Orchids in their       Natural Habitat 

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WELCOME

We are so glad you decided to stop by for a visit. The Houston Orchid Society has been in existence in Houston since 1945. Through the years we have become a vibrant family of orchid lovers dedicated to the preservation of orchids in their natural habitats and the education of the public.

The annual HOS show was held in April at the Houston Museum of Natural Science and was a tremendous success.   Many other events are planned for this year and the speaker lineup for this year is exceptional.  If you want to learn about orchid culture or add plants to your collection, the  HOS monthly meetings are sure to please.

The Houston Orchid Society offers special programs to fit your level of orchid growing.  The Newcomers Group offers basic growing tips and the Intermediate Group selects  topics of interest to the group for more in depth studies. 

Accept this invitation to come partake in the enjoyment of the beautiful, the odd, fragrant, and varied world of orchids.  Welcome to the Houston Orchid Society web site and the orchid community.

You can now purchase shirts, hats, mugs and other items with the official HOS Logo.  We have set up a shop with many items bearing the HOS Logo and you can choose your style and color and pay with your credit card.

Link to the HOS Shop  

June 6, 2013 Meeting

Marvin Gerber

“Gerber Method of Fertilization for Orchids”

My wife (of almost 56 years) Renee’ started growing orchids in 1972 after a friend gave her one in bloom.  She decided to grow orchids in a 5x7 fiberglass lean-to which sat in an outside corner of our home.  She asked me to fix it up with a swamp cooler, heater, and fan.  After observing, photographing, and helping for about two years, I decided to get involved.   We soon replaced the 5x7 lean-to with a 12x18 real greenhouse and we were off and running.  Six years later we enlarged again, this time to 24x30, 14 feet high at the peak, with exhaust fans, a cool cell and a misting system.

Once we were both involved with our orchids and the HOS, we participated at a high level.  We exhibited regularly at the HOS show, and eventually we both served as HOS president, I in 1981 and Renee’ in 1984. In 1983 we both entered the AOS judges’ training program as student judges.  At that time, the only judging center in Texas was in San Antonio.  So, on the last Saturday of every month we drove to judging in San Antonio, usually with Jerry Stephens, who was about a year ahead of us in the program. Renee’ and I were able to do some ‘orchid traveling’ starting with the 1986 Miami World Orchid Conference where she clerked for Bob Scully, Sr., founder of Jones & Scully, at that time the premier orchid seller in Florida.  After we were promoted to certified judge (probationary) we were eligible to judge a World Orchid Conference, so we went to Tokyo and judged the WOC there in 1989.  Shortly after becoming probationary judges, we volunteered to serve on a standing committee of the AOS, and with the help of HOS member Donna Craig, we were both accepted as committee members.  Donna had me appointed to the Budget and Finance Committee, and I was soon made Assistant Treasurer, and an AOS Trustee.  The AOS Treasurer at that time was having a health problem, and I became Treasurer.  After serving as Treasurer for five years, I was elected Executive Vice-president in 1994, and AOS President in 1996.

We received our first AOS award in 1981, and since have received about 140 more, including awards to five of our hybrids.  We have now registered 28 hybrids, and have several more in flask, and five seed pods in our greenhouse. I highly recommend orchid growing as a joint wife-husband hobby.  The only downside is that when you visit an orchid nursery, you almost always buy two seedlings of a cross that is in bloom: one for me and one for she.  There are not a lot of things Renee’ and I agree on in orchids, so each of us selects one seedling in bloom to buy.