"It's Orchid Magic" was the theme for the Northwestern Michigan Orchid Society's
show in Traverse City, MI. The AAOS put in a 50 square foot display which took
third place in its class. Individual plants received 20 first-place ribbons, 6
second-place ribbons, and 5 third place ribbons. Four AAOS Members that exhibited
orchids also received Best of Class Trophies.
The winners were Sue Crippen with Neostylis Lou Sneary 'Kultana' for Best Vanda
Alliance, John Lewis with Slc. Katie's Jewel for Best Cattleya, Glenn Lehr with
Cycnoches chlorochilon for Best of Miscellaneous Genera, and Dennis Moser and Jan
Turner for Best Miniature with their Angraecum didieri. (This was the very first
orchid they have entered, and it also got the blue ribbon for the Angraecum
class. They were somewhat astounded when they heard the news.)
Neostylis Lou Sneary is a hybrid of Neofinetia falcata and Rhynchostylis
coelestis and has been around since 1970. It is a compact grower, and very
floriferous, making it a prime choice for light culture. Most plants from this
cross are a pink color, but Sue's plant is a pure white. Unlike the pink form,
this one is sweetly fragrant, especially in the evening. Sue grows this plant
bare-root in a cedar basket in her greenhouse. It receives direct afternoon sun
(when possible in Michigan) and five to six hours of additional light from a 1000
watt high pressure sodium light.
The greenhouse is kept at 58°F at night and gets to 70°F or more during the day.
As the plant is bare-root, it gets watered every day. Fertilizer is applied
weekly, alternating with dilute Dyna-Gro 7/9/5 and Dyna Bloom 3/12/6.
Rhynchostylis coelestis from Thailand has blue flowers, nicely spaced on an
upright inflorescence. White and pink forms have also been found. In recent years
it has been used in a number of vandaceous hybrids.
Neofinetia falcata originates in Japan, and was grown by the Samurai. Its sweet
perfume, interesting nectary spur, compact size and free-flowering nature is
often passed on to its hybrids. Other hybrid genera with this species include
Ascofinetia, Darwinara, Nakamotoara, Rumrillara and Yonezawaara.
Slc. Katie's Jewel is a cross of Sc. Carol Lynn and Slc. Tangerine Jewel
registered by Duane McDowell and named for his daughter. The flower is 2" around
on a 3" tall plant, very full, red with yellow in the lip. John grew this plant
under lights until the summer when he hangs it form a clothes line with a shade
cloth covering. The light room's temperatures vary from the 50's during the
night, to the mid to upper 60's during the day. The plant has since moved to a
new facility under lights in the basement as John has found a problem with his
original set-up, he's run out of room.
Both parents have Sophronitis coccinea as their parents, and Sc. Carol Lynn has
Cattleya walkerana as its other parent. This combination has led to a nice size
flower on a miniature plant. The plant is grown in a small pot, and not allowed
to get too wet.
Cycnoches chlorochilon or the "Swan Orchid" is an orchid Glenn bought in Costa Rica
a few years ago. The true Cyc. chlorochilon is found from Panama to Colombia and
Venezuela, so this is probably Cyc. warscewiczii. Some botanical authorities
consider both Cyc. warscewiczii and Cyc. chlorochilon as varieties of Cyc.
ventricosum, but there are some differences.
All Cycnoches produce separate male and female flowers, usually with the male
flowers having a different appearance than the female flowers. In this group of
Cycnoches, the two flowers are fairly similar. The flowers are large, fleshy,
yellow-green to lime-green with a white lip and a blackish-green blotch near the
base of the column. The column of the male flowers which these were, is long,
curved and slender, like the neck of a swan, the column of the female flower is
short and squat. The pollinia on the male flower are "spring-loaded" and released
when touched by a visiting bee, or accidentally brushed by the grower.
When in active growth the plant should be kept in intermediate to warm
conditions, given a liberal amount of water, and as much light as possible
without burning the leaves. Higher light conditions will also produce female
flowers. During the winter dormant period, the plant can be kept cooler, and
water should be cut back to a minimum. Too much water to the roots at this time
can lead to pseudobulb rot. Repot and divide Cycnoches when the new growths
appear.
Bark mix, tree fern fiber or osmunda are all suitable. Clay pots are preferred as
these plants can become top-heavy.
Angraecum didieri is a miniature orchid from Madagascar. It produces two-inch
flowers on a plant not much bigger. The flowers are pure white, are sweetly
fragrant at night, and have a long nectary spur. This plant was purchased in a
pot, but was soon mounted on cork and almost immediately put out new roots. This
orchid is now growing in a basement under fluorescent lights, one Gro-Lux tube
and one Gro-Lux Wide Spectrum tube. It is kept 8" to 10" from the tubes, which
remain on for 14 to 16 hours per day. Humidity is around 60% during the day, and
up to 90% at night. Temperatures are kept at 68°F at night, and 75°F during the
day. The plant is misted every morning, and receives a weak fertilizer solution
once a week. A 20-10-20 fertilizer is alternated with a 10-60-10 formula.