Central Ohio Orchid Society

Did you know that Selenipedium is one of the least known orchid genera in cultivation?

Join us for a special conference dedicated to this fascinating group of orchids. Learn about its unique characteristics, its place within the slipper orchids, and why Selenipedium continues to attract the interest of botanists, researchers, and orchid enthusiasts around the world.

📅 June 13
⏰ 10:00 AM
📺 Live on YouTube: Ecuagenera Orquídeas del Ecuador

Subscribe to the channel and turn on notifications so you don’t miss it.

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Another CORRECTION:
Central Ohio Orchid Society - JUNE Member Meeting
Thursday JUNE 18, 2026
Wells Barn - Franklin Park Conservatory
Beginner's Corner: 6:30 pm
Meeting: 7pm
Speaker: Edna Markley on Repotting Orchids
Check back for more info!

🌿 One of the fastest ways people accidentally kill their orchids…is repotting them into fresh bark.

And the worst part? Most people don’t realize what went wrong.

They see this happening a few weeks later:

• drooping leaves
• wrinkled leaves
• wilting plants

So naturally they think:

💧 “Maybe I need to water more.”

And they do.

…but the orchid still looks worse.

If this has happened to you, you're definitely not alone.

I hear this exact situation almost every day.

If you don't know me, I'm Raffaele Di Lallo, author of Houseplant Warrior and creator of the program Become an Orchid Master.

I've helped thousands of people rebloom and grow orchids with confidence and ease.

So let’s talk about why orchids decline after repotting into bark — and what to do differently.

Because the problem usually isn't your orchid.

It's the bark.

🚨 Fresh bark is extremely dry.

Most bark mixes come straight out of the bag bone dry.

And new bark mixes need time to condition before they can properly absorb water.

So when you repot your orchid into fresh bark and continue watering the way you always did…

the bark simply isn't holding water yet.

Which means your orchid roots aren't getting the moisture they need.

💡 Here’s the simple fix that makes a huge difference:

Always soak your bark mix overnight before using it.

Yes — overnight.

This allows the bark to absorb water and start conditioning before you ever pot up your orchid.

Then after repotting, you also need to adjust how often you water.

This helps your orchid get through the first couple months after repotting without stress.

🌿 Here’s the simple repotting process I recommend:

Step 1

The day before repotting, soak your bark mix in hot water overnight.

Step 2

The next day, soak your orchid plant for about 30 minutes.

This makes it much easier to remove all of the old bark.

Step 3

Drain the excess water.

Remove the orchid from its pot and remove all the old bark.

Then trim off any dead or squishy roots.

Healthy roots will be plump and firm — keep those.

Step 4

Choose a pot.

Orchids like to stay fairly tight in their pot, so don’t go too large.

If the root system was compromised, you can often reuse the same pot size and still have room for new roots.

If the orchid has lots of healthy roots filling the pot, go up just one pot size larger.

Step 5

Pot up your orchid using the soaked bark mix.

As you add bark, make sure there are no large gaps in the pot.

You want the roots to stay in contact with the bark.

And make sure none of the leaves get buried under the bark level.

💧 After repotting

You will probably notice that you need to water more frequently than before.

And this is completely normal.

This usually lasts for the first couple months after repotting while the bark becomes properly conditioned to accept water.

🌱 If you've struggled with bark mixes before, check the comments for a link to my favorite bark mix for Phalaenopsis orchids.

It holds more moisture than most bark mixes (but still much less than sphagnum moss), which makes it much more forgiving.

And the best part?

You don’t have to soak this one overnight.

Some cigar orchids and light reading on Mother's Day . . .

Cigar Orchids in the Wild | Conservation | Flamingo Magazine Inside the cigar orchid’s rebound in southern swamps and at Miami’s Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.

COOS May 2026 Meeting
Wells Barn Basement Classroom
Thursday - May 21, 2026
6:30 pm - Beginners Corner
7:00 pm - Meeting Begins

TJ Hartung on Fragrant Orchids

T.J. is a retired computer systems specialist and systems analyst. He designed computers and wrote computer software to manage hotels. His love for orchids began when he lived in Southern California and started growing Cymbidiums in his yard. For quite a few years, every secretary in the company where he worked received, anonymously, a Cymbidium blossom on Valentine’s Day.

Since retiring to Mexico T.J. has been rescuing orchids from downed trees and broken limbs before they are eaten by animals or washed down the streams and rivers into the sea. Much of what he knows about orchids he has learned in the laboratory of the great outdoors. The rest comes from online research and numerous books on the subject. He is on the board of directors of the Vallarta Botanical Garden. In recent years, T.J. has given talks to orchids societies in the US, Canada, England and Scotland.

Groveport Garden Club's - 2025 Plant Auction
May 12, 2026 at 6:00pm
Groveport Zion Lutheran Church
6014 Groveport Rd, Groveport, OH 43125 (across the street from Kroger)
Additional parking is available in the rear of the church.

Cash or check ONLY. Proceeds support the Groveport Garden Club

Today at The Apopka International Spring Orchid Festival, over 70 American Orchid Society Judges from all over the country flew in to participate in judging and among the many plants the teams looked at, one of our plants received the highest quality award ever given to any orchid in the world, a perfect 100 point First Class Certificate (FCC). This is the first time in over 100 years of American Orchid Society history that this has ever happened. Introducing Paphiopedilum Sunlight Anita 'Crystelle' FCC/AOS. The only way you will be able to see this historic plant in person is if you come to the festival this weekend April 11th to April 12th from 9am to 5pm! Thank you Wes Newton for this gorgeous award photo!

A lot of great vendors will be there in Pittsburgh!

Our spring show is coming up! Mark your calendars! Note that the dates are in April this year!

New vendors, new talks, and so many orchids that you won't believe your eyes! Come and join us!

More information can be found, as always at our website!

OSWP.ORG

We’re enjoying the bloom of Dracula Raven ‘Bob’, a fascinating hybrid from #draculavampira × #Dracularoezlii that carries a unique dark elegance. This beauty thrives in cool to intermediate climates, with no direct sun and just the right touch of moisture—water once or twice a week, but only if the substrate has started to dry. It's a real spectacle to see it bloom 🖤🌿 • • • • • • • #dracula #dracularaven #orchid #蘭 #dracularavenbob #americanorchidsociety #orchidlovers #orchidworld #orchidsecuagenera #orchidea #orchidstagram #orchidspecies #americanorchidsociety #deutscheorchideengesellschaf