Bechelli 339-8631 beginners@geneseeorchid.orgCommunity Outreach <open>Librarian Kim Hober 383-1994 libr@geneseeorchid.orgMonroe Cty. Liaison Jeremy Bechelli 339-8631 monroe@geneseeorchid.org David Hayes 872-0112 monroe2@geneseeorchid.orgNewsletter Phil Matt 288-7025 webnews@geneseeorchid.orgNominating <open> ODC Representative Alan Salzman 377-3213Property (Exec. VP) Raffle Jeff Snyder 377-5895Show Ruth Espinosa-Barone 872-5658 show2010@geneseeorchid.orgSocial Lorri Bayer 288-5014Sonnenberg Liaison Fran Murphy 924-7763Special Ops Ron Uhlig 387-9940 regist@geneseeorchid.orgWebmaster Phil Matt 288-7025 webnews@geneseeorchid.org