Welcome to the Palomar Orchid Society Website!

The Palomar Orchid Society, incorporated in December of 1965 was formed when a few people banded together to talk about orchids. We then grew and bloomed into the roughly 200-member group of orchid enthusiasts that we have today. We represent everything orchid in North San Diego County! Come and join us!!

The Palomar Orchid Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the understanding and cultivation of both hybrid and species orchids. We welcome members of all levels to join us for orchid fun and learning! Our mission is to promote interest in the appreciation of orchids and to provide an opportunity for their display and the exchange and dissemination of information relating to their culture.

February To Do List

Submitted by Helge W. on Sat, 01/26/2013 - 12:20pm

General

In general, most orchids should still be kept fairly dry in winter even during warm periods. If you grow on the coast near the ocean, humidity is usually higher so occasional misting (with pure water, if available) or light watering in extended periods of warm or Santa Ana conditions may be warranted. If you grow further from the ocean, where orchids experience even warmer temps and low humidity and are openly exposed to Santa Ana winds, then you may need to mist and water more often to avoid dehydration, but avoid watering excessively. Too much water will encourage plants to send out new growths, which will not fare well when the weather turns cold again.
When you do water, do so in the morning and avoid wetting buds and flowers to minimize botrytis (fungal) spotting. Also keep tabs on the ten day weather forecasts and avoid watering if cooler and/or wet weather is predicted. One wants to make sure orchids are kept on the dry side to allow them to tolerate the cold winter nights we tend to experience in Southern California. If February brings more normal, cooler weather than January, cut back on water and avoid fertilizing as cooler days and nights prevail.
Maintain cold-sensitive, warm growing orchids (phals, paphs, tolumnias, most vandas and warm growing dendrobiums and cattleyas such as violacea, dowiana and their hybrids) inside or in a greenhouse to protect them from night temperatures below 50o; however, watch under leaves for spider mites and other pests that flourish under dry, less humid conditions. An excellent article on ‘Cold Tolerance of Orchids’ by Sue Bottom of the St. Augustine Orchid Society can be found on their website.

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Monthly To Do List

January 2013 General Meeting

Submitted by Helge W. on Mon, 01/14/2013 - 2:33pm

Date:

Wed, 01/02/2013

Blc. George King 'Southern Cross' – Alex Nadzan

L. Santa Barbara Sunset 'Showtime' HCC/AOS – Janice Krause

Paph. villosum var. boxalli – Lisa Humphreys

Masd. Canary 'Tweety Bird' – Craig Johnson

Zygo. Imagination 'Sparkles' – Craig Johnson

Blc. Plum Island 'Newberry' – Craig Johnson

Angraecum eburneum var. longicalcar – Merle Robboy

Source: Flickr

January 2013 - Alan Koch

Submitted by Helge W. on Tue, 01/01/2013 - 3:06pm

Alan KochWe are delighted to welcome as our first speaker for the 2013 season Alan Koch of Gold Country Orchids in Lincoln, CA. Alan will talk on “Species Habitat and Hybrid Culture”and will teach both novice and advanced growers how to link the way a species grows in the wild with how to grow the species and it’s associated hybrids in your collection. This program is strong on orchid culture and will help us improve the ability to grow and successfully bloom our own orchids. Alan will provide the plant table as well as offer additional plants for sale at the meeting.

Alan owns and operates Gold Country Orchids (www.goldcountryorchids.com), where he specializes in miniature and compact Cattleyas. Alan started growing orchids in 1969 with 3 Cymbidiums given to him by an aunt. While in college he became interested in other orchids and discovered many would grow outdoors in Southern California. He has moved five times as his orchid obsession has led to the need for more growing space. With the last move, he purchased 10 acres of land in Lincoln, California for his 250,000 orchids. Read more »

Date:

Wed, 01/02/2013 - 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Monthly Meeting

November 2012 Meeting

Submitted by Helge W. on Wed, 11/28/2012 - 1:47pm

Date:

Wed, 11/07/2012

Gil Ho presenting on "What's Up (and Down) with Stanhopeas?"

Gil Ho conducting the culture class on repotting Stanhopeas

Slc. Circle of Life x B. Little Stars – Alex Nadzan

Blc. Delta Queen "Tangerine" x L. anceps "Déjà Vu" – Alex Nadzan

Bulbo. Elizabeth Ann "Buckleberry" – Lisa Humphreys

Source: Flickr

Annual Holidays Dinner and Officers Installation

Event Date:

Wed, 12/05/2012 - 6:00pm - 10:00pm

The Palomar Orchid Society will be holding their annual Holidays Dinner and Officer's installation on Wednesday, December 5 at Chin's Szechwan Restaurant, Read more »

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October 2012 Show and Tell

Submitted by Helge W. on Tue, 10/23/2012 - 10:42am

Date:

Tue, 10/23/2012

C. bowringiana 'Blue Angel' - Alex Nadzan

Pot. Mitsuo Akatsuka 'Volcano Queen' - Alex Nadzan

Lc. Hawaiian Blue Sky X C. DiPozzi Tiziano 'Freckle Me Blue' - Alex Nadzan

C. Granier's Charm 'Hillary' AM/AOS - Alex Nadzan

Slc. Circle of Life 'Red Alert' X L. Pacavia #381 A - Alex Nadzan

Slc. Circle of Life 'Trailblazer' X Lc. Magic Melody 'SVO' - Alex Nadzan

Lc. Lois McNeil X C. Valentine - Alex Nadzan

Lc. Lois McNeil X C. Valentine "Close Up' - Alex Nadzan

Lc. Purple Cascade 'Fragrance Beauty' - Alex Nadzan

Slc. Circle of Life 'Crossroads' X B. Little Stars - Alex Nadzan

L. anceps (Blumen Insel X Irwins) - Alex Nadzan

C. Bob Betts 'White Lightning' - Alex Nadzan

Alcra. Sunday Best 'Muffin' - Alex Nadzan

Source: Flickr

November 2012 - Gil Ho

Submitted by Helge W. on Fri, 10/19/2012 - 2:34pm

Gilbert J. HoStanhopeas are the upside-down jewels of the orchid world. They are not often cultivated but fairly easy to grow in our Southern California climate with a few basic rules. These plants are highly fascinating as their pendant flowers are among the most highly evolved and specialized of all orchid flowers. The flower spikes emerge through the bottom of the growing basket to hang freely like birds in flight. With an emphasis on the roughly 70 species currently recognized, Gil's talk will cover basic information about different Stanhopea growing conditions in nature and the origins of Stanhopea collecting and identification. Hybridizing stanhopeas will be mentioned briefly and the talk will conclude with an overview of cutlure conditions for growing Stanhopeas in our Southern California area. This section will serve as this month's culture class. Read more »

Date:

Wed, 11/07/2012 - 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Monthly Meeting

Member of the Year 2012

Submitted by Debra F. on Thu, 10/18/2012 - 9:13am

Who do you think has made an outstanding contribution to the club this year? Nominate him/her for Member of the Year. Send the name of the individual, along with a description of their contribution, to Debra Funakoshi by Friday, October 26. Her email address is dlf_3144@att.net.

All current members are eligible except last year’s honoree, which was Debra.

We will vote at the next meeting to determine who will receive the honor and the name of the honoree will be revealed at the holiday dinner in December.

San Diego International Orchid Show - October 2012

Submitted by Helge W. on Sun, 10/07/2012 - 5:35pm

Date:

Sun, 10/07/2012

Blc. Toshie's Magic – Alex Nadzan – Best of Section "Cattleya Hybrids", HCC 78

Lc. Schloat's Fancy x L. Lookalike – Phyllis Prestia – Third Place

Pot. (Slc. Golden Wax "Lone Star II" x Blc. Lone Sound "Dogashima") – Alex Nadzan – Second Place

Lc. Tropical Pointer "Cheetah" – Anita Spencer – First Place

Blc. Kathy My Love – Alex Nadzan – Third Place

Lc. Amethyst Star "Purple Flame" – Alex Nadzan – First Place

Ootaara Island Flare "Fragrance" – Alex Nadzan – Third Place

Cymbidium Chen's Ruby 'Gold Digger – Gil Ho – Second Place

Den. blue – Renate Schmidt – Second Place

Amgraecum Shooting Star – Renate Schmidt – First Place

Habenaria medusae – Renate Schmidt – Third Place

Merle Robboy, Elf Mitton, and Dennis Mackewicz at the booths

These are the orchids exhibited by members of the Palomar Orchid Society that were awarded at the San Diego International Orchid Show October 6 & 7, 2012.

Source: Flickr

October 2012 Meeting

Submitted by Helge W. on Thu, 10/04/2012 - 10:26am

Date:

Wed, 10/03/2012

Alex Nadzan speaking on Orchid Hybridizing Basics

Close-up of newly germinated orchid seeds

Rinsing the roots of the orchid seedlings

Discussing flasking and orchid hybridization

Cattleytonia Jamaica Red 'Sentinel' HCC/AOS – Alex Nadzan

Cymbidium Chens Ruby 'Gold Tiger' – Gil Ho

Vuylstekeara Pacific Passion 'TOW' – Warren Stehle

Slc. Circle of Life 'Trailblazer' x Lc. Magic Melody – Alex Nadzan

Blc. Horizon Flight x Slc. Circle of Life – Alex Nadzan

Slc. Golden Wax 'Lone Star' x Blc. Love Sound 'Dogashima' – Alex Nadzan

Lc. Canhamiana v. coerulea 'Azure Skies' – Alex Nadzan

Alex Nadzan gave a very educational and informative introduction to orchid hybridization from an amateur's perspective. As part of his presentation, he demonstrated the de-flasking and first potting of seedlings. The selection of plants brought in for the Show and Tell portion of the meeting was a little smaller as our attendance was below normal as well, possibly due to the Presidential debate. However, there were several very beautiful flowers to be admired.

Source: Flickr

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