October 2004

The Orchid Grower

Upcoming Events

• Oct 17: 1:30 PM
  Guild meeting at Olbrich Gardens with memeber and guest orchid auction
  
• October 22-24
  Blackhawk Orchid Society Show, Klehm Arboretum, 2701 Clifton Ave., Rockford, IL.
  
• Dec. 4
  Porter's Orchids Open House
  
• Dec. 3-5
  J&K Orchids Open House

Meeting Dates

• Oct. 17: Member & Guest Auction
  
• Nov. 21: Visit to Ackers
  
• Dec. 12: Holiday Party & Dendrobiums, HermannPigors
  
• Jan. 16: Orchid Quest Preparations
  
• Feb. 20: Those Challenging orchids, Member Discussion
  
• Mar. 20: Stay Tuned
  
• Apr. 17: Stay Tuned
  
• May 15: Potting Orchids, J & K Orchids

Photo by Brook Johnson

Officers and Committees

Note: The Holiday Party is Dec. 12th

The newsletter last month incorrectly stated that the holiday party was the 19th. The holiday party is really the 12th.

Orchid Growers Guild Auction

Fall is here, and it is time to bring your orchids in from outside. The October Guild meeting is your chance to sell the extra orchids that don't fit in your winter growing area or the orchids you simply can't get to bloom. It's also a chance to add some bargains to your collection. Whether you have plants to auction or if you simply buy, you'll be helping the Guild since half of the proceeds of all plants that are auctioned, will go to the Guild.

This auction is open to the public, so please bring a friend to the meeting.

Any plants that you wish to sell should be labeled with:

• Name of the plant
• Reserve price (if any)
• Your name

Blank labels will be available the day of the sale.

You can pay for your orchids by check or cash. Checks for your half of what you've auctioned will beavailable at the November Guild meeting.

Blackhawk Show

We still need volunteers. We need someone to help do take-down on Oct. 24.

Remember that the Blackhawk show is Oct. 22-24. Drop your plants off at the Acker's by Oct. 20th.

Blackhawk Orchid Society Show,
Klehm Arboretum,
2701 Clifton Ave.,
Rockford, IL.
(815) 297-4723

Proposed Changes to the By-Laws

Proposed Additions and Changes to By-Laws
August 2, 2004

#1. For the first time in the history of the Guild, the Nominating Committee failed to submit a nominee for President. The only provision in the By-Laws to fill this position is under the "temporary absence or disability" provisions found in Article IV which requires the Vice President to be the acting President. Since, under the current By-Laws, the Office of the President cannot be filled until May 2006 (see Article XII), the current vacancy would not fit a reasonable concept of "temporary". The unfilled position creates two problems: 1) difficulty in achieving a quorum for the Board to do business (ie 4 voting members at its meeting) and 2) the absence of a President at the time of the next elections (May 2005) which means that the person elected Vice President at that time will have to act as President for at least one year.

Since there are no provisions in Article XII "Nominations and Elections" for the failure to elect an officer due to be elected, a provision is needed and language is proposed as follows:

"In the event that the Board or Officer position to be filled is not filled under the above provisions, the President or Acting President shall appoint a Search Committee to continue efforts to find a nominee. That Committee shall provide a progress report to the Board at each meeting. Once a nominee has been found, the Board shall, at its earliest opportunity, submit the name of that nominee to the Membership for confirmation, and, once confirmed, the person shall immediately take the position for which elected."

#2. Article XVII "Distribution and Dissolution" is read by some as giving the Board sole power to dissolve the Guild without consulting the membership. If the Board, for some reason, is unable to achieve a quorum to conduct business, it will be unable to function and be unable to dissolve the Guild. In general, it seems good policy, to require membership consent to any action to dissolve its organization. Recommend the following change. The current provisions may remain, but the following introductory paragraph should be added.

"The ranking member of the Board of Directors (President or Acting president, Treasurer, and Secretary, in that order) shall propose to the membership a resolution to dissolve the organization and the rationale for this proposal. A majority vote of the membership present at a membership meeting is required to ratify the proposal. The membership may also be asked to propose a distribution of assets under this provision"

At the end of this Article, the following is needed: "If the Board cannot achieve a quorum to implement a membership vote to dissolve, the ranking member of the Board of Directors is empowered to do to so."

Sept. Talk by Ernie Gemeinhart

On Sunday, September 19, 2004 OGG hosted Ernie Gemeinheit. Ernie's background is in fisheries and taxonomy and he comes at orchids as an avid hobbyist. He presented slides illustrating the various species of Paphiopedilums. It was very informative to actually see slides of the characteristics that each species imparted to their hybrids.
He then went on to discuss what one should look for when purchasing a paph. The plant should be pest free. A good, strong root system is a must and multiple growths is certainly a plus.

Some of Ernie's suggestions for growing Paphs include proper watering. He says he tends to water 2-3" pots every 3-5 days while plants in 4-6" pots probably only need to be watered every 5-7 days. Humidity should exceed 40% if possible and can be supplemented by a humidifier, an evaporative cooler or even a pan of water in front of a fan. One suggestion to increase air circulation is to point the fan at the wall rather than on the plant.

Ernie addressed the repotting of Paphs suggesting that they be repotted once a year. Gently remove the plant from the pot. Don't worry about removing every little piece of old potting mix. Replant by placing plant in a deep, plastic pot. "Shake and tap" fresh mix into the pot. Water well and keep in subdued light for about 1 week. Ernie suggested to top dress with crushed oyster shell and Epsom salts IF the paphs native environment tends to be calcareous (i.e. limestone). (Some paphs that fit this description are the sequential blooming cochlopetalums- with the exception of 'Victoria Marie.')

One other valuable hint was to use a solution of TSP (TriSodiumPhosphate) to sterilize potting equipment. TSP is available at home supply stores and may be found in the cleaning department.

In terms of lighting, Ernie grows under lights alternating cool and warm 4 foot 40 watt light bulbs with a 1:1 ratio. He places adult plants 6-12" below the light and seedlings are placed less than 6" below a 2 bulb 40 watt system. IN the greenhouse he uses 70% shade cloth and in a window he suggests an East, west or very shaded south window. North light would work if supplemental lighting is used. Seasonal lighting varies from 12 hours in winter (Dec-Feb); 14 hours in Spring (Mar-May) and Fall (Sep-Nov) and up to 16 hours in Summer (June-Aug). Reduce the amount of light if the temperature is over 85 degrees.

Milwaukee Results

Porter's Orchids Open House

Porter's Orchids invites you to our annual Holiday Open House:

A few special prices, and holiday delights!

Don't miss this opportunity to boost your collection of quality orchids, and think about orchids as gifts for your family and friends.

J & K Orchids Open House

Our open house will be December 3rd 4th and 5th 9:00 to 5:00 Friday and Saturday, 9:00 to 5:00 Friday and Saturday, Sunday 10:00 to 3:00.Sunday 10:00 to 3:00.

There will be repotting demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday at 2:00. A bonsai demonstration on Saturday at 10:00 by Gerry Knops he has awesome bonsai.

Saturday we have piano students playing Christmas music for entertainment.

We will have discounted pricing on bare root full size Vanda’s for as little as $15.00. Full size Phalaenopsis for as little as $12.00, Oncidiums as little as $6.00, full size Cattleya’s as little as $15.00, imported in from Thailand and Taiwan. Plants include clones and selected hybrids. There will also be discounted pricing throughout the greenhouse.

Saturday is generally very busy. My advice would be to come on Friday or Sunday.

We are offering a Sun Systems IV grow light as a door prize. You must register to win.

The NEWOS also does a raffle to support the society and puts up a display.

Sincerely,
Joe & Kathy Van Den Heuvel
J & K Orchids

3360 Orchid Lane
Neenah WI 54956 
(920) 836-2379

Submit Your Photos

Every month we want to include a gallery of photos to enjoy. I don't have many plants in bloom, so I will need your help. Email your photos to me (Brook orchids@tinamoupottery.com) by Nov. 1 for inclusion in next months newsletter.