SMOKY MOUNTAIN ORCHID SOCIETY

October 19, 2025, 2:00 - 4:00 PM

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Mark Reinke of Marble Branch Farm will be giving a special presentation on Dendrobiums (see attachment!). Mark will also be bringing lots of plants to sell and he always has some special plants. WE WILL NOT HAVE A RAFFLE AT THIS MEETING SO YOU CAN FOCUS ON MARK'S PLANTS. He does welcome some pre-orders but it's very important to read the attachment about this! Following is a bio for Mark and a synopsis of his program on Debrobiums. It will surely be very informative for those growing Denbrobiums or would like to grow them. 

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“Decoding Dendrobium:  The Suprising Orchids You Thought You Knew!”

 Why would anyone familiar with orchids be surprised by the genus Dendrobium?  Perhaps because the Dendrobium plants most commonly seen for sale are not necessarily what will do well under cultivation in your growing area, but what is easy and inexpensive to mass produce in outdoor orchid ranges at low elevation in Thailand and Indonesia.  Yet, the commonly available types represent only a tiny sampling of this widespread and diverse genus that comes from many different climate zones, and from sea level to more than ten thousand feet above.

Mark’s program offers a comprehensive introduction to the genus, clarifying some of the native climates and cultural needs of the sections you may already have basic familiarity with, and introducing you to some that are only now becoming more available commercially.  Hopefully you will be pleasantly surprised by how many of these new introductions would do well alongside your Phalaenopsis or Cattleya orchids, offering long lasting, colorful blooms without the need for high heat, high light, or annual starving or chilling.

Mark Reinke left Atlanta city life behind in 2003 and now ownw and operatew a small commercial orchid nursery in the extreme western tip of South Carolina called Marble Branch Farms, where he is growing and propagating a wide range of genera and orchid types from those that are forgiving in their needs and perfect for new growers, to others that will offer a challenge to more advanced orchid lovers.  Mark has almost 6 decades of growing experience to share.  He will have plants for sale at the meeting, including several types of Dendrobiums and many other items not listed on the online store. 

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Pre-Order Information:

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You can pre-order plants listed on the Marble Branch Farms website, but he will be bringing many things he does NOT have listed such as Paphs, Oncidiums, Dendrobiums, and other Cattleya not listed, plus odds and ends.

You should NOT create a shopping cart on the site as it will automatically add shipping charges.  Instead, email Mark with a list of plants and he will acknowledge and select them for you.  All pre-orders will have a 15% discount and you can pay at the meeting with cash, check, card or tap phone.  You should ONLY use his personal email as he can access it form multiple locations:   mbfmark@yahoo.com

He has set the deadline to pre-order as Wednesday, October 15th.

Mark’s website address is:  https://www.marblebranchfarms.com/

September 21, 2025, 2:00 - 4:00 PM

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The program for the meeting on September 21st will be a repotting
demonstration with input from all members on their best practices. I will have
some PP slides to show during the demo also for some of my explanations
and practices. Keep in mind, the demo will be my practices and procedures
since I do not have a large collection and handle mostly rescue plants. I
purchased some extra bags of Orchiata potting bark during the last buying
cycle. So I will divide the large bags into some smaller units and offer them
for sale at the September meeting. These might be optimal for those who
have fewer plants to repot and would like to try or use Orchiata. I will have a
couple of different sizes of the bark. Hope to see many of you!

August 17, 2025, 2:00 - 4:00 PM
 

When asked for suggestions for our open August meeting, we heard “Greenhouse Tour!” So we thought it would be a good time to find a couple of greenhouses to tour or learn about how others grow their orchids indoors. But wait! August could be SO HOT to tour a greenhouse or two!!  So we have a new idea to share and would like as many of you to participate as possible.  Here’s how we propose sharing and keeping cool in the comfort of the meeting room at the college and besides that, you don’t have to drive all over the place to various locations.

We would like as many of you as possible to take some photos of your greenhouse or your growing space indoors, including the equipment you use for heating, cooling and watering/fertilizing along with a view of your orchids on benches, tables, hanging, etc. Some of you may grow outdoors in the summer and indoors during the winter.  You may grow on a windowsill.  Wherever it is, take up to 6 photos of those areas to share with everyone.

If you will send your photos to Rich Gettings at rich_48623@yahoo.com, he will load each person’s photos into a Power Point presentation and we will review them at the August meeting in the comfort of our meeting room.  Each person can spend a few minutes talking about their growing space.  Then we can discuss and everyone may learn a tidbit or two that might help them grow and bloom their plants even better.

Please do not wait until the last minute to take and send your photos so the Power Point presentation can be organized for the August meeting.  The deadline for sending your photos will be AUGUST 10, but much sooner would be much appreciated! The August meeting is Sunday, August 17, 2:00  - 4:00 PM.

If you have any questions or thoughts, please contact Mary Ann Lang or Rich Gettings.

Co-V. P.  Mary Ann Lang & Rich Gettings

July 20, 2025, 2:00 - 4:00 PM

Our program for the upcoming meeting on July 20 at 2:00 PM will be presented by our long time member, Ken Lister, called, “Chemicals I Use in My Greenhouse to Prevent or Cure Orchid Ailments”. This should be a very informative presentation and discussion for everyone. It is likely we will also have a discussion of fertilizers that members often use on their orchids with success.

May 18, 2025 at 2:00 - 4:00 PM

The program for May will be a focused on “Show & Tell” and a great raffle so please think about these particular aspects for each and let’s make this a very worthwhile and educational meeting.

For Show & Tell: If you have any orchids in bloom, please bring them and vie for Orchid of the Month. See if you can find any information and facts about your orchid to share. Possibly you have an orchid that has bloomed for the
first time in your care. Tell us about their care such as fertilizer, watering, light and what medium was used in the pot. Did you resurrect an orchid from near death? What did you do and how did you get new roots to form? Be
proud and share your successes and maybe discuss a failure you would like some comments on.

Let’s make the raffle a big success for the society in May! Do you have any back bulbs or divisions to share? Maybe you have some duplicates that need new homes in someone else’s collection. If you have any growing supplies to
give away like pots, media, or baskets, now is the time to bring them for the raffle. You might be surprised what you can bring to help someone else or clean out some of your clutter!


April 13, 2025 at 2:00 - 4:00 PM - Special Program by Bridget Uzar of Carter & Holmes Orchids

A very knowledgeable lady, Bridget Uzar, from Carter and Holmes Orchids is coming! She is going to present a program on "Introduction to Tropical Lady Slippers" . The program is going to be presented with special focus on new members and the basics of growing lady slippers which are beautiful and intriguing orchids. Bridget is offering anyone to pre-order plants from their online store. The link is: https://www.carterandholmes.com/. She is offering a 15% discount on all orders and everyone should use SMOS-15 as a discount code at checkout. And this will tag the order for Bridget to bring the order when she comes to the meeting. Pe-orders should be completed by April 11. Bridget will also be bringing orchids with her to the meeting to sell. If there are any specific plants of interest, send her an email and she will get them included.

DIRECTIONS TO ROOM: If the left door to the lobby of the building is being used, proceed straight ahead and take first hallway to the right. Proceed to the meeting room on the right. We may have the room open a bit early for Bridget to set up and you may view her sale plants before the meeting.

Watch for more details about the meeting!


March 16, 2025 at 2:00 - 4:00PM - IMPORTANT: SPECIAL MEETING ROOM FOR THIS PROGRAM -
                                                                               ROOM 206 LAMAR ALEXANDER BUILDING (SAME PARKING AREA)

This month we have a special speaker for the program.  Fred Clarke of Sunset Valley Orchids will be presenting a program on Catasetums beginning promptly at 2:15 via Zoom in the special room.  PLEASE be prompt in arriving so we can make sure everyone has a seat and can see the presentation.  Following is a summary of his presentation and a brief bio of Fred Clarke.  You won't want to miss this special program!

“Catasetinae Species and their Cultivation” 

The species Catasetum is reviewed, learn about the fascinating sexually dimorphic flowers and their plant culture. 
Fred Clarke Sunset Valley Orchids “Catasetum Species and their Cultivation” Catasetum and related genera are from the Tribe Cymbidieae. They have been considered an orchid oddity, or “botanical”, of interest mainly to the seriously addicted enthusiast. These plants have a brief deciduous period in winter, when the plants need a definite dry rest period bordering on neglect. These robust orchids are native to lowland tropical forests in Central and South America and are usually grown in warm or intermediate conditions. Commercially, Catasetum have occupied a small market niche on the edge of a sea of Cymbidiums, Cattleyas, Phalaenopsis, Dendrobiums, Epidendrums, and so on. This talk will feature some excellent species and hybrids of Catasetum. Learn about the fascinating sexually dimorphic flowers flower by a complete plant culture section 

The presenter will be Fred Clarke of Sunset Valley Orchids in Vista. Fred Clarke has been growing orchids for 42 years and has been hybridizing for 38 of those years. With over 34 years as a professional grower and manager in the horticultural industry, Fred applies these skills at his orchid nursery; Sunset Valley Orchids, located in San Diego, California. 

He is a passionate orchid grower whose curiosity in orchids is broad and varied. Although developing Cattleya hybrids has been his sustaining interest, he is also actively creating new Paphiopedilum, Australian Dendrobium, and some others to be named if they work out! His pioneering work in Catasetum intergeneric hybrids led to the development of several notable hybrids, most recently the grex, Fredclarkeara After Dark, which produced “the blackest flower ever witnessed”. This grex has received over 100 awards worldwide. 



February 16, 2025 at 2:00 - 4:00 PM - NEW MEETING ROOM - SEE  DETAILS ABOVE -
This month we will be focusing on new comers and hopefully new members for the society! Come find out what is planned for the coming year, have an interactive Q/A session with current members, participate in the show-and-tell for honors to have the Orchid of the Month, and of course have fun at the plant raffle. You might win some new plants for your collection! And there will be something special for new comers and new members!

January 19, 2025 at 2:00 - 4:00 PM - Help Make 2025 A Productive and Interesting Year for SMOS!
Let's all attend the first meeting of 2025 to discuss a number of key topics to make the year interesting and productive for our members! Your input is MOST important!! We plan to discuss the future of the SMOS website.  And it's time to voice your ideas for program topics through out the year.  In February, we plan to have a thorough discussion about the future of SMOS Orchid Shows. And of course, it's time to show off your blooming orchid and vie for "Orchid of the Month" to be shared on our social media page and the website.  Also, we will have the usual raffle drawing for donated orchids, divisions and supplies of interest to orchid growers.  Don't forget to see Angela Snow to pay your society dues for 2025,  It's only $25 for a single membership and $35 for a family membership. There will be planning for some informative and interesting meetings in the upcoming year.  Bring your friends or family members who would like learn more in the new year about growing the most diverse and interesting plants in the world!


December 15. 2024 at 2:00PM - Christmas Potluck and Important Meeting
Come join us for a fun potluck luncheon to celebrate the holiday season. And participate in the election of new officers​ and board members for 2025!  There will be some very important announcements about upcoming meetings for 2025 with regard to the SMOS website and future orchid society shows. Bring your blooming orchids for our show-n-tell to vie for Orchid of the Month.  And there will be lots of orchids for our monthly raffle, including more from Rosalie's orchid collection. Don't forget to see Angela Snow to pay your society dues for 2025,  It's only $25 for a single membership and $35 for a family membership. There will be planning for some informative and interesting meetings in the upcoming year.  Bring your friends or family members who would like learn more in the new year about growing the most diverse and interesting plants in the world!
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September 15, 2024 at 2:00PM - The Basics of Orchid Parenthood
Steve’s best-selling book, Orchids for Dummies, serves as a guide for “newbies” to this wildly popular group of plants. The book and lecture serve as friendly guides introducing orchid fanciers to today’s most popular and intriguing orchid varieties and shows step-by–step information on how to select healthy plants at a nursery or commercial grower, cultivate them successfully at home, promote blooms, and create beautiful orchid displays. This is a very intensive practical-information-based talk. This talk is aimed at beginners and intermediate growers, although veterans will likely also reap valuable cultural tips.
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Steven A. Frowine first started growing orchids under lights when he was in high school. Since then, his love and sometimes obsession for orchids has continued to grow. He has tended orchids professionally as a horticulturist when he worked in Hawaii at the National Tropical Botanical Garden and at Missouri Botanical Garden, where he was Chairman of Indoor Horticulture and managed one of the largest orchid collections in the United States — more than 10,000 plants. Steve’s greatest pleasure from orchids, though, has been growing them in his own home under lights and in windowsills, which he has done now for more than 50 years. Steve has a B.S. and M.S. in horticulture from Ohio State University and Cornell, respectively. He has had a long and rich career working as a professional horticulturist for premier botanical gardens in the United States and as an executive at top horticultural businesses including W. Atlee Burpee Company and White Flower. Steve is sought out as a lecturer and has delivered hundreds of lectures throughout the country. His presentations are noted for his knowledge of the subject and his sense of humor. He has appeared on various national TV shows and writes extensively, authoring many articles for horticultural trade and consumer magazines. He has written several books including Orchids for Dummies (1st and 2nd Editions, Gardening Basics For Dummies (1st and 2nd Editions), Miniature Orchids, Fragrant Orchids, Moth Orchids, The Complete Guide to Phalaenopsis and Complete Guide to Orchids (Miracle- Gro) and his newest book, Houseplants for and Succulents For Dummies will be released in February 2024.