The Monthly Publication of the Bunbury Orchid Society April 2016
Next Meeting Sunday 3rd April.
All correspondence to Secretary PO Box 1074,
Bunbury, WA 6239
BUNBURY ORCHID SOCIETY
Orchid Talk
Guaritonia. Why Not - Grown by Robin Palmer
As we enter the time of year that our Orchids are starting to initiate their new growths and spikes, it is imperative that we become vigilant for all those little ‘beasties’ that seem to like eating of plants. Have a daily look around your collection to observe and eliminate any that may pose a problem. A big thank you to all those Members who assisted in the Sausage Sizzle at Bunnings, on Sun-day the 20th March, especially Brian & Lyn Harwood who coordinated the event and raised in ex-cess of $600 for the Society. At the March Meeting I agreed to supply Members with a listing of Orchid Nurseries who supply quality Orchids, please check with them to see if they ship to W.A. Australian Orchid Nursery – Wayne Turville
http://www.australianorchids.com.au/
Tinonee Orchids – Ray Clement
http://www.tinoneeorchids.com/
Woolfe Orchid Culture – John Woolfe
http://www.woolforchidculture.com/
The Rock Lily Man – Gerry Walsh (Quality speciosums)
http://www.therocklilyman.com/
Earth to Joy Orchids – Lloyd & Mandi Edwards
http://www.earthtojoy.com.au/
Down Under Native Orchids – Grahame Young & Callyn Farrell
http://dunoau.wix.com/duno
Easy Orchids -
https://www.easyorchids.com/
Keith Wallace Orchids – Keith Wallace & Gordon Giles
http://www.keithwallace.com.au/
Mt Beenak Orchids – Clive & Aggie
http://www.mtbeenakorchids.com.au/
Rosella Orchids – Allen Eggins
http://www.rosellaorchids.com.au/
Once again I hope that Members bring forward to the table any issue that they may feel needs to be addressed such as Guest Speakers, Meeting discussions, Show and Display options etc. Kind Regards Rick Winch President
PRESIDENTS REPORT
Mar 2016 meeting Judges Choice Epi porpax
Grown by Ben Vrieling
March meeting for the Bunbury Orchid Society was held in the Australind Hall commencing at
9.00am. Members present and Apologies as per attendance book.
Visitor Cheryl Lewis was welcomed as was new member Gerald Jackson.
Minutes of the February meeting were distributed by email via the web and posted for those re-
quiring this option.
B Harwood (m) minutes be accepted as a true and correct copy (s) G Bradshaw. All in favour.
Business Arising...Nil.
Membership flyers were handed out for updated contacts as some members had not received
Orchid Talk.
As there was no Secretary elected at the AGM President Rick Winch nominated and (m) Lyn
Harwood be elected as Secretary (s) G Atherton. All in favour. Rick expressed sincere thanks to
previous committee for their contribution and work to the Society.
Treasurers Report. Andrea Shine gave the Treasurers Report and explained signatures will
need to be changed. L Bartlett asked if we have term deposits still. The Treasurer explained this
question. D Light (m) the report be accepted (s) R Sparks. All were in favour.
Correspondence.
1. Dates for the Sarc display at Centrepoint were not available. Further discussion required to
confirm dates.
2. WAROO meeting dates for 2016 were received.
3. Club newsletters.
(m) B Harwood inwards be received (s) L Bartlett
Committee Report.
1. Challenge to be held in Busselton. Rick is liaising with Bruce Larson re funding. The event
will be set up Sat August 6th and open to the public Sunday 7th. Admission set by the committee
at $5.oo per head childrenU14 FOC. Dinner will be held in the Busselton RSL Hall situated on
the corner of Causeway Road and Rosemary St on the entrance into town. Cost of dinner will be
$50 per head for a 3 course meal with canapes served prior to Dinner and a bottle of Red and
White Wine on each table. Limited to the first 120 people.
2. Autumn Show is to be confirmed.
Winter Show held at the Australind Hall.
August Display to be confirmed.
Spring Show in the Italian Club.
3. There is a requirement for the W.A.O.C per constitution to set up a committee representing
all Orchid Societies affiliated and this is being arranged.
4. A volunteer is required to organise the club seedling comp. Dick Light is not able to carry on
due to ill health. Thank you Dick for looking after this task.
MAR 2016 GENERAL MEETING MINUTES
MAR 2016 GENERAL MEETING MINUTES CONT.
General Business.
A. Tony Domoney spoke about his experiences with virus plants. Identifying this and how to
eradicate this. This was discussed by members and the club will obtain 50 flyers from AOC to
help members understand this problem.
B. The Barter Markets are cancelled for this year as they are not very profitable and are now
clashing with other markets in the same area. Bunnings sausage sizzle will now be one of our
main fundraisers and the Spring Show.. We do have a sausage sizzle on March 20th and helpers
are required.
C. The fence surrounding our storage shed has been damaged. Norm Martin reported this to the
appropriate people. He has an incident report and will follow this up.
Morning tea break enjoyed by members.
D. As Marg Nelson will be assisting the Secretary at times Mel and Jodie will organize morning
tea in future.
E. Club seedling comp. There was confusion regarding which plants to be brought in. The list
will be updated and some education given re culture of the different genera.
F. Rick said a new flyer will be put together with club activities, dates and culture notes.
G. Members were asked what they wish to have on the calendar re guest speakers, field days
and workshops for new growers, and bus trip. Members discussed this.
H. Judges Award went to Ben Vrielings' Epidendrum porpax
Popular Vote in Open...B & L Harwoods' cattleya Allen Condo x Lc Maui Plum
Novice...G Stachlewskis' catt Lulu “Pink Blush'.
Lucky number Ben Vrielings' Lycaste
Raffle won by Marg Nelson and Rick Winch. Seedling winners for last month G Bradshaw and
John Palmer collected plants. Ricks plants for this meeting were won by Jodie Hodges and Marg
Nelson.
I. Plant description and Judges report was conducted by Norm Martin. Several members were
asked about their culture with particular plants.
J. A member asked where to obtain seedlings. Rick explained very few Nurseries send to W.A.
Members may buy from catalogues as a collective group to cut costs.
K. Members were reminded to update their contact details with email address if possible. The
cost of postage has risen and some clubs have asked members to supply postage stamps.
Getting your orchid talk by the web will help with this cost.
L. Rick asked members to help with clearing the hall before departing and wished them a safe
journey on this long weekend.
Meeting closed 10.25am
Secretary
L Harwood
JUDGING RESULTS FOR MAR 2016
Class 1A laeliinae species
1st B. Vrieling Epi. Porpax Entries 2
2nd B. Vrieling Laelia.gouldiana
3rd
Class 8A Aust Native Epiphyte Any Species
1st W. Heath Den.bigibbum var compactum ' Wals Bonza'
Entries 3
2nd W. Heath Den.bigibbum var compactum ' Wals
3rd W. Heath Den.bigibbum ' Wals Bottla'
Class 13A Seedling Any genera
1st R Winch S. (Velvet Dawn ' Smartie' x Amber ' Gold-en Brass')
Entries 1
2nd
3rd
Class 11B Hybrid not elsewhere specified
1st W . Cruickshank Prom. Stapeloides x Z.Titanic Entries 3
2nd B & L Harwood Z. Kiwi Choice x Neopab. Beverly Lou
3rd B. Vrieling Mas.falcata x Mas. Pichincha
Class 10B Species Not Elsewhere specified
1st B & L Harwood Dendrochilum .cobbianum Entries 3
2nd B.Vrieling Cym. Dayanum
3rd B.Vrieling Lycaste.cruenta
Class 8B Aust Native Epiphyte Any Hybrid
1st W. Heath Den.Dalvey Entries 8
2nd R. Winch S.Velvet Cool Dude x Self
3rd R. Winch S.Cindy
Class 1F Laeliinae Non Std Hybrid
1st B & L Harwood C.Penny Kuroda x C. Orchidom Leopard Entries 4
2nd B. Vrieling Epi.Green Hornet
3rd B & L Harwood Lc Allen Condo x Lc . Maui Plum
Class 15a Laeliinae - Species
1st G. Stachlewski C. Lulu ' Pink Blush' Entries 1
2nd
3rd
MARCH JUDGING RESULTS CONT: NOVICE
Dendrobium .densiflorum
Meeting Plants
March Zygo. Artur Elle ‘Essendon, x Zygo. Kiwi Choice ‘Ellen’
Zygo. (Black Magic x Kuitpo)
Onc. Kulnura Gold ‘Pepper’ AM/AOC x Onc. Dark Sun ‘Impact’
April
Pot. Hisako Akatsuko ‘Volcanic Queen x Lc. Bonanza Queen’
May
Cym. Fair Delight ‘Polar Bear’ x Cym. Green Spectacle ‘Shar’
Cym. Kirby Lesh ‘Pink Ice’ x Cym. Joan Byant ‘Harmony’
Cym. Flaming Vulcan ‘Kerwin’ x Cym. Blazing Fury ‘Hades’
Cym. Flaming Vulcan ‘Kerwin’ x Cym. Joan Bryant ‘Harmony’
June Zygo. Artur Elle ‘Essendon, x Zygo. Kiwi Choice ‘Ellen’
Zygo. (Black Magic x Kuitpo)
Onc. Kulnura Gold ‘Pepper’ AM/AOC x Onc. Dark Sun ‘Impact’
July
Pot. Hisako Akatsuko ‘Volcanic Queen x Lc. Bonanza Queen
August Cym. Fair Delight ‘Polar Bear’ x Cym. Green Spectacle ‘Shar’
Cym. Kirby Lesh ‘Pink Ice’ x Cym. Joan Byant ‘Harmony’
Cym. Flaming Vulcan ‘Kerwin’ x Cym. Blazing Fury ‘Hades’
Cym. Flaming Vulcan ‘Kerwin’ x Cym. Joan Bryant ‘Harmony’
September Zygo. Artur Elle ‘Essendon, x Zygo. Kiwi Choice ‘Ellen’
Zygo. (Black Magic x Kuitpo)
Onc. Kulnura Gold ‘Pepper’ AM/AOC x Onc. Dark Sun ‘Impact’
October
Pot. Hisako Akatsuko ‘Volcanic Queen x Lc. Bonanza Queen
November Cym. Fair Delight ‘Polar Bear’ x Cym. Green Spectacle ‘Shar’
Cym. Kirby Lesh ‘Pink Ice’ x Cym. Joan Byant ‘Harmony’
Cym. Flaming Vulcan ‘Kerwin’ x Cym. Blazing Fury ‘Hades’
Cym. Flaming Vulcan ‘Kerwin’ x Cym. Joan Bryant ‘Harmony’
SEEDLING COMPETITION UPDATE
UNDERSTANDING YOUR ORCHIDS - BY PHIL SPENCE
It is hard to know what to do with your orchids for example when to feed and when to water what to spray
with etc., as every one and every book has a different way. After 40 years of experience I feel I can give
the amateur and expert some guidelines to help you understand a little better about your plants and in
turn you should be able to make better decisions when, how and what to do what you have to.
One of the most important things is to remember that nearly all popular cultivated orchids are epiphytes,
that means they live on the air and only attach themselves to a host for support. The host takes the form
of trees or rocks etc., and with the use of leached out salts from these droplets that are mixed with rain-
water or droplets of mist to form food that splashes on the leaves and roots. The leaves and roots absorb
most of the moisture, during rain or when the humidity is at it's highest. Orchids that are generally cultivat-
ed are found predominantly in a wide variety of conditions ie., forests and all of these forests have one
thing in common like the rest of the places that orchids grow. The humidity increases during the night and
is much lower in the day, but this can vary when it's raining. Where orchids are plentiful in their natural
habitat a light to heavy mist or fog can be readily seen almost every night.
Most orchids have adapted to use this higher night humidity to absorb moisture through their leaves and
root. Where plants have extended drought or dry seasons, species such as Dendrobium bigibbum, Den-
drobium canaliculatum and Dendrobium bifalce regularly endure then they rely on this night rise of humid-
ity to survive for many months. Often if a wet season is missed they can last for up to two years as has
just happened in Papua New Guinea. Almena or as in Pidgin English the Big Sun.
How do plants maintain the moisture without loosing it during the day?
If you look closely at an orchid leaf or new root you will see lots of small dents, which are holes, called
stomata. These holes open as the sunlight dwindles to darkness or as the light is greatly reduced be-
cause of heavy cloud and as the sunlight becomes brighter they close so reversing the process. Com-
monly known as Stomatal Rhythm.
This process helps the plant hold moisture within itself when in strong light and replenish what moisture is
lost at night.
It is this reversal of the normal Stomatal Rhythm, which enables Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM), in
orchid plants to be drought tolerant. CO2 diffuses into the leaves and is fixed into organic acids during the
night, when temperatures are low and humidity is high, so minimising the loss of water by transpiration
(Arditti and Sinclair).
FOR INTEREST SAKE
FOR INTEREST SAKE
Source:
Elanbee Orchids, http://members.optusnet.com.au/bdobson/Understanding%20your%20Orchids.html
What does this mean?
To get the best results from your watering and feeding you should water at daybreak before the
stomata close.
Only use insecticides or fungicides that are not oil based such as white oil as the will seal over the
stomata. Use an agricultural wetting agent to help spray cover the leaves and roots that reduces
the meniscuses on the water. If none is available use a little dishwashing detergent but only use a
few drops and mix well in.
Not many plants CAM and Orchids are one of the few groups of plants that do another group is
Succulents.
Orchid roots can tell you a lot if you have a little understanding of them also. Keeping in mind and
applying the above information the roots will tell you if they like being potted in a fine, coarse mix
or even mounted on a wet or dry host just hanging free in the air.
If the new root ends are white they can be potted in a medium that is not very open, but if the
ends are green there is a need for a fresh supply of oxygen and the darker the green those tips
are the more open the mix should be.
For example Phalaenopsis and Vanda plants have a few roots that secures the plant to the tree
and all the rest hang in the moist air these root tips are dark green and the roots are thick.
Spathoglottis have thin roots and like a close medium.
Dendrobiums have white green root tips that are medium thickness and nearly all species have
dark green root tips. They do best on a host but will do fairly in a pot that has plenty of holes in to
let in the air along with an open potting mix that does not become soggy but maintain a small
amount of moisture.
Just remember research your orchids and where they come from, or what species are in your hy-
brids this will give you the information on what your orchids require as to building a microclimate
and to assist you in growing better orchids.
Hi All,
I hope this edition of OT finds you all well, and I trust everyone had a great Easter. Its quickly moving
into the busiest time of the year for all of us afflicted with the orchid growing bug. Our shows are looming
fast so don’t forget to be vigilante and keep the bugs off the forming spikes and get your stakes in early be-
fore the canes are set, if you are going to shape them a bit, it’s best to do that in the warmth of the after-
noon when your plant will be a bit more supple. Its also a perfect opportunity to remove all old bracts and
sheaths to tidy up your orchids and remove the hidey holes for scale and mealy bugs.
PLEASE NOTE: All non financial members April is the cut off for your say to be heard at club level and the
Orchid Talk will no longer be available to you. Please catch up with Andrea Shine our treasurer she would
be more than happy to take your $15.00 for a single or $25.00 for a family payment.
I would also like to make all members aware that Alan Blee has quite a large number of Sarcochilus seed-
lings available for sale most ex Scott Barrie of Barrita Orchids and David Butler of Green Vista Orchids
both well renown for being at the pointy end of Sarc breeding in Australia. These are available for $15.00
each.You can contact Alan on 97 311551.
Good Growing,
John Palmer, Editor
.
08 97 312112.
Den bigibbum ( Pam x Scott)
FROM THE EDITOR
Den. Hilda Poxon ’ Waterfall’
C.loddigesii x C.Lavender Ice
L.Chit Chat ‘ Tangerine’
Den. Chocolate Starfish x Spec
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1 2 3 General Meeting
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 Committee Meeting
19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30
APRIL 2016
BUNBURY ORCHID SOCIETY INC, NORMAL MEETING DATES
Society Meetings: 9:00 am –1st Sunday of Month
Australind Hall, behind the Australind Shopping Centre (Next Meeting 3rd April 2016)
Committee Meeting: 7:30 pm 3rd Monday of Month
Contacts:
Secretary: Lyn Harwood 97 219147
Orchid Talk Editor: John Palmer 97 312112
