Ottawa Orchid February Meeting

At our February meeting learn about jewel orchids and their cultivation with Nicholas Rust, owner of  RustyExotics Orchids. It focuses on the species and how to grow the many different genera that are classified as jewel orchids. Not only is it filled with detailed pictures of these plants’ beautiful foliage, but it also places an emphasis on flowers, something that is often overlooked in jewel orchids.

The meeting will be a hybrid meeting. We will have the usual Show Table, raffle and refreshments with a break to chat with our “Ask Me Anything” experts.  Members, please bring your plants to the show table by 1:40 pm to allow time for judging. If you are feeling unwell, please join us via Zoom.

Nicholas is an up-and-coming hybridizer in the orchid community. He specializes in jewel orchids, Habeneria and other related genera, Australian terrestrial orchids, and Bulbophyllum. Through studying biochemistry and molecular biology during college, Nicholas approaches his orchids with the same scientific perspective he uses while working in a research lab. This led to an interest in the entire growth cycle of orchids and the start of his own hybridization program in 2018 which focuses mostly on terrestrial orchids, especially Habenaria. His aim is to use rarely cultivated species and distinct variations of species to create truly exceptional shapes and colors that will pave new directions for unique hybrids.