Cultivation Panel session having M. Peter Furniss as moderator and with the participation of Donna Craig, Albert Falcinelli, John Doherty, S. Yamamoto, C. Rougenant

Water and Potting Media in Orchid Cultivation
By Donna CRAIG

Although orchids in nature grow on trees, rocks and mulch, enjoying rainwater and the natural fertilizers found in plant, insect and animal litter, this is usually not the case in cultivation. We cram them in pots and serve them water that is all too often of high salt content. Many growers collect rainwater, forgetting that in “civilization” our air, and, consequently our rainwater, is tainted with household and industrial pollutants of unknown origin and content.
Fortunately, it is not difficult to offset these drawbacks through informed use of potting media, fertilizers and water adjusted to meet the nutritional needs of our plants. We shall be examining various potting materials and, perhaps most importantly, the quality of water, that should produce optimum health in our orchids without prohibitive expense.
We come from various parts of the world, undoubtedly employing different products and methods. It is our hope that this open discussion will inspire and inform all of us as we share our successes and failures in orchid culture.

Donna Craig is a past President of American Orchid Society, Inc. Currently serving on AOS Finance Committee and as a Trustee of the World Orchid Conference Trust. She has attended nine WOCs.

Action of ambient temperature and compost temperature on vital functions of orchids
By Albert Falcinelli

The ambient temperature of the greenhouse has an action on respiration, photosynthesis, sap circulation, evapotranspiration, multiplication and differenciation of cells in aerial organs. Compost temperature stimulate germiatnion, has an influence on root absorption, respiration and growth of underground organs.

Albert Falcinelli is an orchid producer specialized in Paphiopedilum.

Cypripedium and their Cultivation
By John Doherty

Cyopripedium native to the temperate zones of North America can indeed be successfully propagated from seed to flower under artificial conditions. There are a number of suitable in vitro media availabe. Certain species need dry, some wet. Lilght - the brighter the better, depending on species. Taller, luisher growth in shede, shorter yet more proliferative growth in bright sun. Vernalization - winter greeze essential, however pots need to be uried in garden, or maintained in could house over winter.

John Doherty studies Plant Biotechnology at University of Guelph, Canada, and also became a judge of the American Orchid Society. He currently owns and operates Zephyrus Orchids, in Windsor, Canada.

Easy method of sowing orchid seeds in kitchen or anywhere else
By Shin'ichi Yamamoto

My method for sowing orchids seed without any special preparation is using disinfectant directly into medium itself.
Extremely simple and useful, one can sow orchids in the kitchen, on the table and even outdoor.
It works very well for both of liquid and agar medium. Bletilla, Neofinetia, Paphiopedilum and Dendrobium are examined and germinated well.

To keep an orchid culture in good health
By Claudie Roguenant

The reason of failures in amateur orchid cultivations is the consequence of the ignorance of natural habitats, the bad choice of plants, the lack of care, the accumulation of too much plants. The repercussions are: appearance of illnees: mushroms, bacteria and virus. How to act by hand, by chemically? Which chemicals are permitted and banned. The side effects on plants. The preventive treatments.

Claudie Roguenant is author of many books on orchid cultivation.