Sutherland Shire Orchid Society March 2016

Plant of the night: Rhynchostylis retusa ‘Keith’ grown by Sandra Crosby and Tony

Costa

SSOS GENERAL MEETING 8 February 2016 Our Vice President, George Birss extended a welcome to our members and guests.

Respondence received Newsletters from OSNSW, Eastern Suburbs, North Shore and Eurobodalla Orchid

Last Month’s Speaker Richard Dimon spoke on the techniques of genetic modifications of orchids and his

presentation demonstrated the improvements that can be achieved in size, colour and better characteristics of the flowers. It was a very interesting talk.

MARCH: AGM and Gavin Curtis will talk on growing orchids. Growing competition APRIL: David Brooks will speak on Cymbidiums

Upcoming Events:

GROWING COMPETITION THIS MONTH

BRING UR SEEDLINGS FOR JUDGING

Paph society of NSW 15th March,

Ermingtom Community Hall

Southside Species 24th March, Berala

Community Centre

Manly Warringah Auction 20th March,

Cromer Community Centre

Orchids Out West 13th-15th May

Castle Hill International Orchid Fair

15th-16th April

President: Frank Daniel

Secretary: Rhonda Jackson

Treasurer: Jan Robinson

Editor: Richard Dimon

Items of Interest

Our AGM will be held next meeting. All positions on the committee are open for nomination, in particular the positions of Secretary, Show Secretary and Treasurer. We would like more people on the committee so

please feel free to nominate for these roles or a general committee member position. Rhonda provided an overview of the Secretary's position to inform members of what is involved with the role. A nomination form

will be included in the Bulletin.

After being our Editor for many years Daniel Coulton has stepped down from this role. Daniel has provided a great deal of time in editing the bulletin for this society and we would like to thank him very much for his efforts.

The growers group meeting was held at George Birss' house on Saturday the 13th of February

The committee has considered the most appropriate recognition for Neville Roper who did so much for the Society and in the development of native orchids. We have decided to award the Grand Champion at the Spring

show with the Neville Roper Trophy.

There is a new Paphiopedilum Society in NSW that you may be interested in joining. Meetings will be held every 3rd Tuesday of the month, 7:30pm at Ermington Community Hall, Ermington. For more information, please

contact ST Ho on stho@optusnet.com.au, or talk to Gary Hart.

Manly Warringah Orchid Society is holding their next Auction on Sunday March 20th at the Cromer Community Centre, Fisher Road North, Cromer, commencing at 9:30am sharp. Viewing is from 9:00am and there is plenty of parking and light refreshments will be served all day. Orchids listed are for the serious grower and hobby grower as well and there should be some special interest plants. The catalogue will be available on line at www.orchidsociety.com.au.

The State Library of NSW is setting up a display of gardening books, pamphlets etc in September 2016 and wants to know if you would have anything to donate. They only want hard copies, not electronic. The address to send the items to is: Gardening Collection Drive, Collection Strategy & Development, State Library of NSW, SYDNEY NSW 2000

Just another reminder that due to the postage and photocopying costs, for those of you who have an email

address and receive the bulletin in the mail, would you please provide your email address to the Rhonda or Jan Robinson

Ian Chalmers advised OSNSW will be commencing an Orchid appreciation/ judging course starting 15th April

2016 at the Berala Community Centre Woodburn Road Berala. The course is aimed at orchid growers of all levels of experience who want to learn more about the various genera and what makes an awardable quality

orchid or quality display through the eyes of judges. Please contact Ian Chalmers if you are interested in participating in the course Email cattleya@optusnet.com.au; Mobile 0400220192

Southside Species club is moving their meetings from Kingsgrove RSL to Berala Community Centre, Woodburn

Road, Berala on the 4th Thursday of the month.

NAME BADGE DRAW – Owen Sutton

LUCKY PLANTS - May Luk, Gavin Curtis, Lee Buivids

PRESIDENT'S AWARD - Dianne Phillips for Gongora galeata

RAFFLE: Owen Sutton, Ian Chalmers, Glenda Byrnes, Trevor Haney,

Next meeting: 14th March 201

YOU GREW IT

Rhynchostylis retusa - grown by Tony Costa & Sandra Cosby

Commonly referred to as the “foxtail orchid”, due to the shape of the cylindrical inflorescence.

This Species from the Vandaceous genus is found throughout the Asian region from India to the Philippines to Vietnam at elevations

0 to 1200metre so requiring hot to intermediate growing conditions.

Commonly referred to as the “Foxtail Orchid”, due to the shape of the pendulous inflorescence. This can be 60cm in length and is densely flowered carrying upwards of 100 or more white flowers that are spotted pink. These can vary from pale pink to vivid pink.

This orchid is best grown in wood baskets or slotted baskets as it requires little or no potting medium and grows thick fleshy roots that entangle within the basket and trail below also. Water and fertilizer should be consistent throughout the year with good air

movement.

The plant has a monopodial growth pattern, similar to Vandas ( growing year after year from a single basal point), with stiff leathery

leaves. The flowers have a spicy fragrance.

Gongora galeata – grown by Diane Phillips

This orchid is found growing in the mountainous rain and cloud forests of Mexico at elevations of 600 – 1800 metres.

Growing as an epiphyte it has smallish pseudobulbs with leaves that are only 15 – 20 cm in length and 2 – 4 cm wide making it a small grower that can be a specimen in a 140mm pot or basket.

Arising from the pseudobulb the inflorescence starts out straight but becomes pendulous to a length of 15 – 20 cm where the

flowers display in a zig zag pattern. The flowers that have reddish brown sepals and petals and a gold or yellow labellum(lip) with red spots at the base that appear to hang upside down with the

lip facing upwards. The flowers have an orange fragrance.

This orchid is easy to grow, requiring constant watering, particularly during the growing period, good air and partial shade. Plants do not have a specific rest period, just a little less water in Winter. It can be grown in your shade house in Sydney. Hang low

below benches. Leaves can become a bit “ratty”.

Gongoras are an unusual orchid, the flowers don’t last that long, about a week or two, are hard to transport to shows, if you are lucky enough to have them in flower when the show is on and are not the big showy type of orchid that attracts the eye. Gongora orchids are however very unique in their arrangement with a wide variety of colours and worthwhile having at least one in your collection. Diane’s galeata is a great little specimen and

looks fantastic with flower spikes all around the plant.

Oberonia myosurus – grown by Richard Dimon

Oberonia are a sympodial epiphyte (means growing from a new lead forming a new pseudobulb with each spurt of growth) where there are

about 300 species in the genus. They have very tiny blooms, most having succulent leaves that are generally broad, flattened and pointed

at the apex. They bloom only once off the main growth, are clump forming and many are attractive plants even when not in bloom. This

genus was named after “Oberon” – king of the fairies.

Oberonia orchids generally require warm, humid and shady conditions throughout the year. They prefer to be mounted or in baskets or mesh pots and really succeed in pots as their roots require a lot of aeration. These orchids are temperamental and are often seen in only specialist

orchid collections.

Oberonia myosurus or mouse – tail oberonia is a species from Western Himalayas, Chinese Hymalayas, Napal, Thailand, Myanamar and

Vietnam growing as a miniature sized epyphite in warm conditions at 950 – 1600 metres.

O. myosurus has round spiky leaves, 7 – 12cm that are an attractive two tone green, spotted. Unusual and pretty even without flowers. The densely flowered inflorescence is about 5 -7 cm in length, starts at the base in a slightly arching

arrangement and carries hundreds of miniature brownish flowers that require a magnifying glass to see if open or not. The flowers progressively open up the inflorescence. Many people tend to disregard this magnificent little gem due to the fact they usually can’t find the flower spike and / or don’t know if the flowers are open. The exhibitor should supply a strong magnifying

glass so that people can admire the miniature flowers.

I, like Richie have one of these orchids. Mine grows in a terra cotta pot, about 60mm in diameter and is at this size a specimen plant not yet filling the pot. I grow it in my heated glass house, regular watering and fertilising, humid bright

conditions close to a fan for air movement. So far growing and flowering well.

Prosthechea radiata – grown by John Costa

Firstly classed as Epidendrum radiatum, then Encyclia radiata and then reclassified into Prosthechea radiata, in 1977. Since 2004 it is now known as

Anacheilium radiata.

This species is native to Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize and Costa Rica where it grows as a warm to cool growing epyphite (150 – 2000m elevation). It has elliptical – ovoid (oblong, egg shaped, rounded ends)

pseudobulbswith 2 -4 leaves. The flowers are very fragrant with a slightly vanilla scent that clump in 4 12 flowers that appear to be upside down with

the lip facing sky ward. The petals and sepals are a crystalline cream colour. The broad lip is usually white with violet / red stripes.

Easy to grow and does well mounted or in a mesh pot or slotted basket as the roots like to dry out quickly. This is a good orchid for new growers as it

tolerates green house conditions, can be a little neglected, gives a regular flowering each year and grows to specimen size quickly without getting too big. Water and fertilize regularly, give good light and good air movement.

I thought it was time to start something new for Sutherland members, so from time to time, or when I have time, I thought it

would be interesting to find out about other members. What they grow, how they grow, what growing conditions the experience and in general find out about them and their passion for orchids or what ever!!

So our initial visit is –

An afternoon with Gavin

Gavin Curtis has a rather large collection spread around his backyard, down the side of the drive way and down the side of his house, where he resides in the suburb of Chiffley, over Maroubra way. Not far from the sea, so temperate condition, reasonable breezes for air circulation and neighbours that have not

grown big trees, so good light.

Around the yard Gavin has strategically placed ponds and tanks that hold water. Some of these ponds are big enough to accommodate a person or

two. One that will go in soon is an unwanted spa. Some contain fish, turtles, most have tree frogs, Gavin believes there are five different types that thrive

not only in the ponds but it the myriad of Bromeliads that are scattered around the yard and under benches, these not only look attractive but hold water that adds to the humidity for his orchid collection. Gavin strategically

places crates around his ponds and then suspends mesh over the top of the ponds and then places his plants on the mesh.

Down the drive way, there is an area about slightly less than a metre wide and about twenty metres long. Here Gavin has set up benching with shade cloth over the top and shade cloth the full length that can be rolled up like a big blind. Here he has a large, make that very large speciosm collection with hard and soft cane dendrobiums and some oncidiums. Very impressive use

of a narrow area where all the plants are easy accessible.

Scattered down one side of the yard are areas where different genera are grouped together. But the area that impressed me most was the area down the side of the house. Maybe two metres wide by twenty five metres long. Here Gavin has erected an opaque alsonite roof with plastic on the sides to fence level and solid ends. In here is a heater, a humidifier, fans and a

watering system. This is where Gavin has housed orchids that require prefer warmth or heated / humid conditions. Oncidiums and his pride and joys, phalaenopsis which thrive in the conditions.

Around Gavin’s collection you will find numerous cans of White oil and Mortien to control nasties, he likes to hit things as he sees them instead of on mass control.

Chatting, Gavin revealed some hidden facts or insights into his love for Orchids.

How did you get into Orchids – a neighbour of his grandparents gave him some orchids in 2001 and he was hooked.

What was your first Orchid – “What else”, a cymbidium, now he has hundreds. They just look so great when they bloom, they fill the yard with colour.

What else do you grow – Bromeliads, of which Gavin has several hundred with many, many different varieties, from small to over a metre wide with different textures and colours of leaves to insignificant flowers to some metres tall.

What was the best advice you were given – Build a bush house and put your orchids on benches.

What advice would you give to a novice grower – Keep trying, don’t lose interest if something dies, keep trying.

What watering and fertilizing regime do you use. – Where I have a watering system or fogger, I use sea sol, power feed and Charlie carp. I also use 8 – 9 month Osmocote every 4 -6 months and Dynamic Lifter. Watering is regular, as needed with a

hose.

Gavin is a passionate orchid grower and loves to talk about his collection which is somewhere between 3000 and 4000

plants.

When I decided to do this article I expected a brief visit to a members house where I knew he grew some Phaeies. Boy was I surprised. I spent hours looking over his collection which is very impressive and very well looked after. If he ever invites you

over, jump at the chance.

Thanks for an “afternoon with Gavin”.

-George Birss

In My Green House – March 2016 Two words – Dendrobium Beetle. One word – devastation. I have been

mentioning Dendrobium beetles all summer. Too bad I didn’t listen to my own advice. In the past two weeks I have found over a dozen attacking my plants.

Four on one leaf of a speciosum in the front garden but worse I found seven in my bottom shade house, they got through a hole in the roof I think. Here they

have attacked speciosum and hard cane dendrobiums, absolutely destroying a few new growths and having a good munch on some leaves. I did enjoy their

removal.

With all the rain we have had and now some warmer weather plants are really jumping, so are the weeds. Time for some therapeutic relaxation, get a chair, sit down and remove the weeds. They take nutrients and moisture from your orchids. For

bigger growing and thicker stem plants like Cats. And Speciosum you can spray the weeds with “Aeroguard”.

I had a good relaxing day this week by mixing fertilizer up and using a ten litre pump spray to spray around. You see so much sitting down and spraying each plant as you go, takes a bit of time but you observe so much instead of fertilizing by sprinkler systems. Not only do you get to get down and have a closer look at your plants but the quite time is rewarding, you find so many things you miss when just walking through your area. One pleasant surprise for my was to find a plant I have had for

about four or five years and never noticed flowering before, Coelia macrostachya. I came straight in and looked it up as at the time it was only in spike, a fairly big spike that attracted my attention. Just hope it stays around for showing.

I have 6 or 8 Masdevallias in spike or flower. Oncidiums are throwing up plenty of spikes, mine are high so I have had to add extensions to the hangers so they don’t bend against the roof. Laelia ancepts are starting to spike and Cattleyas are

sheathing up and budding. As the sheathes start to bust open, very carefully peel back the sheath so that water does not pool in the sheath. Keep an eye out for bulb rot, keep a little dryer and spray with anti rot.

For those who have Gongora orchids, mine are throwing spikes still. These are a required taste as they hang down, are hard to transport and have a strange bird like flower. Speaking of orchids that hang down, my Stanhopea orchids are in full growth

at present with new leaves all over the place, time for a bit of Dynamic lifter fertilizer.

Cymbidiums are starting to spike, early varieties should be well up. Think about spiking. Look out for spikes close to the edge of the pot, you may need to put a tag between the two to encourage the spike to grow upwards. Keep up the water and

fertilizer, Campbell’s yellow and or sea weed. Watch for black spot, spray with Mencozeb and Eco Oil.

Time now to go out and action my advice, take precautions for “the BEETLE”.

-George Birss

Monthly Results – February 2016 PLANT OF NIGHT

CLASS # 14 PHALAENOPSIS UNDER 75mm

Winner Rhynchostylis retusa 'Keith' Crosby/Costa 1st Phal. 'unknown' M. Luk

OPEN CLASS HYBRID CLASS # 15 ONCIDIUM HYBRIDS OVER 60mm

Winner Den. Miss Singapore 'Red Bull' Crosby/Costa 1st Onc. 'unknown' M. Luk

OPEN CLASS SPECIES 2nd Onc. 'unknown' M. Luk

Winner Rhynchostylis retusa 'Keith' Crosby/Costa

CLASS # 16 MISCELLANEOUS HYBRIDS

INTERMEDIATE JUDGES CHOICE 1st Zns. Cynosure 'Blue Birds' J. Robinson

Winner Ascda. Fuchs Gold x Udom Gold M. Dimon 2nd

Prom. Dinah Albright x Florafest J. Robinson

NOVICE & JUNIOR JUDGES CHOICE 3rd Lyc. Garfield Crosby/Costa

Winner Stanhopea wardii P. Sanaphay 4th Unknown' M. Luk

PRESIDENT'S CHOICE

CLASS # 17 DENDROBIUM HYBRIDS

Winner Gongora galeata D. Phillips 1st Den. Miss Singapore 'Red Bull' Crosby/Costa

CLASS # 1 AUSTRALIAN NATIVES 2nd Den. Mayfair Crosby/Costa

1st Ptst. falcata W.& J.Chapman 3rd

Den. Colonial Maid 'Verity' H. Myers

2nd Spiranthes australis G. Birss 4th Dendrobium Hybrid R. Dimon CLASS # 2 PAPHIOPEDILUMS SPECIES

CLASS # 18 VANDACEOUS

1st Paph. liemianum Crosby/Costa 1st Aerides Korat Koki x odorata Crosby/Costa

2nd Paph. parishii R. Dimon 2nd Vasco. Blue Fairy x Neof.falcata G. Birss

3rd Paph. liemianum S. T. Ho 3rd

V. Josephine van Brero x V. Faye Bennett #1 J.W. Moss

CLASS # 3 LAELIINAE OVER 110MM (CLASSICAL SHAPE) 4th

V. Josephine van Brero x V. Faye Bennett #1 J.W. Moss

1st Lc. Mini Purple 'Vanessa' L. Buivids CLASS # 19 MASDEVALLIA & DRACULA SPECIES

2nd Sc. Dal's Cherry Crosby/Costa 1st Masd. menatoi Crosby/Costa

3rd Lc. Rosie's Surprise Crosby/Costa

CLASS # 21A PLEUROTHALLIDINAE HYBRIDS

4th Blc. Fantasy Maker 'H & R' L. Buivids 1st

Masd. Hot Shot 'Cool Dude' #1 Crosby/Costa

CLASS # 4 NOVELTY PAPHIOPEDILUMS 2nd

Masd. Hot Shot 'Cool Dude' #2 Crosby/Costa

1st Paph. Glaucoliem H. Myers CLASS # 21B LAELIINAE SPECIES

CLASS # 5 LAELIINAE OVER 80MM UP TO & INCLUDING 110MM (CLASSICAL SHAPE) 1st Encyclia alata W. McEvoy

1st Sc. Mini Surprise 'Sandra' Crosby/Costa 2nd Prosthechea radiata J. Costa

2nd Blc. Jungle Jumbalaya Crosby/Costa 3rd C. bicolor var. brasiliensis J. Robinson

3rd Rlc. Coconut Ice Crosby/Costa 4th C. forbesii W. McEvoy

4th Bc. Dal's Choice Crosby/Costa CLASS # 23 SPECIES OTHER (NOT ELSEWHERE INCLUDED)

CLASS # 7 LAELIINAE (NON CLASSICAL SHAPE) 1st Gongora galeata D. Phillips

1st C. Caudebec 'Carmela' x Blc. Waianae Leopard W. McEvoy 2nd Maxillaria triloris G. Birss

2nd Blc. Varuth 'Green Worth' W. McEvoy 3rd Prom. stapelioides J. Robinson

3rd C. Mark Jones 'SVO' x Slc. Kathryn Clarkson Crosby/Costa 4th Maxillaria triloris G. Birss

4th C. Penny Kuroda 'Spots' Crosby/Costa CLASS # 23A OTHER PLEUROTHALLIDINAE SPECIES

CLASS # 8 LAELIINAE UP TO & INCLUDING 80MM (CLASSICAL SHAPE) 1st Rstp. trichoglossa G. Birss

1st Sc. Lana Coryell "Alex L' Crosby/Costa 2nd Rstp. muscifera G. Birss

2nd Blc. Jungle Gem 'Lisa' L. Buivids CLASS # 24A NATIVE SARCANTHINAE HYBRIDS

3rd Rth. Momilani Jewel W.& J.Chapman 1st Sarco. Gadial C. Brandon

4th Laelia sincorana x C. Dianne Diehm Crosby/Costa 2nd Sarco. Velvet C. Brandon

CLASS # 9 AUSTRALIAN NATIVE HYBRIDS

CLASS # 27 - NOVICE - NATIVE & NATIVE HYBRIDS

1st Den. Pauline Crosby/Costa 1st Liparis reflexa R. Jackson

2nd Den. bigibbum '617 Dark' x 'Beauty' M. Dimon

CLASS # 28 NOVICE - LAELIINAE

3rd Den. bigibbum '617 Dark' x 'Beauty' M. Dimon 1st Cattleya 'unknown' J. Chan

CLASS # 10 SPECIES ASIAN (OTHER THAN COELGYNINAE) 2nd Cattleya 'unknown' P. Ng

1st Rhynchostylis retusa 'Keith' Crosby/Costa 3rd

Lc Tokyo Magic x Cosmic Delite P. Ng

2nd Phal. fasciata W.& J.Chapman 4th Cattleya 'unknown' J. Chan

3rd Den. lawesii var. bicolor R. Dimon CLASS # 29 NOVICE - MISCELLANEOUS

4th Oberonia myosurus R. Dimon 1st Stanhopea wardii P. Sanaphay CLASS # 10B ONCIDINAE SPECIES 2nd Phal. 'unknown' R. Coulton

1st Rhynchostele bictoniensis S. T. Ho 3rd Dtps. Tzu Chiang Sapphire J. Sharpham

2nd Onc. onustum Crosby/Costa 4th Brassia 'unknown' R. Jackson CLASS # 11 PHALAENOPSIS OVER 75MM

CLASS # 30 NOVICE -SPECIES

1st Phal. 'unknown' G. Curtis 1st C. bicolor var. brasiliensis D. Went

2nd Phal. 'unknown' M. Luk

CLASS # 34 INTERMEDIATE - LAELIINAE

3rd Phal. 'unknown' M. Luk 1st C.Hawaiian Wedding Song 'Virgin' T. Haney

4th Phal. 'unknown' M. Luk 2nd C.Hawaiian Wedding Song 'Virgin' T. Haney

CLASS # 11A COELGYNINAE SPECIES 3rd Blc. Golden Tang R. Nicol

1st Coel. rumphii G. Birss CLASS # 35 INTERMEDIATE - MISCELLANEOUS

2nd Coel. merrillii M. Hitchcock 1st Ascda. Fuchs Gold x Udom Gold M. Dimon

CLASS # 12 SEEDLING 2nd Zns. Cynosure 'Blue Birds' C. Matheson

1st Paph. Lynleigh Koopowitz S. T. Ho 3rd V. Robert's Delight 'Gamet Beauty' M. Dimon

CLASS # 13 ONCIDIUM HYBRIDS 60MM AND UNDER 4th

Ascda. Muang Thong x V. javiera M. Dimon

1st Onc. Wildcat 'Bobcat' J. Robinson

CLASS # 36 INTERMEDIATE - SPECIES

2nd Onc. Alosuka 'Claire' P. Davies 1st Prosthechea radiata R. Nicol

3rd Onc. Sharry Baby G. Curtis 2nd Psychopsis mariposa var alba R. Nicol

4th Onc. 'unknown' M. Luk

METROPOLITAN REGION JUDGING PANEL ORCHID APPRECIATION / JUDGING CLASSES

The Orchid Society of NSW will be commencing an Orchid appreciation/judging course starting 15th April 2016 at the Berala Community Centre Woodburn Road Berala. The course is aimed at orchid growers of all levels of experience who want to learn more about the various genera and what makes an awardable quality orchid or quality display through the eyes of judges. The course is also recommended for Show Marshals who want to

learn and understand show schedules and in which classes their plants should be exhibited. It is intended that course will be run every third Friday 7.30pm to 10.00 pm each month except December. It is anticipated that the

course will run for approximately 2 years.

Participants will gain experience by completing assignments set during the course to reinforce their understanding of the topics. This will also help the course presenters keep abreast of the participants’ strengths and weaknesses in order to make adjustments to the modules where necessary. There is also the chance that

participants who complete all modules may be invited to complete the practical and theory exams. Those successful in those exams may be invited by the Judging Panel to become an Associate Judge. The cost for the

course will be a one off fee of $50.00 to cover handouts and hire of the venue

Please contact Ian Chalmers if you are interested in participating in the course Email cattleya@optusnet.com.au Mobile 0400220192

Ian Chalmers, Registrar NSW

SSOS Members – Fees for 2016 are now over due. 26 of you have not paid yet. Please pay by the March meeting to continue receiving the Bulletin.

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