Coaxing an onslaught of orchids

By Chris Oliver
Advertiser Staff Writer

Frank Thrall of Hawai'i Kai, who grows a variety of orchids in his back yard, holds a catasetum hybrid in his right hand and a phalaenopsis in his left. In Hawai'i, he says, "we have so many microclimates" in which to grow orchids. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser Join the orchid circle Orchid societies: Go to honoluluorchidsociety.org and click on local societies. Orchid shows, spring 2004: Kunia, March 19-21; Windward, March 26-28; Manoa, May 2-3; 'Aiea, June 11-13 Resources: American Orchid Society, orchidweb.org; Orchids: The Magazine of the American Orchid Society

Thrall is intimately acquainted with orchid moods. It began when he retired and bought a couple of plants to keep him out of trouble with his wife, he says. Twenty years of experience (and Thrall's good behavior) have brought the Hawai'i Kai grower many winning blooms such as his Grammatophyllum measuresianum and most recently his Oncidium papilio (butterfly orchid), which won "Best Mule Ear Oncidium" at the Honolulu Orchid Society event last October.

What makes his orchids thrive? Thrall says he has no secret. "There are more than 35,000 species of orchids, so it's important to allow for many different sets of conditions," he says. "And we have so many microclimates in Hawai'i where within a short distance, say from Manoa to Hawai'i Kai or Schofield to Mililani, conditions will be quite different."

Hawai'i's best-loved orchids include dendrobiums and vandas, which Thrall says have more forgiving shade and watering conditions. "Cattleyas are popular, but more particular about their care. Phalaenopsis is another favorite and especially lovely at this time of the year," Thrall said.

"Most important is to note each orchid's preferences — humidity, light and air, watering, feeding, temperature and potting — and care for them accordingly," he said. "Once you bring a blooming plant into the house, water sparingly and never fertilize when it's in its blooming cycle. You want to slow down the flowering and make it last."

Biggest mistakes: "Overwatering and placing orchids in too much light."

Best advice: "Join your local orchid society (there are 14 on O'ahu; Thrall belongs to eight). Find what your neighbors are growing, how they are doing it, and what the challenges are in your particular neighborhood. There are so many talented growers; go along and listen to what they have to say."

Here are general guidelines for orchid care from Thrall and the American Orchid Society:

Water: Only when the plant feels dry or the pot feels light. Water thoroughly, letting water run through the roots to rinse off any accumulated salts. The focus for water should be on the potting medium, not the flowers or foliage. Let it drain.

Light: Indoor orchids prefer anywhere from no direct light to most of the day. Vandas and dendrobiums, for example, grow well in full sun but most orchids like filtered sun or partial shade such as that from trees, cloth or sheer curtains. Find what your particular orchid needs. Ventilation also is important and decreases the chance of bugs or bacteria.

Feeding: A slow-release fertilizer in the potting medium will feed the plant with every watering. If you use a folier fertilizer, use it half strength max for as many as six or eight waterings and then use plain water. Get advice from the local garden center when buying fertilizer.

Humidity: Orchids love humidity, best achieved by either purchasing a humidity tray at your local orchid store or filling saucers or a tray with rocks and water underneath and around the orchid. Mist your orchid in the morning to give it time to dry thoroughly with good air circulation.

Potting: Repot orchids every year or two. When the bark breaks down or the roots exceed the size of the container, it's time to repot. Do not repot unless in active growth (when you see new green roots or shoots).

Pests: Clean the plant and pot using dish soap, such as a small amount of Dawn (a couple of drops per gallon of water). If you see insects, spray plain alcohol (available from Longs Drugs or Costco) full strength directly onto the insect. Thrall says this is a safe and effective way of dealing with pests with no residual effect on the plant, owner or pets. For root rot, use a small amount of bleach, 20 percent, mixed with water to clean the orchid roots.

Reach Chris Oliver at 535-2411 or coliver@honoluluadvertiser.com.

Festival will focus on dental health

The third annual SmileFest, a fund-raiser for Dental Health Hawaii, takes place 9 a.m.-3 p.m. tomorrow on the Honolulu Hale lawn. There'll be entertainment, free toothbrushes and toothpaste for kids, free fluoride treatments while they last, and free rides, activities and games.

Admission is free for each kid who brings an old toothbrush or an empty Meadow Gold or Viva half-gallon milk carton; $2 donation requested from those 18 and older. Info: www.healthysmileshawaii.com.

Waikiki is a happening scene this weekend with all kinds of fun stuff

Polynesians from around the Pacific are showing off their cultures in Waikiki.

• Sunset on the Beach returns with food booths, entertainment and movies on that 30-foot screen. Tonight's movie is "Bad Boys II" (below), an action thriller starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence; tomorrow's is "Under the Tuscan Sun," starring Diane Lane as a newly divorced author who finds a new life in Italy. Sunset on the Beach begins at 4 p.m. at Queen's Surf Beach. The films hit the screen after the sun goes down. Admission is free.

• There's a rummage sale/fund-raiser for a good cause today at Level 2, 2301 Kuhio Ave. It's to benefit Gregory House Programs, which supports housing for AIDS/HIV patients. Hours are noon-6 p.m. If you have donations, bring them to Level 2 after 10 a.m. today. If you're in the buying mood, expect to find videos, books, housewares, clothing, light furniture and toys. Admission is free.

• The sixth annual Polynesian Festival at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center includes entertainment, demos on lei making, wood carving, poi pounding and frond weaving; temporary Maori tattoos and games for keiki; lomi-lomi massages (for a small fee) for adults. It all happens 4-8 p.m. today at the Hibiscus Court Stage and the Fountain Courtyard. Admission is free.

• Several hundred are expected in Waikiki for tomorrow's Hearts for Peace March, beginning 9 a.m. at Fort DeRussy and ending at Kapi'olani Park. The nonpolitical march emphasizes global friendship and compassion and is founded by Dr. Inam Rahman, a Honolulu physician. Rahman was inspired by the plight of a little girl in his native Pakistan: Fatima Noor Sajjad needed complex heart surgery, and the grass-roots effort to help her partially opened the border between rivals India and Pakistan.

All who support friendship and peace — and who doesn't? — are invited to take part in tomorrow's march, too.

See what tickles their fancy at annual Collectors Expo

Oh, how we love our "stuff!" And that's why a lot of us will be at the 14th annual Hawaii Collectors Expo, continuing 11 a.m.-9 p.m. today and 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

tomorrow at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. That's where we'll find art, antiques and collectibles. Admission is $3 general, $1 for seniors 65 and older, free for kids younger than 12.

1,000th ton haul-out of recyclables is cause for celebration

On the Big Island, the Kea'au Recycling and Reuse Center is celebrating a milestone: the 1,000th ton haul-out of recyclables from the Hilo landfill. And the public is invited to celebrate, too, with door prizes, a silent auction, art and composting displays and entertainment.

Hours are 10 a.m.-noon today; admission is free. The center is on Highway 130, just south of Kea'au and next to the Humane Society. (808) 961-2676, (808) 329-2886 or www.recyclehawaii.org.

Correction: Frank Thrall's Oncidium papilio orchid won "Best Mule Ear Oncidium" in the Honolulu Orchid Society show in October 2003. A previous version of these Scoops named a different award.