Orchid Club

The West Gippsland Orchid Club holds its monthly meetings on the first Thursday of each month at the Scout Hall, Victoria St., Drouin at 8pm.

Visitors are always welcome to attend.Guest speaker at the May meeting was Murray Harding gave an interesting presentation on Cymbidium canaliculatum, Australia’s very own Cymbidium orchid.

The Cymbidium canaliculatum (and varieties) is a most diverse and widespread orchid growing in NSW, Qld. N.T and the Kimberly region of WA.

It can be grown in Victoria as we saw with Murray’s plants but they need to be kept dry during winter.

It’s best to stop watering around Anzac Day and start again when the flower spikes come off around Cup day though a misting is good during that period.

The plants flower profusely with flowers that are fragrant and extremely variable in color.

The plants should be divided in their dormant time which is winter and they don’t mind Dynamic Lifter added to the mix.

Murray also stated that Calcium Nitrate is a good additive each month in the growing season too. A lot of information was shared and all members present found it very interesting. The next meeting will be on Thursday. In June the guest speaker will be Glenda Coutts who will be speaking about the culture of mini Cymbidiums.

Glenda is well known in the orchid world and it will very interesting to hear her speak as she doesn’t manage many club visits as a guest speaker.

The club has a sales table at meetings for anyone wishing to sell plants.

The club will take a small 10 per cent commission with the member receiving the balance.

If you have an abundance of produce or goods you can bag or bundle and put a price on it and donate it to the club to sell to other members also. The proceeds will go to the club. If the goods don’t sell you can take them home or give to others.