For the Diary:
November 17 Evening Meeting, 7pm, Wesley Church, 13th Ave. Speaker is Allan Watson from Taranaki on Miltoniopsis orchids, including growing on mounts.
November 28 Orchid Market, 9am-3pm, Wesley Hall, open to the public (see item below).
December 5 Christmas BBQ, from 11am, members only.
Mary’s Orchid Collection Sale & Auction, Sat 24 Oct
A wonderful band of TOS helpers turned up at Mary’s on Saturday morning to sort and organise her orchids, pots, baskets and paraphernalia for the afternoon sale. With a great deal of discussion the collection was divided into ‘sale boxes’ and auction items.
Conrad and Sandra gathered the ‘auction items’ and within no time had overflowed 4 tables and spread to the surrounding lawn. The ‘lucky dip’ boxes held a wide range of orchids, air plants, clay pots, Spanish moss and ‘treasures’.
By noon we were ready, grabbed some lunch and relaxed until club members began arriving at 12:45 to check over the auction items and begin hunting through and buying their boxes. We began the Auction a little early as the box sales had been so successful and Conrad soon had everyone in the mood and items quickly being sold for sensible prices.
Many thanks to all of those who were present. Mary was truly appreciative of the Club’s assistance in removing all the orchid plants, being so supportive financially and wished everyone as much fun growing her orchids as she has had. The Committee was blown away by your generosity and was so pleased to be able to give Mary a figure that truly represented the value of her collection – a return that also said thanks for the hours and hours she has so selflessly given to the Club over 40 years. Barry Curtis
Evening Meeting, October 20
Members present: 31, plus 2 guests. Apologies from Ute, Jean, Suzanne and Ellen.
Correspondence: Since we last met, sympathy cards have been sent to the Lobb and Schollum families. A number of TOS members/Bromeliad Club members attended Bertha’s funeral.
Orchids Wanted: We now have a book for members to write in the name of any orchids they want (along with their name) so buyers and sellers can browse through it and make a match.
Orchid Market: Saturday, November 28, 9am-3pm, Wesley Hall. Vendors are: TOS, BOPOS, Leroy Orchids, Ninox, Andy Price, NZ Orchid Supplies, Bioleaf, Conrad and Elizabeth Bailey. The kitchen will be available but BYO food and drink. Volunteers needed from 8am to help set up tables and after 3pm to clean up.
If you want to sell plants on the TOS table, please put a coloured plant label in your pot with both the price of the plant and your initial and surname. You will receive the value of your plants sold less 10% that goes to the club. If your plants are not labelled as specified we cannot give you your money! Plants other than orchids welcome. We are not putting on a display, there is no room.
We have flyers to help promote this event, contact Sandra after Nov 12 if you would like some.
Favourite Club Member Award: We have a new trophy for the club member who makes our club special for you, however you like to interpret ‘special’. The anonymous vote started at this meeting but, sadly, of the 30 members present only 8 cast a vote! (Not sure how to take that.) Voting remains open until the end of the November 17 meeting, with the trophy presented at our Christmas lunch. The wooden plate and stand has been made by BOP president Cliff Goodchild and features an orchid painting by his wife, Caz.
Gentle Reminder: If you are going to put plants into our Table Display please also bring along a legible list of plant names that includes your name. We are getting quite a few “I forgot” and some just don’t do it all. It makes your Secretary’s life that bit harder!
Our talk was an American Orchid Society webinar, ‘The Wonderful World of Phragmipediums’. As your Editor I find these webinars wonderful to watch but nearly impossible to record. I have taken the liberty of diving into many books and Google to present an article I’ve enitled:
What are Phragmipediums and how could I grow one
The ‘Slipper Orchid family’ derive their name from the fancied resemblance of one of the plants petals to a lady’s shoe or slipper. Orchidists call that petal a pouch and it is an elaborate trap to ensure the insect visitors are guided past the reproductive organs where they receive fresh pollen or deposit pollen from
other flowers. Botanically all slippers were first lumped together as Cypripedium (Sip-ri-pe-di-ums) but were separated in the 1900s into four groups; Cypripediums, Paphiopedilums, Phragmipediums and Selenipediums. Finally, only in 1964 this was reduced to just Paphiopedilums, growing throughout Asia and northern America; and Phragmipediums, growing from Mexico to Brazil.
These terrestrial orchids grow in forest litter – light friable soils rich in organic matter, preferring moderate shade and definite humidity during summer months, and most prefer day temps 21-30C with nights of 15-18C. Winter days 15-21C and nights 13-15C. Water quality is stressed in all books, with rainwater being the best option and water containing excess chlorine, especially bad for these sensitive plants.
Extract from ‘Carter & Holmes Orchids: Phragmipedium Care Sheet’
Because Phrags grow in areas of constant rain people thought all Phrags needed to be grown wet but trials have shown there are two major groups. The first group consists of plants that are of an older type of hybridizing using species such as Phrag. caudatum, Phrag. sargentianum, and Phrag. Longifolium (‘dry group’). The second group consists of Phrag. besseae and Phrag. Schlimi (‘wet group’). We have found also that two distinct potting mediums are necessary.Dry group: Can easily be potted with bark-based potting mixes. Usually we use deeper containers than we would for epiphytic orchids to accommodate the large root system.
Wet group: Has entirely different water requirements. We found that using more water in the fir bark mix to supply the moisture requirements for Phrag. besseae and its hybrids caused the bark to mold. We found that none of the standard Phrag. mixes suited our conditions so modified a hobby mix used in the Midwest US. This media has given the best results: *Three parts long-fibre NZ sphagnum moss. (Soak for at least 24 hours, drain and squeeze out excess water) *One part volcanic or ‘Dyna’ rock, rinsed (1/4”to ½”) *One part #3 perlite *One part loose medium tree fern.
Those growing in the sphagnum medium, like Phrag. besseae or its immediate progeny, are best grown sitting in small saucers with perhaps a half inch or so of fresh water. When the water is almost used up, it’s time to water again. Do not allow the water to stagnate but instead flush the pot 2-3 times per week.
Please Note. I am not a Phragmipedium grower, but I hope these extracts will be of help to anyone wondering if they could extend their Paph collection into the world of these amazing relatives. The Editor
POPULAR VOTE
Ascocenda Princess Mikasa, Diane Hintz, 1st
Sarcochilus Rosella, Vicki Lodge, 2nd
Dendrobium thyrsiflorum, Conrad Coenen, 3rd
Maxillaria variabilis, Dan Bond ——-
Table display [names checked; *= please change your label]
This month’s display was notable not only for the number of plants but the stories that came with them – including Barry’s description of wife Libby ‘wearing’ Cym Cricket to the National Expo (where it was awarded Grand Champion) and John Edwards trialling his Den nobile orchids in charcoal.
Audrey Hewson: Epidendrum Pacific Whisper* (Pacific Eclipse x Pacific Canary, reg 2014); Epi Pacific Sunset ‘Powder Puff’; Epi unnamed; Stelis emarginata* (not Pleurothhallis turantus).
Barry Curtis: Rhyncholaeliocattleya Helen Gasko* (Blc George King ‘Serendipity’ AM/AOS x Lc Mem. Alberto Wenzel ‘SVO’, reg 2013); Cattleya Itsa Blue; C (Slc) Hazel Boyd ‘Sunset’; Paphiopedilum Hamana Surf; Sarcochilus Heidi x Brookfield ‘Berry Crush’; Vuylstekeara Yokara x Odontioda Florence Stirling; Oda unnamed; Guaricyclia Happy Angel* (Gcy Kyoguchi x C Brazilian Angel, reg 2020).
Conrad Coenen: C intermedia cintarosa var aquinii x 747 x purpurata var carnea; C intermedia; C intermedia var suavissima; Phragmepedium Jason Fischer; Lycaste sulphurea; Lyc macrobulbon; Lyc Leo; Oncidium Tiger Star; Epicattleya Red Star ‘Gieserland’ x Slc Spring Delight.
Craig Parsons: Wilsonara Golden Remembrance.
Dan Bond: Paph armeniacum; C intermedia var. coerulea ‘Gigi’.
Diane Hintz: Vanda Pakchong Blue; Sarco Kulnura Lemon*(Parma x Roberta, reg 2016); Sarco Kulnura Showdown* (Bunyip x Hot Ice, reg 2017); Sarco Sunvale Peach; Sarco Glowing Embers x Jaydee; Sarco Lara x Snowhart.
Elizabeth Bailey: Sarco Kulnura Rusty ‘Mottle Salmond’; Sarco Kulnura Firemist ‘Red Tip’; 4 x Sarco plants all from the same flask.
Isobel Clotworthy: C Sunset Glow; C Summer Magic ‘Coco’ x Rhyncattleanthe Free Spirit ‘Carmela’; Dendrochilum wenzelii; Sarco Cherie Snow* (hartmannii x Cherie, reg 1996); Sarco Parma ‘Lemon’ x Kulnura Hysteria ‘Whopa’.
John Edwards: Paph Diversion ‘New Orleans’ AM/AOS x Inca ‘Penn Valley’ HCC/AOS; Dendrobium nobile; Den Silky White ‘Yukiko’; Den My Sweet ‘Wink’; Den unnamed x 3.
Les Collenette: Den kingianum x Big K (part of label may be lost)
Sandra Simpson: Dockrillia linguiforme; Doc pugioniformis; C (Sophronitis) coccinea ‘Pepe’ x ‘Camila’; Sarco Bunyip ‘Big Splash’ x Kulnura Dew Drop ‘Quality’; Sarco Heidi x Brookfield ‘Berry Crush’; Sarco hartmannii; Sarco Fiery Glow x Fizzy Dove; Sarco Sunvale Sunspot; Sarco Gerroa; Sarco Ice Magic ‘Tinonee’ x hartmanii ‘Red Snow’.
Stewart McInally: Cymbidium Cricket ‘Libby’ CCC/OCNZ – Conrad estimated more than 600 flowers on the pendulous spikes, quite a feat to move!
Trevor & Pam Signal: Sarco Kulnura Spike; Sarco Madge; Sarco Hedi x spathulatus; Sarco Memoria David Hutchins; Maxillaria echinophyta; Max variabilis; Max pumila.
Tauranga Orchid Society 