Midmonth Virtual Show Table
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!
August 4: Catasetums in Brazil
August 4 SAOS Meeting. Francisco Miranda is a world renowned Brazilian taxonomist that will be talking to us about Brazilian Catasetum species. Their distribution and habitats will be discussed, many from the Amazon, to help us understand where and why the plants live where they do.
He will also discuss flower dimorphism, a
very interesting feature of the genus, showing both male and female flowers. You can preorder from Francisco's website and get a 10% discount, he'll deliver to you at the meeting. Curbside pick-up offered for those not comfortable attending the meeting.
We will probably be having a virtual show table in August, so send in pictures of your blooming orchids by August 1st to be included.
When: Tuesday, August 4, 6:30 pm
Where: Memorial Lutheran Church
Enter Hall from Back Parking Lot
3375 US 1 South
July 21: Courtney in Cyberspace.
Courtney will Zoom into Cyberspace to weave his orchid stories on July 21st at 7 pm. We'll include pics sent in by the July 5 deadline
All members will be sent an invitation link to the Zoom presentation.
August Virtual Show Table.
If you want to share images of your beauties in bloom, send high res pictures to info@staugorchidsociety.org in by August 1st. We'll include the pics in the August newsletter and Courtney's Virtual Show Table in August.
SAOS News and Activities
Coronavirus Update. We are resuming in-person SAOS activities. Everyone has been schooled on the guidelines on social distancing during the pandemic, and we want all our members to stay healthy. Take your temperature before attending events to make sure you do not have a fever (<100.4 F). We are looking forward to having our regular meetings, with all the personal interactions, beautiful plants and knowledgeable speakers.2020 Programs It looks like our program schedule is going to be very fluid this year. Some of our speakers have rescheduled to next year so some of our members are preparing programs describing how how they grow orchids in our area, during the summer and winter months.
SAOS Items for Sale. Potting mix, clay pots and plant tags... Click for more info.
Become a Member. The dues are $20 for an individual or $30 for a family... Click for more info.
Keiki Club. Our beginners programs include culture classes, monthly repotting clinics, a mentoring program along with Keiki Club road trips and growing area tours. We're on summer vacation now. We'll be meeting again in September for a growing area tour at the Schimmel's.
Culture Class. Bob will tell you how to build an orchid tree, a structure on casters that you can hand your orchids on and roll into the sun or out of the rain. The culture class starts at 6:15 before the main meeting begins.
Monthly Meetings
Members Choice. Our July Members Choice is Eria hyacinthoides grown by Sue Bottom. The AOS Orchids A to Z page says The genus is divided into many sections some of which could become distinct genera when the genus is fully revised. The flowers, though not big, are generally produced in good numbers. Sadly the blooms are short-lived, seldom lasting more than a few days.Monthly Meetings. When not in the middle of a pandemic, we meet on the first Tuesday of each month. We have a beginners culture class at 6:15 before the main meeting, which starts at 6:30. The meeting begins 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!
Repotting Clinics. We are waiting to hear from Ace whether we can resume Ace repotting clinics in August, or whether we will have the repotting clinics at the Church Pavilion. Normally, 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.
Cultural Tips for Orchid Growers
Bob Scully's Month by Month Orchid Growing:
July in St. Augustine. The heat and humidity of summer are here. When day time temperatures rise above the 90 to 95F range, you’ll see orchid growth start to slow. Water slightly... read moreDr. Courtney Hackney Tips, Redux:
Cypress Mulch. Your repotting should be almost complete for most orchids now. Potting is the time when you learn how good your culture has been the past year or so. For me, it is also... read moreDr. Martin Motes Notes:
Progress of the Season. Following an unusually wet May which set off an extra early start to the rainy season, June began with more of the same. The unrelenting onslaught put disease... read moreOrchids in July. Although it mostly passes unnoticed to millions locked in their air-conditioned bubbles, July in South Florida is quite different from June. While the pattern... read more
Culture Article by Sue Bottom:
Summer Rots. It is summer. The days of low humidity are gone and each day seems hotter and more humid than the last. The water molds (also known as oomycetes) thrive in this environment... 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
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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.
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.