Judging was done yesterday morning at the Tauranga Orchid Show with thanks to all the judges who came and participated, some of them from as far as Auckland and Waikato. Then as a sort of ceremonial end to the 2-day show, the trophies were presented yesterday afternoon.
Congratulations to all the winners and our society’s grateful thanks to all the growers who displayed their beautiful flowering orchids to make this one-off May show a delightful destination for visitors. A special thanks to the club members who volunteered during the show to help make it happen and those who were in the ‘set-up’ and ‘clean-up’ gangs. None of it would be possible without our willing club members.
Thomas Brown (right) of the Whangarei Orchid Society receives the Alec Roy Cup for Best Cymbidium from Tauranga Orchid Society president Conrad Coenen. The winning orchid was the species Cymbidium erythrostylum, native to Vietnam. Photo: Sandra Simpson
Tania Langen of Ninox Orchids accepts the trophy for Best Australian Dendrobium, won by their plant on Whangarei stand, Den. bigibbum, also known as the Cooktown orchid and the floral emblem of Queensland. Photo: Sandra Simpson
Lee and Roy Neale of Leroy Orchids retained the Brian Enticott Cup for Best Cattleya, this time with Rhyncholaeliocattleya Village Chief North ‘Green Genius’. Photo: Sandra Simpson
Receiving the Barry Curtis Bowl for Best Oncidiinae on behalf of the absent Cliff Goodchild is Faye Driprose, secretary of the BOP Orchid Society. Photo: Sandra Simpson
Ute Rank, who had bought her multi-stemmed Gomesa crispa all the way from Taranaki, was delighted to win the Natalie Simmonds Trophy for Best Specimen Plant. Photo: Sandra Simpson
Equally delighted with winning Reserve Champion with Bulbophyllum rothschildianum ‘dark’ x self was Hubert Muisers of Ninox Orchids. Photo: Sandra Simpson
Chris Whitby from Hawkes Bay took home two trophies – Best Paphiopediulm and Grand Champion. Here, he is presented with the Grand Champion tray by Conrad Coenen. Photo: Sandra Simpson
Grand Champion and Best Paphiopedilum of the 2023 show is a big flower with a big name! Paphiopedilum (Junko’s Melody x armeniacum) ‘Golden Smile’ x Nori’s Song ‘Golden’. Grown by Chris Whitby of Hawkes Bay.
Reserve Champion was this multi-flowered Bulbophyllum rothschildianum ‘dark’ x self, grown by Ninox Orchids of Whangarei. Photo: Sandra Simpson
Epidendrum-laelio-cattleya (Eplc) Mae Bly ‘Ching Hua Splash’ is a Brassavola-Laelia-Cattleya hybrid, a cross between Epi. mariae and Lc. Ann Follis – and this year has flowered beautifully for me with 5 blooms on one spike!
Photo: Ute Rank
I bought this plant at the Bay of Plenty orchid show in 2016, even though I don’t have much luck flowering anything with Cattleya in it. I think my growing conditions may be too cold as in the Pahoia hills we can be up 4 degrees cooler than in town. But I guess with the mild winter last year, and moving the plants over winter to a spot where they received more sun for warmth and light for a longer period may have helped to get this going.
Trying a new way of potting Cattleya-type orchids – leaving plenty of roots exposed on the surface of the bark. Photo: Ute Rank
Repotting is also an issue for my Cattleyas as I feel they don’t like to be disturbed and can sulk for quite some time (I bought some other varieties in 2014, split them up and none of them has flowered yet!). I am now trying to ‘sit’ Cattleya varieties on top of the bark with as many roots exposed as possible. Seems to work for me.
Mae Bly ‘Ching Hua Splash’ is an Award of Merit winner from the American Orchid Society and has sensational flowers. The big, fragrant, 5-6” flowers have 3 green petals and 2 cream and burgundy petals and a deep burgundy lip with cream highlights. There are usually 2-3 flowers per spike that last about 3 weeks. Mine had 5 flowers on one spike and lasted for about a month from late December.
I found these tips for success and think they’re pretty helpful for this orchid:
• Eplc grow from rhizomes with the newest growth creating the next flowers or re-bloom • High light is one of the keys to creating flower buds to form • Grow in some direct sunlight • Maintain root health. Adhere to proper watering • Allowing the potting media to dry down between waterings and then thoroughly saturate • These varieties need higher light than Phalaenopsis.
Tauranga Orchid Society 