ORCHIDS AT THE NIAGARA REGION ORCHID SHOW
	BY BRUCE ZIMMERMAN

In November the Niagara Regional Orchid Society held it's Annual Orchid Show. These are some of my favourite shots of the Orchids. They are just some of the one hundred and ten pictures I took. The care of each is listed with them. Their care may vary slightly with each variety, inter-generic crosses and the environmental conditions they are grown in. 

	Brassocattleya Mount Anderson Lauve
	Day temperature is 75 - 85 degrees F, night temperature is 60-65 degrees F. Grow best when their potting  medium becomes dry in between waterings Should not be repotted
	Brassocattleya Young Kong
	unless the plant have out grown the pot (every 2 or 3 years) or when the potting medium begins to deteriorate.
	Brassolaeliocattleya Holiday Inn x Le Starting Point
	Day temperature is 75 - 85 degrees F, night temperature is 60-65 degrees F. Grow best when their potting
	Brassolaeliocattleya Young Kong The Sun
	medium becomes dry in between waterings Should not be repotted unless the plant have outgrown the pot (every 2 or 3 years) or when the potting medium begins to deteriorate.
	Beallara Tahoma Glacier Green
	Min.10C (50F) during the winter months rising to no more than 20C (68F) during the summer.Do not like draughts of either hot or cold air but do like a good air circulation. Winter place in brightest position you have but again keep out of the direct rays of the sun. Summer months  water a couple of times a
Beallara Truth  (Silver Chalice)	week Water in winter at 10 - 14 day intervals  flushing the pot through with tepid water. Spring mid summer feed  every 2nd or 3rd watering with a high nitrogen plant food.  Mid summer through to Spring use a high potash feed to make more blooms. Dilute the plant food to one quarter Repot in spring annually as the new growth starts wait until the new emerging growths are approximately 2 - 3 inches high.
	Brassavola Nodosa
	Spring and Fall Blooming Bright; 2500-3500 Foot candles (very bright indirect light) Warm ; 65°F min. to 95°F max. Dry; 1-2 waterings per week (let dry between waterings) Needs warmth and bright light to bloom well.
	Brassavola Cucullata
	Free Flowering Throughout the Year Bright; 2500-3500 Foot candles (very bright indirect light) Warm to Intermediate 60°F min. to 90°F max. Moist/Dry; 2-4 waterings per week (let dry between waterings)
	Brassia Edvan Loo Goldilocks
	Summer and Fall Blooming Bright; 2500-3500 Foot candles (very bright indirect light) Warm, Intermediate to Cool; 45°F min. to 98°F max. (tolerant of extremes, favoring warm) Moist; 2-3 waterings per week (let dry slightly between waterings)
	Brassidium Lillian Oka Lillian
	55 to 60 F night; 80 to 85 F during the day. As temps rise  increase humidity and air movement. A shadow should be detected when placing hand 10”-12” above plant for at least 6 hours a day. Water  in the morning with tepid water. The medium should dry at least halfway through the pot before watering again.
	medium. Humidity 40-60%. place the plant on humidity tray. Feed (1//2 to 1/3 dilution) of fertilizer every time it is watered.  (30-10-10) should be used in a bark-based medium.   (20-20-20) should be used in other media or on slabs. Potting usually 2 years done when new growth is about 4 inches tall. Use medium bark making sure the plant is positioned in the pot so that the newest growth is farthest away from the edge of the pot, allowing room for growth.
	Bulbophyllum Rothschildianum
	1800 to 2500 foot candles (indirect low light, slight shadowing) Intermediate; 55°F min. to 85°F max. Do not cut the flower spikes until they turn brown. Grown in plastic pots with
	sphagnum it is not allowed to dry out. Moist; 3-5 waterings per week (let dry lightly between waterings)
	Cattleya Chocolate Drop Kodama
	Bright filtered light at 2 to 3000 footcandles. Grow  at temperatures above 15C 59F best at 18-24C 64-75F but does not like temperature flucuations.
	Cattleya Not Known
	At temperatures above 21C 70F spray every day and use humidity trays. Water well while growing and but let the growing medium dry
	Cattleya Maxima Coja x Self
	out completely before watering again. after flowering the plant requires a 6 week dormant period during
	Cattleya Ronalds Caynon
	which you only water enough to stop the pseudobulbs from drying out. use orchid food every 2-3 weeks during active growth. Repot after flowering into a 2 parts osmunda fiber 1
	Cattleya Dormaniana
	part sphagnum moss. Cut the rhizome into halves repot with fresh mixture and keep in medium light of several weeks.
	Cochleanthes Amazonica (Chondrorhyncha)
	Free Flowering Throughout the Year Shade; 500 - 1500 Foot candles (indirect low light, slight shadowing) Warm to Intermediate; 60°F min. to 90°F max. Moist; 2-3 waterings per week (let dry slightly between watering)
	Dendrobium Alexanderae Magnificos Selby
	Winter, Spring Blooming Bright; 2500-3500 Foot candles (very bright indirect light) Intermediate; 55°F min. to 85°F max. Moist / Daily Watering;4-7 waterings per week. Keep moist year
	Dendrobium Kudo Beauty
	round. Blooms best with slightly drier winter rest. Winter, Spring Blooming Bright; 2500-3500 Foot candles (very bright indirect light) Intermediate; 55°F min. to
	85°F max. Moist / Daily Watering; 4 -7 waterings per week. Keep moist year round. Blooms best with slightly drier winter rest. Winter, Spring Blooming Bright; 2500-3500 Foot candles (very bright
	Dendrobium Reginae
	indirect light) Intermediate; 55°F min. to 85°F max. Moist / Daily Watering; 4-7 waterings per week. Keep moist year round. Blooms best with slightly drier winter rest.
	Doritis Pulcherrima V Buyssonia
	Summer,Fall Blooming Bright to Shade;  2000- 3000 Foot candles (bright indirect light, strong shadowing) Intermediate to Warm; 58°F min. to 88°F max. Moist; 2-3 waterings per week (let dry slightly between waterings)
	Doritaenopsis Everspring Prince King
	The same growing conditions as Phalaenopsis
	Epicattleya Don Herman
	Everything I can find indicates that you treat this genus just like Cattleya
	Howeara Lava Burst
	Howeara temps of 19-27 °C (65-80 °F) during the day.Night temps 13-18°C (55-65 °F). Higher day temps ensure adequate airflow. Benefit from 3-4 hours of good  light per day. Approach being dry before watering. Generally water once a week in winter. Every 3-5 days during the summer  Use humidity tray to increase humidity. When growing feed at ¼ - ½ strength 28-14-14 with every watering. Use  (10-30-20) at ¼ - ½ strength as new growths mature to enhance flower quality. Repot every 12-24 months, just as new growths begin.

Temperature:  The country or region of origin for each plant gives a guide to the plant's temperature needs. If your orchid originates from equatorial areas it experiences relatively constant temperatures; whether they live in the colder mountains or in the tropical jungles, there is little variability in temperature year round. Those that originate from the area of the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn experience broader fluctuations in the seasonal temperature.  If you are a beginner or don't have a controlled environment you should pick plants that have broader temperature range.  In northern climates you should choose Orchids that have require intermediate temperatures in the winter time. You may need extra light as well. 

Light: The terms "Shaded", "Bright", and "Full-Sun", are self explanatory. You may have to experiment a bit with a plant's location to get the right light and temperature combination. Most bright growing plants can handle early morning or late afternoon direct sunlight. The cooler your growing area, the more intense light your plants can handle without damage. Shady Orchids will still require a bright environment. A healthy looking plant that does not bloom is usually  getting too little light if all the other environmental conditions are correct. When growing under full sun remember that orchids like air movement which keep their leaves cool. Indoors, don't hesitate to supplement with growing lights. The lights will raise the air temperature and reduce the humidity.

Watering:  Water quality, frequency and duration are all vitally important in raising healthy orchids.
Orchids, especially those from high-elevations, are easily damaged by mineral salts (which are almost non-existent in their natural habitat). Always use good quality, clean water. Rainwater can be used but the best is the water though a filter system that use water purified by reverse osmosis, de-ionization, or distillation. Every time you water or mist you must use these types or purified water. Hard water contains  dissolved salts which is left behind on the growing medium, container and foliage. It appears as a white, chalky deposit that can kill  roots and burn leaves. Never ever use softened water because it is high in sodium (salt). It kills plants.

Watering frequency: It is almost impossible to over-water a bark mounted orchid, but easy to over-water one in a pot. Pay close attention to the texture and shape of the roots, leaves, and pseudobulbs to gauge how often your plants need water. In between watering you can mist them occasionally to provide humidity Grouping plants together, placing your potted orchids on trays filled with gravel and water improves humidity.

Water duration:  A quick splash on a warm  day will evaporate before the roots can soak up what they need. Remember when it rains in the tropics, it rains in heavily. Water in the late afternoon or evenings during warm months and in the winter switch to a morning watering. When you water, soak the plant completely. The root ball in both potted and mounted plants needs to be thoroughly moistened. Some plants require a rest period (usually in the winter) during which watering is reduced or even suspended completely. 

Air Movement: All plants grow better with air movement. This keeps them cool and the movement strengthens the plant and builds stronger flower spikes. Indoors put a small fan in the area to ensure air movement.

I like to grow Phalaenopsis varieties because I find them the easiest for my growing conditions.