News items for our meeting on 26-Feb-25 were:

Our visit to Henstead Exotic Gardens will now be on Saturday 13 September 2025. No transport has been arranged (it’s too expensive), so we will arrange car shares as required nearer the time. There will be a guided tour followed by tea and cake;
We need volunteers for our Show on 29-March – to provide cakes and tombola prizes, to help with catering and to meet attendees on the day.

The main event was a video presentation from Simon Pugh-Jones, the founder and for 30 years the driving force behind the Writhlington School Orchid Project (which continues) and now the proprietor of Isle of Portland Orchids. This new venture is based on the Dorset coast. Outside, there are two greenhouses. The first is for cloud forest orchids that need cool, damp conditions. This is kept at a minimum of 12°C, but provides numerous microclimates – warmer/dryer, cooler/wetter – to suit various species. The second is for cooler growing species – this is kept at a minimum of 7°C and again there are microclimates. Shading is 1-2 layers as required, in wooden frames. There is a 4000 litre tank for rainwater, with precautions taken against sea water spray. Inside the house, there are Ikea cabinets with gro-lights for warmer growing species and seedlings – they are kept at a minimum of 17°C. This is less than ideal for some of the species, but they just grow more slowly. There is also a laboratory with many seedlings in flask, and a terrarium as these are becoming more popular. Feeding is at 350-500 microSiemens.

Simon was keen to point out that one can grow superb orchids at 7°C minimum or even lower.

Paul Eaton won the Winners Table with his Miltassia hybrid. Carol Tweed won the Novices table with her Dendrobium nobile ‘Jupiter’.