Don’t forget the plant raffle and plant sales at each meeting.

MEMBER NEWS
Happy birthday to everyone celebrating their special day this month. Delna Osborne (12), Joan Hart (19) and Bess Gouws (21).
A warm welcome to new Members Mr. & Mrs. Burstein from Newlands who have relocated from Natal.
Congratulations to Sarel and Madeleine Spies on the birth of their first child Luka who was born on 4 May.
Lastly, we all look forward to seeing Brenda Vurgarellis strong and back to normal soon.

MAY MEETING
The plants that were brought elicited quite extensive discussion and interaction that was beneficial to everyone. We heard a range of suggestions to combat mealie bug, scale, and fungal infections which seems to be a common plague. Members issued a warning on the use of Oleum, which appears to not be good for orchid plants and if used, may result in deformed flowers. A dusting of cinnamon as a fungicide is effective, particularly on Paphiopedilums. Remember that most insecticides and fungicides require a wetting agent (surfactant) for effective management (you may want to try some grated sunlight soap). Phalaenopsis may be susceptible to Aphidcide. Superthrive and Vitamin B1 is useful to promote root production and a sprinkling of lime on Paphiopedilum concolor every 6 months helps to encourage water absorption.
Thank you to Lambit Kaudla, Tricia Owen, David Ronaasen and Manfred Waltner who donated plants for the raffle.

THE PRIZE WINNERS

Best on Show, Best Cattleya & Most Spectacular on Show
Cattleya Portia 'Cannizaro'
Owner: Johan Bruwer
___________________________________

Time: Sales 9am till 12 noon followed by the talk at 1pm.

KWAZULU-NATAL SEMINARS
These two events i.e. the KwaZulu-Natal Cultural Seminar on Saturday 28 July 2001 and the Natal Orchid Society’s seminar planned for the following week (4 August 2001) promise to be well worth attending. For details contact Hendrelien Peters 031 764 1902 or Ingrid Dix-Peek 031 5647960.

PLEASE CONTACT US
We would like some feedback on the Newsletter that is now being sent by e-mail to many of you. We will be sending it by snail mail as well for a month or two just to be sure everyone is happy.
If you are not receiving it in a suitable format or are not happy, please contact me at gersie@iafrica.com. If we don’t hear from you we will assume all is well. Please keep us up to date with changes to your address or if you have a newly acquired one.

Ansellia africana - rare; low abundance
Bolusiella maudiae – very rare; narrow range; low abundance
Polystachya zuluensis – very rare; narrow range; low abundance
Diaphananthe millarii – very rare; disjunct distribution; low abundance

SOME CULTURAL TIPS FOR JUNE
Don’t over-water as plants take longer to dry out during the cooler and shorter days. Be careful of water collecting on Cattleya sheaths that could cause the developing buds to rot.
Insert stakes for Cymbidiums that are coming into spike, but try to tie and stake in the warmest part of the day to prevent snapping cold, rigid spikes.
Don’t change the plant’s orientation to light once the spikes have emerged, as the different orientation causes crooked and twisted spikes.
Re-orientate the new growths on Cattleyas to take full advantage of available light.
Vandas, Ascocendas and Oncidiums need to be given as much light as possible, lift them above your other plants if necessary.
Nobile type Dendrobiums should be kept dry for the next few months.

ORCHID WEBSITES
Looking for books? Try www.bookfinder.com
Information on Phragmipediums? Try www.phragweb.com
A resource for cultural information? Try www.orchidculture.com
Update on neem oil? Try www.neemfoundation.org
More about the Cape Orchid Society? Try http://www.capeorchidsociety.co.za/

LAST CHANCE
This is your last chance to list yourself in the 2001 Yearbook to sell orchids as a non-commercial grower. If you regularly have plants to sell (not just the odd division or two) but are not registered as a commercial grower, you may advertise in the listing to be included in the Yearbook. This will cost you R100. Please contact me as soon as possible if you are interested.

PLANT TABLE – There was no plant table in May because of our "problem plant " programme.

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