Send pics of what's in bloom
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!
February 2 Monthly Meeting
Encyclias and Epicatts Jim Roberts of Florida SunCoast Orchids will be talking aboout Encyclias and Epicatts at our February meeting. His talk is a good introduction to the encyclia species that are easily grown in Florida and some of their notable hybrids with those species that do well for us here. Jim has three gutter connected greenhouses encompassing 10,000 square feet of growing space. He strives to grow and sell the best quality orchid plants, building a lasting reputation in the industry as one of the very best. Jim will host the sales table, selling plants as well as providing raffle plants. We will have our normal raffle at the end of the meeting. Friends and guests are always welcome!When: Tuesday, February 2, 6:30 til 9 pm
Where: Memorial Lutheran Church
3375 US 1 South, St. Aug 32086
Virtual Show Table. For the time being, we will not have our traditional show table presentation at the meetings. If you want to share images of your beauties in bloom, send high res pictures to info@StAugOrchidSociety.org. We'll include the pics in the newsletter and Courtney's mid-month Virtual Show Table presentation. Here's a link to Courtney's January Virtual Show Table presentation.
SAOS News and Activities
2021 Dues. It's that time of year! 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), or for an extra dollar use these PayPal links.Individual Membership Family Membership February 6 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. We have relocated our repotting clinics to the pavilion behind the Memorial Lutheran Church.
When: Saturday, February 6, 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
Keiki Club. Our beginners programs include culture classes, monthly repotting clinics, a mentoring program along with Keiki Club road trips and growing area tours.
February 21 - Tour & Repotting Madness The marathon orchid repotting season is beginning, and we will have orchid seedlings, keikis and divisions for you to mount and or pot up. Bring a wooden basket or clay pot, if that's your preference. To cover the cost of supplies, there will be a $5 charge. If you have more than 1 or 2 of your own plants that need repotting, please bring them to the repotting clinic.
Where: Sue and Terry Bottom's Home
6916 Cypress Lake Court, St. Aug 32086
When: Sunday, February 21, 1 - 3 pm
Monthly Meetings
Members Choice. Our January Members Choice is Cattleya Nancy Off 'Linwood' AM/AOS grown by Sue Bottom. The classically shaped flowers were held up on three firm stems that required no staking.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!
Covid Considerations. Everyone has been schooled on the guidelines on social distancing during the pandemic. Four people can space themselves about 6 ft apart at each of the large 8 ft diameter circular tables. Bring you face mask for when you are in close proximity to another member.
Culture Class. Prior to the pandemic, we had a beginner's culture class at 6:15 before the main meeting begins. We resumed our physical meetings in July, but attendance has been limited. We hope to resume culture classes in 2021 once we have bid the virus adieu!
SAOS Items for Sale. Potting mix, plant tags, and more. Click for more info.
Cultural Tips for Orchid Growers
Bob Scully's Month by Month Orchid Growing:
January in St. Augustine. Plants will continue to manufacture food during the winter, albeit at a reduced rate. Everything will occur at a slower pace until spring arrives so the need... read moreDr. Courtney Hackney Tips, Redux:
What's Wrong with My Orchid. There is an old joke among seasoned orchid hobbyists that the best growers are the ones that have killed the most orchids. It is also obvious that those that grows... read moreDr. Martin Motes Notes:
Progress of the Season. Although December began unseasonably warm, winter arrived with a one two punch of cold fronts which caused our startled vandas to shed some lower leaves... read moreOrchids in January. January is somewhat like December but in reverse, with each succeeding day bringing longer hours of sunlight until days are long enough that afternoons...read more
Culture Article by Sue Bottom:
Bacterial vs. Fungal Infections. One of our newsletter subscribers from India sent in a picture of his cattleya, asking for help. It had ugly black streaks on the newest leaves and he wondered how... 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. 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.