July 3 Meeting - Navigating the SAOS Website
Sue Bottom, St. Augustine Orchid Society
    The St. Augustine Orchid Society website contains tons of information. All the planned activites of the SAOS are listed along with library resources, newsletters and photographs of orchids and orchid events. There is a wealth of information about orchid culture, for both the beginner and experienced orchid grower. There is so much information available on the website, that you may not know where to find it all. Sue will give a tutorial on the website, where all the pearls of information about growing orchids can be found.
    Members are invited to bring plants for sale at the meeting. Bring your flowering orchids to exhibit on the Show Table. We will have our normal raffle at the end of the meeting. Friends and guests are always welcome!

Date and Time:   Tuesday, July 3, 6:30 pm
Where:   Watson Realty, Conference Room by Back Parking Lot
3505 US 1 South, St. Augustine

We normally meet on the first Tuesday of each month. The meeting begins 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!    
Here's a video of one of our meetings!

Plant Clinic at Ace Hardware, 9 am to 1 pm

The first Saturday of the month from February through October, St. Augustine Orchid Society members will be available to talk with you, answer questions and help you repot orchids.    
Here's a video of a repotting clinic!

Date and Time:   Saturday, July 7, 9 am to 1 pm
Where:   Ace Hardware on US 1 South
3050 US Highway 1 South, St. Augustine 32086

Mentoring Program

The mentoring program works in tandem with our Keiki Club, pairing our novice and/or new SAOS orchid growers with an experienced grower. This program allows our mentees to get one-on-one assistance and answers to their orchid growing questions. If you are interested in learning more, email Mentoring Coordinator Susan Smith.

Keiki Club - Summer Vacation

We schedule monthly Keiki Club meetings during the spring after our orchids rouse from their winter rest. We talk about watering, fertilizing, repotting, and other growing issues. We finish up with the Picnic and Orchid Swap in April. Now it is time for our summer vacation. Keep watering and fertilizing your plants and watch for pest and disease issues. SAOS members are available at the repotting clinics at Ace Hardware on the first Saturday of the month all summer long if you have any questions or problems. The Keiki Club will reconvene in October for a talk about fall preparations and the winter cold hardiness of different types of orchids. We’ll have field trip opportunities to the Gainesville Orchid Society Show and EFG Orchtoberfest. Then it will be time for our orchids to rest while we celebrate the holidays!

The Keiki Club is for our beginning orchid growers. We begin with a short presentation on a timely orchid culture topic and then it’s a free for all to discuss any thoughts or questions you have about growing orchids. Spouses and partners welcome. We look forward to seeing you there!    
Here's a video of one of our get togethers.

Some Cultural Tips for Orchid Growers

Bob Scully's Month by Month Orchid Growing:
June in St. Augustine. Spring's mild days are gone. The late spring-early summer growing conditions induce vigorous vegetative activity. Orchids repotted earlier should be showing abundant root... read more

Dr. Courtney Hackney Tips, Redux:
Growing Orchid Roots. How do I get my orchid to grow roots? This is one of the most asked questions because so many new orchid growers start with the gift of a pot plant that, unfortunately, stays too... read more

Dr. Martin Motes Notes:
Progress of the Season. This May has been one of the wettest ever, remarkable for not only the volume of rain but also the hours and duration of precipitation... read more
Orchids in June. June is the most dramatically tropical month in South Florida. As the southeast Trade Winds blow cool moist air off the Gulf Stream daily, as surely the heating effect of the center... read more

Culture Article by Sue Bottom:
Repotting Orchids - Wet or Dry. I have always used water during the repotting process. First, to soften the roots so they can more easily be removed from the pot. Next, to water blast the potting... read more

St. Augustine Orchid Society Happenings:
Gail Marshall puts together the SAOS Happenings each month so you can easily find all the orchid events around town. read SAOS Happenings

Donate to the SAOS
We have assembled lots of information on the website to help you grow the happiest and healthiest orchids. Help us maintain this orchid cultural database with your financial support! The SAOS is a Section 501(c)(3) not for profit organization so all donations are tax deductible.