Southern Suburbs Orchid Society Inc.

Orchids grow all year round so it is not difficult to find something flowering during every month of the year. At Southern Suburbs Orchid Society (SSOS), members grow a wide variety of orchids and seldom have difficulties finding something to bench each month.

Although we cannot show any plants at our regular monthly meetings due to the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions placed on societies and clubs, some members have submitted pictures of flowering orchids in their garden, for the month of May.

• The images featured below also competed in the first Members Virtual Voting competition in May 2020. The winner for this inaugural competition was Miltonia Tropic Skies Mauve.

Miltonia Tropic Skies Mauve [Grower: H Formica]

Paphiopedilum (delenatii x Pine Glow) [Grower: C Trainor]

Cahuzacara Hsinying Pink Doll ‘Pink Doll’ [Grower: C Scerri]

Maxilaria negrecens [Grower: S Hill]

Miltonia moreliana ‘Campbell’ [Grower: C Trainor]

Pterostylis laxa (Bungonia NSW)#2 [Grower: T Hill]

Gomesa (Dark Sun ‘Display’ x Golden Drops ‘Spot’) #5 [Grower: C Trainor]

Coelogyne Fimbriata ‘Alba’ [Grower: M Fraraccio]

Dendrochilum Glumaceum [Grower: S Craven]

Cymbidium erythrostylum [Grower: C Scerri]

Epidendrum pink [Grower; L Bunning]

Thw Dal’s Girl Arcadia [Grower: J Portelli]

Dendrobium Aussie Parade ‘Carrot Splash’x Star of Gold ‘Boronia [Grower: M Caruana]

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Cattleya Everything Nice ‘Exquisite’

Cattleya intermedia pink x alba

Cattleya Petch Ratchasima

Cattleya LC Golden Tang

Cattleya LC Little Dipper x LC Jungle Elf

Cattleyas are native to Central and South America from Mexico to Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina and concentrated in the Andean regions of northern and western South America and the Brazilian forest. Some 60 species grow in the wild in  a range of habitats from the steamy Amazon jungle to the peaks in the Andes mountain range where the night temperatures drop to freezing. Therefore, Cattlelyas are among the most adaptable of orchid family.

Cattleyas should be grown with as much light as possible but not so much that the leaves become yellow and burnt. during Summer 50% shade should be sufficient. They are grown in plastic pots and they grow well a hanging from shade houses where they receive ample light. Cook, Terry. “Growing Orchids in Australia” Golden Press, Silverwater, NSW, 1989.

Find out more on our Cattleya Alliance Orchid Care page.

• For further information about orchid care at Southern Suburbs Orchid Society (SSOS) or membership inquiries, please do not hesitate to Contact Us.
• See also our Cattleya and Laelia photo gallery.

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Here at Southern Suburbs Orchid Society (SSOS) we believe that we are the first orchid  club or society in Victoria, Australia and possibly the world, to introduce a member’s only virtual voting competition for members flowering plants.

• We endevour to continue this initiative each month under current local Victorian State  ‘lockdown’ restrictions in order to keep member enjoyment, enthusiasm and engagement relevant during these difficult and challenging times.

Due to continuing restrictions on club meetings through Covid-19 distancing advice, SSOS has embarked on a special Virtual Voting competition for all financial members.

Each member can submit currently-flowering plants for the specified time period which becomes eligible for entry into a monthly virtual voting competition; where members can vote for the flowering orchid they like. This is similar to the in-house Popular Vote contest, but does not include the formal official Judges Vote.

• The image below, is the winner of the inaugural Virtual Voting Competition.

Miltonia Tropic Skies Mauve [Grower: H Formica]

• Miltonia Tropic Skies Mauve [Grower: H Formica]

Southern Suburbs Orchid Society:  Website | About Us |  Contact Us | Facebook |Twitter

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Dendrobium softcane ‘Christmas Cheer’

Dendrobium Anne’s Rainbow Surprise

Dendrobium Brinawa Sunset

Dendrobium Intense Sonterry

Dendrobium nugentii

Dendrobiums never fail.

See our other photo gallery pages for:

Cattleyas and Laelias | Coelogynes | Cymbidiums | Dendrobiums | Masdevallias | Oncidiums | Paphiopedilums | Phalaenopsis | Pleiones | Pterostylis | Sarcochilus | Stanhopeas | Zygopetalums | Other Genera

Southern Suburbs Orchid Society:  Website | About Us |  Contact Us | Facebook |Twitter

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Dracula wallisii

Dracula wallisii

Dracula Felix

Dracula Wallisii Champion Masdevallia SSOS Autumn Show 2018

The following information on Draculas and Dracuvallias is by Bill and Jan Miles. The genus Dracula is comprised about a hundred species native to Central and South America. Its name is derived from the Latin dracula, which means little dragon, in reference to the strange, sinister appearance of the flowers. The names chosen for species such as Dracula diabola, D. gorgona and D. vampira unjustly stress the perceived ‘nasty nature’ of these fascinating and rather beautiful orchid flowers. Draculas are mostly found in moist forest country between Mexico and Peru.

Draculas are closely related to Masdevallias and were once included in the genus Masdevallia. The hybrid genus Dracuvallia is made by crossing a Dracula with a Masdevallia.

For further information about orchid care at Southern Suburbs Orchid Society (SSOS) or membership enquiries, please do not hesitate to Contact Us.

Southern Suburbs Orchid Society:  Website | About Us |  Contact Us | Facebook | Twitter

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Gongora galeata (Grower: L Bunning)

Gongora galeata Gongora galeata (exhibited March 2020 – (Grower: S. Nash)

Gongora galeata (Grower: S Hill)

Gongora galeata (Grower: A&J Randle)

Gongora galeata (exhibited March 2020

Gongora galeata (March 2020 exhibit)

Gongora galeata [Grower: T Liston]

The most common form of Gongora grown in cooler conditions such as those in the south-eastern region of Victoria, Australia is the Gongora galeata (aka The Helmut Gongora).

Many Southern Suburbs Orchid Society (SSOS) members grow this unusual flowering orchid species. Because the flowers are often short-lived, it can be a challenge to get it to flower in time for a monthly meeting – such is the form of nature. Here we have some examples of Gongora galeata which flowered recently, some in time for the meeting and others a few days to a week later!

• For more information on Gongoras refer to our Orchid Care | Gongora page.

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Stanhopea nigroviolacea

Stanhopea Bellareansis

Stanhopea Embreei

Stanhopea ‘Tigrina’ x ‘Oculata’

Stanhopea tigrina

Popular vote: Stanhopea Tigrina

Stanhopea Wardii var Aurea

This photo gallery has some examples of the many varieties of Stanhopea orchids our members grow and show at either our monthly meetings; inter-club contests; State Shows or at our Annual Spring Show.

• If you are interested in handy tips on growing Stanhopeas, Visit our Orchid Care  – Stanhopeas page

See our other photo gallery pages for:

Cattleyas and Laelias | Coelogynes | Cymbidiums | Dendrobiums | Masdevallias | Oncidiums | Paphiopedilums | Phalaenopsis | Pleiones | Pterostylis | Sarcochilus | Stanhopeas | Zygopetalums | Other Genera

Southern Suburbs Orchid Society:  Website | About Us |  Contact Us | Facebook |Twitter

“Where Friends Meet”