August 7 Meeting - Cattleyas
Steve 'The Orchid Specialist' Hawkins, St. Augustine Orchid Society
    St. Augustine Orchid Society members grow all different kinds of orchids, but the enduring favorite is Cattleyas judging by the plants on the Show Table. Our featured August speaker is Steve, who will talk about growing cattleyas. He will talk about their watering, fertilizing, light, air and repotting. He will also answer any questions you may have about growing cattleyas.
    Steve’s career began with a few orchids on a windowsill in a Kansas farmhouse at the age of 15. After graduating college with a degree in horticulture, Steve started at Rod McLellan in San Francisco, first as a grower and later as hybridizer and sales manager. He opened his own nursery, The Orchid Specialist, in Apopka, until relocating to St. Aug earlier this year.
    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, August 7, 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. January and July meetings are often rescheduled to accommodate the holidays. 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, August 4, 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:
July in St. Augustine. The heat and humidity of summer are here. When day time temperatures rise above the 90 to 95F range, you’ll see orchid growth start to slow. Water slightly less frequently than... read more

Dr. Courtney Hackney Tips, Redux:
Summer Humidity. Most of us have noticed the change in humidity that comes with summertime heat. What is significant to your orchids outside or in a greenhouse is that your plants lose less water... read more

Dr. Martin Motes Notes:
Progress of the Season. The persistence of high pressure systems bringing temperate zone weather patterns to S. Florida this June has been somewhat unusual but overall beneficial for our orchids... read more
Orchids in July. Although it mostly passes unnoticed to millions locked in their air-conditioned bubbles, July in South Florida is quite different from June. While the pattern of afternoon showers... read more

Culture Article by Sue Bottom:
Summer Orchid Care. It is summertime and the growing is easy. As the spring days lengthened and warmed, you ramped up your watering and fertilizing schedule to match the growth rates of your orchids... 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.