IPA Symposium 2005

International Phalaenopsis Symposium

In July 2005, we attended the 11th IPA Symposium. This was our first orchid vacation. The symposium was actually similar to a small orchid show plus workshops. There were orchids on display, AOS judges and ribbons. Vendors sold orchids during the free time between workshops. After a weekend of nothing but orchids, we came away refreshed and satisfied.

What we learned at the symposium:

  • an orchid grower is basically an orchid hobbyist who has lost control (H. P. Norton)
  • we aren't the only ones who have difficulty photographing red and red-purple orchids
  • other people's orchids die too
  • our orchids don't get enough light (we're pondering this)
  • our orchids don't get enough humidty (added humidifier to orchid room)

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What we didn't do at the IPA Symposium

free mugs from the IPA symposium 2005

We didn't take any photos at the symposium.

I think we could have, but we're sort of shy. The best I could do was to take a photo of our free mugs after we got back home. (Pathetic, I know.)

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What we did do at the IPA Symposium

One room was set aside for the vendors to display and sell their plants. We visited that room repeatedly throughout the weekend.

On Saturday and Sunday there were workshops (growing under lights, fertilization, meristems and stem propagation, etc.) and special speakers (H. P. Norton, Orchidview; Marshall Ku, Taiwan; Norman Fang, Norman's Orchids).

Although we enjoyed all of the speakers, Norman Fang's slides of his greenhouses and harlequins were of particular interest to us. We're sort of crazy about harlequin orchids.

"If you do [mericloning] right," Mr. Fang said, "they all look the same."

One look at the slide of his greenhouse was proof enough: young plants in neat rows looked as similar as identical twins; blooming sized plants waved their identical flowers in the air.

Conclusion

It is more complicated to attend a distant orchid event than a local orchid show, but it was fun for us to see other orchid hobbyists and hear about their experiences. Attending the symposium was both a pleasant weekend vacation and an educational experience. Besides, the mugs are great for morning tea.

When you sit down to plan your vacation for the coming year, look around to see what special orchid event you could attend. You might be able to squeeze in an orchid show or workshop. Wouldn't that make your vacation more memorable?

For our next orchid vacation, I just hope we find a worthy event in Hawaii!

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