Virtual Show Table on Our Meeting Night
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 2: Courtney in Cyperspace
Courtney Hackney in Cyberspace. If we can't get together for our regular meeting, at least we can share pictures of our orchids in bloom! Courtney will weave his orchid stories in a Zoom presentation on June 2nd at 7 pm. Send high res pictures of your blooming orchids to info@staugorchidsociety.org by May 27th. All members will be sent an invitation link.Next SAOS Meeting. We are planning to have our July meeting at the Church Hall. Andy Easton is scheduled to fly in from Colombia to visit his family and talk to our club, assuming they do not extend the ban on international travel. We've had Tony Millet scheduled in April, then May, and then June. If Andy can't make the trip, Tony Millet will talk to us about Potting and Mounting Orchids, showing us his special methods of mounting and repotting orchids, with emphasis on techniques and the use of different materials. We'll post his preorder list well before the meeting.
2020 Programs It looks like our program schedule is going to be very fluid this year. Some of our speakers have been rescheduled to next year. We are looking forward to the day when we can once again have our meetings, with all the personal interactions, beautiful plants and knowledgeable speakers.
SAOS News and Activities
Coronavirus Update. The June meeting and Ace repotting clinic have been postponed, but we're hoping to have the keiki club get together at the end of June and have our regular July meeting at the Church hall.Sunset Valley Orchids Sale. Fred Clarke is having a 20% off sale June 8 through June 11. Get your orchid fix, order from the website!
SAOS Items for Sale. Potting mix, slotted clay pots, fertilizer, 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.
June 28 Growing Area Tour. God willing and the creek don't rise, Sue will talk about how to decide which mix is best for your orchids, considering your growing area and watering habits. There may be some orchid keikis and divisions for you to mount and or pot up (one to a customer), bring a 4 and 6 inch clay pot, just in case. To cover the cost of supplies, there will be a $5 charge.
Where: Sue and Terry Bottom's Home
6916 Cypress Lake Court, St. Aug 32086
When: Sunday: June 28, 1 - 3 pm
Culture Class. We have a beginners culture class before the main meeting, starting at 6:15. Whenever we are able to have our meeting, Tom will do a demonstration on making wire products like rhizome clips.
Monthly Meetings
Members Choice. Our May Members Choice is Lycaste Nobuo grown by Leslie Brickell in a wooden basket. This nicely-flowered aromatica hybrid is one of the warm growing deciduous Lycastes that smells like cinnamon, some say like Red Hots!Monthly Meetings. When not in the middle of a pandemic, we meet on the first Tuesday of each month. 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!
Ace Repotting Clinics. Who knows when we will be able to have our next repotting clinic! It looks June is a no-go at Ace, so perhaps we'll do a short Zoom program on the third Tuesday, June 16th. 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:
May in St. Augustine. Summer 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:
Repotting Orchids. May is the perfect time to disturb your orchids by repotting them. Cool nights and warm, long, sunny days promote root growth. A good fertilizer with the middle... read moreDr. Martin Motes Notes:
Progress of the Season. This April has been cooler and much drier than usual with very wide swings of day to night temperatures. These conditions closely compare to the climates... 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 and lack of cloud... read more
Culture Article by Sue Bottom:
It Ain't the Heat, It's the Humidity. Why is it that we have to relearn the same lessons year after year? Every spring brings warmer weather, longer days and more intense sunlight, all of which trigger... 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.