Come to one of our meetings!
Courtney Hackney gives culture tips from the Show Table
SAOS Resources for events, newsletters and library
If you are just learning to grow orchids, check the Beginners tab
Culture pages address orchid growing basics and different orchids
Having a problem? Info in the Problems section can help
Month by month advice for growing orchids
Beautiful orchid pictures, if only we could include their fragrance!
June 1 - Water Quality & Orchids
Sue and Courtney will give an overview of water quality considerations, talking about how the quality of your water can impact the growth of your orchids. Bring samples of your water to the meeting for testing. We'll talk about our local water quality and what you can do if your water is less than optimum. Several members will present case histories of how they converted to rainwater collection and reverse osmosis systems. Friends and guests are always welcome!We will live stream the presentation portion of the meeting. Members will receive an invite by email.
When: Tuesday, June 1, 6:30 til 9 pm
Where: Memorial Lutheran Church
3375 US 1 South, St. Aug 32086
SAOS News and Activities
May 11 Virtual Show Table. If you want to share images of your beauties in bloom, send high res pictures to info@StAugOrchidSociety.org, landscape rather than portrait orientation preferred. Send in the pics by the Saturday before our meeting, so we can include them in the newsletter and Courtney's mid-month Virtual Show Table presentation. Here's a link to Courtney's April Virtual Show Table presentation.June 5 Repotting Clinic. The first Saturday of the month from 9 am til noon, February through October, St. Augustine Orchid Society members are available to talk with you, answer questions and help you repot orchids.
When: Saturday, June 5, 9 am - noon
Where: Memorial Lutheran Church
3375 US 1 South
Turn west at the blinking light across from the new fire and police station on US 1 and drive around to the back of the Church
Monthly Meetings
Members Choice. Our April Members Choice is Ludisia discolor grown by Janis Croft. This gorgeous specimen plant had more flower spikes than we have fingers and toes. Beautiful blooming!Monthly Meetings. We meet on the first Tuesday of each month. The meeting begins at 6:30 with a plant sale followed by a review of the show table plants and presentation by an orchid expert. The meeting closes with a plant raffle where members can expand their collections. It's fun and informative for growers of all levels. Join us, visitors and guests are always welcome!
SAOS Items for Sale. Potting mix,timed release fertilizer, butterfly clips and more. Click for more info.
Cultural Tips for Orchid Growers
Bob Scully's Month by Month Orchid Growing:
May in St. Augustine. TSummer is right around the corner. Now is the time to maximize growth and develop the plant strength and food reserves needed for good flower production... read moreDr. Courtney Hackney Tips, Redux:
Mites in Spring. Once again, I forgot to treat for mites in early spring and, once again, I lost leaves to these tiny beasts. Mites usually appear during times when the humidity is low... read moreDr. Martin Motes Notes:
Progress of the Season. This April has been a little drier than average and a little cooler as the enormous cold fronts which ravaged the North, delivered extended periods of high... read moreOrchids in May. May is a month of transition in South Florida. Early in the month we can expect the driest weather of the year. Because of the clarity of the air...read more
Culture Article by Sue Bottom:
Top Dressing with Mycorrhizae. Orchid growers are always learning new tricks from their orchid buddies. Take Keith Davis up in North Carolina. He was visiting... read moreJoin or Renew Your Membership
The St. Augustine Orchid Society is a dynamic group of orchid growers having all levels of experience, from those who just brought their first orchid home to those with overflowing greenhouses. All members have one thing in common. We love to share our experiences, our knowledge and our orchid divisions with other orchid growers. Come to one of our meetings so we can get to know each other. If you would like to join, you can complete this interactive form.Join the Club or Pay Your Dues
The dues are $20 for an individual or $30 for a family if paid by check (mail c/o Linda Stewart, 1812 Diana Drive, Palatka 32177). For an extra dollar, you can pay using the PayPal links below.Individual Membership
Family Membership
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Catasetum Competition Grow
Fred Clarke sent us 20 plugs for the raffle table in January 2019. We are going to have prizes for the first one to bloom this hybrid, the one with the nicest flower, and the best grown one. Here's more information about the cross and how to grow catasetums. The summer growths are maturing now and you may start to see some of the oldest leaves drop.
Best Grown. Glo MacDonald won the best grown casetum award at the September 2020 meeting. She won a Ctsm. Sue Bottom she had been coveting, red with a fimbriated lip.
Best Flower. Send pictures of your catasetum in bloom to info@StAugOrchidSociety.org for entry into the best flower contest. Fred Clarke will judge the photo submittals in November 2021 during his trip to St. Augustine.
Culture Tips Here are some of Fred Clarke's culture tips for the season.
Jim Roberts Deflasking Project
At our August 2019 meeting, Jim Roberts of Florida SunCoast Orchids showed us how to deflask orchids and pot them up in either plug trays or compots. Five caretakers are nurturing them until they grow up to a size where they can be planted individually.