San Diego County Orchid Society
Newsletter

Newsletter Distribution - 712 Members
September 1999

NOVICE CLASS
September 7, 1999 - 6:30 PM - CASA DEL PRADO - ROOM 104
By Gary Pierwola, 2nd VP

Bob Hodges will give a presentation on paphipedilums. Don’t miss it!

THIS MONTH’S GENERAL MEETING
September 7, 1999 - 7:30 PM - CASA DEL PRADO - ROOM 101
By Ben Machado, 1st VP

First of all, we have to say something about last month’s meeting and our guest speaker, Ned Nash. The mystery of the meaning behind the name of his presentation, "Unusual Orchids Visible with the Naked Eye", came to light. Ned went through a wide variety of just beautiful, interesting orchids that are truly eye-catchers. Of course he provided a wealth of information about their natural habitat and cultural requirements.

Concepcion and Jerry Boyd of "The Orchid Connection" did us more than fair with their plants for the Plant Opportunity Table. They have one the finest selection of Mexican Species Orchids in the San Diego area.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We have to thank members of the Species Group and Conservation Committee for the lead on this month’s guest speaker, Ron Parsons. Ron is from the San Francisco area where he has cultivated an interest in species orchids and conservation of orchids in the wild. Everyone who has seen his orchid photographs has been very impressed with the quality of the photos, and I hear that he is very knowledgeable and a master in presentation interest.

Ron has been fascinated with orchids for 24 years and has been growing almost nothing but species for 20 years. He belongs to the San Francisco Orchid Society and The Orchid Society of California. He has been photographing orchids for 17 years and also photographs many other plant families, with an affinity for California wildflowers. Many of his photos have been published in magazines and books. He grows his orchids mostly under lights and in an unheated greenhouse. He has traveled to Mexico and several Central American countries to collect and photograph orchids.

In keeping with the spirit of the species presentation, Andy Phillips of Andy’s Orchids will provide the plants for our Plant Opportunity Table. This should be another great treat because of the range and diversity Andy has in his stock. He provides well-grown, unusual plants and each one has a tag telling you what conditions it likes. One visit to Andy’s Orchids and you can easily believe that Andy is the biggest species grower in the U.S.and probably North America. All this right here in our own back yard!

Any member is welcome to join us for the Speaker’s Dinner just before the Meeting. The location will be somewhere nice, in the mid-priced range. Call Ben Machado, 660-9870, if you would like to participate.

Dear Orchid Friends,

Can you believe September is already here?? Time for an orchid show! Check out the big Del Mar International Orchid Fair later this month at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Orchid displays and LOTS of vendors! Enter your fall-blooming beauties and win awards in ribbon, AOS, and CSA judging.

After all the excitement at the last few meetings with Harry Tolen’s huge reed stem Epidendrums, Anna Majevskis came up with the idea of a get-together and swap for members who grow Epi’s. Wouldn’t you like to have one in all sizes and colors? Anna would, too, and has a very large collection, so give her a call at (619) 462-9866.

Our orchid community has lost two great friends recently. This past week, Pat Worthington of Laguna Beach passed away. The cause was pancreatic cancer. He and his wife, Ginny, have generously given such enormous service for numerous Societies -- as AOS judges, exceptional species growers, authors, show committee leaders and educators. Pat will be deeply missed. Earlier this year, Don Herman of Las Crescenta, CA passed away. He served as President of the AOS, managing editor of Orchid Digest, was guest speaker at our meetings on several occasions, and he judged at many of our big shows.

Please let me hear what subjects you would like to see in the newsletter. Do you like the newsletter as it is? Got some ideas? Catch me at the meeting, call me or send me an e-mail—your suggestions are most welcome!

Sincerely,
Rebecca

Conservation Corner

by Ron Kaufmann

The foremost mission of many conservation efforts worldwide is to stop, or at least to slow down, the loss of biodiversity. This word is often simply defined as the number of species plants and animals living within a particular area. In reality, the real meaning of biodiversity is more deep and complex. Biodiversity is made up of (1) habitat diversity (2) species diversity and (3) genetic diversity.

Habitat diversity is reflected in variations in elevation, water sources, types of soils and vegetation, temperature, etc. San Diego county, for example, has a much higher habitat diversity than central Nevada. Areas with high habitat variations can provide homes for more types of living things. Converting half of San Diego county to agriculture would cause the loss of many more plants and animals than doing the same thing to an area of the same size in central Nevada.

Species diversity can be thought of in terms of richness, the number of species present within an area, and eveness, the way the organisms are distributed. A more even distribution means higher diversity. Two identical areas may each contain 50 species, but the one where each species is 2% of the total is more diverse than the area where one species makes up 50% of the total and the other 49 species are 1% each.

Genetic diversity means how much variability there is in the gene pool. Two populations of the same species and size may be very different in their DNA. The people in your family should be less diverse genetically than a group the same size randomly picked from the orchid society!

Now that we know more its meaning, why is it essential that we guard and conserve all this diversity? We have enormous, uncountable future wealth in all these unique plants and animals. From a practical point of view, extinction of a species (and its genes) can mean that useful pharmaceuticals and industrial materials are lost to us forever. Almost every day we read about new drugs, reagents or cancer treatments that were first identified in living creatures, and many more are possible. Also, highly diverse areas are more productive and more resistant to drought, disease, invasion by weeds and pests, etc. They recover more quickly after fires. Finally, there is an intangible value which we, as orchid growers, appreciate--the fascinating beauty and endless variety of Nature’s creations. The world would be a much poorer place without Laelia purpurata or Paphiopedilum armeniacum.

Meet a Member: Duncan Werth

We all probably remember our first ‘meaningful encounter’ with orchids. For Duncan, it was during a trip to San Francisco when he saw a blooming Phalenopsis, and fell in love. His first orchid was a $5.00 hybrid Dendrobium in a mesh bag. Then came Cymbidiums, which he still grows outside in his yard and a covered GH on Point Loma, along with 60 to 70 Laelias and Cattleyas. He is the orchid grower at home, although his wife, Su, enjoys the blooms, and is "in charge" of one plant in the house.

Duncan says he has always been interested in computers, and likes to look up information about hobbies on the Internet. He realized that a web page for the SDCOS might be a good way for local orchidophiles to communicate with each other. He started learning HTML computerese, and has since spent well over 100 hours completing the site. The best part of being WebMaster, he says, is getting feedback from members. At our last meeting he was pleasantly surprised to meet a new member who said she had just found out about our meeting by reading the SDCOS web page!

While Duncan, 30, is our intrepid WebMaster by night, by day he is a mild-mannered tour bus driver and guide at the San Diego Zoo, where he has worked for 10 years. He is also interested in photography, and now brings a digital camera to shows and meetings. He can store 10-20 pictures on a floppy disk, and download them directly onto the web page the same day. Duncan has been a member of the SDCOS for 3 years, and began serving a term as Director for the Society this summer.

Get "Caught Up" in our Web Page!
http://members.home.net/orchid1

Imagine being able to read the latest issue of this Newsletter…find out about all our Society activities for the whole year…learn how to grow all kinds of orchids outside in San Diego…browse for and buy orchid books at a nice discount...discover links to other orchid societies and discussion lists…page through a colorful orchid photo gallery…and locate local nurseries and suppliers. All at the touch of one–well, OK, of several—buttons.

Now you can! Fellow member Duncan Werth has created our Society’s Home Page on the Internet. Here are the ‘departments’ you’ll find when you log on to the SDCOS Home Page address:

MAIN PAGE

NEWSLETTER: the latest issue

BOOKSTORE: Save 30% on orchid books & 15% more goes to SDCOS.

VENDORS: Local nurseries and suppliers

GALLERY: Photos of shows, special events and members’ blooming orchids, plus a tour of the orchid display at the San Diego Zoo.

CULTURE: AOS and SDCOS culture sheets & tips from members

ARTICLES: authored by our members and guest speakers

LINKS: to other Orchid sites, discussion groups

MEETINGS: Schedule for the year, plus a map to Room 101.

SHOWS: Calendar for upcoming shows / sales in Southern California

OUTDOOR ORCHIDS: what grows well in San Diego

CONSERVATION: SDCOS current projects

E-MAIL: send Duncan your comments, ideas, orchid photos

So, next time you are at your computer, check out our Society’s web site. Whether you are new to the area, at home or travelling afar, the SDCOS Home Page helps us all to keep in touch.

ORCHID TALK……..By ESTHER SIVILA

Are you ready for the pronunciation of the orchid names? Before we start, I would like to tell you that these are not my own work. These are topics that fascinated me when I became interested in orchids. The topic that I am going to share with you is a compilation of topics that came from different books that I have read. This is intended for amateurs like me who lack a scientific background. It is presented with the hope that it will give you the courage to use the botanical names every time you talk about your orchids, rather than their common names (ie. dancing lady, moth orchid, etc.). When you do, the person talking to you could think that you know a lot about orchids…he! he! he!

The words used in describing orchids or naming orchids mostly came from the Greek and Latin languages. The way the authors wrote their books (Glossary), they claimed their way of pronouncing the words are not accurate as in the dictionary, for there are national, regional and individual differences. When I asked the experts, I was told that because of the many languages and so many changes, - there is no "one right way" of pronouncing the words. There will be several variations; each of which is equally correct, although one may be more common in one place than another. To guide us in the pronunciation, I will share with you the KEY TO PRONUNCIATION from the AOS:

An Orchidist’s Glossary.

KEY TO PRONUNCIATION

For the most part, variation in pronunciation is based on the many shades of sound to be found in vowels. Vowels are listed first, followed by a few consonants. I think there should be little difficulty in sounding the syllables if we follow this guide.

We practice sounding these key words and hopefully when we start the Glossary of Orchid Names, we will all be learning together and find that talking about orchids can be as much fun as growing them. Till the next issue.

Dates to Remember

September 4, 9:00 am
SDCOS Species Group Meeting
At Helmut Rohrl’s 619-452-0976
First Saturday each month
Different locations
Paul or Ann Tuskes (619) 274-5829

September 7, 7:30 pm
SDCOS General Meeting
First Tuesday each month, Balboa Park
Fred Weber (619) 982-9128

September 10, 7:30 pm
Palomar Orchid Society Meeting
Second Friday each month
Vista Community Center
Greg Luetticke (760) 724-4711

September 14, 7:00 pm
SDCOS Board Meeting
Second Tuesday each month
Balboa Park
Siv Garrod (619) 483-8787

September 15
Cymbidium Society Meeting
Third Wednesday each month
Carlsbad Womens’ Club
Larry Phillips (619) 746-5518

September 21, 7:00 pm
SDCOS Show Committee Meeting
Third Tuesday each month
Balboa Park
Bud Close (619) 444-8839
Cindy Hill (858) 481-5782

September 25 and 26
San Diego International Orchid Fair
Del Mar Fairgrounds
Greg Luetticke (760) 724-4711
orchidguy@home.com

Upcoming Shows

October 29, 30 and 31
East-West Orchid Show and Sale
"California Orchid Rush"
New Otani Hotel, Los Angeles, CA

Fragrant Orchids

Orchids appeal to us in so many different ways. They challenge the grower’s art and provide visual inspiration. The varied perfumes of orchids can stir emotions, inducing a vivid recall of a past scene related to a particular fragrance. We first relate orchid fragrances to substances with which we are already familiar such as rose, hyacinth, jasmine or cinnamon. With more sampling experience and with a good nose, we begin to relate scents to particular orchids or groups of orchids. Our sense of smell is more strongly linked to emotion than any other of our senses. A scent memory can be linked to a visual image such as a pleasant social event, a visit to a friend’s greenhouse or to an image of a particular flower. Once we smell a particular fragrance, the signal it invokes may be remembered for a very long time.

I grow many colorful orchids but the ones that appeal to me most are those with fragrance. The spicy fragrance of Encyclia radiata conjures up visions of summer’s warmth even in the midst of winter. A delicate rose-scented Cattleya makes me smile with happy memories of the same plant blooming for the first time and capturing a 1st prize ribbon at a show. Everyone will have their favorite fragrances and memories that emerge in response to the scents.

Not all orchids are strongly scented and not all appeal equally. Some orchids have a musty or mushroomy smell that may appeal to pollinators but not to the human nose. To some persons, heavy fragrance or a particular scent can be overwhelming while to others the scent is not at all bothersome or even not detectable. The ability to detect fragrance has been shown to diminish as we age.

Fragrance intensity can vary with temperature, the time of day and with humidity. All these factors affect production and volatility of the fragrance components. Some orchids such as Epidendrum difforme are moderately fragrant throughout the day with a peak at night while others such as Epi. falcatum change fragrance quality and intensity as the day progresses from the delicate, haunting scent of jasmine in morning to a stronger note of Easter lilies or narcissus in the afternoon.

Orchid scent is associated with the reproductive process. Scented flowers attract specific pollinators. In cultivation, and with humans performing the pollinator role, we might easily skew the evolutionary process and produce less scented, differently scented or even unscented offspring after several generations of inbreeding. Here is yet another aspect to be considered when maintaining species which might eventually be used to re-populate a natural habitat.

When building a collection of scented orchids, select plants suited to your growing conditions and with blooms that are fragrant when you are there to enjoy them. A most pleasant task awaits you. You can sniff, savor and enjoy many different orchid scents until you find the ones which appeal especially to you. The specific epithet sometimes promises what an orchid can deliver. The epithets ambrosia, aromatica, fragrans, and odorata imply fragrance in abundance. When you choose an orchid you really like, you will be more than willing to accept the challenge to grow it well. After all, the reward will be flowers and the marvelous fragrance.

Some fragrant orchids for a brightly lit windowsill or greenhouse are:

Sweet jasmine-scented Neofinetia falcata
Chocolate-scented Oncidium ‘Sharry Baby’
Spicy-scented Lycaste aromatica
Orange-scented Lycaste bradeorum
Perfume-scented Brassavola nodosa
Resinous and citrus-scented Catasetum tenebrosum
Rose-scented Laeliocattleya
Vanilla-scented Encyclia fragrans
Night-lily-scented Jacquiniella equitantifolia
Menthol-scented Stanhopea occulata

Marilyn H.S. Light
Copyright 1999
Orchid Safari

My Favorite Orchids
by Tom Biggart

Encyclia radiata

I was looking at the list of plants I have written about and noticed there was only one Encyclia! Being a confirmed Encyclia nut I figured it was time to rectify the situation. For this month I have chosen a very lovely plant to share with you, Encyclia radiata.

This plant grows in Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. It occurs from near sea level to 6000 feet. This wide range makes it very adaptable to greenhouse and garden growing conditions. It is one of the orchids I can grow outside. Pine forests, pine-oak forests, and tropical evergreen forests are typical habitats.

One thing I really like about this plant is its clear, light green pseudobulbs and leaves. It is very pleasing even when not in bloom.The pseudobulbs average 6 inches in height and the 2 to 4 terminal leaves are about 8 inches long. They arch out in a very pleasing manner. The 10 inch infloresence carries 4 to 12 cream colored flowers. The 1 inch flowers are held with their lip facing upward. The flat lip usually carries 3 purplish-red lines down the center with other lines on the side lobes of the lip. The flowers are strongly fragrant.

I usually grow Encyclia radiata in a pot in my regular mix of equal parts fine fir bark, charcoal, and perlite. I’m sure it would also do well mounted. It normally sends out two leads from each growth. In a very short time one has a pot full of flowering growths! It is really spectacular when flowered like this. Try a few of these and you’ll never go back to Phalaenopsis again!

Orchid Checklist
September /October

Cattleya Despite the shortening days and lowering angle of the sun, September can still be one of the hottest months. Water and fertilizer need to be in balance with heat and light. The alert grower will notice, however, that his or her plants are beginning to slow down a bit. Growths are maturing, and the sheaths are giving the promise of the next six-months’ bloom. Check plants for potting needs for the last time this season. Any in dire need should be potted, even some that may be on the cusp, as there is just enough of the growing season left to allow the plants to establish before the days start to get really short and cold. This is the month for purples derived from Cattleya labiata breeding to flower. If you are short on flowers, look into this group. There is nothing that can quite match this type for beauty and fragrance. They are easy to grow, too. Plants summered outdoors should begin to be prepared to be brought back into the winter growing area. Clean the plants up and be on the lookout for any pests they may have picked up during the summer. Treat as necessary.

Cycnoches This little-known and under-appreciated genus, which can have male or female flowers, is at its best in the autumn. Two of the spectacular varieties are Cycnoches loddigesii, with its large brown flowers resembling a prehistoric bird, and Cycnoches ventricosum, the swan orchid. This last one has large, fragrant green flowers. The biggest problem, culturally, will be red spider mite infestations that require immediate attention. Plants are quite seasonal, requiring heavy watering in the growing season and then a drier dormant winter season.

Cymbidium Through diligent modern breeding programs, the cymbidium season gets stretched longer and longer. Now we can expect to have flowers open as early as September and October. Stake inflorescences and move the plants to a shadier location to help the flowers develop successfully. Because the plants will have warmth tolerance "built in" genetically, keeping the plants as cool as possible will help prevent bud curl. For the midseason varieties, inflorescences should be initiated by now. Feed plants on a regular schedule with a balanced fertilizer (20-20-20) and shade the plants lightly.

Dendrobium This is a good season for hybrids of the Dendrobium phalaenopsis and Dendrobium canaliculatum types. Both are capable of putting on tremendous shows of long-lasting flowers. Fertilize with a low-nitrogen formula to promote the best flowers. Dendrobium phalaenopsis can get tall and top heavy, suggesting an attractive and heavy container would be appropriate for this type.

Lemboglossum bictoniense Both Lemboglossum (syn. Odontoglossum) bictoniense and its hybrids bloom in this season. Lemboglossum bictoniense is a showy species from Mexico that has three different color forms: sulphureum (green with white lip), album (brown with white lip) and roseum (brown with a pink lip). It is a vigorous grower with tall inflorescences of many flowers, and imparts to its progeny (as seen in Odcdm. Bittersweet and Odm. bicross) ease of culture, warmth tolerance and eye-catching patterns. They make a prime candidate for odontoglossum beginners and advanced alike.

Paphiopedilum Standard, green-leaved paphiopedilums begin to show their bloom sheaths this month. Late-season heat waves can blast these early sheaths, so be observant about proper cooling and air circulation. As with the rest of your plants that may have been summered outdoors, it is time to prepare for their move inside. Clean each plant and implement pest-control practices. Repotting, if necessary, is appropriate.

Phalaenopsis The bulk of this season’s growth is being ripened this month, with growers in cooler climates seeing the first emerging inflorescences. Some night heating may be necessary in the cooler areas. Begin to watch watering more carefully, and reduce feeding proportionately with reduced watering needs. An extra dose of phosphorus and potassium, such as a bloom-booster or high-acid-type fertilizer, is beneficial.

Rossioglossum grande Once known as Odontoglossum grande, this is a spectacular orchid with six to eight flowers up to 8 inches across. Often known as the tiger orchid, it has bright golden yellow flowers heavily marked with chestnut brown barring. The plants are beautiful with a grey-green cast to the foliage, which is borne on succulent pseudobulbs. It prefers hot and wet summers with cooler, even down to 40 F, dry winters. Grow under filtered light. Watch for snails and slugs that eat the flowers, pseudobulbs and leaves. Prepared by Ned Nash and James Rose. The American Orchid Society http://orchidweb.org

Donate an Orchid,

and you will protect Many More

Did you know our Society directly supports worthwhile orchid conservation projects—here in San Diego, in the US, and around the world? Our Society has been one of the most active and involved of any volunteer orchid group in the country, according to the AOS. Over the past ten years, we have funded, in part or in full, 14 projects.

How do we raise the funds?

We sell the plants YOU donate.

100% of the sale price goes directly to support these worthwhile, hands-on projects. It’s easy to participate…

¨ Orchid plants, divisions, and seedlings are all welcome

¨ Plants should be healthy, but not necessarily in bloom

¨ Tag with name, or color of flower

¨ Your donations are totally tax deductible*

Bring your plants to our

September 7 meeting

Leave them on the table marked "Conservation"…

or take them with you to the

Del Mar Orchid Fair

on Saturday morning

September 25

If you have questions, or need someone to pick up your plants, call Ron Kaufmann (619) 270-7584; kaufmann@acusd.edu.

So donate a few orchids (or more), and come buy some others at our sales booth… it’s all for a very worthwhile cause. Thank You!

* Contact Ron Kaufmann for tax-deduction receipt.

"SERVICE TO OUR MEMBERS SECTION"

HELP HOTLINE: The SDCOS offers a service to members who seek cultural information about their orchids. Here are some friendly hobbyists who have a great deal of experience and knowledge about certain types of orchids, and who have kindly volunteered to answer your questions. There are no commercial growers on this list.

Cattleyas, Oncidium/Odontoglossum, and Vandaceous, Greenhouse grown, West SD county Forrest Robinson - (619) 270-6105

Encyclias, Epidendrum - Tom Osborn - (760) 787-0282

Paphiopedilums - Bob Hodges - (619)461-4915, Ann Tuskes - (619) 274-5829

Phalaenopsis, Cattleyas and Dendrobiums Alma Marosz - (619) 583-0334

Pleurothallids - Don van Kekerix - (619) 224-4938

Cymbidium, Zygopetalum - Ken Miller (619) 453-4705

Northeast County, all types - Dave Reid (619) 728-7996

San Diego West County all types - Jean Beck (619) 435-8211

San Diego Central, Outdoor, all types Fred Tomaschke 276-3225 / Jim Wright 276-5295

San Diego East County, all types James Masst - (619) 443-2800 / Bud Close - (619) 444-8839

Species, all types, Indoor and Outdoor Ann & Paul Tuskes - (619) 274-5829

South County all types - Genie Hammond (619) 426-6831 / Ed Marty - (619) 470-7175

You may also call any of the SDCOS Board Members for information; if they don't have the answer, they will direct you to someone who knows.

San Diego County Orchid Society
~~ Established in 1947 ~~

OUR MISSION:
To promote interest in orchids and their cultivation, to educate by exchanging information and experiences related to successful orchid culture, and to support the conservation of orchids in the wild.

President: Fred Weber 619-982-9128
First Vice President: Ben Machado 619-660-9870
Second Vice President: Gary Pierwola 619-426-9108
Secretary Siv Garrod: 619-483-8787
Treasurer: Edith Galvan 619-441-7503
Directors:
1997 to 2000 Ann Tuskes 619-274-5829
1998 to 2001 Cindy Hill 619-481-5782
1999 to 2002 Duncan Werth 619-222-2072
Director at Large: (Past President) Bud Close 619-444-8839
Parliamentarian: Alma Marosz 619-583-0334
Refreshments: Joan Close, Alma Marosz, Peggy Swanson, Pat Tolen
Librarian: Ron Velarde 619-562-7246
Historian: Ben Hardy 619-448-0659
Plant Opportunity Table: Jim Reid 619-223-3961
William Roley, Rudy Pfeiffer
Hospitality: Esther Sivila, Naty Ritua
Floral Association Representative: Lynn Beyerle 619-454-4953
Botanical Fnd. and Mini-Show Representative: Bob Hodges 619-461-4915
Conservation Committee: Peter Tobias 760-753-3173
Membership Committee and Name Badges: Vivian Follmer 619-538-6187
Newsletter Editor: Rebecca Lawrence 760-943-8860
Newsletter Distribution: Genie Hammond 619-426-6831
Newsletter Advertising: Cindy Hill 619-481-5782
Webmaster: Duncan Werth 619-222-2072

These are many of the hard-working volunteers that keep our Society running. There are many others with no titles that help these folks make it happen. You are invited to help. Ask any of these people how.

Monthly meetings are held the First Tuesday of each month at Casa del Prado in Balboa Park.
You do not need to be a member to attend these meetings. Admission is free. Anyone is welcome!

Novice Class: 6:30 p.m. Room 104
General Meeting: 7:30 p.m. Room 101

You are invited to share your interest in growing orchids through: monthly meetings with slide shows, guest speakers and refreshments, our Newsletter, mini-shows, Annual Spring Show, a Christmas party, plant raffles, and camaraderie with other hobbyists as well as commercial growers, just by becoming a Society member.

To join our Society, fill out this form, mail it with your check (payable to SDCOS), and come to the next meeting. Single $10.00 / Dual $12.50. Membership runs from July 1 to June 30 (1/2 price after January 1).

Name____________________________________________
Street Address ________________________________________
City, State________________________________________________
Zip______________________
Phone/Fax ____________________________________________________ E-mail_________________________________

Mail to: Vivian Follmer, 13127 Roundup, San Diego, CA 92129. Phone: 619-538-6187, E-mail: LFollmer@aol.com

Correspondence to the Society goes to: SDCOS, P.O. Box 161020, San Diego, CA 92176