Summer 2005

The Orchid Grower

Upcoming Events

• 1st Saturday in August (Aug 6), picnic at Oak Hill Gardens
  
• August 14th - 1:00 picnic at J&K, Kip Knutson is bringing in a guest speaker on native orchids
  
• September 16-18
  Wisconsin Orchid Society Show
  Mitchell Park Conservatory
  The Domes
  Milwaukee, WI

Meeting Dates

• Sept 18 - Olbrich gardens
  
• Oct 16 - Presentation about Aldo Leopold's efforts to save Wisconsin's White Fringed Orchid.
  
• Nov 20 - Orchids by the Ackers
  
• Dec 18 - Holiday Party
  

Cypripedium reginae - Meg McLaughlin

Cypripedium parviflorum - Steven Thimling

Officers and Committees

Lc. Blazing Treat - Svetlana Kot

Mtssa. C.M. Fitch 'Izumi' - Svetlana Kot

Subit your photos to be included in the newsletter. Every month we want to include a gallery of photos to enjoy. Email your photos to Brook (orchids@tinamoupottery.com).

May Meeting Info

Elections were held for many positions. The following people will be holding these positions:

President- Elaine Malter will fill this position until May 2006
Vice President- Sarah Lundey (2007)
Secretary Meg McLaughlin (2007)
Treasurer- Don Fago 2006
Board member- Judy Stevenson (2007)
Brook Johnson has volunteered to continue helping with the newsletter.

Meeting synopsis

Judith and Jan Rapacz shared information on the upcoming First Scientific Convention in Ecuador. November 11-13. For more information www.ecuagenera.com.

Our guest speaker was Joe Van Den Heuvel from J+K Orchids in Neenah. Joe started his presentation by informing members that Kip Knutson was in the process of lining up a speaker on native Wisconsin orchids for the NEWOS August picnic meeting the 3rd Sunday of August.

Joe told us how he and his wife Kathy started growing orchids 14 years ago. It all started with one white phalaenopsis… they now have 8500 square feet with over 25,000 plants including orchids and many carnivorous plants. Joe tends to lean toward the "showy orchids," especially the Brassias; Kathy prefers the miniatures and carnivorous plants.

Before demonstrating repotting, Joe shared a few "Tips and Tricks for Growing Orchids"

• He shared a "paph in a basket" planted in coconut husks, watered everyday it seems to grow well because of the air movement on the roots. He suggested that paphs like to have warm roots.
  
• Dracula-supposedly found in a Transylvanian graveyard- were formerly classified in the Masdevalia family. They prefer lots of water with very little fertilizer.
  
• Some chemicals that Joe uses include an organic insecticide called "Don't Bug Me" which contains pyrethrums derived from chrysanthemums. This is the same chemical used to treat lice on cows. (No shortage of those here!)
  
• Another helpful hint was to use a paint brush to apply "leaf shine." Simply spray the paint brush, then gently apply it to the leaf. This not only removes the debris but also "shines" it up.
  
• J+K Orchids uses the MSU 13-3-15 fertilizer at the rate of 1⁄4 teaspoon per gallon every time they water.
  
• LiquidKarma is an effective biochemical bloom stimulator that can be mixed with fertilizer at the rate of 2 tsp/gal.

Following the above tips and tricks, Joe continued on with his repotting demo.

First up was a Brassia Edvah Loo. He soaked the plant about 15 minutes before repotting. He proceeded to repot in New Zealand (or Chile) Sphagnum because it doesn't break down as quickly as other types. OGG members gasped to see how much of the roots were cut off prior to repotting. But upon further investigation we observed that many of the roots were dead anyway so severe trimming was in the best interest of the plant. He filled the new pot with about 1/3 full of Styrofoam packing peanuts and then demonstrated a "rhizome-clip" trick with 2 S-hooks and a rubber band. Insert 1 S-hook through a hole in the bottom of the pot. Attach a rubber band to the hook from the inside; place the second S-hook (temporarily) on the side of the pot. Place Styrofoam in the bottom of the pot, wrap/pack moss around the roots of the plant to be repotted, then put the plant back in the pot with the oldest part of the plant to the back of the pot. Then simply take the second S-hook and clip it onto the plant to ensure that the plant stays firmly in the new pot.

Next up was an Onc. Sphaceltum that was to be divided into 3 new (large!) plants. Repotting was much the same as the above plant.

Third, Joe showed us how he mounted bulbophylums on nifty clay plaques that had strategically located holes and a "water pocket." He again wrapped the roots of the bulbophylum in sphagnum moss, then inserted florist wire into the holes in the plaque.

Finally, Joe's last demonstration was a Phalaenopsis that could be divided into 3 different keikis. One was large enough to place back into the original size pot but the other two were put in smaller pots, again with 1/3 of the pot filled with Styrofoam and sphagnum wrapped around the roots and packed firmly. Joe wrapped up his demonstration by reminding growers to keep like-sized pots together because it makes it easier to water.

Reimbursement Policy For Away Show Expenses

April 25, 2005
As of the above date, the Board of Director's established a new set of reimbursement policies and amounts for Away Shows. These replace policies and amounts dated April 2004 which were in place during the 2004-05 Away Show season. These new policies and amounts become effective September 1, 2005 and will remain in effect until changed by Board action.

May Ribbon Judging

First Place:       Sandy Delamater (Gongora fulva, Milt Rene Komoda 'Pacidfic Clouds', Paph St Swithin, Phal Baldan's Kaleidoscope 'Golden Treasure', Zygo Mackayi); Sarah Lundey (Onc Orchidon Dancer);  Jan Rapacz (C. walkeriana var alba x B. glauca, Laelia pupperata var Werkhauserii 'Blue Sky'); Sue Reed (Phal Golden Buddha, Restrepia striata); Steve Thimling (Ascda Fuch's Gold x Yip Sum Wah, Den. crepidiferum x sib, Phrag Andean Fire).
 
Second Place:    Sandy Delamater (Milt. Raspberry Swirl 'Raindr' x Pearl Ono 'Illiwai', Vanda Pakchong Blue); Jill Hynum (Onc Ralph Yagi 'Jon'); Meg McLaughlin (Phal Brother Golden Wish 'Aladdin' x Brother Lawrence' Sundial'); Jan Rapacz  (Bc Cynthia 'Sereue', C. Peckhaviensis, Phrag Don Wimber);  Sue Reed (Paph Larry Booth, Paph liemeanum); Steven Thimling ( Paph Pinocchio, Polystacha campyglossa).
   
Third Place:     Sandy Delamater (Milt. Red Knight 'The King'); Jill Hynum (Phrag Don Wimber); Meg McLaughlin (Phal equestris 'Allison' x King Shiang's Rose x (New Eagle x Chiali 'Stripe')); Sue Reed (Paph malipeonse x gardinerii).

June Ribbon Judging

First Place:       Sandy Delamater (Brada Orange Delight 'Starbeck', Phal Lippefolk x Dtps Hsinying Doll, Miltoniopsis Lawless Falls); Jill Hynum (Mexipedium xerphyticum “Oaxaca', Paph St. Swithin); Wayne King (Encyclia alatus var Majus', Phrag Fedora Brocha); Meg McLaughlin (Phal Brother Golden Wish 'Aladdin' x Brother Lawrence 'Sundial');  Jan Rapacz (Psychopsis Mendenhall 'EFG' x self);  Judith Rapacz (Dendrobium aggregatum, LC Canhamiana var coerulea 'Cobalt”); Steve Thimling (Ascda Fuch's Gold x Ascda Yip Sum Wah,  Polystacha campyglossa)
 
Second Place:    Sandy Delamater (Milt Raspberry Swirl 'Raindr' x Pearlono 'Illiwai'); Wayne King (Paph Clifton Booth); Elaine Malter (Cischweinfia rostrata, Phal Brother Lawrence); Meg McLaughlin (Encyclia Green Hornet); Dennis Pfarrer (Pot. Little Toshie 'Golden Splendor'); Jan Rapacz (Phrag Sergeant Eric);  Steven Thimling ( Den. Crepidiferum x sib);  Anne Orcutt (Phal Tinny Diamond x Tinny Moonlight)
   
Third Place:      Jill Hynum (Paph Nerissa x primulinum); Meg McLaughlin (Phal Miva Smartiasino x Cpp?); Anne Orcutt (Phal Ever-spring 'Lee').

Ribbon Judging Totals

Rainbarrels

Sandy Delamater has a few rainbarrels left if anyone is interested. 608-835-8118 - sldjn@aol.com

Member Column

Do you have any good ideas about growing orchids? Have you read a good orchid book or article that you would like to tell people about? Please email Brook (orchids@tinamoupottery.com) with your article for inclusion in our monthly newsletter.

Addendum to OGG Policies and By-laws

May 15, 2005
The following changes have been made and added to the OGG Policy and By-law manual. The first two changes deal with updating the by-laws. The third change involves the change for reimbursement of away shows including definitions and reimbursement amounts.

Under Article XII: Nominations and Elections the following has been added.

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.

Under Article XVII: Distribution and Dissolution the following has been added at the beginning.

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.

And the following has been added to the end of the same section.

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.

More Photos

Lori O'Neill's backyard orchid tree and her mystery Dendrobium.