Ottawa Orchid Society March 2026 Meeting

At our March meeting we welcome Karl Olsen, owner and founder of Orchid Wise in Australia to talk to us about Australian Cymbidiums and the Orchid Wise website via Zoom; specifically, his breeding and conservation work, what the major Australian breeders current trends are and his website Orchid Wise (https://orchidwise.com/) focused on Cymbidiums. Cultural care tips will be coveredYou will be delighted by the gorgeous Cymbidium hybrids that he will showcase! Their form, colour and pattern are not what we often and/or have seen here

Joyce Medcalf (AOS Judge and winner of many awards for her displays) will offer a short talk for members wanting to have their own display at Orchidophilia 2026.

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.

Karl Olsen is the owner and founder of the website Orchid Wise (https://orchidwise.com/) in Australia. He has been growing Cymbidium orchids for over 35 years. His obsession for Cymbidium orchids is apparent on his website. Karl created the www.orchidwise.com website to provide education, information and as a visual record of the Cymbidium genus. His website connects growers, enthusiasts and orchid societies around the world. Karl’s goal is to hold one of the finest reference collections for species and primary hybrid Cymbidium orchids in Australia, whilst recording them, cloning, and/or remaking plants lost to cultivation over the years to preserve them for the future. Karl is also a committee member of the Cymbidium Orchid Club of South Australia and an emerging speaker.