CMOS Newsletter May 16, 2004

NEWSLETTER - May 16, 2004

Reminder
There will be NO meetings in June, July or August. We will meet again on Sunday, September 19, 2004, at 3:00 P.M.
Tip of the Month
Think twice before squashing any small white spherical objects found in your orchid pot. They could be lizard eggs!
Fast Facts About Brassia
Blooms: Initiate flowering by allowing night temperature to fall below 65F. Flowers from the base of new pseudobulbs. Light & Air: Moderate to bright light, east, cool west, or filtered south window. Water & Humidity: Allow to almost dry before watering. Media should dry halfway through pot. Temperature: Intermediate to warm. Repotting: Repot every 1-2 years in fine fir bark (for fine rooted plants) or medium fir bark (for larger rooted plants) and charcoal. Pot should allow for just 1-2 years' growth. Repot when new growth is 2-3 inches tall. Fertilizing:1/4 to 1/2 strength 30-10-10 or 20-20-20 every watering when growing. 1/4 to 1/2 strength 10-30-20 as new growth matures.
One Lousy Orchid
One lousy orchid was all it took To get started, to get me hooked. Everything else has gone to pot - the house, the garden, the kids, and the lot. We swelter in heat, while the greenhouse is cool; the orchids come first, what we need is a pool. Each growth is looked on as a new event; and when it blooms, we forget what we spent. A small fortune it costs, in money and time, and yet we start hoarding and saving each dime to invest again and acquire the sublime. One lousy orchid leads to a career, there are some who feed their plants beer and others put their flowers on gin or play music to them like my friend, Ben. Orchid people are serious, but with a grin; you should see all the blue ribbons they bring in. And if I stick with them long enough maybe my plants will be up to snuff. But after all this, I’m so disgusted. I look forward to the weekends and time allotted: so me and my orchids can get potted. So you want to grow orchids, my friend? DON’T DO IT, FORGET IT! THERE’S NO END! Anonymous

Last Meeting

Twenty members attended the last meeting on Sunday, April 18, at the Adams Conference Center at the Vet School. Many thanks to Patrice Albert, Janet Huggans, and Barbara Giles for bringing snacks and to Patrice Albert, Melba & Hal Shaffer, Marge Quinn, Anita Sanderson, and Barbara Giles for bringing plants for show and tell.

David Bird of Birds Botanicals, Blue Springs, Missouri presented his very interesting program Growing Orchids in a Cave. He also brought a wide assortment of orchids for sale.

Photo: Orchids growing in a "cave."

Next Meeting

The next meeting will be Sunday, May 16, 3:00 p.m. at the Superior Garden Center, immediately following the repotting clinic. Any materials you ordered from Barbara will also be available. Pots were NOT ordered. Remember, if you ordered something and are unable to attend the meeting, you need to make arrangements with someone to pay for and pick up your order. The following divisions from the Missouri Botanical Garden will be available, so bring your check books!

Cym. Valley Glory 'Pink Halo' (pink)
Cym Red Back 'Solid Gold' (yellow w/ red in center)
Early Palace 'Coronet Peak' (pink)
Mini Beacon 'Red Torch' (small flowered red)
Maluka 'Brilliant' 1(bronze)
Sarah Jean 'Denham Court' (light green0
Lady Bug 'Dawn' 1 (white)
Valley Blush 'Magnificent' (green)
Everglades 'Karen Lynn Carpenter' (cream w/ red lip)
Lc. Drumbeat 'Triumph' (lav.)
C. Patricia Lines (white)
Bc. Del Rosa 'Lines' ( light pink?)
Lc. Astri (white w/ purple lip)
Lc. Kathryn Leahy 'York' (lav)
Lc. Drumbeat 'Heritage' HCC/AOS (lav.)
Lc. Bangkok Bazaar
Hhazel Boyd (orange)
Bc. Daffodil 'Beeswax' (yellow)

Please call Howard Wilson at work (882-3263) or at home (874-1772) if you can help with the potting clinic!

Central Missouri Orchid Society
Web Address: http://CMOS.missouri.org