First Orchid Society Meeting - Orchid Board

Shiffdaddy · #1 06-20-2012, 03:52 PM

Yesterday I went to my first "real" orchid society meeting at the Newport Harbor Orchid Society. I went once before but it happened to be during their Christmas party so more of a social event. It was a blast looking at all of the growers plants and learning a lot from the speakers. Meeting a whole bunch of new orchid friends was also really awesome! But the highlight of the night came at raffle time!

Me and my gf (who came with me) piled together $10 worth of raffle tickets and crossed our fingers and hoped for the best. There were about 40ish plants being raffled, species and hybrids and a few noids. The meeting was composed of maybe around 50 people so we were hoping for a plant or two and we would go home happy campers for sure.

5 plants later and i could feel my face getting red with delight (and a little embarrasment for winning so many plants) but everybody was happy for us. I walked away with Dendrochilum wenzellii, Dendrochilum tenellum, and a Bulbophyllum maximum. My gf got a very nice cymbidium hybrid, a board mounted hybrid, and she won a Brassia/intergeneric hybrid in the silent auction.

All in all the meeting was a blast. I learned a lot from the bulbo culture class and got to see a slideshow a members trip to the World Orchid show that was held in Singapore this year i believe. The people there are amazing and i look forward to joining as a member. Thanks again to all associated with the Newport Harbor Orchid Society!

Now does anybody have any tips for the Dendrochilums or the bulbo maximum? Can the dendroc's be grown outside here in mission viejo, southern CA?

-Ben

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #2 06-20-2012, 04:32 PM

First of all, what species of Dendrochilum are you interested in knowing about?

Not all Dendrochilum spp. come from the same type of environments. Some definitely can be grown cool. Others cannot.

Shiffdaddy · #3 06-20-2012, 04:58 PM

D. wenzellii and tenellum are the two dendrochilums

WhiteRabbit · #4 06-20-2012, 06:48 PM

Sounds very cool! I keep meaning to go to a local OS meeting, and the day always goes by with me forgetting about it, or having something else to do.

james mickelso · #5 06-20-2012, 09:13 PM

Congrats. I have exhorted some here to join their local OS's and get involved. You can learn so much, so much quicker. And get plants to boot. And meet wonderful people who will bend over backward to show you, teach you, share with you, and generally be a pest(; Maybe I'll shoot up to Newport some time and join you there. Good luck with your new found treasures.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #6 06-20-2012, 10:59 PM

I currently grow Dendrochilum tenellum, and it can be grown cool/outdoors within a temperature range of 36 F - 110 F. It is super easy to grow. They like a lot of moisture. In fact, they're difficult to over water, but should have a decent amount of air circulation. These bloom very easily and reliably every spring. Grow in moderately indirect bright light. It is a fast growing species.

I've never grown Dendrochilum wenzellii.

I have grown Dendrochilum uncatum (formosanum). If you have questions regarding this species, I can answer them.

james mickelso · #7 06-21-2012, 12:44 AM

Maybe those of us down here in the southland should get together for lunch or something and trade tales of orchids.

Shiffdaddy · #8 06-22-2012, 01:01 PM

That sounds like a fantastic idea james! We should definitely get together sometime and have lunch and talk orchids. It is always fun to talk with people who have such similar interests! Oh and you should definitely drop by an NHOS meeting sometime! They are a blast and you can definitely learn quite a lot.

Thanks for the info Philip! I think i will grow the tenellum outdoors in bright light and daily waterings and i'll probably keep the wenzelii indoors for now until im positive i wont kill it outdoors. I actually do have an uncatum too lol. I got it a while ago from Marni and ive been keeping indoors and watering it when it goes dry. The first new growth popped its head up a few days ago and a new root or two appeared about a month ago so its not looking too bad so far! I'm still learning about it so if you have any tips on that one i'd love to hear it.

Ben

Shiffdaddy · #9 06-22-2012, 01:03 PM

I just realized that i have 199 posts so I am dedicating THIS post for number 200! WOOOOOOO!

turtleamy · #10 06-23-2012, 09:25 AM

Quote:

5 plants later and i could feel my face getting red with delight (and a little embarrasment for winning so many plants) but everybody was happy for us. I walked away with Dendrochilum wenzellii, Dendrochilum tenellum, and a Bulbophyllum maximum. My gf got a very nice cymbidium hybrid, a board mounted hybrid, and she won a Brassia/intergeneric hybrid in the silent auction.

Wow, what great winnings. A Bulbophyllum maximum is my dream orchid.