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VOL. 61 No. 1 Our 61

st Year January, 2013

IOS Meetings and Show Dates

Generally, meetings at CBG follow the following schedule: • 11:00 a.m. Meet & Greet • 11:30 a.m. Mentors meeting • 12:30 p.m. Judging starts • 12:30 p.m. Monthly workshop • Short Business Meeting • 1:15 p.m. approx., Speaker begins • Schedule is subject to change as needed. • Please note: There is to be no recording or

videotaping of our meetings or guest speakers without the express written approval by the Illinois Orchid Society.

• January 13

th, Chicago Botanic Gardens

• Board of Directors meeting starting at 9:30 a.m. • General meeting follows schedule above. • Workshop: Kay Perry; Indoor Growing Setups

• Speaker: Jason Fischer of Orchids Limited speaking on Phragmipedium Breeding with an emphasis on P. kovachii

• February 10th, Chicago Botanic Gardens

• Workshop: Seedling repotting and coffee klatch by Loren Pollock

• Speaker: Brittany Payeur talking on Neofinetia

Orchid Events

• 2013 Tamiami International Orchid Festival • Jan 26

th – 27

th, 2013

• Dade Country Fair Expo Center • http://tamiamiorchidfestival.com/ • Orchid Grower’s Guild, “Orchid Quest 2013” • Feb 2

nd – 3

rd

• Alliant Energy Center, Madison WI • http://www.orchidguild.org/orchidquest.html • Batavia Orchid Society Show • February 16

th – 17

th

• DuPage County Fairgrounds • http://bataviaorchidsociety.org/2012%20ORCHID

%20SHOW.htm • Northeastern Wisconsin Orchid Society Show • March 2

nd – 3

rd

• Holliday Inn Neenah Riverwalk, Neenah Wisconsin

• http://newisos.org/orchids-in-the-treetops

President’s Message

Victor Lentini, IOS President

I hope you are excited about 2013 as I am. 2012 was nice but I’m certainly ready to tuck that one away. 2013 is going to be great! Here are random thoughts, since I’m writing this in holiday mode and I’ve turned into Christmas cookie mush. We have many challenges in front of us but that’s what makes us better and allows for greater learning. You just never stop. Now, getting older and retaining the learning…dang it all. I really plan to learn, and I’m not gonna say, ‘from my mistakes’ when it comes to Orchids. A mistake would be to repeat something I already knew and although, yes, I may need a reminder on a thing or two (uh, water please), I just want to get better. I get better from some speakers, but truthfully it’s the society and other growers whom offer the most value. It’s our network and our sources. This is why I can’t stress enough the importance of membership and attendance. I’m excited to bust out my new 2013 IOS calendar. Thank You to Anne Puvalowski, for creating and spearheading that project. If you’re like me I’m always curious what my birth month gets for the orchid photo! A follow up to my article from September 2012 - If you recall, I alarmed you with my Virus article. Yes, it was a bit dramatic but a very real possibility. Like all great research and conclusions, more data, testing and reviewing allows a clearer understanding of your findings. That said, I have changed my conclusion about being whacked with virus. I may have a plant or two that are suspect but the collection was not invaded by virus but rather a fungus. I have taken samples and showed pictures to many reputable growers in the last 3-4 months and virus was never the findings in their eyes. Fungal however was. Where did it come from or how did it start is still unclear. What I have decided is I’m sticking it out with many plants to hope for recovery. I have taken steps to change my growing environment. I am much more cautious to where those misters mist for starters, additionally, considering air movement. I was under the impression, and from reading and listening, ‘gotta

Orchid Opus

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have air movement’. Well, perhaps I took that a bit too far when I had three fans blowing 24/7 in my 11’x7’ room. Uhhh, maybe a bit excessive. Yes, they need air movement but not like that. Been in Hausermann’s, Oak Hill or Natt’s..? Do you feel that wind a blowin’? Not really, maybe in the back where the fan is but that’s about it. Speaking with Gene and Dana over Hausermann’s, it doesn’t need to be all that. They also saw some problems historically in their operation with too much air movement. This is probably the reason for such a rapid spread as well. All that science and biology just blowing around the room clinging from plant to plant seems like a likely scenario, or at least one I can wrap my head around. Since September, I’ve cleaned up my room (bleached and scrubbed), sprayed for pests 2x, parted with many plants�, applied some Sulfur sprays and hydrogen peroxide. We’ll see what

happens. I hope that they’ll recover but won’t fully know for probably at least a year. Those are just some generalities on what I did. You will have to do your own research on amounts and approach. I guess I made some mistakes (HA, HA) but I won’t give up, and have hopefully learned some valuable lessons. Happy Growing in 2013! I wish everybody success, happiness and health. Strap on a big smile and spread it around!

Cheers.

~ Victor

View from the Speaker’s Chair

Anne Puvalowski, 1st Vice President and Program Chairperson

I came, I saw, I got my plant. And as a bonus, I got a beautiful terrarium hand-painted by our youngest member, Clara. Double bonus – the bag also included a box of homemade spice candy from her mom, Chris! But it wasn’t easy. I think everyone who played stole a gift from me at least once. Ok, I know that’s not possible but it seemed like I couldn’t hold on to anything for more than two minutes! Dirty Santa has got to be one of the highlights of our year, and it’s fun to take a break (but only a short one) from orchids and laugh together! The food was delicious as always and the orchids, well, they never disappoint! Many thanks, to our gracious hosts, Orchids by Hausermann for another fabulous Holiday Party, and for the spiked punch and gifts of orchids. I think there must have been a hole in that punch bowl because they just couldn’t seem to keep it filled☺.

During the party Clara commented to me that she is very interested in some of the crosses our January speaker has been making. Can you imagine what a fantastic grower she will be when she is a full-grown orchid enthusiast? (She’ll probably be something like January’s speaker!)

Our January speaker is quite special and we are lucky to have him! Jason Fischer works and helps manage Orchids Limited in Plymouth, Minnesota USA with his father Jerry Fischer. Orchids Limited opened in 1978 in Minnetonka in a small retail greenhouse off of Highway 12. In 1983, Orchids Limited moved to Plymouth where they have grown into a mid-sized operation of 4 greenhouses with 15,000 square feet of growing space, a shade house, and laboratory.

Jason has had a life-long education in orchids mainly from the opportunity to be raised in a family orchid business. Jason’s educational interests were strongly influenced by Japan. He studied the Japanese language and culture for 6 years in high school and at the University of Minnesota. Jason lived in Kyoto, Japan from 2001 to 2003, and upon return decided to import Japanese orchid species and add a new niche to the business.

Having worked for his father since the age of 5, Jason has learned the orchid world from the business and hobbyists perspective. He took interest in orchid hybridization and lab work around 14 years of age, and first started breeding with Phalaenopsis, which later on lead to Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium and miscellaneous hybrids.

Jason’s first lecture on Neofinetia falcata at the Minnesota Orchid Society in 2004 was the kick-off for an amazing journey of lectures across America and Canada. He has a passion for orchids, and the communication skills he developed in Japan as an English teacher have helped him create interesting lectures that won’t put the audience to sleep.

Jason enjoys photographing orchids in situ, and has photographed orchids in situ in Japan, North America, Singapore, Malaysia and Western Australia. Among his many accomplishments, he has lectured for over 30 different orchid societies in the US, Japan and Canada, was a guest speaker at the 19

th & 20

th

World Orchid Conferences, coordinated the Orchids Limited laboratory from 1998 to 2000 and is currently

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in management, breeding and marketing for Orchids Limited.

Bring your wallet and get there early to get first crack at the plants. Or better yet, place your pre-order to make sure you get what you want (and save some money so you can buy more plants!). Pre-orders receive a 10% discount. Just enter “IOS Pre-

order” in the special/notes field when checking out online or mention it on the phone and they will adjust the price.

Hope to see you all in January!

~ Anne

2012-2013 Show Season!

By Diane Mulkerin 3rd

V.P., Away Show Chair

Happy New Year! And let the away shows for 2013 begin! The first one will be the 2

nd and 3

rd of February hosted by the Orchid

Grower’s Guild and held at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison Wisconsin. The next will be close by at the DuPage County Fairgrounds on February 16

th and 17

th

hosted by the Batavia Orchid Society and then followed by the Northeastern Wisconsin Orchid Society Show held at the Holiday Inn Neenah Riverwalk in Neenah Wisconsin on March 2

nd and 3rd. Phew, here we go!

Everyone, get your plants cleaned up, staked up, labeled (with your name and hopefully the name of the plant). Find a box they will all fit in and label the box (with your name). Put together a list of the plants you

are sending, put the list in the box and e-mail it to me ahead of time, if you can. Drop them off the Thursday before the show at one of the locations listed below (or early Friday morning if that works for your drop off host) and then start bringing home the ribbons and stacking up the points! I’m always looking for help to set up the displays on Friday or tear them down on Sunday so if you have the time, please let me know. No experience needed☺

Cheers, ~ Diane

Please call or e-mail for directions and drop-off times at these locations:

Joel Edwards: 195 S. Villa Ave #1, Villa Park, 630-941-1084, edwards.joel@att.net

Lois Cinert: 595 Sharon Way, Bolingbrook, 630-739-1068, George.cinert@att.net

Sue Golan: 599 W. Old Mill Rd., Lake Forest, 847-234-6311, sgolan@aol.com

Diane Mulkerin: 5535 W. Hutchinson, Chicago, 773-480-5491, dmulkerin@lpzoo.org

Vanda Pak Chong Blue Grower: Sherry Maloney

Photo: Katie Payeur

Phalaenopsis Pink Twilight Growers: Kevin O'Rourke

Photo: Katie Payeur

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Memories of Sugarplums

By Lois Cinert, Awards Committee Chairman

Or, if you are an orchid grower, memories of some really beautiful flowers at Hausermann’s at our annual Holiday Party. Our hosts again had a fabulous display of blooming plants for us to choose from to add to our collections. And our members filled the display tables with incredible goodies. And the food table, too.

We could not leave Hausermann’s hungry, either for plants or good, home-cooked food.

Pizza, casseroles, wraps, cheeses, salads, and our most popular desserts filled our tummies. To fill our eyes, our members brought more than 120 plants to satisfy our orchid hunger.

Two plants left with Plant of the Month awards – a charming, well grown Paphiopedilum ‘Angela’, owned by

Cathy Bloome; and a huge, floriferous Cymbidium Strathdon, owned by Jane & Charles High. Many, many plants earned blue ribbons. It seems like the holiday party brings out the best in everyone, plants included.

Ah, the sweet memories!

~ Lois

Current Points for 2012-2013

Location Name Total Pts. Name

Total Pts. Name

Total Pts.

Greenhouse Dixler, J & R 371 Lubin, Barry 75 White, D & P 95

Golan, Sue 510 Rogerson, William 161

Windowsills /Lights

Barten, Patty 10 Legant, Tim 267 Powell, Ellen 120

Bloome, Cathy 99 Lentini, Victor 106 Puvalowski, Anne 107

Brand, Laura 6 Luce-Kopesdy, R 21

Cinert, Lois 17 Maloney, Sherry 80 Seidel, Jerry 139

Manuel, Alex 229

Edwards, Joel 530 Stastny, Jane 1

Engle, Beth 142 Strong, Lin 91

Goodman, Joan 64 Mulkerin, Diane 143 Tan, Allan 8

Hall, Julie 117 Nax, Suki 35 Tirzmalis, Sue 10

Hampton, Renee 1 Nelson, Bil 260 Titterton, George 80

High, C & J 818 Nelson, Synda 179 Tomaszewski, Larry 175

Hodgkins, David 87 Nies, Ann 15 Tribble, Allison 37

Johnson, Carolyn 15 O'Rourke, Kevin 16 Vrabel, Ken 148

Jost, Peter 17 Ortega, Norine 5 Wallace, Dottie 30

Kotowski, Anne 59 Perry, Kay 223 Wheatley, Wade 10

Larsson, Gregor 53 Younghale, B & H 60

Rhynchostylis gigantea Grower: Anne Puvalowski

Photo: Katie Payeur

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Judging Center FCC!

Lois Cinert

Please give hearty congratulations to Alex Manuel, for his newly awarded Paphiopedilum Hilo Citron ‘Alex Manuel’ FCC-AOS (90 points).

The flower was awarded at the

Chicago Judging Center meeting on December 9

th. While we

always see excellent flowers at the Center and at our shows, we have not seen one of this quality for quite some time. There have

been high awards at away shows, and we have awarded growers for excellent culture. But we have

not had an FCC flower since 2005. It is an accomplishment.

Alex also brought another

Paphiopedilum Hilo Citron, and that one earned and AM-AOS of 80 points. Alex had a really good day, after some really good growing.

Membership Renewals

By George Titterton

Happy New Year!! And Welcome to our newest members

Susan Randell, Debra K. Boyd, and Steve Gonzalez +1 We have all sorts of new members! Please look for them at our January meeting. They have badges with smiley faces. More than likely these new members will have all sorts of questions. So everyone do your best to make them feel welcome and introduce yourselves!! We had a wonderful holiday party at Hausermann’s Orchids. Thank you to all of those members who made the effort to renew at the party. It really is a great help to membership to have you do this in person. So again: Thank you all very much. I will be at the January meeting accepting checks or cash. Please come prepared to renew your membership, if you have not done so already. And, to those members who will be missing the meeting, and have left already for warmer climes…… Can you see my tongue?? ☺

If you wish to mail me your renewal, please mail your checks to: George Titterton 1068 West Catalpa, #K3 Chicago, IL 60640 Make your checks payable to : Illinois Orchid Society. Send your snarky post cards too!! Once I receive your renewal dues I will mail you your new badge. The January meeting is one of my most favorite meetings as so many unusual orchids are in bloom. The weather might just be better than you think! Please plan on attending to see what comes in for judging. Happy New Year and good growing!! ~ George

Alex and his winning Paphiopedilum Photo: Lois Cinert

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Home Show Report

By Rose Matchen, Home Show Chair

Happy New Year! May everyone have a healthy

prosperous 2013! ‘Tis the season for resolutions - what does your list look like?

• Will exercise more …

• Will not overspend on orchids in January …

• Will check out the updated IOS website, THANK YOU TOM! ….

• Will be better organized …

• Will mark the calendar for the spring show April 6th & 7th.

• Will attempt not to drown any orchids …

• Will not overspend on orchids unless I’m at the Madison show in February or at Hausermann’s annual open house ….

• Will do the taxes in March if not already done so ….

• Will VOLUNTEER at the spring show in April

• Will have my income tax return before the deadline so it can be spent at the show!

• Will check out the Help Wanted page in this newsletter, so many hands make less work for all club members!

See you in January!

~ Rose

Writing Contest 2013….Do you have it on your Calendar?

By Beth Engle, Assistant Secretary, Orchid Opus Editor Happy New Year! I announced the 2013 edition of our 2

nd Annual IOS essay contest in the December 2012 edition of our Orchid

Opus. I’ve learned that ‘if it doesn’t get on the calendar, it doesn’t get done’, so please put it on your new 2013 editions. The deadlines will be here before you know it, and you don’t want to miss your opportunity. Here are the ‘rules of engagement’ for the contest:

• Topic of the Essay: My Orchid collection is…

• The essay must be an original, unpublished essay (prose only).

• The contest is open to all persons.

• Due date for all submissions is by 4/1/2013 11:50 p.m.

• No submissions will be accepted later than 4/1/2013 11:50 p.m.

• Submissions must be a minimum of 500 words, and no more than 5,000 words, in length.

• Manuscripts must be submitted in English, in a Microsoft Word format, and must be e-mailed to iosoceditor@gmail.com

• Submissions will be judged without knowledge of the identity of the author. The decisions of the judges’ are final.

• Artwork is not necessary for entering this competition, but will be published with winning essay, if possible.

• Published entries will not be eligible for consideration in subsequent contests.

• Winners will be announced at the June 2013 meeting.

• Winning essays to be published in subsequent editions of the IOS ‘Orchid Opus’.

• Winners will be paid via check after the June meeting:

o 1st Place: $50.00

o 2nd

Place: $25.00 o 3

rd Place: $25.00

Best Luck to all authors!! Now, get those fingers limbered up and start typing! ~ Beth

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HELP WANTED

The IOS needs your skills! We are looking for interested parties to help in the following positions which will vary on time demands. Please contact the indicated board member for more info or to volunteer. Children's Table Supervisor/Assistant Person(s) needed to interact with the kids, hand out supplies, etc. during show hours. The IOS furnishes supplies. If you enjoy working with children & seeing how creative they can be, this is for you! Contact Kathy Garness: 708-366-7584 or kmgfinearts@comcast.net. Hospitality Co-Chair / Assistants A chairperson & assistants are needed to accept & organize donations, set up & man the hospitality room to feed judges & volunteers during our shows, 2 weekends a year. Contact Joni Kurtenbach: denjck@gmail.com. Librarian Compile list of books available for the general membership, keep it updated. Bring or pick up books at meetings, keep track of who checked out what material, etc. Contact Victor Lentini: 773-763-6363 or f1orchid@me.com Membership Committee Assist with development and expansion of the IOS membership. Computer skills required Contact Victor Lentini: 773-763-6363 or f1orchid@me.com

Public Relations Do you have knowledge, experience & contacts on how to promote our shows & obtain sponsors in this ever changing world of advertising? We need you! Contact Victor Lentini: 773-763-6363 or f1orchid@me.com Show co-chair / assistant Learn the ins & outs of running an orchid show by assisting the show chair through various tasks before & during the show. Contact Rose Matchen: 847-587-6525 or goldrosey@comcast.net Ways & Means Committee Help plan and support the Society’s fundraising activities. Contact Anne Nies: 630-595-1891 or anneknies@me.com

Plant of the Month Cymbidium Strathdon

Grower: Chuck and Jane High Photo: Katie Payeur

Cattleya Clark Herman

Grower: Ellen Powell

Photo: Katie Payeur

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From the American Orchid Society

Monthly Checklist for January and February

Cattleya trianae 'Mary Fennel' HCC/AOS is a good example of this winter-blooming species.

Cattleya

Watering and fertilizing will be at a minimum, as will potting. Be on the lookout for senescing sheaths on your winter-into-spring bloomers. Careful removal of the dying sheaths will still allow buds to develop without the danger of condensation-induced rot. Low light will lead to weak spikes, so, and as noted above, staking is critical. If you have a chance to get out to nurseries, there may still be a chance to acquire good plants in sheath for spring bloom. Getting them now not only ensures that you'll have them, but allows them to acclimate to your conditions and bloom at their best.

Cymbidium

We are well into the flowering season now. Outdoor growers should be cautious of freezing temperatures. Damage starts to occur below 30F. Be diligent about tying the inflorescences for best arrangement of the flowers. Also watch closely for slugs and snails. If weather is quite wet, protect the plants from the rain and this will help to reduce the risk of botrytis spotting.

Lycaste

The most glorious of all orchids, Lycaste, will be moving toward their flowering season. Make sure the palm-like leaves do not interfere with the emerging inflorescences. Tying them loosely

together often is helpful. Some growers cut the leaves off at the pseudobulb, but this removes part of the attractiveness of this elegant orchid. Resist picking up the plant to inspect those beautiful buds and then setting it down in all different directions as the flower buds will be forced to re-orient themselves to the light source each time and will not open as nicely as they should. Keep plants a little drier during the shorter days.

Odontoglossums

Odontoglossum and their intergeneric hybrids offer a great splash of color now. Though once thought of as being difficult to grow and requiring cool temperatures due to the emphasis on Odontoglossum breeding, the new intergeneric hybrids made using Oncidium and Brassia, for example, are just the opposite. These plants are quite content in more intermediate conditions. New growths generally emerge in the spring, later forming beautiful plump pseudobulbs. Look for the flower spikes to emerge from the inner sheath of the pseudobulb. If your plant's pseudobulbs are shriveled, then the plants have been kept too dry or too wet. Inspect the roots to determine which condition prevailed. If the lead pseudobulb is large, plump, and green (and back bulbs are shriveled) but no flower spike is evident, the plants may have been kept too dry.

Paphiopedilum

The standard Paphiopedilum insigne-derived hybrids, which are called "bull dogs" and "toads," are at their peak. Unlike most other orchids, they can even be potted while in bud. There really is no wrong time to pot a Paphiopedilum, and no other orchid responds so favorably to fresh mix and a cleanup. Keep an eye on watering until roots begin

to grow.

In the fall Phalaenopsis should start initiating flower spikes. Inflorescences’ should be well developed by mid-January.

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Phalaenopsis

Now is the peak of spike development, with the first plants in full flower. Staking and plant preparation is a must for those all-important spring shows. Correct staking now will give a better display and also make it much easier to transport to your society meetings and shows. Care with watering is vital to avoid mechanical damage to the flowers, as well as rot-related problems. Keep spent blooms cleaned up to avoid botrytis inoculation. Do not repot this month. Now you'll be seeing lots of Phalaenopsis at orchid shows and sales.

Zygopetalum

For the most part, the flowering season will have ended for this group, providing the grower a chance to do some repotting. The plants will then have a chance to become well established before the hotter months of summer arrive. Most growers use bark mixes, but some exceptional results have been seen lately using rock-wool blends. You may want to try this mix, but do not change your whole collection over to this new media until you are sure it is right for you. First, experiment with a few plants to see how they respond.

Ned Nash and James Rose wrote this essay for the AOS website.

Prosthechea cochleata Grower: Ken Vrabel Photo: Katie Payeur

Potinara Dick Smith Grower: Anne Puvalowski

Photo: Katie Payeur

Epicattleya Volcano Trick Grower: Sue Golan Photo: Katie Payeur

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IOS IOS IOS IOS Holiday Party 2013Holiday Party 2013Holiday Party 2013Holiday Party 2013

Ed. Note: The IOS Holiday Party 2012 was a great time. The food was both tasty and copious, as was the fun! The gift exchange was hilarious, with both Anne P. and Clara having their gifts stolen almost as fast as they could get them back to their tables and unwrapped. Who knew that a small bale of long-fiber sphagnum moss could cause such coveting?! Live plants were certainly the pick items, causing the most stealing; those poor plants were dizzy

from changing hands so much!

Photos: Katie Payeur

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Officers and Board Members

Officers (Terms of office are from July 1 until June 30):

President Victor Lentini 773-763-6363 f1orchid@me.com 1

st Vice President (Meetings/speakers) Anne Puvalowski 224-699-9021 apuvalow@hotmail.com

2nd

Vice President (Home Show Chair) Rose Matchen 847-587-6525 goldrosey@att.net 3

rd Vice President (Away show chair) Diane Mulkerin 312-742-2376 iosawaychair@gmail.com

Secretary (Recorder) Justine Bricheno 773-244-9488 justinebricheno@yahoo.com Asst. Secretary (Newsletter Editor) Beth Engle 815-886-4953 IOSOCeditor@gmail.com Treasurer (Collects/disburses monies) Timothy Legant 773-266-3432 thl@speakeasy.net Asst. Treasurer (Membership/ Dues) George Titterton 773-989-9044 getinteriors@juno.com Immediate Past President Loren Pollock 847-219-0718 b_rand@yahoo.com Board Members (Terms of office expire June 30 of the year shown):

Joe Dixler 2013 847-432-7708 jmd@dixler.net

Joan Goodman 2013 847-470-0469 joangoodman2002@yahoo.com

Ron Payeur 2014 574-247-1065 rpkpbp@earthlink.net

Open 2014

Katie Payeur 2015 574-247-1065 rpkpbp@earthlink.net

Ellen Powell 2015 847-249-2120 orchidlover5708@att.net

Kathleen Garness 2016 708-366-7584 kmgfinearts@comcast.net

Anne Nies (Technical Director) 2016 630-595-1891 anneknies@me.com

IOS Affiliations

http://www.orchidconservationcoalition.org

http://www.orchiddigest.com

http://www.aos.org

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Support Our Sponsors!

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