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RHS Orchid Awards

Clare and Johan hermans describe the best plants submitted to the RHS Orchid Committee for judging

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RHS Awards23 October 2012 The RHS Orchid Committee met at the RHS Lawrence Hall, Westminster. Twelve plants were exhibited; two Awards of Merit were recommended.

Award of Meritn For Phragmipedium Peruflora’s Cirila Alca ‘Le Vier Fort’ 1 remade, raised and exhibited by the Eric Young Orchid Foundation, Jersey. Votes were unanimous. The parents are Phragmipedium kovachii and P. dalessandroi, and the cross was registered by Peruflora in 2007. The cultivar ‘Le Vier Fort’ was an outstanding example of this grex, which is one of the most attractive primary hybrids using P. kovachii as a parent. The flower was a warm pink colour with pale yellow inside the pouch, and it had an excellent shape.

The plant exhibited had one 35cm spike with one open flower. Overall flower size was 75 x 100mm. The dorsal sepal was a paler pink, and measured 40 x 25mm. The synsepal was pale green, and measured 35 x 26mm. The petals measured 55 x 40mm; the pouch was 35 x 27mm and 25mm deep; the staminode was cream with pink hairs, and 18mm wide.

Award of Meritn For Cymbidium Magic Chocolate ‘Orchidiva’ 2 raised and exhibited by Peter White, Banbury, Oxfordshire. Votes were unanimous. The parents were Cymbidium erythraeum and C. Vogel’s Magic. The plant was judged as an unregistered grex; it was subsequently registered.

The graceful flowers were well spaced on the spike and had a striking colour, pale green with dark red-brown markings, and a contrasting white lip with red spots and markings. It combined the natural elegance of C. erythraeum with the colouration and substance of C. Vogel’s Magic.

The flowers are long-lasting.The plant exhibited had two

69cm arching spikes, one with fourteen open flowers and six buds; the other was in bud only. The overall flower size was 35 x 60mm. The dorsal sepal measured 30 x 10mm. The lateral sepals were 26 x 9mm at the widest point. The petals measured 32 x 6mm at their widest. The lip measured 25 x 20mm; and the column was white-green in colour, with red stripes, and measured 13mm long.

Annual RHS Awards23 October 2012 The RHS Orchid Committee also decided the recipients of two annual medals.

George Moore Medal This is awarded each year for the best Paphiopedilum or Phragmipedium shown to the Orchid Committee in the previous year. It was awarded to the Eric Young Orchid Foundation, Jersey, for Phragmipedium Peruflora’s Cirila Alca ‘Le Vier Fort’ (see 1 p42).

Westonbirt Medal This is was awarded each year to the best specimen plant shown to the Orchid Committee in the previous year. It was awarded to David Martin for Cymbidium Sweet Devon ‘Sweet’ 3 , exhibited on the Orchid Society

of Great Britain’s stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show (see September 2012 Orchid Rev. 120: p177).Da

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Phragmipedium Peruflora’s Cirila Alca ‘Le Vier Fort’, Award of Merit

Cymbidium Magic Chocolate, Award of Merit

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mauve coloration with a contrasting white lip with mauve stripes.

The plant exhibited had two spikes, 650mm and 570mm tall, one with twelve open flowers and five buds, the other with sixteen open flowers and one bud. The overall flower size was 90 x 60mm. The dorsal sepal was tan in colour, and measured 45 x 20mm at the widest point. The lateral sepals were 45 x 20mm at their widest point. The petals were tan in colour with mauve at the centre, they measured 35 x 15mm; the lip was white with a mauve central callus, and mauve stripes, and measured 50 x 32mm; the column was tan, and measured 15mm long.

Grower’s adviceOncidium wyattianum ‘Pomarium’

“ I have had this plant for three years and I am fortunate that it is a vigorous grower. It is kept

in a small, cool section of my greenhouse, which is given as much light and ventilation as possible, with a fan to create air movement. The minimum temperature is 10°c and I try to keep it below 21°c in summer. The plant is sprayed most mornings with a foliar feed and the compost is kept moist all year round, although it requires less water in winter. I use various fertilizers in a rainwater/tap water mix, at a pH around 6.8, and a strength below 500 microsiemens. The compost is my own mix of medium and fine bark, with added sponge and perlite. The plant has recently been repotted and now has two new growths. I have high hopes that this plant has not yet reached its full potential. ” Arthur Deakin

Award of Meritn For Masdevallia Memoria Barry Firby ‘Anne’ 6 . The plant was exhibited by Ellis Eyre, North Wheatley, Retford. Votes were fifteen in favour, two against. The parents of this cross are Masdevallia Sun Dancer and M. Harlequin. The cross was made by C Halls and registered by Ellis Eyre in 2012. The flowers were a vibrant, bright orange with mauve stripes, and were held just above the leaves.

The plant exhibited had sixteen open flowers on sixteen 150mm tall flowerstems. The overall flower size was 80 x 25mm wide measured to the tips of the tails. The dorsal sepal measured 40 x 14mm. The lateral sepals measured 45 x 12mm. The petals measured 3 x 1mm. The lip was hinged, and a reddish-mauve colour, and it measured 4 x 2mm.

RHS Awards 27 October 2012 The RHS Orchid Committee met at the British Orchid Council Congress at Writhlington School, Radstock, Bath. Twenty seven plants were exhibited; four Awards of Merit, two Certificates of Preliminary Commendation, one Botanical Certificate, three Certificates of Cultural Commendation and one Certificate of Appreciation were recommended.

Award of Meritn For Oncidium wyattianum ‘Pomarium’ 4 and 5 exhibited by Arthur Deakin,

Newark, Nottinghamshire. Votes were thirteen in favour, two against. This interesting species comes from Peru and was first shown to the Orchid Committee in January 1928, by Messrs Sanders, as Odontoglossum wyattianum. It then received a Botanical Certificate from the RHS Scientific Committee and was subsequently described as a new species in The Orchid Review. It is closely related to Oncidum harryanum. The species was first obtained from the Rev. Paul Wyatt in Bedford who had received it from a friend in Peru. The flowers had an attractive tan and

David Ridgeway

Oncidium wyattianum ‘Pomarium’

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Oncidium wyattianum ‘Pomarium’, Award of Merit

Masdevallia Memoria Barry Firby 'Anne', Award of Merit

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110mm. The dorsal sepal measured 60 x 28mm. The lateral sepals measured 60 x 25mm. The petals were 50 x 30mm. The lip had a yellow callus at the throat, and measured 45 x 45mm. The column was white to mauve, and 12mm long.

Award of Meritn For Cycnodes Taiwan Gold ‘Anja’ 9 and 10 exhibited by Hilmar Bauch. Asendorfer Orchideenzucht, Asendorf, Germany. Votes were nine in favour, three against. The parents were Cycnoches chlorochilon and Mormodes badia and it was registered by Orchis Floriculturing in 2004. The flowers were pleasantly scented and were bright yellow tinged with green. The Orchid Committee recognized that there is some controversy over the nomenclature of the grex and judged the plant as shown by the exhibitor.

The plant exhibited had one 400mm pendant spike with twelve

open flowers. The overall flower size was 60 x 70mm. The dorsal sepal measured 40 x 15mm at the widest point. The lateral sepals measured 40 x 24mm at their widest. The petals were 27 x 20mm wide at their widest. The lip was 30 x 32mm at its widest, and the column was yellow-green in colour and measured 20mm long.

Award of Meritn For Fredclarkeara After Dark ‘Anja’ 11 and 12 exhibited by Hilmar Bauch, Asendorfer Orchideenzucht, Asendorf, Germany. Votes were unanimous. The parents of this hybrid are Mormodia Painted Desert and Catasetum Donna Wise and it was made and registered by Fred Clarke in 2002.

The plant exhibited had one 300mm pendant spike with fourteen open flowers and two buds. The flowers were a very dark red almost black in colour with the only other colour being the white underside of

the column. The Committee thought that the colour and shape of the flowers was outstanding.

The overall flower size was 30 x 44mm. The dorsal sepal measured 28 x 10mm. The lateral sepals were 30 x 12mm. The petals measured 25 x 15mm. The lip was 25 x 15mm, and the column was 10mm long.

Certificate of Preliminary Commendation n For Phragmipedium Memoria Mariza Rolando ‘Portelet Tower’ 13 remade, raised and exhibited by the Eric Young Orchid Foundation, Jersey. Votes were unanimous. The parents are Phragmipedium kovachii and P. Hanne Popow. The cross was registered by Alfredo Manrique, Piping Rock Orchids in 2007. The flower was pale pink with a contrasting deep rose-pink pouch, which was white inside, with pink spots, and a yellow throat.

The plant exhibited had one

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Grower’s advice Masdevallia Memoria Barry Firby ‘Anne’

“ I acquired this plant in 2010 from C Halls, and it has grown very well for me. My potting mix for this plant is 60% New Zealand sphagnum moss, 20% sponge foam and 20% sponge rock. I only use reverse osmosis water because I live close to two power stations and find my rainwater is very acidic. I use Akernes Rain Mix fertilizer, at 300ppm from March to June, increase it to 600ppm through the longest days, and drop down to no feed in winter. The minimum temperature is 10°c at night. I aim for daytime temperatures of around 15°c. This is not always possible in summer so I do the best I can using extractor fans and aluminium shade cloth (see p51). I maintain high humidity when the fans are running because they take out the humidity as well as the heat. I do not use artificial lighting in any of my greenhouses. ” Ellis Eyre

Award of Meritn For Oncidopsis La Robeline ‘Lewis Tower’ 7 and 8 raised and exhibited by the Eric Young Orchid Foundation, Jersey. Votes were eleven in favour. The parents are Oncidopsis Saint Aubin and Oncidium Mont a L’Abbe and it was registered by the Foundation in 2008. The flowers were an excellent shape and were an attractive mauve colour, with dark red spots and white edges to the spots, with a contrasting white lip with red spots and mauve markings.

The plant exhibited had two flower spikes, 87cm and 72cm tall. One spike had eight open flowers and the other had nine open flowers and one bud. The overall flower size was 110 x

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Cycnodes Taiwan Gold ‘Anja'

Cycnodes Taiwan Gold ‘Anja',

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Oncidopsis La Robeline 'Lewis Tower’,

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250mm spike with one open flower. The overall flower size was 75 x 82mm. The dorsal sepal measured 30 x 20mm. The synsepal was 25 x 22mm. The petals measured 42 x 30mm. The pouch was 35 x 25mm and 35mm deep, and the staminode was a pink-cream colour, and measured 12mm wide.

Certificate of Preliminary Commendation n For Phragmipedium Memoria Mariza Rolando ‘Le Hurel Tower’ 14 remade, raised and exhibited by the Eric Young Orchid Foundation, Jersey. Votes were eight in favour, three against. The parents are Phragmipedium kovachii and P. Hanne Popow. The yellow form of Phragmipedium besseae was used in making the P. Hanne Popow parent and helped to create the subtler tone of colour in the cultivar ‘Le Hurel Tower’. The flower was pale pink with a contrasting rose-white pouch,

with dense pink spots. The inside of the pouch was white with deep pink spots, and it was yellow at the throat.

The plant exhibited had a 180mm spike with one open flower and one bud. The overall flower size was 65 x 100mm. The dorsal sepal measured 35 x 20mm. The synsepal was 30 x

22mm. The petals measured 50 x 40mm. The pouch was 35 x 30mm, and 35mm deep. The staminode was yellow, and measured 14mm long.

Botanical Certificate n For Zootrophion argus ‘Eva May’ 15 exhibited by Ellis Eyre, North Wheatley, Retford. Votes were twelve in favour, three against. The Botanical Certificate was awarded to encourage cultivation of the species, which had very large flowers for the genus, and attractive deep-green leaves with dark red undersides. The species comes from Colombia and was described by Kraenzlin in 1921 from one of

Reichenbach’s herbarium specimens.The plant exhibited had eleven

open flowers and three buds. The overall flower size was 40 x 20mm. The flowers were cream with red spots, and bright yellow inside. The dorsal sepal measured 65 x 30mm. The lateral sepals were 45 x 27mm at the widest point. The petals were red, and measured 5 x 3mm. The lip was yellow and measured 5 x 2mm.

Grower’s adviceZootrophion argus ‘Eva May’

“ I bought this plant from Malcolm Perry in 2004. I use reverse osmosis (RO) water and add Akernes Rain Mix fertilizer. I find it works very well with RO water despite being made for use with rainwater. I use it at a strength of 300ppm from March to June, then increase it to 600ppm for the summer months, and drop down to none through the winter months.

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Fredclarkeara After Dark ‘Anja', Award of Merit

Fredclarkeara After Dark ‘Anja'

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Phragmipedium Memoria Mariza Rolando ‘Portelet Tower’, Certificate of Preliminary Commendation

Phragmipedium Memoria Mariza Rolando ‘Le Hurel Tower’, Certificate of Preliminary Commendation

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I am trying a new brand of cocnut fibre chips with this plant, and it seems successful. The chips are from Botanicoir, and have less salts in them than previous brands I have used, but I still soak it twice before use.

The shading mentioned in the article for Masdevallia Memoria Barry Firby ‘Anne’ is the same for this greenhouse. I have devised an inexpensive method of attaching my shading so it can be easily and quickly adjusted. I have attached a framework of 25mm-diameter water pipe over the top bar of the greenhouse (see below). I then fastened my shading along the top bar, and tied a length of cord onto each corner of the shading so I can pull it up or down as required. This means that when I am at home I can adjust the light levels easily, as necessary. ” Ellis Eyre

Certificate of Cultural Commendation n To Writhlington School, Radstock, Bath for Coelogyne fimbriata ‘Writhlington’ 16 and 17 . The plant exhibited measured 130cm across and had approximately two hundred flower spikes, with about one hundred and eighty open flowers. Votes were ten in favour, four against. The gardener was Zoe Parfitt. There have been

numerous Certificates of Cultural Commendation for this species but the cultivar ‘Writhlington’ was the largest plant seen by the Committee for many years. This species comes from the subtropical Himalayas, China, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam to Peninsular Malaysia. The scrambling habit characterized by the cultivar ‘Writhlington’ has been observed by Simon Pugh-Jones and Writhlington pupils to occur in plants from Laos.

Grower’s adviceCoelogyne fimbriata ‘Writhlington’

“ This plant was a donation to the Writhlington School Orchid Project from a private grower in 1994. It was a small plant, with a noticeably straggly habit due to its long rhizomes and long thin pseudobulbs, hence very distinct from other clones we had of this species. The habit seemed better suited to a basket than a pot and so it lived for several years in a 15cm pond basket. While on school trips to Sikkim and Laos we saw this species growing in the wild and began to appreciate its variability, particularly in its growth habit. We have seen several very large specimens filling the lower branches of trees, in the forests of Laos, with a similar habit to

our clone. Seeing these wild specimens inspired us to allow our plant to develop its true character, so we moved it into a large metal hanging basket in 2005, to which we add a fresh layer of moss every year. We keep it well-watered all year round in our Cool Asia green-house, hosing it most days. It now looks very like the large forest specimens we saw in Laos, and we are delighted that its grand scale and subtle charm were recognized by the RHS Orchid Committee. ” Zoe Parfitt and Simon Pugh-Jones

Certificate of Cultural Commendation n To Ellis Eyre, North Wheatley, Retford, for Zootrophion argus ‘Eva May’ 15 . The plant exhibited was 33cm across and had eleven open flowers. It was growing in a 26cm diameter pot. Votes were fifteen in favour. For full details see p48.

Certificate of Cultural Commendation n To Steve Manning, Nantwich, Cheshire for Anathallis funerea ‘Estover’ 18 . The plant exhibited measured 150mm across, and had approximately one hundred and twenty open flowers. It was growing on a 26cm-long mount. Votes were fourteen in favour, one against. This species has a wide distribution in southern tropical America. In recent years it has been known under the names of Specklinia funerea and Pleuro-thallis funerea. The cultivar ‘Estover’ was a very well-grown specimen.

Grower’s adviceAnathallis funerea ‘Estover’

“ This plant seems happiest on a horizontal mount, which is where it has been for the last five to seven years. The mount

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Zootrophion argus ‘Eva May’, Botanical Certificate

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Coelogyne fimbriata ‘Writhlington’

Coelogyne fimbriata ‘Writhlington’, Certificate of Cultural Commendation

Ellis Eyre's smaller greenhouse. He has added a water-pipe framework to make moving the shading quicker and easier

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is suspended from wire mesh (formerly fencing), which in turn is suspended from the roof of the greenhouse. Despite not being in contact with any other plant, and above head height, it has suffered two infestations of woodlice, which have now been eradicated, thanks to a garlic spray not intended for that purpose. In winter the temperature varies from 9–14°c in the day, and 6–10°c at night. In summer this rises by around 3–4°c day and night. I wish I could get a bigger differentiation. In dry periods, winter as well as summer, I spray daily using rainwater, but in more humid seasons this is reduced to just once or twice a week. The plant gets an occasional dunking in fertilizer (not exceeding 300ppm) when I remember. Excellent air movement is maintained with the fans on for 45 minutes, then off for 15 minutes, for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. I like to see leaf movement through- out the greenhouse. I try to maintain high humidity, and stand my plant pots on mesh above trays of water-retaining expanded clay balls, but despite this I sometimes need to flood the floor too. My plant has survived the taxonomic vicissitudes with no noticeable effects. ” Steve Manning

Certificate of Appreciation n To Max Hopkinson, Nottingham, for Catasetum Fanfair ‘Kate’ 19 , 20 and 21 . The plant exhibited had two spikes, one with five female flowers and the other with sixteen male flowers. Votes were twelve in favour, three against. The Certificate of Appreciation was awarded because there were both male and female

flowers open at the same time on one plant. The two flower types are so distinct that it was obvious why this species had in the past been described under multiple names. In 1991, the cultivar ‘Barabel’ received an Award of Merit (see Orchid Rev. 99: p418, 419).

Grower’s adviceCatasetum Fanfair ‘Kate’

“ I grow this plant with my other Catasetum species and hybrids. They like a lot of light so I hang them up in the roof of the greenhouse. The leaves are fairly tender and will burn easily in direct sunlight so some shading is necessary in the height of summer, from the middle of April through to August. The greenhouse is lined with bubble polythene, which reduces the light to a certain extent, meaning shading is not necessary at other times of year. The usual minimum night temperature is 15°c, and I try to avoid letting the temperature

rise above 32°c on warm days.During the growing season,

once the roots are starting to grow, I water once a week with half-strength feed. One week I use high-nitrogen fertilizer, followed the next week by high-potash feed. The reason for this is that the plants are not able to take up all the nitrogen, so this avoids needing to wash through the compost with plain water. This feeding regime runs from the beginning of the growing season, in spring, to autumn. When the leaves start to turn yellow in the autumn, I stop watering altogether and allow the plants to dry out totally. At this stage the majority of the leaves will fall off. As a side note, there are one or two species that tend to hold their leaves for two or three years, but they drop them eventually. During this dry period I do not spray, but I tend to keep the greenhouse atmos-phere rather humid. I avoid

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Catasetum Fanfair ‘Kate’, Certificate of Appreciation

A male flower of Catasetum Fanfair ‘Kate’

The female flowers of Catasetum Fanfair ‘Kate’

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Anathallis funerea ‘Estover’, Certificate of Cultural Commendation

letting the Catasetum plants get too wet during this period when they are not in active growth because the pseudobulbs, especially the back bulbs, are very prone to rotting in damp conditions. ” Max Hopkinson

RHS Awards20 November 2012 The RHS Orchid Committee met at the Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Ten plants were submitted, one Award of Merit was recommended.

Award of Merit n For Oncidium La Retraite ‘Keppel Tower’ 22 and 23 raised and exhibited by the Eric Young Orchid Foundation, Jersey. Votes were unanimous. The parents are Oncidium Moulin de Fliquet and O. La Catillon, and the cross was registered by the Foundation in 2008. The cultivar ‘Keppel Tower’ had excellent substance and shape with a very well formed lip. The attractive colouration of a white background with large burgundy-red blotches and

well-spaced flowers on the spike were appreciated by the Committee.

The cut flower spike exhibited had ten open flowers. The overall flower size was 89 x 90mm. The dorsal sepal measured 50 x 35mm. The lateral sepals measured 50 x 35mm. The petals measured 42 x 42mm. The lip was white, with central red spots, a yellow callus, and was yellow at the throat, and measured 40 x 22mm. The column was white to burgundy-red and it measured 15mm long.

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Oncidium La Retraite ‘Keppel Tower’, Award of Merit

Oncidium La Retraite ‘Keppel Tower’

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RHS Awards10 December 2012 The RHS Orchid Committee met at McBean’s Orchids, Cooksbridge, Lewes, East Sussex. Twelve plants were submitted; two Awards of Merit, one Botanical Certificate and two Certificates of Cultural Commendation were recommended.

Award of Meritn Miltoniopsis roezlii ‘Archirondel Tower’ 24 and 25 raised and exhibited by the Eric Young Orchid Foundation, Jersey. Votes were twelve in favour. This was the very attractive golden-yellow variant of the species. It has been referred to as both ‘‘var. xanthina’’ and the xanthine form but it does not seem to have been described formally in the literature. This species has also been known as Odontoglossum roezlii and Miltonia roezlii. It was first described by Reichenbach in 1873 and comes from Panama through to Ecuador. Var. alba, which is white with a yellow splash on the lip,

received an Award of Merit in 1896 (Orchid Rev. 4: p186). The species itself has pink-purple splashes at the base of the petals too, and received an Award of Merit in 1965 (Orchid Rev. 73: p392; and 81: p174). The cultivar ‘Archirondel Tower’ was a different colour from the other Miltoniopsis roezlii plants the Committee had previously seen. It had very attractive, bright, canary- yellow flowers, with a darker yellow waterfall effect in the centre of the lip. This cultivar originated from Colombia.

The plant exhibited had two 24cm tall stems each with four open flowers. The overall flower size was 70 x 70mm. The dorsal sepal measured 30 x 20mm at the widest point. The lateral sepals were 40 x 14mm. The petals were 20 x 35mm . The lip was 42 x 50mm, and the yellow column was 6mm long.

Award of Meritn Cattleya maxima ‘Golden Jubilee’ 26 raised and exhibited by Suwada Orchid Nursery, Ichikawa, Chiba,

Japan. Votes were thirteen in favour. The species comes from Colombia, Peru and Ecuador. It occurs in nature in two forms, one is shorter growing, with fewer but darker flowers, and is known as the upland form. The low-land form is taller, with more flowers, in a paler colour. ‘Golden Jubilee’ is a sibling cross of two named cultivars, C. maxima ‘Fukue’ and C. maxima ‘Suwada’, which are one each of these distinct forms. This resulted in flowers that had very good colour and excellent shape. The segments of the flower were more substantial than those commonly seen in the species. Cattleya maxima has had two previous First Class Certificates awarded in 1867 and 1885. This was before the Orchid Committee started having the awarded plants painted.

The cut spike exhibited had ten open flowers, magenta coloured, and a purple-veined lip, with a central yellow stripe. The overall flower size was 120 x 140mm. The dorsal sepal was 70 x 20mm at the widest point.

The lateral sepals were 70 x 20mm at their widest. The petals were 70 x 20mm. The lip was 70 x 30mm, and the white column was 30mm long.

Grower’s adviceCattleya maxima ‘Golden Jubilee’

“ This C. maxima sibling cross (‘Fukue’ x ‘Suwada’) is a very strong grower, and it produces top quality flowers. Plants from one seedpod of this sibling cross were awarded four Silver medals, three Bronze medals and an Award of Quality by the Japan Orchid Growers Assoc-iation judges, and on the same day they also received three Silver medals and three Bronze medals from the show judges. It is very unusual to get so many awards from one seedpod. Cattleya maxima is a quick and easy grower. Our C. maxima plants are grown with strong light, under 35% shade cloth. In winter they are in a heated greenhouse with a maximum temperature of 25°c, and a low of 12°c. In summer the maximum is 40°c, with a low of about 25°c. Our plants are grown in what we call soft clay pots. They are made by hand and very porous, as opposed to the machine-pressed, hard clay pots available in the UK, and in Japan. Soft clay pots are very lightweight and quick to dry, so filled with New Zealand sphagnum moss, they create similar conditions to those found in the C. maxima habitat. They allow us to water heavily in the hottest months when C. maxima grows very quickly. We give these plants a lot of fertilizer during the growing period, from spring to autumn. We use a Hawaiian fertilizer, Gaviota, 12:24:24, from April to

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Cattleya maxima ‘Golden Jubilee’,

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October, once every seven to ten days. We also use an organic fertilizer once a month from April to July, called Omakase, 4:6:2, it is common in Japan. C. maxima is unusual because when the young plants bloom the flowers are of poor quality. Be patient because it takes 7 to 8 years for it to grow from seedling to maturity, but once mature, the flowers on the same plant will be well formed and very beautiful. Patience is the key to growing a well-flowered C. maxima. ” Munekazu Ejiri

Botanical Certificaten For Miltoniopsis roezlii ‘Archirondel Tower’ 24 and 25 exhibited by the Eric Young Orchid Foundation, Jersey. Votes were nine in favour, three against. The Botanical Certificate was awarded to encourage the cultivation of this, so far, rarely seen yellow form of the species. For full details see p54.

Certificate of Cultural Commendationn To Hilary Hobbs, Leeds, for Restrepia brachypus ‘Gina’ 27 and 28 . The plant exhibited measured 45cm

across and had approximately eighty spikes and sixty open flowers. It was growing in a 16cm diameter pot. Votes were fourteen in favour. The species comes from Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Previously the species had a Botanical Certificate in 1900 (Orchid Rev. 8: p91). It was first described by Reichenbach in 1886 but later, in 1891, Robert Rolfe described the species again giving it the name Restrepia striata. He wrote in the Gardeners Chronicle (1891, p137) describing it as ‘a most charming little plant.’ The cultivar ‘Gina’ was

indeed a charming, and, most of all, a beautifully grown specimen plant.

Grower’s adviceRestrepia brachypus ‘Gina’

“ I bought this plant from Akerne Orchids in 2006. The natural habitat of this species is cool, moist cloudforest. I grow my plant on a high shelf, facing west, in the cool section of my greenhouse. It is in partial shade, which is provided by a deciduous overhead tree, and a tall privet hedge. I keep the plant very moist throughout the

year. Humidity is maintained at around 70% with a hydrofogger, and I spray the leaves daily. The temperature is automatically controlled, with a summer max-imum of 22°c, a winter high of 16°c and a winter low of 10°c. In summer I also open the greenhouse door to provide fresh air, and have an extractor fan which cuts in at 22°c. I have two fans running 24-hours a day throughout the year. I water with rainwater and feed with Dyna-Gro 7:9:5 at around 200–300 microsiemens,

less in winter. I use Gro-Lux lights in winter to ensure a 12-hour day length. The plant is potted in New Zealand sphagnum moss in a clay pot. The moss helps to keep the roots constantly moist but it does deteriorate fairly rapidly, so I repot every year in spring. This plant does not attract too many pests, the main culprits are mealybug and small slugs. I try to control mealybug with systemic insecticides and maintain a night patrol to catch the slugs. This is one of my favourite plants. It is compact and not straggly like many Restrepia plants. It is also very floriferous, often flowering for a period of three months in spring. ” Hilary Hobbs

Certificate of Cultural Commendationn To McBean’s Orchids, Cooksbridge, Lewes, East Sussex for Cymbidium tracyanum ‘Sidney’ 29 and 30. The plant exhibited measured 180cm across and had sixteen flower spikes and an average of twelve open flowers on each spike. It was growing in a 36cm diameter pot. Votes were seven in favour, two against. The species has had numerous Certificates of Cultural Commendation in the 19th century, and also had a First Class Certificate in 1890. The species comes from China, Burma and northern Thailand, and in the wild it can grow very large. It was pleasing to see such a large specimen plant in cultivation.

Grower’s adviceCymbidium tracyamun ‘Sidney’

“ This is my favourite Cymbidium species. It is not difficult to grow but a mature plant requires quite a lot of space. The flowers have a

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Cymbidium tracyanum 'Sidney', Certificate of Cultural Commendation

distinct, pleasant fragrance.Several of our nursery plants were exhibited at the 20th World Orchid Conference in Singapore and found a new home with the Singapore Botanic Gardens. There are different opinions about the correct culture of this ‘cool growing’ species, but we treat it the same as our other Cymbidium plants, and to good effect. We suggest you grow it in a well-aerated, free-draining compost, with good light levels, in a buoyant atmosphere with high humidity and good air movement. Cymbidium tracyanum usually comes into bloom in November with flowers lasting six to eight weeks, but the flowering period can be three months or more on a mature plant. The arching flowerstems do not need support but it may be useful if space is limited. From late September to the end of May maintain a night temperature around 10°c, with days not higher than 21°c. Higher temperatures will cause the flowers to brown and drop more quickly. From June to late September, if the plant is not too difficult to move, it should be placed outside in dappled shade where a good temperature differential will help flower spike initiation. Ideally, temperatures should not rise above 27°c. While the flower buds are developing, night temperatures should fall below 15°c or the buds may drop off prematurely. Gradually acclimatize the plant when you bring it back indoors. Feed regularly and water thoroughly throughout the year, preferably with rainwater, when the bulk of the compost is dry. ” Liz Johnson

Award Statistics for 2012A grand total of one-hundered and seventy-five plants were submitted to the Orchid Committee for judging in 2012. In total there were sixty- four awards; twenty-eight Awards of Merit (44%), five Botanical Certificates (8%), two Certificates of Preliminary Commendation (3%) and twenty-five Certificates of Cultural Commendation (39%) were recommended.

For details about future meetings of the RHS Orchid Committee and entering plants for awards, see Forthcoming Events on p256.

RHS AWARDS

Clare hermans is an orchid grower, author and a Vice Chairman of the RHS Orchid Committee Johan hermans is an orchid grower, photographer, author and Chairman of the RHS Orchid Committee

Cymbidium tracyanum 'Sidney'