Orchid Society of Santa Barbara – May 8, 2024 Meeting, 7:30 pm

Our speaker on May 8th will be Bill Gunning!

Bill Gunning, a retired physicist, began growing orchids over 30 years ago as a diversion from his day job.  Post retirement, his collection exploded to nearly 500 plants including a wide variety of orchid genera. Most of his collection grows outdoors in Newbury Park and is acclimated to the various microenvironments in his garden. His plants have won notable awards from the American Orchid Society and at orchid shows. He is currently a VP of the Conejo Orchid Society and an Orchid Collection Volunteer at The Huntington Botanical Gardens.

Bill’s presentation will be “Why are Dendrobiums so Darned Confusing?” Dendrobium is probably the most diverse genus in the orchid world, requiring a wide range of growing environments. Therefore, the general “rules of thumb” that we thought we understood, can lead to “less than satisfying results”. In this talk we will explore the wide range of culture requirements that Dendrobiums can require and offer resources that will guide you to greater success in growing them.