MARCH 2010 ORICHID EVENTS

March Orchid Events


March 6th and 7th Grand Opening of June's Orchid Estate 11901 Fort King Hwy. Thonotosassa, FL 33592 www.junesorchidestate.com

March 12-14 Fairchild International Orchid Festival 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables contact mvalent@fairchildgarden.org

March 20th AOS Judging at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden contact Jill Sidran cbsidran@bellsouth.net

March 19-21 Naples Orchid Society Show 5200 Crayton Rd. Naples contact fginocchio@comcast.net

March 19-21 U. of Florida Orchid Short Course Gainesville Contact: Wagner Vendrame vendrame@ufl.edu

Redland Professional Orchid Growers Short Course and Open House
March 26-28, 2010 Friday through Sunday 9AM to 5PM
Raffles, Sale and Classes
Free Raffle for four exciting ORCHID COLLECTIONS will be won on Sunday, March 28th by four lucky winners. To be eligible, you must have your entry coupon stamped by at least 3 of these amazing growers. No purchase necessary. One entry per individual. The drawing will take place after 5pm closing on March 28th - winners will be notified by phone.

Class Schedule

Friday
10:30 AM Introduction to Orchid Growing @Motes Orchids

1:00 PM Phalaenopsis Culture @Carib Plants

3:00 PM All Four Nurseries available for questions: Bring a Sample!

Saturday
10:30 AM Demystifying Tolumnias @Whimsy Orchids

1:00 PM Repotting Orchids @Soroa Orchids

3:00 PM Identification & Treatment of Orchid Pests & Diseases @Carib Plants

Sunday
10:30 AM Repotting Orchids @Soroa Orchids

1:00 PM ABCs of Growing Cattleyas @Whimsy Orchids

3:00 PM Growing Vandas @Motes Orchids

Nursery Locations

Carib Plants 26505 SW 203 Ave Homestead, FL 33031 305-245-5565

Motes Orchids 25000 S.W. 162 Ave Redland, FL 33031 305-247-4398

Soroa Orchids 25750 S.W. 177 Ave Homestead, FL 33031 305-247-2566

Whimsy Orchids 18755 S.W. 248 St. Homestead, FL 33031 305-242-1333

Motes Orchids is located at 25000 SW 162 Ave, that's just south of Coconut Palm Drive (248 St) and SW 162 Ave. Motes Orchids is 2 1/2 miles due east of the Redland Fruit and Spice Park in the heart of the Redland tropical agricultural district.
Take Turnpike south to US 1 at exit 12, continue south on US 1 to 248St, then right (west) on 248 St to 162 Ave then left (south) one block to Motes Orchids.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS - Feb 26 - 28, 2010

The 64th Miami International Orchid Show

South Florida Orchid Society presents the 64th Miami International Orchid Show from February 26 to February 28, 2010. Not to be confused with the numerous other orchid shows that proliferate each spring, the Miami International Orchid Show is the original, and now the largest orchid show and sale in the country. Each year, orchid professionals and hobbyists from across the globe exhibit an exquisite, tropical array of more than 500,000 orchids and orchid-related items for show and for sale. Show organizers anticipate more than 15,000 attendees this year.

"The thing that sets the Miami International Orchid Show apart from the other orchid shows is the sheer size of the Show, the number of items for sale, and the extraordinary design of the exhibits," said Show Director Robert Fuchs. "The Miami International Orchid Show is a top-caliber, professionally produced show where guests get to see and buy the world's finest orchids from the world's top growers."

PASSPORT TO PARADISE

64th Miami International Orchid Show and Tropical Plant Extravaganza
February 26-28, 2010

DoubleTree Miami Mart Convention Center
777 NW 72 Avenue Miami, Florida
Call 888-353-1995 for hotel reservations; mention Miami International
Orchid Show for special room rates!

Sponsored by South Florida Orchid Society
305 255 3656
http://www.southfloridaorchidsociety.org/
SFOrchid@bellsouth.net

PHALS in Bloom!

Hopefully, you have some Phals in bloom at this time of the year.

If you changed the media this past year.... (I suggest only AAA New Zealand Sphagnum Moss)

If you kept the media "moist" and not too soggy.....

If you put something in the bottom of the pot to keep the moss from holding too much water at the bottom of the pot......

If you kept them in the right amount of shade..... (no direct sun EVER)

If you did not let them get too hot......(preferably no hotter than 80 or 85 degrees F)

If they got some cool temeratures in November or December ......(55 to 60 degrees F for a week or more)

If you got all of these things right, I bet you have some Phals in bloom.  They are beautiful and some of the species and hybrids have blooms that last two or three months.

Blc Fuch's Orange Nugget

Orchids come in many colors, even ORANGE.  Here are pictures of Blc Fuch's Orange Nugget.  This plant has reliably bloomed for me for the past four years.  Did you go to the Tamiami Orchid Festival this past weekend?  I bought this plant from the Tamiami Orchid Festival FOUR years ago.  Take care of your plants, and they will live a long time.

At first, I had this plant in a clay pot in alifor and charcoal and growing outdoors.  It barely hung on.  It stayed way too wet.  But it survived.  Now that I have moved it to a wooden basked without ANY media, it is thriving.

This plant does well in the Florida heat and survived the cold spelll we had here in Miami.  It reached temps of 34 degrees one night, and this plant was outdoors the entire time.  It did very well and as you can now see, it has bloomed.