"Step into the World of Slippers"

"Growing Brachypetalum Paphiopedilums at home: practical culture tips for bellatulum, godefroyae, and leucochilum"

Alina is an AOS accredited judge in the Toronto Judging Center and is also President of the Southern Ontario Orchid Society (SOOS). She particularly enjoys putting together award-winning orchid show displays. An adventurer at heart, Alina loves exploring native orchid habitats in exotic destinations. Her passion for orchids stems from early childhood where she was introduced to the world of flowers by her grandmother, who cultivated plants for the local flower market and subscribed to multiple botanical magazines.

"Brachypetalum Hybrids and their Culture"

Esteban (Steve) will assess the usual requirements as you consider growing near-primary to more complex Brachypetalum (Brachy) Paphiopedilum hybrids. Learn about dominant needs from the species background to what they are combined with into other main groups of Paphiopedilums to make up the hybrid you are wanting to grow. 

Steve has been growing orchids for over 45 years since landing a neighborhood garden job repotting Cattleyas in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. He is a past president and has been a member of the Orchid Society of Minnesota since 1991 and is currently Chair of the Chicago Judging Center. At a 1977 semi-annual AOS meeting and show at the Caribe Hilton Hotel, he was gifted a plant of Paphiopedilum niveum – this ignited his passion for Brachypetalums. Although this plant did not live long, as time passed and resources improved, passion for these plants deepened for both him and his spouse, Patricia.

11:00 -11:45 Graham Ramsey - "Growing Phragmipediums"

11:45 -12:00 Q and A

12:00 -12:15 Break and Spin of the Wheel

12:15 - 1:00 Alina Furtak - "Growing Brachypetalum Paphiopedilums at home"

1:00 - 1:15 Q and A

1:15 - 1:30 Break and Spin of the Wheel

1:30 - 2:15 Nile Dusdieker - "North American Cypripedium Habitat and Culture"

2:15 - 2:30 Q and A

2:30 - 2:45 Break and Spin of the Wheel

2:45 - 3:30 Esteban (Steve) Gonzalez - "Brachypetalum Hybrids and their Culture"

3:30-3:45 Q and A

3:45 Wrap up