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WHAT'S NEW

Hope everyone has had a good summer. The summer on the West Coast has been very short, about 2 ½ weeks.

In May I was invited to present a program of my trip to Madagascar at the Okanagan Orchid Society. This is a fairly new society, but is very active. I found the members very enthusiastic and very eager to learn. Their President John Waddington and his wife Charmaine made me very welcome in their home. I also had the opportunity to speak with Derric Gerdes the editor of their newsletter `The Medium'. This is a very well written and assembled publication.

Another society has been organized in Oshawa, On. Anne Antanaitis and her friend Kathy Mcglade have organized this society and starting Sept. 17, 2000 will have their first official meeting. Their membership is about 40, which is an excellent start. Our best wishes for the success of the Oshawa Orchid Society.

In June I went hiking in the Cypress Hills of Saskatchewan. It is a beautiful area, the Flora is the same as in the Rockies, as this part of the prairies was not covered by glaciers during the Ice Age. The first day out was a reminder that the elevation is quite high, we had 2 ½ inches of snow! Two days later it had thawed except for patches, it was odd to see a large colony of Calypso bulbosa peeking through the snow! I also saw a large colony of Corallorhiza triffida in bloom, also Amorchis rotundafolia of which there were 2 varieties. Aside from orchids I saw many wild flowers, it was truly amazing how many varieties there are in this very arid part of Saskatchewan. Would really like to go back another year.

Received word that Terry and Doug Kennedy are leading a cruise to the Panama Canal with optional 2-day pre-cruise stay in Costa Rica. This should be a very interesting and fun trip. The orchids of Costa Rica and Panama are well worth seeing. Bon Voyage!

To All The C.O.C. Society Representatives. - Please forward any news of your societies activities, either to Jerry Bolce _ Newsletter Editor, or to me at lynne.cassidy@telus.net I am sure everyone would be interested to hear about your shows _ what awards were won _ by whom.

Since the show season is almost upon us, everyone will be busy grooming their plants and trying to get that one special plant to bloom in time for the show (mine always manage to either fade the day before or come in bloom the day after). Enjoy your shows, its fun time for everyone to get together and share in this most rewarding of hobbies.

Lynne Cassidy, President

C.O.C. Show and Meeting 2001

University of Victoria - Student Union Building
Mar. 3 - 4, 2001

The schedule of events is as follows:

Mailing will go out to the societies late in September, 2000.

Help - I have a Puzzle

The petals are quite broad and are slightly reflexed, they meet the very broad lip forming a cup shape. The lip is slightly ruffled. Color is white, with a bright yellow throat. I got this in Panama, in the Chiriqui district, which is in the northern highlands on the border of Costa Rica. The elevation where I got this was approx. 6000-7000 ft. elevation.

If you have any ideas you can email me at lynne.cassidy@telus.net. You could also send your guess to Jerry Bolce - Editor of the newsletter at jerry@uwaterloo.ca, he could print your answer in the next newsletter.

Anyone having questions or puzzles send them to Jerry and he can print them in the newsletter. You know what they say several heads are better then one.

The First International Orchid Conservation Congress

INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT OF ENDANGERED SPECIES
REGULATORY AMENDMENTS

Through CITES, the world community monitors and controls trade in animal and plant species which are, or could become, threatened with extinction as a result of trade. CITES implements trade controls by prohibiting commercial trade in species which are threatened with extinction, while permitting trade in other listed species, subject to conservation considerations and monitoring of the trade. CITES operates through an import/export permit system. Animals and plants are classified into one of three appendices depending on their severity of endangerment.

Environment Canada is the federal government department responsible for the administration and enforcement of CITES in Canada. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, as well as the provinces and territories also play an important role. CITES is implemented through the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA), which became law in 1996.

On January 15, 2000 amended regulations came into effect dealing with the international movement of endangered species under WAPPRIITA. The objective of these changes is to streamline and improve the effectiveness of the implementation of CITES in Canada, while removing the administrative burden on the public. These changes will allow Environment Canada Wildlife officers to concentrate their enforcement efforts on those species which are most threatened by trade (Appendix 1) and on commercial shipments, which pose a greater conservation risk than personal movements. The regulatory amendments include exemptions from CITES permit requirements for most personal and household effects, and for certain tourist souvenirs except live plants and goods made from Appendix I species such as elephant ivory products. The permit exemptions do not apply to live animals, to commercial shipments or to CITES listed species recognized as endangered or threatened in Canada. Examples of CITES listed species recognized as endangered or threatened in Canada are: Peregrine Falcon, Whooping Crane, Spotted and Burrowing Owls, Leatherback Turtle, American Ginseng and Small White Lady's-slipper orchid to name a few.

What The Exemptions Mean To You

The exemption from the CITES permit requirement of personal and household effects (except live animals and species listed as endangered or threatened in Canada) affects individuals who travel into and out of Canada with CITES listed species or products for non-commercial purposes. For example, the changes affect travellers wearing clothing or accessories made from CITES listed leathers (boots, shoes, handbags) or furs (coats, hats), individuals moving their household effects to or from Canada if the contents contain CITES listed species or products (ivory carvings, animal skins), individuals receiving CITES controlled items as a result of an inheritance or bequest and hobbyists taking orchids and other plants out of the country for display at international competitions just to name a few. Remember, your personal pets traveling with you still require the current Canadian CITES Temporary Export/Re-import Certificate.

Commercial purpose means any activity related to the sale, offering for sale, purchase, trade or barter of any animal or plant, or any part or derivative of one, without regard to its quantity or weight, including:

(a) any display, performance or exhibit of such a thing for gain or profit; and

(b) the use of any such thing for the purpose of soliciting sales.

Tourist Souvenirs

Residents of Canada returning from a trip abroad, may bring back tourist souvenirs of species listed on the CITES Control List as Appendix II or Appendix III species in their accompanying baggage or as part of their clothing or accessories without the requirement of a CITES permit. Live animals and live plants, Appendix I species, and CITES listed species recognized as endangered or threatened in Canada still require a CITES permit. Also, export permits from countries requiring such permits may have to be presented to Canada Customs upon the individual's return. Therefore, before you purchase wildlife or a wildlife product you should inquire to the appropriate government authority in the country you are visiting if a CITES export permit is required. Always remember, when in doubt don't buy it.

The personal and household effects exemptions apply only to Canada's requirements under CITES. They in no way affect any permits required by other federal government departments such as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, requirements under provincial/territorial wildlife legislation, or the import or export requirements of other countries for either CITES or other purposes.

If you have questions concerning any of this information please contact the Environment Canada regional office near you.

General inquiries regarding CITES or import permits can also be directed to the CITES Permit Office at (819) 997-1840 or fax at (819) 953-6283.

Please refer to the Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service web site for further information regarding CITES and the species that it regulates (at http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/cites/intro_e.html or f.html for French) on the Internet.

LE COMMERCE INTERNATIONAL DES ESPÈCES EN PÉRIL: CHANGEMENTS AU RÈGLEMENT DU CANADA

Par le truchement de la CITES, la communauté internationale surveille et contrôle le commerce des espèces animales et végétales qui sont menacées de disparition ou qui pourraient le devenir, en raison du commerce. La CITES met en uvre des mesures de contrôle en interdisant le commerce des espèces menacées de disparition; elle permet le commerce d'autres espèces inscrites sur la liste, lequel est l'objet d'une surveillance et d'une attention particulière en matière de conservation. La CITES fonctionne au moyen d'un système de licences d'importation et d'exportation. Les animaux et les plantes sont classés dans l'une des trois annexes selon le niveau de péril.

Environnement Canada est le ministère fédéral responsable de l'administration et de l'application de la CITES au Canada. Pêches et Océans Canada, ainsi que les provinces et les territoires jouent également un rôle important. La CITES est mise en uvre en vertu de la Loi sur la protection d'espèces animales ou végétales sauvages et la réglementation de leur commerce international et interprovincial (WAPPRIITA) et du Règlement sur le commerce d'espèces animales et végétales sauvages, qui est entré en vigueur en 1996.

Le 15 janvier 2000, des règlements modifiés traitant du mouvement international concernant les espèces en péril en vertu de la WAPPRIITA, sont entrés en vigueur. L'objectif de ces changements est de rationaliser la mise en uvre de la CITES au Canada et d'en améliorer l'efficacité, tout en soulageant le public du fardeau administratif. Ces changements permettront aux agents de conservation de la faune d'Environnement Canada de concentrer leurs efforts en matière d'application de la loi sur les espèces qui sont le plus menacées par le commerce (annexe I) et sur les envois commerciaux, qui présentent un risque pour la conservation plus important que les déplacements personnels. Les modifications au Règlement comprennent des exemptions d'exigence de licence de la CITES pour la plupart des objets personnels et à usage domestique et pour certains souvenirs de voyage, excepté les plantes vivantes et les biens fabriqués avec des parties d'espèces de l'annexe I, comme les produits d'ivoire d'éléphant. Les exemptions de licence ne s'appliquent pas aux animaux vivants, aux expéditions commerciales ni aux espèces inscrites à la liste de la CITES qui ont les statuts « en voie de disparition » ou « menacées » au Canada. Parmi les espèces sur la liste de la CITES qui sont « en voie de disparition » ou « menacées », on trouve : le Faucon pèlerin, la Grue blanche, la Chouette tachetée, la Chevêche des terriers, la tortue luth, le ginseng d'Amérique et le cypripède blanc (une orchidée), pour n'en nommer que quelquesunes.

Que représentent ces exemptions pour vous?

L'exemption relative à l'exigence d'une licence de la CITES pour les objets personnels et à usage domestique (sauf s'il s'agit d'animaux vivants et d'espèces inscrites comme étant « en voie de disparition » ou « menacées » au Canada) concerne les voyageurs qui rentrent au Canada ou qui en partent avec des espèces inscrites à la liste de la CITES ou avec des produits non destinés au commerce. Par exemple, ces modifications s'appliquent dans le cas de voyageurs qui portent des vêtements ou des accessoires faits avec des cuirs (bottes, souliers, sacs à main) ou des fourrures (manteaux, chapeaux) d'animaux inscrits à la liste de la CITES, de personnes qui déplacent leurs objets à usage domestique hors du Canada ou qui les y amènent, s'il y a dans le contenu des espèces ou des produits (sculptures d'ivoire, peaux d'animaux) de la liste de la CITES, d'individus qui reçoivent des articles contrôlés par la CITES par suite d'un héritage ou d'un legs de biens personnels, et d'amateurs qui sortent des orchidées et d'autres plantes en dehors du pays en vue d'expositions à des concours internationaux, etc. Rappelezvous que vous devez toujours vous procurer le certificat canadien d'exportation et de réimportation temporaire de la CITES pour votre animal de compagnie quand il voyage avec vous.

« But commercial » signifie toute activité relative à la vente, toute offre de vente, d'achat, d'échange ou de troc de tout animal ou plante, ou partie ou produit dérivé d'animal ou de plante, indépendamment de la quantité ou du poids, incluant :

(a) toute présentation, performance ou exposition de tels articles dans un but lucratif;

(b) l'utilisation de tels articles dans le but de promouvoir des ventes.

Souvenirs de voyage

Les résidants du Canada qui reviennent d'un voyage à COCnews September, 2000l'étranger peuvent rapporter des souvenirs de voyage, faits à partir d'espèces inscrites à la liste de contrôle de la CITES à l'annexe II ou à l'annexe III, dans leurs bagages d'accompagnement ou faisant partie de leurs vêtements ou accessoires, sans que soit exigée une licence de la CITES. Il faut encore une licence de la CITES pour les plantes et animaux vivants, les espèces de l'annexe I et les espèces inscrites à la liste de la CITES comme étant « en voie de disparition » ou « menacées » au Canada. En outre, il se peut qu'à leur retour, les personnes aient à présenter aux Douanes du Canada les permis d'exportation des pays qui exigent de telles mesures. Par conséquent, avant d'acheter une espèce sauvage ou un produit dérivé, vous devriez vous informer, auprès de l'autorité gouvernementale pertinente du pays que vous visitez, s'il est nécessaire de se procurer un permis d'exportation de la CITES. Et rappelezvous toujours: dans le doute, abstenez-vous d'acheter!

Les exemptions relatives aux objets personnels et à usage domestique ne s'appliquent qu'aux exigences du Canada en vertu de la CITES. Elles ne modifient en aucune façon la question des permis exigés par d'autres ministères fédéraux comme l'Agence canadienne d'inspection des aliments, les exigences en vertu des lois provinciales _ territoriales sur les espèces sauvages ou les exigences d'importation ou d'exportation des autres pays, que ce soit en vertu de la CITES ou d'autres organismes.

Si vous avez des questions au sujet de ces renseignements, veuillez communiquer avec le bureau régional d'Environnement Canada le plus près de chez vous.

Les demandes de renseignements généraux sur la CITES ou sur les licences d'importation peuvent également être faites au bureau de licence de la CITES par téléphone au (819) 997-1840, ou par télécopieur au (819) 953-6283.

Veuillez consulter le site Web du Service canadien de la faune d'Environnement Canada, sur Internet, afin d'obtenir plus de renseignements sur la CITES et les espèces qu'elle réglemente (http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/cites/intro_f.html).

Potting Mixes

Bark is a widely used medium and comes in various sizes, from 1/8", good for seedlings, up to 1" chunks for large rooted plants. Not all bark makes a good potting mix. Some are too acidic while others break down too quickly. Some of the best that we use are Douglas Fir, Redwood, and Pine bark. The main problem with bark is that it breaks down very quickly, and we should repot yearly or at the longest 18 months. Before using it to repot, it must be soaked overnight with a little soap in the water. This is to get rid of the dust and also the pieces which are already waterlogged - these pieces will sink to the bottom of the bucket. Then just use the stuff that is on the top of the water. Using bark can bring problems, such as if it dries out it then becomes difficult to get the bark to absorb any water; this is a common problem for window sill growers.

Tree Fern is used by some people, especially growers who need fast draining mix with lots of air around the roots. One of the positives about using tree fern is that you will not need to repot as often as with some of the other media because it takes quite a while to break down. Water is not readily absorbed into the Tree Fern material.

Moss: There are two types of moss used widely, sphagnum and also local tree moss. Sphagnum is good for holding moisture in the pots. It should not be highly compressed into the pot as you will end up with no air space around the roots. Also when using sphagnum you should do it when the plant is starting new growth, as the old roots will rot and fall off and the new roots will readily grow into this new saturated area in the pots. Tree moss is better for allowing air to circulate around the roots, but it does not absorb the water as readily as does sphagnum, plus it also often has the disadvantage of having bugs living in it. After sphagnum moss breaks down in it's natural habitat, after many years, it becomes peat, and a lot of people are now using this brown, chunky peat. It is very good for holding moisture, but if you are not careful you can rot out the roots because it can hold the moisture too long.

Some time ago there was a craze of using wine corks for potting material. They can be very good because they allow lots of air to get in around the roots, and it turns out that the best corks to use were those that had actually been used to cork wine, and therefore had traces of wine in them; these trace elements were then able to be absorbed by the plants. Cork has fallen out of favour now because they tend to be made out of cork chips all glued together, and these tend to break down very quickly when used as a potting mixture.

The latest material that we seem to be using is Coconut Fibre, which is made from the husk of the coconut. It comes in sizes that are graded like bark and also in a shredded form which is very much like Osmunda. Because of this the shredded type has become quite popular. Coconut fibre should also be soaked overnight before using it to get rid of the dust and some of the acidity which occurs with this fibre. The shredded form allows you to pack it into the pots and not lose the all important air spaces around the roots. If you use the chunky type, it should be treated the same as you would treat bark, as it comes in similar sizes as bark, though not usually smaller than ¼".

Now we come to the Inorganic Potting Mixes, which can be man made or naturally occurring.

Perlite has been used to grow orchids for some 40 years, and for some people is very successful. Its main property is that it doesn't break down, so there is no need to repot very often, only when the plant is too big for its container. Perlite should also be soaked overnight to get rid of excess dust and what is called the "fines".

Also on the market is a material called Expanded Clay, used in the hydroponic business. It comes in different sizes and looks like marbles. It absorbs moisture and holds it, so you have the advantage of lots of air space around the roots but also it provides the humidity needed by the roots.

Rockwool has been around for some time and is also an inert material. It is now available in two types, i.e. wettable and non-absorbent. Most people who use it use a mixture of the two types together. Looking at it, it looks a little like fibreglass insulation, and is now available in 2" square blocks. The main drawback to this material is that it does not provide much air space around the roots and they are more subject to rotting, especially when using just the wettable type. Therefore, if using this, only repot when there is new growth or you will likely lose your plant.

Pumice is also used, and it comes in different sizes from 1/8" to 1" pieces. Being a volcanic byproduct it is light and lasts forever. It does not absorb moisture and therefore is an excellent mix. The main trouble with pumice is finding it with the right acidity.

Some people also use styrofoam chunks which the roots will grow right through. Most use it in the bottom of the pots as a spacer. If you use the peanut type styrofoam you must make sure that it is actually styrofoam and not starch. These look alike, and the only way to tell the difference is to wet them - if made of starch the material will become sticky and slimy, while the real styrofoam will not alter at all. Another way to tell them apart is that styrofoam is attracted to static electricity, while starch ones are not.

You can, of course, use old fashioned gravel, which a lot of people are using these days. It also has pros and cons - one, it does not break down, but it is difficult to maintain enough humidity in the pot.

One must remember when using the organic materials, they will add a little bit of trace elements or fertilizer to your plant, the exception to this being bark, which as it breaks down tends to rob the nitrogen from your fertilizer. Therefore if using bark, you should increase the nitrogen content of your fertilizer.

When choosing fertilizer for plants grown in inorganic material, one must remember that you are growing mostly hydroponically, and the plant will not get any of the necessary trace elements from the potting mix. Trace elements, such as iron, magnesium and boron, to name a few, must be listed on the fertilizer package; if not listed they are not there! It is important to give these plants a full range of food, and a balanced fertilizer is best for these mixes.
Jerry Suffolk, Central Vancouver Island Orchid Society

UPCOMING EVENTS

2000

Sept 30 - Oct 1: Central Ontario Orchid Society, the lower level of the University Centre Building at the University of Guelph, Guelph. Jointly with the Guelph Bonsai Society.
http://retirees.uwaterloo.ca/~jerry/orchids/coos.html

Sept 30-Oct 1: The Foothills Orchid Society (Calgary, Alberta), Winston-Mountview Community Center, 520-27th Avenue NE, Calgary, Alberta. Contact Lynn Kasper at phone number: 403-208-2285, or e-mail: kasper.lynn@home.com

October 21 - 22: Eastern Canada Orchid Society, Days Inn Metro-Centre Ville, 1005, rue Guy, Montreal
http://www3.sympatico.ca/barberic/ecos/en/show2000.html

October 28 - 29: Fraser Valley Orchid Society, Show and Plant Sale, White Rock, B.C. Contact: Win Hunter Phone: (604) 535-0904 1381 Everall St., White Rock, B.C. V4B 3S7

Nov 4 - 5: Niagara Region OS, Queen Elizabeth Centre, Facer St. (QEW and Niagara St), St Catherines

2001

February 10-11: Southern Ontario Orchid Society, Toronto Civic Garden Centre, 777 Lawrence Ave. E at Leslie St., Toronto, Ontario. http://www.theusualspot.com/max/soos2/

February 23-25: Orchid Society of Alberta in the Muttart Conservatory's show pyramid in Edmonton, Alberta. Contact: rmerz@telusplanet.net or call (780) 483-0137
http://www.freenet.edmonton.ab.ca/orchidab/

March 1 - 4: Victoria Orchid Society Orchid Show and COC Annual Convention in the Student's Union Building of the University of Victoria. Contact: Ingrid Ostrander email: ifl@telus.net 250-652-6133
http://www.members.home.net/bearman1/

March 10-11: London Orchid Society Orchid Show, London, ON Contact: Judy Worrall, Email:jworrall@ciaccess.com
http://los.lon.imag.net/

March 23-25: The Manitoba Orchid Society. Contact: mosorchids@home.com
http://members.home.net/mosorchids/Index.htm

March 24-25: Les Orchidophiles de Montreal Show, College de Maisonneuve, 2700 Bourbonniere St., Montreal, Quebec
http://www.dunord.com/orchidophiles

March 31-April 01: Orchid Society of the Royal Botanical Gardens, the 19th annual Show, 680 Plains Rd., Burlington, ON. Contact: Jim Brasch at jbrasch@mcmaster.ca
http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Recreation/osrbg.html

April 28-29: The Ottawa Orchid Society show, Nepean Sportsplex, 1701 Woodroffe Ave., Nepean
http://tor-pw1.netcom.ca/~orchidae/oos_home.htm

May 12-13: Kingston Orchid Society

Sept 29-30: Central Ontario Orchid Society, the lower level of the University Centre Building at the University of Guelph, Guelph

Nov 10-11: Niagara Region OS, Queen Elizabeth Centre, Facer St. (QEW and Niagara St), St Catherines

We welcome your suggestions and contributions. Deadline for each issue is one month before the issue dates previously announced.

Recipients of this newsletter are strongly urged to pass a copy on to other members of their society

Officers of the Canadian Orchid Congress

President ..... Lynne Cassidy
604-536-8185
email: lynne.cassidy@telus.net

Past President Marilyn Light
819-776-2655
email: mlight@uottawa.ca

Vice-President Ingrid Ostrander
250-652-6133

Treasurer ........ Janette Richardson
306-543-0560
email: dale.richardson@sk.sympatico.ca

Secretary .......... Terry Kennedy
905-727-3319
email: ourtropics@ica.net

Education ...... Ken Girard
403-283-6013

Conservation . Marilyn Light
819-776-2655
email: mlight@uottawa.ca

COC Web Site:
http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Recreation/OrchidSNS/coc.html
Please send in your show information - date, location, contact, etc.

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