OSGKC August meeting: Alan Koch speaks on Species Habitat and Hybrid Culture

(The following was submitted by Susie Hanna, OSGKC program co-chair.)

We are pleased to announce that Alan Koch, Gold Country Orchids, Lincoln, CA, will be our speaker for the August 12 meeting. By that time in the Kansas City Summer heat, we will need a pep talk on orchid care. He will be speaking to us about “Species Habitat and Hybrid Culture.”  Some of our members had a chance to hear this program in Wichita at the 2012 Spring SWROGA/AOS show and meeting, and urged us to bring Alan to speak to us on the subject. The talk provides insights into the natural habitat of a wide variety of species. By understanding habitat, we can learn more about how we can grow these species and their hybrids.

Pre-orders will receive a 20% discount, plus no shipping costs.  Visit  Gold Country Orchids website and enter discount code GCOD at check out.  Also, Alan has sent us a list of special divisions of his plants that he is making available to members. See the attachment. The discount does not apply to this list. Email Gold Country Orchids if you have questions.

Alan Koch owns and operates Gold Country Orchids where he specializes in miniature and compact Cattleyas. He has other interesting orchids to offer as well, including some aerangis, and compact growing vandaceous orchids. Alan started growing orchids in 1969 with three Cymbidiums given to him by an aunt. While in college, he became interested in other orchids and discovered many would grow outdoors in Southern California. He has moved five times as his orchid obsession has led to the need for more growing space.

With the last move, he purchased 10 acres of land in Lincoln, California for his 300,000 orchids. He is recognized as an expert in the Brazilian Cattleya alliance and a trendsetter in miniature Cattleya breeding. Alan has been published in the Orchid Digest, and the American Orchid Society magazines. He has also been published in the proceedings of the World Orchid Conference.

Koch is an internationally known speaker. He is a past member of the AOS Judging Committee, and the Research Committee, as well as an Accredited Judge and is Vice-chair and Training Coordinator for the California Sierra Nevada Judging Center. Alan also served two terms on the Orchid Digest Executive Committee and Board of Directors, and is one of the current directors, as well as a Trustee for the AOS.