] * - Award-winning grower geis orchids ready for show When Victoria Orchid Society president Patrick van Adrichem Says there’s lots of room to grow in the hobby, he’s not kidding. There are about 25,000 different species of the flowering plant in existence, although van Adrichem actively grows only about 75 dif= ferent species. “Some smell good, some smell bad, and some don’t smell at all,” he said. Many grow welll inside a house at room temperature but van Adri- Gardening/ Living chem has a greenhouse at the back of his Deep Cove home, kept at a constant 70 degree F temperature, to nurture about 2,000 plants. Fans keep the air moving and there*s always a high level of humidity. It's a long process to grow an orchid from seed. Seed must be sown in a Sterile nutrient environ- ment inside a flask. After 18 months to two years the resulting growth can be transplanted to small pots, where they are kept DELICATE AND BEAUTIFUL are moth orchids, phalaenopsis, in bloom just in time for an international orchid show Deep Cove grower Pat van Adrichem is preparing for. He’s president of fhe Victoria Orchid Society and has been growing orchids for about 10 years. Ensuring a Safer B.C. p28 BrEATH ALC QuoL FESTING MOBILE UNIT inside for about two years. “The fastest any orchid was grown from seed to bloom was two years, and it bloomed inside the flask,” van Adrichem said. ““Some take up to 10 years.” : For the patient grower, there are rewards for the hard pain-staking work. Some orchids have been sold to breeders for as much as $5,000, he said. Also, growers who are awarded with top honors at shows can give the orchid a name that will be cared with all other orchids bred from the same plant. van Adrichem has won an Award of Ment, the second highest honor TheReview given, for achieving a point score of 80-89 on a scale of 100. He’s also won a Certificate of Cultural Merit and a Highly Com- mended Certificate — and named the plants Cathy Van, Ethel Van and Mick Mooran after family members. The highest award is a First Class Certificate, given to a plant judged with over 90 points. Many orchids have air roots they throw out to gather food. They live on fir bark and, surprisingly, don’t require much light. Already, van Adrichem has a 50 per cent shade cloth covering the greenhouse. FOURTH INTERNATIONAL ORCHID SHOW sponsored by the VICTORIA ORCHID SOCIETY | Where: “GARTH HOME CENTRE" Wednesday, April 25,1990 — A9 He’s been taking special care of the plants recently, hoping to win another award in the society’s international orchid show, April 28-29 in Saanich’s Garth Homer Centre. &) SIDNEY FLORIST “ Be nice to someone. Treat yourself to flowers! 656-3313 2499 Beacon Ave., Sidney, B.C. (off Blanchard “VERNON AVE" North Bound just before Saanich Municipal Hall) When: 9 - 9 SAT., APRIL 28th and 9 - 4 SUN., APRIL 29th e HUNDREDS OF SPECIES ON DISPLAY ¢ PLANT SALE © SUPPLIES © ALL ARE WELCOME for further information CALL admission $2.00. « INSURANCE CORPORATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA 385-4302 656-3094