2025 Orchid Show and Sale - It’s Just Around the Corner

The CVIOS Show Committee has been busy preparing for the upcoming Annual Orchid Show and Sale.

We are looking forward to welcoming local societies, judges and vendors to the Nanaimo North Town Centre to enjoy the enchanting displays, plant sales, and more!

The show is truly a team effort and we will be asking our members to put aside some time to help out during the show.

Here is a list of volunteer opportunities during the show weekend:

1. VOLUNTEERS are needed for several tasks during the show. Sign up sheets for specific “tasks” will be circulated during the January and February meetings for things such as set-up, take down, member table, assisting with registration and assisting judges etc.

2. RIBBON JUDGING - This is a wonderful way to learn a lot about orchids and what to look for in a blooming plant. You will be assigned to a team, lead by an ‘expert’ with the task of choosing the best orchids in the various classes. It’s always a rewarding process to learn and to be inspired.

3. AWARD SPONSORSHIP - When an orchid wins for “best in class” there is a cash award given to the grower. These cash awards are provided by CVIOS members, for those who would like to donate. Again, sign up sheet will be available at upcoming meetings.

4. Distribute SHOW POSTERS - Many hands make light work so if you’re visiting your favorite cafe or store, please bring a poster with you to help us get the word out. Your car window is also a great place to display a poster if you are out and about.

CVIOS Christmas Potluck Lunch

The CVIOS Christmas Potluck lunch was held Novemeber 24th at the Royal Canadian Legion. It was a wonderful turnout thanks to great weather and a well organized event.

Nicole’s “Christmas Vacation” display was a great interpretation of a festive orchid display - it won the most votes for best display. It was wonderful to see all of the colourful orchid displays with a holiday twist.

The food was amazing - many thanks to all who contributed. We had a festive and fun bag draw thanks to the generous donations from members.

A special thank you to Paul Paludet who presented an informative and interesting talk on “Phalaenopsis as House Plants”

AOS Western Canada Judging Center’s Results December 9th

At the AOS Western Canada Judging Center’s Monthly Judging on December 14, 2024, the following AOS award was granted:

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

1. Paphiopedilum Romilda Ang ‘my Darling’                      HCC/AOS  76pts (20247192)

   Exhibitor:  Eugene Banziger

 We would like to extend a sincere thank you to Maureen Burke and Collis Wilson, the photographers helping us with the AOS awards photography. 

The AOS Western Canada Judging Center meets every second Saturday of the month at 11:30am, except where noted

(Chair:  Abu Salleh)

Next two monthly meetings (of the AOS Western Canada Judging Center) are:

• January 11, 2025 (Saturday) : 11:30am at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary, 3873 Swan Lake Road, Victoria, BC

• February 28, 2025 (Friday) : (after CVIOS Show Judging) 1:00pm at Nanaimo North Town Centre, 4750 Rutherford Road, Nanaimo, BC

Paphiopedilum Care - from AOS.org

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Light

Light needs are easy to fulfill for a Paphiopedilum. Most will thrive with 2 to 3 hours shaded sunlight a day

•  In a greenhouse, shadecloth is required to reach about 10,750-21,500 lumens (1,000-2,000 foot-candles), depending on the plants..

•  In the home, east, north or west windows where they will get about 1-4 hours of direct sun are ideal.

•  Many types of Paphiopedilum will grow well under artificial light. Use lightbulbs/LEDs of your choice that are about 1-2 feet above the plant and emit >10,000 lumens per square yard/square meter. The lowest amount of lumens for growth is about 2000 lumens, though flowering may be poor

Temperature

Temperature depends on the hybrid/species, but in general, Paphiopedilum are happy with 55F-72F (12.7C-22.2C) nights and 70F-85F (21.1C-29.4C) days. There are three types of Paphiopedilum:

•   Mottled-leaf type - prefer warmer conditions.

•   Green leaf type - prefer cooler conditions.

•   Multifioral/strap-leaf types - prefer warmer conditions.

Care must be taken to protect the plants from cold which can cause rot; keep humidity low and avoid moisture on leaves or in crown of the plant. Care must also be taken when hot, you should shade more heavily and increase humidity and air movement.

•   If growing in a greenhouse, grow them in the coolest, shadiest part of the greenhouse

•   If growing indoors, no need to worry about temperature; room temperature all the time is fine.

Water

Water consistently enough to keep the medium moist, but not sopping wet. As terrestrials, many varieties can tolerate sitting in a bit of water. However, they still need to dry out enough to prevent root rot.

• In greenhouses, water daily.

• Indoors, water as soon as the media hits dry

Humidity

Humidity should be moderate (between 40 to 50 percent). Air movement is essential when humidity is high.

•  In the home you can maintain this by setting plants on a tray of gravel that is partially filled with water. Never sit them in water directly.

•   In the greenhouse average humidity is sufficient. Using an evaporative cooling system in warm climates can increase the humidity.

Fertilize

Fertilize on a regular schedule year-round. In general, terrestrial plants, like Paphiopedilum, can tolerate more fertilizer than epiphytes can. However, Paphiopedilum are generally from environments that are so rainy, that any nutrients that would be in the soil are washed away. Old-school growers use ¼ strength doses of strong fertilizer (such as a 30-30-30 ог 20-20-20), but it is recommended to use the full-strength of a weaker fertilizer (anything between a 5-5-5 and 10-10-10), to eliminate the posibility of mixing too strong of a dose. If you notice salt buildup on the plant or medium, flush the plant out with distilled or rainwater. In general, many Paphiopedilum growers flush out their plants on a monthly or quarterly basis as a good practice.

Potting

Potting should be done about every two years, or as the medium decomposes. Seedlings and smaller plants (non-blooming size) are often repotted annually. Mixes vary tremendously. Most contain fine or medium-grade fir bark and additives such as perlite (sponge rock), coarse sand and sphagnum moss. Other growers use an entire mix of New Zealand tree fern fiber. Moisture retention with excellent drainage is needed.

Large plants can be divided by pulling or cutting the fan-like clumps of the leaves apart into clumps of three to five growths. Smaller divisions of single fans will row but may not flower at first. Spread the roots over a small amount of medium in the bottom of the pot and fill with medium, so that the junction of roots and stem is buried ½ inch deep in the center of the pot.

Be advised that there are many species within this genus that are affectionately referred to as "limeys", because they require calcareous, alkaline media to grow in. If you have one of those plants, or hybrids with ancestors that require calcareous or limey conditions, you can add unpolished marble chunks, calcite chunks, and/or horticultural-grade oyster shells. If you choose to use unpolished marble or calcite, the more finely-ground they are, the better.