The Palomar Orchid Society welcomes Dr. Paul Tuskes to speak on "Encyclias and Their Relatives" at 7pm on Wednesday, May 2, at the Carlsbad Woman's Club, 3320 Monroe St. (culture class starts at 6:30 pm). Visitors are welcome. For additional information, go to www.palomarorchid.org.
Encyclias are a widespread and diverse genus of orchids that consist of approximately 240 species, which occur from Florida to Argentina. With such a wide range of habitats, it is not surprising that many do well outdoors here in San Diego. All the species grow on tree or shrub branches in the wild and prefer climates that have distinctive wet and dry seasons. Many species have foliage and growth characteristics similar to Cattleyla species. Not surprisingly, Encyclia orchids readily breed with other members of the Cattleya alliance to form interesting hybrids. Paul will discuss Encyclia culture and distribution, and we will have an opportunity to see some of the outstanding species from each region. He will also discuss some of the trends in their hybrids. Since Encyclias are easy to grow, beginners and experienced hobbyists alike will gain much valuable information on this interesting orchid genus.
Paul and his wife Ann started the species study group nearly 25 years ago. They are AOS judges and have traveled in Central and South America. Paul and Ann are members of the San Diego Orchid Society where Paul currently serves as 1st Vice President.
