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Key West Orchid Society Jay Pfahl, President Louise Wood, Editor WWW.Keywestorchidsociety.org August 2017 August 2017 August 2017 August 2017 Next meeting Next meeting Next meeting Next meeting SATURDAY , August 19, 11am -1pm Second field trip of the summer Our hostess will be Marianne Bertini Note that on Saturday the 19 th Marianne is welcoming us to her home at MM10 on Big Coppitt Key, 14 Sapphire Drive gulf side [the street by Southern Furniture]. She says it’ll be hot, so bring your bathing suit. NEWSLETTER NEWSLETTER NEWSLETTER NEWSLETTER KWOS MEETINGS Sept. 17, 11am: Private tour of the Key West Botanical Garden Oct. 1 New World Orchs. Dr. Kristen Uthus Nov. 12, Quest Orchids Dec. 17 Holiday Brunch Jan 21. TBA Feb. 18. Dan & Margie Orchids Mar. 2,3,4 Show [as yet untitled] April 15, Mac’s Orchids May TBA June. Pizza Party FLORIDA ORCHID EVENTS_ . September 9 - 10, Florida West Coast Orchid Society Sale & Exhibition Pinellas Park Perform- ing Arts Ctr., 4951 78th Ave. North, Pinellas Park, September 30 - October 1 -Tampa Orchid Club Show, 2017 USF Botanical Gardens, 12210 USF Pine Drive, Tampa, ___________________________ KW GARDEN CLUB meets every Monday from 9 to noon for potting, rooting, weeding, etc. & General Fort cleanup. Drop in & help any time you have a free Monday morning. ________________________ If you would like to subscribe to The Keys Blast go to [email protected] and ask to be put on the list. Ed Krane covers our activities & just about AUGUST CULTURE NOTES AUGUST CULTURE NOTES AUGUST CULTURE NOTES AUGUST CULTURE NOTES Tipsy Vandas? The St. Augustine Orchid Society has a unique sugges- tion: “Try placing a rigid, emerging new vanda root into a rubber- topped plastic flower tube containing stale beer in the evening, and re- move in the morning so it doesn't burn. The root will consume the beer and utilize its carbohydrate content, producing some remarkable growth responses.” [My vandas are urging me to buy a package of flower tubes, & they’re wondering if margaritas will work as well. I don’t think so.] In any case, exposed vanda roots dry out quickly. Ideally, they should be watered more than once a day. Phalaenopsis should be protected from excessive heat and light during this hottest month of the year. Fertilize phals frequently with a dilute so- lution to strengthen the leaves and roots for the up-coming blooming sea- son. Repot if needed; this is your last chance. Keep an eye out for snails & apply bait if needed. A couple of times this month give your plants a day or 2 drying time between the heavy rains and waterings. Fungus doesn’t like dry plants. Continue weak weekly applications of 20-20-20 fertilizer, adding 1 Tbsp per gallon of Epsom salts. Quick Note from The Prez. I just spent 8 days in the most incredible rainforest in the west of Co- lombia, I was in the Parque Nacional Tatama, the most untouched rainforest in Colombia. I may be buying a 700+ acre property of rain- forest full of lepanthes, masdevallia and epidendrum. More later. Jay
