Carols Lopez will explain the do’s and don’ts of Cattleyas.
Even if a resident doesn’t know what Cattleyas are, it is bound to be an informative, and beautiful, meeting as speaker Carlos Lopez describes “The Four Seasons of Cattleyas.”
The Malibu Orchid Society (MOS) meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18, in the Community Methodist Church, Hart Lounge, 801 Via de la Paz. Meetings are free and open to the public.
Lopez’s presentation will focus on the four seasons of cattleyas throughout the year. He will describe the different varieties and review the important cultural requirements for both species and hybrids that root and bloom at different times.
For wannabe orchid growers, Lopez will cover the importance of timing when repotting Cattleyas. Do it at the wrong time and it can cause the speedy demise of the plant.
His talk will cover the large unifoliate species as well as the fragrant colossal
bifoliate Cattleyas. Lopez will also showcase a few Cattleya hybrids.
He is currently a business student at Mira Costa College but has been cultivating orchids for more than 10 years.
Lopez’s orchid adventure began when he was 13 and followed his father to work at Sunset Valley Orchids in Vista. Before long, he was volunteering at the nursery to help clean orchid flasks and repot orchids. Subsequently, Carlos started attending and setting up orchid shows.
Eventually he became more involved in the nursery’s operation and maintenance. He has now been promoted as Sunset Valley Orchids Manager.
Currently, he is training to become an American Orchid Society Judge and also directs the Orchid Digest journal’s social media.
MOS members wrote “Carlos is an enthusiast speaker who will delight you with his love of orchids!”
At every meeting, light refreshments are served and a table is set aside for select plants. This month, orchids from Carlos’s own collection and from Sunset Valley Orchids will be featured.
The topic of the meeting will be Cattleya orchids.