Monthly Culture Checklist for August

Cattleya Cattleyas this month require careful attention to their watering and fertilizing needs owing to characteristically high temperatures. Increased air flow lessens humidity and dries plants out more quickly, necess i t a t i ng more f requen t damping down and watering, in areas where high humidity is not a problem. Higher light and heat indicate more fertilizer. Higher temperatures and humidity may also lead to fungal or bacterial rot problems, so it is important to closely observe your plants for any early indication of problems.

Paphiopedilum Cooling and air circulation are especially critical this month to prevent stress and avoid disease problems. Watering needs to be closely monitored to ensure that plants do not dry out. Warmer-growing hybrids will be at the peak of their blooming, with attention needing to be paid to staking of spikes. Look for water lodging in growths, which can rot emerging spikes and lead to the loss of the entire growth.

High-elevation Plants For cooler-growing plants, such as masdevallias, other pleurothallids and the like, the next few months will be a challenge. During the hottest times, keep your plants more shaded and be sure to keep the humidity level much higher. Do not

let plants dry out. Delay any potting until the weather cools.

Odontocidium Many of the intergeneric crosses between odontoglossums and oncidiums, such as Odontocidium, Wilsonara and Colmanara, will be blooming now. Take special care to train the spikes for best floral display. Keep plants under fairly shady conditions. Watch for snails and slugs.

...thanks to the AOS website

AUGUST 2008

August Meeting

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August 28th7:30 PM

Sandpiper Orchid Society

The speaker for our August meeting will be Paul Sheetz, an accredited American Orchid Society judge and is the Training Coordinator for the Mid-Atlantic Region Judging Center. Paul’s presentation is called: Zygo… What? as he will explore Zygopetalum species & hybrids. Paul has been growing orchids for over 30 years and has been active in local orchid societies for the past 25 years. He is currently also, the Vice President of the Greater Philadelphia Orchid Society. Paul is the owner of JustPat Orchids. He has also been exhibiting at orchid shows for the last 20 years and has been an orchid vendor at the Philadelphia Flower Show since 1996. Yes, Paul will have a few Zygo’s and other genera available to sell.

Sandpiper’s Annual Orchid

Auction

September

25thDoors open for Previewing at

6:30 PMAuction begins at

7:00 PM

It’s time to add to your collection from some of the finest plants, divisions, and duplicate items, that you have ever seen.

Sandpiper Meetings Location

Galloway Branch of the Atlantic County Library

system located at 306 East Jimmie Leeds Road

Galloway, NJ Phone 609-652-2352

Map of Meeting Location

Zygopetalum

Website: http://www.SandpiperOrchidSociety.com Email: SandpiperOS@comcast.net

Dendrocoryne Dendrobiums

….. by Mary Jo Gilsdorf, a probationary judge of the American Orchid Society.

At Sandpiper’s last meeting, Mary Jo discussed that many orchid growers probably came across their first Dendrocoryne Dendrobium, when a seasoned member of their society placed a Den. kinginanum onto the show table one night. Upon admiring its many blooms, a handful of kiki’s were ripped off and thrust at the unsuspecting member and was told "here, take this”! Indeed, Den. kinginanum and Den. speciosum are two

very popular Denrocoryne Dendrobiums grown by many orchid lovers. The plants in this section, which are native to Australia, are popular due to their bountiful, colorful and fragrant

blooms. The plants can quickly reach specimen size. Indeed, a Den. speciosum received a cultural award from the American Orchid Society at a show in San Diego that was over 3 meters (9 ft.) wide! The name of this clone was "El Grande Queso" - "The Big Cheese”! The trends in hybrids are for more colorful and interesting flower forms. Recent hybrids resemble the Harlequin Phalaenopsis with their showy splotches of deep magenta or fuschia colors. Easy to grow in intermediate conditions, the plants enjoy a drier and cooler winter rest before the racemes show in the spring for the blooms. The Australian web site www.florafest.com.au specializes in these hybrids and recommends a potting mix with bone and blood meal, fermented in a bark and dolomite mixture for two weeks before re-potting. (Perhaps they are fond of Vegamite as well????….) Fertilize only lightly in the spring when the new growth is just beginning. If your plant is developing kiki's, it is a sign of

too much fertilizer or too much water through the winter months. The plants will bloom on canes that have lost their leaves, so do not remove these. There are many hybrids available within this section and they are very fulfilling to grow.

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SHOW TABLEPoint Standings thru July 2008

How the Points are Earned Rosette Award ....…... 10 pts 1st Place ....................... 5 pts 2nd Place ..................... 4 pts 3rd Place ...................... 3 pts Honorable Mention ... 1 ptJoe Myers Award - Awarded to the member that accumulates the highest point total for the year as determined from the monthly showtable results.Lisa O’Neil Award - This award was established in 2006 upon the death of then president Lisa O’Neil. Lisa was renowned for displaying her finest orchids on the monthly show table. The winner of this award is acknowledged as having grown the most outstanding orchid of the year which is chosen from those plants that received the 10 point Rosette Award.

Den. speciosum

Dendrobium kiki’s

Den. kinginanum

Bollenbach, G. 73Bruno, P. 4Cascioli, C. 35Cascioli, P. 54Class, B. 53DelGuercio, M&S 6Ellingson, B. 155Errickson, B. 15Fontaine, A. 112Gerard, L&M 18Jankowski, L. 10Kaufman, L&T 4Kruckner, R. 18Lin, N. 5McClellan, J&M 96Michalenko, R. 133Montgomery, A&B 87Peacock, J. 8Penso, M. 33Schairer, C. 74Turner, M&S 5Tusone, R. 67

Within the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, there are 28 native orchids. From July through August, you can find the different varieties of Habenarias, also known as Platantheras. Platantheras are terrestrial and deciduous orchids. They produce from tubers and in the fall, after flowering, the stem dies back. Depending on location and growing conditions, from July through

August, you may see tall white flowers blooming along damp road side bogs. Yellow and white Platantheras can be seen in bogs, but I have never seen the yellow form growing along roadside ditches. Some of the flowers may have a long fringed lip, as in Platanthera blephariglottis, or no fringed lip as in Platanthera cristata Some of the locations to view these orchids include Clarks Landing

Road roadside ditch and bog, Great Creek Road bog, Webb’s Mill along Rt 539 and bogs within the Wharton State Forest. Just remember, if you go out searching for these orchids, please just take pictures and watch your step. I have been in areas where I have seen these orchids and found people had dug them up. Please leave them for others to enjoy.

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Aerangis luteo alba var. rhodosticta

Aerengis luteo alba var. rhodosticta heralds from Kenya and is often found growing in slightly shady conditions on small trees or shrubs. These are wonderful miniature orchids which produce the most beautiful one inch white flowers with a red-orange column at various times of year. They will grow and develop into specimens with several growths as they mature.

Light Low to medium light, similar to Phalaenopsis, though they will tolerate brighter light. East windows are ideal. Artificial light culture such as fluorescent or high pressure sodium fixtures works well also.

Temperature These plants can be grown in intermediate temperatures from 58 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit at night in winter and a day time temp of 70 to 80 degrees. Summer temps can be a few degrees warmer.

Humidity 50% or higher is ideal. The use of humidity trays or room humidifiers is beneficial.

Water It is best to use rainwater, distilled or reverse osmosis water. Municipal water with a pH of 7.5 or lower can also be used. Water as the mix approaches dryness but do not allow the mix to become completely dry between watering.

Fertilizer Fertilize every other watering in the summer and every third watering in the winter. We highly recommend Green Jungle Orchid Food, especially formulated to work with rain, distilled, reverse osmosis water or water low in alkalinity. Fertilize with Green Jungle every time you water.

Flowering Flowering season is various and can occur during winter or spring. These spikes can produce up to 20 one inch flowers per spike, and can easily bloom for 4 to 6 weeks. The color is a crystalline white with a red-orange column in the center of the flower

Repotting These plants can either be grown in pots or on slabs. When growing on slabs, it is important to remember that the humidity is kept high at all times, or the plant may dehydrate and wither. If this kind of humidity isn't present, we recommend growing them in a pot. Use either a bark mix, or sphagnum mix if it is a clay pot. Repot in the spring months after flowering. …..thanks to the Orchid Web website.

New Jersey Pine Barren Orchids

….. by Chrissy Schairer, a charter member of Sandpiper Orchid Society,

who is well known as an expert on the native orchids of the New Jersey Pine Barrens.

Officers, Com. Chairs & Trustees President John McClellan Vice Pres. Ron Ference Secretary Alice Montgomery Treasurer Bruce Schairer AOS Rep. Walter Off Past Pres. Ron Ference Membership George Bollenbach Publicity Gail Zona

Hospitality MaryAnn McClellan Newsletter Ron Ference Show Table Cary Stone Website Ron Ference Historian Chrissy Schairer Photography Ron Ference Refreshments Pam Cascioli Raffle Bruce Montgomery Auction Ron Ference Trustee 2008 Nancy Burke Trustee 2009 Henry Zona Trustee 2010 Bergie Ellingson Trustee 2011 Andy Fontaine PHRAG. caudatum grown by Bill Class

JULY 2008Show Table Winners

Slc Hazel Boyd ‘Debbie’ AM/AOSGrown by A. Fontaine

Blc Walanae Leopard ‘Ching Hua’Grown by A. Fontaine

Pot. Gem FrecklesGrown by J&M McClellan

Dtps. ChamporensisGrown by A. Fontaine

Phal. HybridGrown by L. Jankowski

Den. HatsumiGrown by G. Bollenbach4

Paph. liemianumGrown by R. Michalenko

Paph. Raisin Pie ‘Hsinying’Grown by L. Jankowski

Epi. CindyGrown by A. Fontaine

Brsdm. Kenneth BivinGrown by J&M McClellan

Kgw. Samrering ‘Red Dragon’Grown by B. Ellingson

Plant. clevellataGrown by M&S Turner

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Sandpiper Orchid SocietySecretary23 Alexander Dr.Hammonton, NJ 08037

Mailing Label

Waldor Orchids The largest supplier of orchid plants and supplies in the Delaware Valley.

10 E. Poplar Ave. Linwood, N.J. 08221-2526

Phone: 609-927-4126 Fax: 609-926-0615

Fridays and Saturdays 9AM - 5:30 PM

Website: http://waldor.com

Orchids September Preview

Cattleya labiata 'Patience' CHM/AOS. Grower: Larry Sanford.

Cattleya labiata Prosthecheas from Brazil How to Water Orchids A Gallery of Spathoglottis Orchids Under Lights

...thanks to the American Orchid Society