San Fernando Valley

Orchid Society Newsletter

Volume 56 Issue 10

October 5th: Displaying Beautiful Blooms

We enjoy our orchids when they look their best. We love beautiful arrangements when we go to shows and see the exhibits. With a desire to increase our personal enjoyment and with show season upon us, we will be looking at techniques to have our plants present their beautiful blooms to their best. Tips on staking, plant grooming and small table top displays will also be covered. Join us on Wednesday, October 5th for this interesting presentation by our President, Arthur Pinkers. Arthur has been an orchid enthusiast since the age of sixteen, when he acquired a plant of Slc. Glittering Jewel (Sl. Gratixiae x Slc. Hermes), which infected him with the orchid bug. His forty plus years of experience growing orchids started in the Pacific Northwest with a greenhouse to fend off the cold, rainy days, but a decade ago a job change forced him to move to Santa Clarita, California, where the conditions are extreme for growing orchids. Growing up in the Seattle area, Arthur attended Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington, graduating with a B.S. in Chemistry and Biology. He worked for many years as a chemist, and had the fortune of having his dream job as the Lab Director for Beall Orchid Company until shortly before its close in 1990. Despite not having a current career working with orchids, Arthur has taken an active role in the orchid community. He has been an Accredited Orchid Judge for over twenty years and has served in most executive positions on the Board of the Northwest Orchid Society, including serving as President from 1988 to1989, and as a center photographer for the Pacific Northwest Judging region. Currently, Arthur serves as the Center Judging Chair at the Pacific South – San Marino Judging Center and one of the photographers for the Pacific South Judging Center. Though he has an interest in a wide variety of orchids, botanicals are a special draw to him for their diversity and charm. Arthur has been married to his wife, Margie, for over twenty-seven years, and has two adult children. While they have not inherited his knack for growing orchids, his family enjoys the beauty and wild aromas his backyard jungle brings to their home, a respite from the desert landscape around them.

Lycaste schilleriana ‘Huntington's Copper Schilling’

Highly Commendable Certificate - 78 pts. Parents: Species 2 flowers and 1 bud on 3 inflorescences Natural Spread: 14.5 cm Vertical Spread: 11.2 cm Exhibited by Huntington Botanical Gardens

October 2016

Volume 56 Issue

10 Volume 56

Issue 10

President’s Message

“I came for the orchids, I stayed for the friends”. What an impacting statement! I have found this to be very true. I know it is true for our society. I am looking forward to seeing our society grow and make new friends. To do this, we all need to reach out to our friends and neighbors as well as the community. One way to do this is to offer a service.

At the upcoming October meeting, I will have materials available to repot orchids for our friends and neighbors who have acquired and orchid and do not know what to do next. To make this successful, the Society needs your help. Please invite friends and neighbors to our meetings, especially this one since we will have an opportunity to help our neighbors in their growing of orchids.

On another note, we need to have someone take over the publication of our newsletter. Pam has done a superb job producing our newsletter providing needed information and keeping us informed every month. Pam’s work is now taking a lot of time and Pam needs to hand off the newsletter and the website maintenance. If you are interested, please talk to me at the next meeting.

Elegant Orchids, the second annual International Orchid Show and sale at the Huntington will be October 21-23, 2016 at the Huntington Botanical Gardens. If our society puts in an exhibit, society members will be allowed free entry if you have your membership badge with you when you go to the show. Again, to do this, we need to put in a display as a Society. It does not need to be a large display. Please look at what you may have getting ready to bloom and consider entering them in the show.

Wishing you all good growing,

Arthur

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Recent American Orchid Society Awards

The images that have been shared in this month's newsletter are American Orchid Society Awards granted recently at the Pacific South Monthly Judging - San Marino which was held at the Huntington Botanical Gardens. These 5 photos were taken by Arthur Pinkers.

Dendrobium amabile ‘Huntington's Cotton Candy’

Award of Merit - 80 pts.

Parents: Species

108 flowers and 75 buds on 5 inflorescences

Natural Spread: 5.0 cm

Vertical Spread: 4.0 cm

Exhibited by Huntington Botanical Gardens

OCTOBER 19 - 23, 2016

BIGGEST ORCHID EVENT ON THE WEST COAST IN DECADES!

The Huntington Botanical Gardens International Orchid Show (October 21-23) AND the American Orchid Society Fall Members Meeting (October 19-23) will be held concurrently at the Huntington Library, Art Museums and Botanical Gardens! Much more than just an orchid show, this orchid extravaganza will feature:

HEAR THREE DAYS OF ORCHID SPEAKERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Come hone your growing skills and expand your knowledge of our orchid passion! Friday, Saturday and (a shorter schedule) Sunday will feature these and more fascinating speakers:

Alfredo Manrique: Phragmipedium kovachii culture Fred Clarke: Catasetum Species, Hybrids and their Culture Dr. Harold Koopowitz: Evolution of the Slipper Orchids Janet Lamborn: Don’t put on the virus blinders, your collection is depending on you Dr. Daniel L. Geiger: Growing Orchids in a Terrarium Carri Raven-Riemann: Phalaenopsis Species: From Mega to Micro Garry Clark and Graham Wood: Award Winning Growers Choose Orchiata Gustavo A. Aguirre: Columbian Cattleyas Peter T. Lin: Small Vanda Species and their Hybrids Hadley Cash: Marriott Orchids… The Other Side of the Story! Hilmar Bauch: The Genus Cattleya Andy Cameron: Genes and Ploidy in Cymbidiums Pleurothallid Alliance: Sponsored Speaker (TBA) Jonathan Robbins: TBA

AOS Membership and registration is required to attend the talks, and includes many other benefits!

SEE THE FABULOUS ORCHID SHOW: Come see over 30 stunning orchid displays and exhibits entered by orchid societies and vendors! Oh, and did we mention vendors?! Come enhance your collection with irresistible little beauties from the following and other top vendors: Wilson Orchids (Taiwan), Cal-Orchid (California), Ooi Leng Sun Orchids (Malaysia), Norman’s Orchids (California), Andy’s Orchids (California), Ten Shin Gardens (Taiwan), Floralia (Brazil), CalWest Tropical (California), Orchid Conservation Alliance (California), Orquideas Katia (Columbia), Centro de Jardineria (Peru), Marriott Orchids (North Carolina), Gold Country Orchids (California), Popow Orchids (Germany, Asendorfer Orchideenzucht (Germany), Mundiflora (Ecuador), Wing Studio (California), Agdia (Indiana), Orchiata (New Zealand), Orchid Design (California), and more to come! Requires paid admission to the Huntington OR event registration OR qualifying free admission as a volunteer for the event (see below for details.)

GO ON TOURS OF THE HUNTINGTON’S THREE HUGE “OFF EXHIBIT” ORCHID GREENHOUSES See the amazing Huntington’s amazing “behind the scenes” collection of over 10,000 orchids, which have received 72 awards from the American Orchid Society (including five FCCs) since 2014. AOS Members Meeting Event registration required

Huntington Orchid Show and Fall Member’s Meeting Continued: PARTICIPATE IN RIBBON JUDGING, AND/OR OBSERVE AN AMERICAN ORCHID SOCIETY JUDGING During ribbon judging, you can join a group other of orchid enthusiasts working informally under the guidance of a supportive expert to evaluate the plants entered for ribbon judging at the show. No experience required – this is a learning opportunity and you can ask all of the questions you want! Later, you can also discreetly observe an American Orchid Society judging, where accredited judges with years of experience compare the entered show plants to database records and photographs of all similar plants that have ever been evaluated by the AOS. Free Admission

Stanhopea jenischiana ‘Huntington's Candy Corn’

Award of Merit - 84 pts.

Parents: Species

24 flowers and 127 buds on 11 inflorescences

Natural Spread: 11.5 cm

Vertical Spread: 11.5 cm

Exhibited by Huntington Botanical Gardens

_________________________________________________________________________________________________ ENJOY AN ELEGANT DINNER AND/OR A VARIETY OF OTHER AMERICAN ORCHID SOCIETY MEETINGS AND EVENTS The American Orchid Society management and members gather twice a year to both celebrate their orchid passion and conduct the work that makes the operations of organization possible. This is your chance to visit and participate with the AOS! Requires AOS Members Meeting event registration and prior additional payment for meals associated with certain specific events

HAVE FUN VOLUNTEERING AT THE SHOW AND MEETNG!! HELP THE HUNTINGTON GROW ORCHID PASSION LOCALLY!

There will be a myriad of opportunities for volunteers to staff information desks, act as exhibit room docents, help with greenhouse tours, and staff the plant hotel, assist with setup and teardown and many other tasks. Online volunteer registration will soon be available, and volunteers will be able to pick their choice of jobs and three-hour time slots! All volunteers will receive a qualifying free admission to the Show, vendors, and grounds only (does not include the AOS Members Meeting and speakers). Your volunteer badge will entitle you to free admission to the Huntington grounds (including the library, art museums, gardens, orchid displays and judgings) from October 19-23. AOS Members Meeting (separate) event registration will be required for admission to the speakers talks as well as banquets and meals.

TO REGISTER FOR THE EVENT OR FIND MORE INFORMATION, GO TO WWW.AOSFALL2016.COM. TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE ORCHID SHOW

OR TO BE A RIBBON JUDGE, GO TO www.signup.com/go/kV6Q9S

Cynorkis purpurascens ‘Huntington's Amethyst’ Highly Commendable Certificate - 78 pts. Parents: Species 20 flowers and 19 buds on 3 inflorescences Natural Spread: 3.1 cm Vertical Spread: 2.9 cm Exhibited by Huntington Botanical Gardens

SFVOS Board Meeting September 14, 2016

In attendance: Arthur Pinkers, Mark Bentow, Pam Aitchison, Joyce-Herie, Evelyn Mitarai

The Minutes from the last meeting were read and accepted.

Treasurers Report:

The starting Balance: $4,296.36

Income: $ 304.00

Expenses: $ - 332.50

Ending Balance: $4,267.86

Note: If the Treasurer is not present, the POT funds collected must be given to the President or Vice President.

At pre-meetings, Arthur will be bringing potting materials so that members can learn how to report their plants,

Invite neighbors.

Growing the Club: Encourage friends to come. Members need to make Phone calls. Invite friends to bring

their plants. Provide information to newspapers. Assign Ambassadors when new Members arrive. With

respect to growing the club, where we were discussing about if a member brings in 5 new members, it was in

relation to holding a contest where we have some type of prize such as a $50.00 gift certificate for the person

who brings in the most members and we set a minimum of five members to make the person eligible.

For the speakers, we were setting a budget of $200.00 dollars for the honorarium and we were setting the budget for the POT at a maximum of $150.00 that is in addition to the honorarium if the speaker provides the POT. If members want to donate plants for the POT table; they need to check first with Arthur or Mark.

Regarding the San Fernando Valley Orchid Society Membership Yearbook we should ask Nancy Copsey to allow the Board to proofread it before printing.

Respectfully submitted,

Evelyn Mitarai,

Secretary

AOS ARTICLE:

Fertilizer Burn By Susan Jones The saying "If some is good, more is better" is not necessarily a beneficial approach to fertilizing orchids. Plants will only absorb the amount of mineral nutrients they need, which is determined in part by the amount of light they receive, the temperatures they are grown in and the quantity of water available. Just as with people, too much food can cause serious health problems in orchids — excess mineral salts can build up, which they cannot tolerate. It is a gradual problem, affecting orchids that have been consistently over-fertilized or have gone too long without repotting, allowing mineral salts to accumulate and concentrate over time.

Fertilizing: If you grow a mixed collection, one in which a variety of genera are

represented, the fertilizing needs of your plants may vary considerably. The general rule of thumb — applying a balanced fertilizer weekly, weakly — is a good starting point.

Too much or too strong fertilizer can burn orchid leaves and roots. Many growers recommend that plants be watered with plain water, then watered a second time with a fertilizer solution. This ensures that the medium is thoroughly wet before fertilizer is applied. Some mixes, especially those containing pine bark, can be difficult to wet through, and so should be pre-watered with plain water and left to sit a few minutes until the medium is completely damp. This helps reduce salt buildup and the possibility of root burn. Most vandaceous orchids do best with copious amounts of fertilizer, and during growth may benefit from dilute applications of fertilizer as often as twice a week. Pleurothallids, on the other hand, do not require nearly the same quantity of nutrients, and may be better off with a biweekly schedule. In addition, any orchid will require more nutrients during periods of active growth, less during periods of slower grow and possibly none during dormancy. Fertilizer can be applied weekly to biweekly at half or even a quarter of the strength recommended by its manufacturer. When in doubt, start with a more dilute solution and observe the results on

your plants. Should the beginning quantity prove insufficient, the amount of fertilizer may be adjusted upward with fewer repercussions than burning the plant through over-fertilization. There are many high-quality fertilizers available, but be sure the one you choose for your orchids are labeled specifically for their use, rather than an all-purpose garden or houseplant fertilizer. It should also include a balance of the three main elements: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) (the percentage of each element usually appears on the label in numeric form, such as “7-7-7”; the remaining percentage is composed of inert ingredients), and ideally micronutrients as well.

Water quality: Water quality is important, and contributes to the overall health of plants.

Rainwater, melted snow, deionized water or reverse-osmosis (RO) water with a bit of tap water added are all low in dissolved mineral salts and considered safe for watering orchids. Chlorine damages orchids, but chlorinated tap water may still be used. Fill a container with the water for the plants and allow it to sit open overnight before watering. This allows the chlorine to dissipate. Well water and softened water are more tricky. Well water may have a high mineral content and softened water has sodium added, both of which can damage orchid roots. They may be treated with a reverse-osmosis system to filter out harmful salts.

Salt buildup: Starting with water of excellent quality is important, but salts from added

fertilizers may still accumulate over a period of time. Salt buildup looks like whitish to brownish crusts on the medium and around the pot, or on the surface of the mounting substrate on mounted orchids, and can be a sign of over-fertilizing. If allowed to remain, those salts will negatively impact the health of your plant. Fertilizer salts burn and kills orchids, especially in more sensitive genera like paphiopedilums, phragmipediums, pleurothallids and bulbophyllums.

Fertilizer burn symptoms: Lack of root growth may indicate an unhealthy concentration

of mineral salts in the medium, on up to full fertilizer burn. If this is suspected, decant the plant and check its roots. Dead

root tips, brown roots or salt crust on the potting medium surface are signs of trouble. In later stages, brown leaf tips may

appear, indicating burned roots. Leaves, and eventually pseudobulbs on sympodial orchids, can become yellow. If allowed

to continue, fertilizer burn will eventually kill the plant. Soft-leaved orchids are especially susceptible to leaf burn.

Prevention: When beginning a

fertilization regime, it is safer to err on the side of a weaker solution for several months until it is determined how much fertilizer the plant needs and can use. Starting out slowly reduces the risk of damaging tender young roots, especially on seedlings or more sensitive plants, with too strong a concentration of fertilizer. Larger applications of fertilizer can increase plant growth in heavy feeders such as Vandas, but when this is done plenty of water should be available to the plant at all times. The concentration of fertilizer salts increases as the amount of water decreases, which can damage the roots if they are allowed to dry too much. Plants that require a dry winter rest period should not be fertilized for a few weeks before that rest period is initiated. Otherwise, roots may burn when fertilizer salts remaining in the pot and mix concentrate as water is cut back. Dry or sunburned plants are most susceptible to fertilizer burn. Fertilizer salts are hard on dehydrated plants, as they are not able to absorb fertilizers properly. Use a dilute solution (one quarter of the recommended strength), water well between feedings, and check regularly for salt buildup on your pots and potting medium as your plant recovers. Flushing media and root zones with plain, fresh water at least once a month will dissolve and remove mineral salts that can otherwise build up in the pot and media and harm plants. Mounted plants need regular leeching as well, and should have their mounts and roots flushed regularly. Some growers incorporate this into their care regime, fertilizing orchids at every other watering so that the media is automatically flushed clean in between.

Treatment: If the damage is done and an orchid injured through over-fertilizing, the road

to recovery starts with decanting the orchid, removing all of the old medium and thoroughly flushing the roots with plain water to remove accumulated salts. Next, repot the orchid using fresh clean medium and a new pot. Keep the plant shaded and shield it from temperature extremes as

you would any recently repotted plant, watering regularly and reintroducing a dilute fertilizer once the plant begins to establish.

Susan Jones was the editor of Awards Quarterly

and assistant editor of Orchids. American Orchid

Society, 16700 AOS Lane, Delray Beach, Florida

33446 - Reprinted from the SEPTEMBER 2003

issue of Orchids -- The Bulletin of the American

Orchid Society. Copyright American Orchid

Society -- www.aos.org

________________________________________________________________________________ Phragmipedium Fritz Schomburg ‘Pink on Pink’

Award of Merit - 83 pts.

Parents: Phrag. kovachii x Phrag. besseae

1 flower and 1 bud on 1 inflorescence

Natural Spread: 14.0 cm

Vertical Spread: 11.5 cm

Exhibited by Huntington Botanical Gardens

Refreshments

Everyone is encouraged to bring snacks to share for our monthly meetings. Homemade treats are especially welcome. Thank you for supporting the SFVOS.

2016 Orchid Calendar of Events

October 1 San Diego Botanic Garden 9 am – 5pm San Diego Botanic Garden, Encinitas

October 5 SFVOS Monthly Meeting 7 pm – 9 pm Sepulveda Garden Center

October 8 AOS Pacific South Regional

Judging 10:00 AM

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, San Marino

October 13 SFVOS Board Meeting 7 pm – 8 pm Millie’s Restaurant

October 21 Orchid Odyssey 10am-2pm San Diego Zoo

October 19 - 23 American Orchid Society Fall

2016 Members’ Meeting TBA

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, San Marino

October 21 – 22 - 23

Huntington Botanical

Gardens

2nd Annual International

Orchid Show

12am - 4:30pm;

Gates close 6pm

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, San Marino

October 24 South Coast Orchid Society

Auction Preview 6pm, Auction 7pm

Whaley Park Clubhouse

October 29 -30 San Diego County Orchid

Society Fall Show In The Park 12:00pm - 5pm Casa Del Prado, Balboa Park

November 5-6 58th Annual Santa Barbara

Orchid Estate Fall Open House 8am - 5pm Santa Barbara Orchid Estate

Plant Forum Show & Tell

Please bring your blooming, healthy, pest-free orchids to display in our Plant Forum and receive a free raffle ticket. A board member may also critique your plant to help you make it grow better.

The Country Store Donations are always accepted in our Country Store. If you have extra fruit, bag them in small

quantities so we can sell each bag for a dollar. Bring in any unwanted plants or garden related

items. Anything brought in is considered a donation to our program, the purpose of these sales is

to raise funds for our society. The funds we raise helps to pay for our speakers, insurance, the rent

and the plants for our POT. Please be sure the plants are in good condition and are identified.

Orchids by Art Cymbidium Orchids

and Supplies

Art Mendoza (818) 903-0473

www.orchidsbyart.blogspot.com

SFVOS Newsletter

%Arthur Pinkers 22983 Mulberry Glen Drive

Santa Clarita, CA 91354