CVIOS MAY 2025 NEWSLETTER

President’s Message

As winter loosens its grip, and the weather warms up, there's nothing quite like the satisfaction of switching focus from indoor tasks to time in the garden—with fresh air and sunshine. Gardens transform into havens of blooming cherry blossoms, daffodils, and tulips, to mention a few, along with the sound of songbirds returning from their winter homes. It’s a season of fresh starts and landscapes bursting back to life. It’s a perfect time for strolling the forest paths, keeping an eye out for the elusive Calypso bulbosa, Coralroot, and Heart-Leaved Twayblade orchids.

The time has now come to put outside some of our cold-tolerant orchids. Masdevallia, Disa, and Cymbidiums are indeed excellent choices for outdoor growing, as they can tolerate cooler temperatures and some frost. In fact, some species of Masdevallia can even survive with minimal protection in temperatures as low as 4°C (40°F).

When you're preparing your orchids for outdoor life, make sure to choose a spot that provides:

1. Good air circulation: Orchids love air circulation, which helps prevent fungal diseases and promotes healthy growth.

2. Bright, indirect light: Most orchids prefer bright, indirect light, but some can tolerate direct sunlight. Be sure to check the specific requirements for each species.

3. Protection from extreme temperatures: While your Masdevallia and Disa can tolerate cooler temperatures, it’s still important to provide some protection from extreme heat or cold.

4. Consistent moisture: Orchids need consistent moisture levels, so make sure that your media is well-draining and not too wet or dry.

5. Shelter from wind and rain: Provide some shelter from strong winds and heavy rain, which can damage or dislodge the plants.

When you move your Cattleyas, Miltoniopsis, and Cymbidiums outside in late May/early June, be sure to introduce them gradually to the outdoor conditions. Start by placing them in a shaded area with some protection from the sun and wind, then slowly transition them to their permanent location.

Remember to monitor your orchids closely for signs of stress or disease, and be prepared to bring them back inside if the weather becomes unfavorable.

Last month's speaker, Chris Bauer, delivered a very informative presentation on successfully growing Dendrobiums, shedding some light on why I was having trouble getting mine to bloom. I believe everyone present left with a renewed interest in this unique orchid variety.

This month, our speaker will be Karolina Szot, and her presentation will focus on the world of *Pinguicula* and other carnivorous plants—perfect companions for your orchid collection. I look forward to her talk.

Lastly, the Annual General Meeting (AGM), to be held at the June 22nd meeting, is a great opportunity for CVIOS to refresh and revitalize the club's leadership. I encourage new members to step forward and bring their ideas and perspectives to the table.

As the current leadership transitions, it’s essential to ensure that the club remains vibrant and continues to attract new members. Fresh faces can bring new energy, innovative ideas, and diverse skills to help drive the club's mission forward. The current leadership will always be available to assist as needed.

I'm looking forward to seeing a diverse range of candidates put their names forward for the various positions. The roles to be filled include President, Vice President, Show Chair, Librarian, Program Coordinator, Newsletter Editor, Social Media Manager, and Refreshment Manager(s). An email will be sent out in early June outlining the roles and responsibilities of each position and whom to contact if you're interested. This will ensure all interested members have the necessary information to make informed decisions.

Warm regards,

Bernard Kespe

Upcoming Events:

May 25 - "Carnivorous Companions" will be the subject of our meeting this month.  Join us for a presentation by horticulturalist Karolina Szot, who will talk about fun and fascinating plants to grow alongside our orchids. 

June 22 - Annual General Meeting, Silent Auction and Year End Wrap Up. If you have extra divisions from your spring repotting, please consider donating to the silent auction.

Featured May Speaker : Karolina Szot is a Horticulturist and plant enthusiast based in Nanaimo. She trained in Horticulture at Vancouver Island University and has had many years of hands-on experience at a garden centre. Karolina has a special interest in unusual plants, especially carnivorous ones. Pinguicula is a particular favourite - a plant well worth knowing if you have fungus gnats in your plant collection!  Karolina is always learning and experimenting in the garden outside, or indoors in her tropical plant room.  Join us on May 25 for an interesting and unusual topic!

Announcements

• Thank you Leslie and Bryan for setting up the lovely CVIOS display at the Vancouver Orchid Show in March. Thank you to all who brought plants and thank you to VOS for hosting such a wonderful event.

• Thank you to Chris Bauer for giving an informative talk about dendrobiums at the April meeting.

• As the Annual General Meeting approaches, please consider joining the CVIOS Executive Board. It is a wonderful way to share your ideas to help the club grow and flourish.

• If you would like to see a new design and format for the CVIOS newsletter, Melanie will be happy to pass along this role. Please email Melanie or Bernie if you are interested.

• Potting Supplies are well stocked and prices remain very reasonable!

  Products are available at the monthly meeting or email Bernie.

AOS Results - March and April 2025

The AOS Western Canada Judging Center has been involved with several events since the CVIOS Show in March. There has been official judging at the Vancouver Orchid Society Show, the Alberta Show in Edmonton, and the April Monthly Meeting in Victoria. Several growers have received awards at these events. Here are some of the highlights:

At the AOS Western Canada Judging Centre’s Monthly Judging on May 10, 2025, the following AOS awards were granted:

(please note that all awards are considered provisional until paperwork and payment is processed by AOS and published in OrchidPro)

Photos Courtesy of Alexey Tretyakov

At the AOS Western Canada Judging Center’s Vancouver Orchid Society Show Judging on March 22, 2025, the following AOS awards were granted:

Photos Courtesy of Maureen Burke and Collis Wilson

Questions and Answers From AOS Newsletter

Question #1: I grow these paphiopediums indoors under lights in small trays. What am I doing wrong?

ANSWER: These plants are in trouble due to desiccation. The plant in the upper photo may be too badly dehydrated to survive he damage at the plant base and the dead leaves are usually a sign of a bacterial disease called Erwinia, It is a disease like the Erwinia that infects phalaenopsis and other stressed orchids but presents differently in the Cypripedium Alliance. in paphiopedilums and phragmipediums, the leaf begins to brown, typically at the base of the lowermost leaves, and works its way up the fan. Sometimes the brown area will have a texture like soft leather. This disease is almost a guarantee that there is something wrong with the plant's root system.

Either the plants are not watered enough, watered too much, the ph of the potting mix is not to the plant's liking, or there is excessive salt buildup in the medium. Paphiopedilums and phragmipediums are very sensitive to these factors.

If you look at the potting medium, the whiteish areas on the bark (yellow arrow) suggest your water supply is either very hard or the medium is not being flushed well enough to prevent excessive mineral deposits in the medium. It is the same as crusty white deposits on clay pots or around the drainage holes. Your very coarse bark potting mix may make it difficult to maintain sufficient moisture in the root zone. It can be done, but it requires frequent watering, and if your plants came out of a much more water-reten-tive medium, such a dry root zone can be exceedingly stressful. Note where the new roots tried to start (green arrow). They are above the potting medium's surface. The proper potting depth of paphiopedilums and phragmipediums is about ½ inch (1.25 cm) above the base of the growths. This way, when new roots emerge, they immediately penetrate the potting mix and are kept moist. If these tender roots dry out before they reach the mix, they seal off and do not continue to grow, further adding to the problem of maintaining sufficient moisture. Roots should not sit above the potting surface or they will not grow.

I would consider checking the electrical conductivity and pH of your water both before and after the addition of the fertilizer you use. Combination EC and pH meters can be found for as little as $15. Ide-ally. EC should be 200 uS (microsiemens) or lower before the addition of fertilizer and ph should be in the 5/5 to 6.8 range.

I would also suggest repotting in a much finer potting mix, adding water retentive additives to the mix you have (sphagnum moss is onel, or, at a minimum, increasing your watering frequency.

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QUESTION 2: Two of my phalaenopsis have developed pitted areas on the top and underside of the leaves, and the pits are turning brown. I cannot see amy visible pests. I have separated them from the rest of my collection, sprayed the leaves with Neem oil, and see no change.

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