The Utah Orchid Society, Rocky Mountain (Orchid) Judging Center Lecture Series

The Utah Orchid Society, Rocky Mountain (Orchid) Judging Center, and the American Orchid Society are presenting a series of lectures for our Speakers' Day on Saturday, August 28, at the Sugar House Garden Center (1602 East, 2100 South).

The speakers and their topics are: Alan Koch, who will present Dendrobium Diversity and Their Culture, Karen Miles whose topic is, Tolumnias and other Treasures, and finally, Ron Mc Hatton, who will discuss, Color Inheritance in Orchid Breeding .

The lectures will start at 1:00 pm, and continue until 5:00 pm. In addition, there will be orchid plants for sale from Gold County Orchids and Botanica Ltd from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. The public is invited to attend this event, and admission is free.

When asked which is the most exotic, elusive and attractive of all flowers, many people might think of the orchid. At least one group, the Utah Orchid Society, is out to change the perception that orchids are elusive. Its mission is to promote and encourage the growing of orchids to hobbyists throughout the state. Orchidaceae, the orchid family, is the largest family of flowering plants in the world. It contains some 880 genera and nearly 22,000 accepted species, with about 800 new species added each year. Add to that the more than 100,000 cultivars introduced since growers started hybridizing the plants in the 19th century. Visiting with the Utah Orchid Societies members will help dispel the myths associated with growing orchids in Utah. The first myth tackled is that all orchids are hard to grow. Almost anyone who has bright, filtered light with no direct sun can find an orchid that will grow well for them. Whenever an orchid does not do well, it is usually because it is not getting enough light. The second myth that is totally wrong is that you should water your orchids with ice cubes. If you put ice cubes on your plants, they are probably not getting enough water. "Water is very important in growing these plants. One common problem is people forget to water the plants after they finish blooming. They remember to water when they have blossoms on the plants and they are always looking at the beautiful flowers. But once they finish blooming, they do not notice the plants. Most orchids usually grow on a well-aerated mix of bark chips. When you water, add enough water to flush out the salts so your plants will grow well. Use tepid water on plants. The third myth is that orchids are fragile and delicate. While conditions might vary inside your home, with the large number of orchids available, you can usually find one to grow inside your home. A final myth to dispel is that orchids can be successfully grown in Utah. There are many different orchids that grow well here, so choose ones that tolerate low humidity. Make a pebble container by filling a leak-proof tray with gravel and then adding water to the tray. The water evaporates off of the rocks and increases the humidity. Some people will try to mist their plants to add moisture to the air. What are the easiest-to-grow orchids? Phalaenopsis, or moth orchids bloom profusely with various shades of lavender or white blooms. This orchid is probably the best suited to home growing and provides long-lasting spikes of interesting flowers. The Paphiopedilum, or slipper orchids are also a good choice. They tolerate normal home temperatures if they have plenty of bright light. The reward for growing these is exotic blossoms that are some of the longest-lasting available. Dendrobium, or spray orchids, are common in the retail trade. They have large, well-developed water storage organs, or pseudobulbs, that resemble canes, and they need to be planted in porous, free-draining media. Another recommendation are the compact cattleyas. They are true epiphytes and need well-drained mixes to grow well. They are some of the largest and showiest flowers of any orchids and will delight anyone who can bloom them successfully.