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Hello and greetings to all.  The next meeting of the Napa Valley Orchid Society is on Friday, April 14th at 7:00PM at the Napa Senior Center on 1500 Jefferson Street in Napa.  This meeting will feature our annual "Potting Party".

Members and non-membersare encouraged to bring orchids for re-potting.  A $5.00 fee to cover supplies (new bark and pot) for any orchid in a pot up to 7-inches in diameter. Several demonstrations will take place followed by experienced members of the society volunteering at several stations to assist all who bring in orchids. This event will be the focus of our April meeting.  This event is free and open to the public - so invite your friends!

2017 SHOW JUDGING RESULTS

A special thanks to all those who brought in orchids for judging and the grand display. I am putting together a complete list of who all the winners were in this year's show.  As soon as that is completed, I will distribute it to all of the Napa Valley Orchid Society members.  A brief breakdown of the numbers of award presented are as follows (Source: Tom Pickford)

• A total of 64 plants entered for judging.
• A total of 58 ribbon awards given. (The Best of Class rosettes and Show Trophies not included in this number.)
• Novice Growers entered 14 plants which received 12 awards to 4 growers.
• Intermediate growers entered 6 plants which received 6 awards to 3 growers.
• Open class entered 44 plants which received 40 awards to 6 growers

Best in Show (Novice)

Oncidium Twinkle

Jim Ladwig

Hybrid cross of (Onc. cheirophorum × Onc. sotoanum)

Oncidium “Twinkle” emits the sweet scent of vanilla when blooming. They are miniatures with up to a hundred dime-sized blooms on the small plants. Caring for this delicate plant requires attention to the amount of water, type of fertilizer and degree of light provided to the orchid. There are a few varieties of the orchid with yellow, red or white blooms. Twinkle orchids require a special planting mix and proper placement to avoid over-drying and shrinking the fragile flowering bulbs. In the wild, these orchids grow with their roots exposed. This makes it easier for the plant to absorb required nutrients and moisture. Orchids fare best in a household environment.

How to Care for a Twinkle Orchid

Twinkles do well indoors. Avoid direct sunlight and find a nice naturally lit area of your house. This also helps to maintain an appropriate temperature, and note that twinkle orchids are not fans of quick temperature change. Water your orchid just before the soil completely dries out- about 2 times per week. Gently water the roots and potting mix, allowing any excess water to drain through through. To ensure a long flowering span, fertilize monthly when flowering.

Botanical Basics: Twinkle Orchids

Best in Show (Open/Intermediate)

Rhyncattleanthe Zul "Lombok"

Cindy Battershall

A hybrid of Guarianthe skinneri (Cattleya skinneri) and Rhyncattleanthe (Brassolaeliocattleya) Orange Nugget, showed the floriferousness and vigorous plant growth of the parents and was covered with rose-orange flowers with a yellow lip.  This hybrid was registered n 1997 as Brassolaeliocattleya Zul, then Thwaitesara Zul, and now Rhyncattleanthe Zul, as the names of the genera in its background have been changed. (Thank the taxonomists.)  (Above photo credit: Richard Lindberg, backbulb.com and not the actual presented orchid)

Rhyncattleanthe Zul (Z.Ibrahim) accepted 1997 (RHS) on BlueNanta (Orchid Roots)

A complete listing of all awards is in the process of being edited and will be shared here as soon as possible.