Come to one of our meetings!
SAOS Resources has the events calendar, newsletters and library info
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!
July 2 Monthly Meeting
Orchid legend Andy Easton is coming to town! Andy has grown orchids all over the world, in the USA (Oregon, California, South Florida) to New Zealand and now Colombia. He is a world renowned hybridizer of cymbidiums and odontoglossums and has an incredible knowledge of orchid culture. It'll be like seeing the Beatles in 1964!He is going to talk to us about Today's Orchid World, no powerpoint, no boring slides... should be a great conversation. And we'll ask him to reveal some of his secret orchid growing tips too. If you have any questions about your orchids, this guy is the answer man!
Date and Time: Tuesday, July 2, 6:30 pm
Where: Watson Realty, Enter from Back Parking Lot
3505 US 1 South, St. Augustine
Meeting Show Table
Members Choice. Sue Bottom won the Members Choice award at the June meeting for her Laeliocattleya Pulcherrima var. alba. Bring your flowering orchids to exhibit on the Show Table.We normally meet on the first Tuesday of each month, although sometimes January and July meetings are rescheduled to accommodate the holidays. 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!
Here's a video of one of our meetings!
SAOS Activities
Ace Repotting Clinics. The first Saturday of the month from February through October, St. Augustine Orchid Society members will be available to talk with you, answer questions and help you repot orchids.June 22 Keiki Club - Field Trip to Krull Smith Orchids. Have you ever visited a commercial orchid nursery and seen the way they grow their plants? Krull Smith offers a wide variety of different types of orchids. We’ll be going over to Apopka for a visit. If you want to car pool or caravan, email us.
The Keiki Club is for our beginning orchid growers. We begin with a short presentation on a timely orchid culture topic and then it’s a free for all to discuss any thoughts or questions you have about growing orchids.
Here's a video of one of our get togethers.
Cultural Tips for Orchid Growers
Bob Scully's Month by Month Orchid Growing:
June in St. Augustine. Spring's mild days are gone. The late spring-early summer growing conditions induce vigorous vegetative activity. Orchids repotted earlier should be showing abundant root... read moreDr. Courtney Hackney Tips, Redux:
Poor Growers. The Summer Solstice occurs late this month indicating that the sun is at its peak even before the intense heat of summer arrives. Most hybrids of just about all different groups... read moreDr. Martin Motes Notes:
Progress of the Season. We have just experienced the most unusual May in memory. A full month's rain fell in the first ten days and hardly a drop in the last three weeks. In general, the dry weather... read moreOrchids in June. June is the most dramatically tropical month in South Florida. As the southeast Trade Winds blow cool moist air off the Gulf Stream daily, as surely the heating effect of the center... read more
Culture Article by Sue Bottom:
Orchid Potting Media. There are no orchid pots dangling from trees in the wild. They naturally grow mounted to some surface where they get the amount of light, air, and water they need to thrive... 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.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 Bill Gourley, 807 Kalli Creek Lane, St. Aug 32080). If you prefer to join or renew your membership on-line, you can pay using PayPal. The on-line dues for an individual are $21 and for a family $31, which includes the PayPal fees.
Individual Membership
Family Membership
Newsletter Subscription.
Not from St. Augustine? Sign up for a $6 annual on-line subscription. We'll deliver our newsletter packed with advice right to your in-box.Catasetum Competition Grow
Fred Clarke sent us 20 plugs of this new hybrid, Ctsm. Portagee Star 'Brian Lawson's Sunrise' x Ctsm. lucis and they were distributed to raffle ticket winners at the January meeting. 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.
Many have started watering their catasetums, which is safe to do once the plant is 5 inches tall and the leaves have unfurled. Make sure they get plenty of fresh air and moisture. Top dress the pot with some timed release fertilizer. Catasetums are heavy feeders, they have to do all their growing in 7 months while other orchids get a full 12 months. Once the pseudobulbs fatten up enough that the plant has enough strength to flower, we should start seeing bloom spikes, perhaps later this year! Fred's Summer Newsletter for some tips on watering and fertilizing in summer.
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The SAOS is a Section 501(c)(3) not for profit organization so all donations are tax deductible..
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Amazon. Name SAOS as your favorite charity and shop Smile.Amazon.com and Amazon will donate a portion of eligible purchases to the SAOS.
Donate through PayPal Donate to the St. Augustine Orchid Society and PayPal will waive all fees.
Ebay for Charity Add St. Augustine Orchid Society as your favorite charity on eBay today!