January 2013 - Alan Koch

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.  

Alan is an internationally known speaker who is recognized as an expert in the Brazilian Cattleya Alliance and as trendsetter in miniature Cattleya breeding.  He has published in the Orchid Digest, the American Orchid Society magazine, as well as many International publications, including several proceedings of the World Orchid Conference. Alan is a past member of the AOS Judging Committee, and the Research Committee, as well as an Accredited Judge and is Training Coordinator for the California Sierra Nevada Judging Center.  He served two terms on the Orchid Digest Executive Committee and Board of Directors, and is one of the current directors, as well as a Trustee for the AOS.