Contents of Newsletter
- Report on the May Meeting:
- Details for this coming meeting:
- Information Session by Robert Reilly.
- Guest Presenter Ian Wintle.
- Mini Show Winners.
- Upcoming Events.
- 2021 Meeting Information.
Editor: Maxim Wilson maxim.wilson@internode.on.net.
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Library Books Outstanding
The effects of COVID-19 are being felt far and wide. Needless to say, there were quite a few people who borrowed books from the library prior to the pandemic commencing in February 2020.
It is now time to return those books as soon as possible. Please check your library and if you are unsure contact us and we can confirm whether you have a book outstanding.
Thank you.
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Members Meeting 16th June |
Members Meeting 15th. July. |
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Info Session –
Robert Reilly on Bromeliad Glossary. |
Info Session –
Stevan Molnar on Novelty Mounting.. |
Plant of the Month -
Catopsis by Pam Butler. |
Plant of the Month –
Orthophytum with Barbara Murray |
Guest Speaker - Ian Wintle. |
Guest Speaker – tba. |
Topic - Aroids and Colour. |
Topic - |
Competition - Popular Vote (see below) |
Competition - Mini Show (see below) |
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Information Session
Making Decorative Displays with Christine Brittain, who has regularly entered Displays into this section of the competition.
Christine starts with the concept, then finds a plant to achieve this. She visits second hand shops and the like for items for use as a basis for a Display. A frame is often useful.
When complete, best take a photograph and evaluate the final effect.
Finding a snappy name can be a challenge,
Here are a couple of Christine's creations.
Thanks Christine for your presentation.
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Peter Paroz presented Plant of the Month, Ananas.
Peter worked for many years in the laboratory of the Golden Circle Pineapple Cannery at Northgate, so had a personal professional interest in the pineapple, an Ananas.
https://www.goldencircle.com.au/our-story
Ananas has five botanical varieties of Ananas cosmosus, formerly regarded as separate species. There are 45 cultivars on the BCR.
Peter focussed on the cultivation of Ananas.
After 12 to 20 months, the stem grows into a spike-like inflorescence up to 15 cm long with over 100 spirally arranged flowers, each subtended by a bract.The ovaries develop into berries, which coalesce into a large, compact, multiple fruit. Multiple fruits are seen in figs, mulberries, and breadfruit.The fruit of a pineapple is usually arranged in two interlocking helices. Typically there are eight in one direction and 13 in the other, each being a Fibonacci number
Ananas typically has spiny leaves Top of the fruit forms a terminal offset, unique to bromeliads.
The eyes of the pineapple can develop into clusters of plantlets.
And the fruit can develop basal offsets.
Ananas thrive in the South East Queensland climate.
potting mix: ideally has good aeration, moisture retention,
and a long life (to avoid repotting).
Garden soil is adequate, but clay needs added gypsum.
Fertiliser: commercial pineapples give better yields with potassium sulphate than with potassium chloride (KCl.)
His preferred N:P:K is 14/2.6/21. Magnesium is needed, as is soluble calcium, given as calcium nitrate in dilute solution.
Potassium deficiency causes leaf tip die back in the oldest leaves.
Nitrogen influences leaf colour. Optimum amounts produce the ideal pale green leaf. Inadequate nitrogen causes yellow leaf, too much causes dark green leaves.
Pests:
One disease damages the tips of roots and leads to a ‘witches broom effect’.
Nematodes, a type of worm, is a problem with commercial production, but not in potted plants.
Thankyou Peter for an interesting presentation.
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Main Speaker was John Olsen
His topic: ‘He saw, She saw!’
John and his wife Sherree traveled all over South America for 9 weeks, from Galapagos to Rio de Janiero, from Argentina to Bolivia.
Each took a camera, and the results revealed very different (and amusing) interests, and resulted a more complete understanding of the vast continent.
John is a fisherman, and both caught the colourful peacock bass
in the mighty Amazon.
T paraensis yielded seed which John brought home.
Then to the Copacabana Beach crowded in the summer.
Nearby was a cannonball tree, colonised by a T stricta.
The cannonball tree (Couroupita guianensis)is a member of the Brazil nut family.
Then to Iguazu Falls with roaring cascade of water
but not to be missed were the many T tenufolia in the trees
thriving in the mist from the falls.
Over to Buenos Aires to visit Eva Peron’s mausoleum
which wasn’t complete without a T areanthos!
Then to Pisac with Tillandsias on rocks
as well as Puyas in the ground.
Machu Pichu in Peru was next with its stunning ruins, but incomplete without bromeliads. Till confertiflora!
At Cusco John found T biflora
Moon Valley near La Paz, Bolivia had a few bromeliads,
while Galápagos Islands had none
tortoise, frigate bird and iguana.
at Cusco, he found this attractive Tillandsia.
Thanks John for a very entertaining presentation.
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Problem Corner.
The editor showed a couple of Tillandsia xerographica that were growing well, but got covered by sooty mound. They lost that lovely silver grey appearance. I sprayed one with Confidor and tried to rub off the mould next day with a cloth, with minor improvement.
Sooty moulds are fungi which cover plant leaves, stems and twigs in a black sticky substance. In almost all cases, the sooty mould is secondary to an infestation of insects that secrete honeydew. These insects include aphids, scale, mealybugs and white flies.
Suggestions from the audience included hang them in full sun, treat with dilute soapy water, and spray with a water jet.
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Popular Vote
Novice
1st Dyckia ‘Yellow Gold’ by John Williamson.
1st Cryptanthus ‘Thriller’ by John Williamson.
2nd Neoregelia ‘Treasure Chest’ by Coni Smits.
3rd Vriesea 'Black Opal' by Coni Smits.
3rd Neoregelia 'Pink Deb' x 'Medisa Guy' by Sue Hall.
3rd Vriesea Stan Walkley hybrid by John Williamson.
Intermediate
1st Tillandsia complanata by Maxim Wilson.
2nd Encholirium horridum by Ric Cairns.
2nd Guzmania hybrid by Graeme Stay.
3rd Neoregelia 'Palmares' by Pam Butler.
3rd Aechmea araneosa by David and Evelyn Rees.
Advanced:
1st Tillandsia jalisco-monticola by Barry Kable.
2nd Neoregelia ‘Palmares’ by Barry Kable.
3rd Orthophytum ‘Warren Loose’ by Barry Kable.
Decorative
1st ’Spider’s Web’ by Steve Molnar.
2nd ‘Rock-a-bye Tilly’ by Gilda Trudu.
3rd 'Curly on Fire' by Alfonso Trudu.
3rd 'All About Red' by Gilda Trudu.
3rd 'A Gift' by Alfonso Trudu.
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The proceeds of the raffle at our Autumn Show were donated to
the Gumdale State School Kitchen Garden Project.
The last donation was for $1,500 and this photo shows the cheque,
held by Kirsty Hiscock and John Williamson, while Pam Butler holds the
Certificate of Appreciation awarded by the school.
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Treasurers Report on the Autumn Show.
John Olsen: 5,880 plants were sold for $114,000, yielding $16,800 commission. Overall, our Society made $15,500 profit.
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