NO.23　 Howard TAN 　( Australia )　991101

Mr. Howard Tan
e-mail : htan10@bigpond.com040615
　I started growing orchids in Indonesia when I was 9 years old when I was
given a couple of orchids, a Dendrobium and Phal. amabilis by my uncle,
which I grew on our mango tree in　Semarang, Central Java. I came to
Australia in 1967　to complete my civil engineering study.
　I only rekindled with growing orchid in 1979, which was a cymbidium. I only
started growing paphiopedilum in 1985, when I bought a few dozen from Liem
Khe Wie alias Kolopaking. He died a few years ago. I bought a few more from
him and the bought some too from Hongkong in 1989. This was before CITES
came into force. It has been a little expensive excercise as I lost a few,
but distributed to a few friends as well.
　Now my special interests are in multiflora and Parvisepalum and also some
Brachis. If I have good plants I also hybridise them. My main aim is to
provide Paph lovers in Perth with cheap seedlings. I am trying to produce
multiflora with dark vini colored Macabre, multi flora with bright pink
color using dark Berenice and liemiana in the background and later on with
micranthum, also yellow multi with Honey, armeniacum and primulinum. The
problem is that we don't have enough material to work on.

The Howard's Green House

010717

Paph. armeniacum ' Twin Pole '

Paph. Julius ' God's Hand ' HCC/AOC
　I grow my paphiopedilum in a tunnel house 9m X3 m, but I am replacing it with a 9 X 6 metres hot house. for multi flora compost I use pine bark. Now I grow them in deep pots. For my parvis and brachis I use small pine bark mixed
with polystyrene. I now introduce pebbles as well in the mix with aome
spaghnum. Inside the house I have a long aquarium which I fill with 5 cm of
water and I grow many seedlings just on top of the water. I have
triphoshorous neon light and one ordinary neon light as well. I find that
the seedlings like the environment inside the aquarium. Sometimes I also
put my sick plants in it and they recover better. Of course I still lose a
few plants here and there.
　I like to hear from other paphs lovers from around the world.
Here in my hometown of Perth, with a few friends we formed the
Paphiopedilum Study Group and meet once a month. Cost for local membership
is only $10 per year and we are trying to get flasks for the group and also
learn to raise seedlings from the flask.

Paph. kolopakingii var.topperii
' Shelley Tower '

A very good form of Paph. dianthum.

The introduction of our Paph. group

PAPHIOPEDILUM STUDY GROUP - W.AUSTRALIA

　　The group was formed after Howard Tan and a few friends discussed the need of bringing together Paphiopedilum orchid lovers. There were 30 people
attended the first meeting held on the 15 June 1997.
　　Monthly meetings are held at members' backyard on rotation, although it was accepted that some people may not be able to host for various reasons, but it was decided that members should try to host it once every two years. What we have now is an editor for our monthly newsletter (Chris Parker), an honorary secretary (Beryl Brown) , a treasurer (Peter Brown) and a monthly meeting facilitator (Howard Tan did it for the first 2 years and the current facilitator is Ray McQuiggin). Fund raising activities are raffle (Les Backhouse), opportunity table (Maxine Godbeer). Plant studies and descriptions are under the care of Barry Winter and Trevor Burnett. Participation in shows and conferences is coordinated by Coralie Edwards. Other than those above, most members are generous helpers and donors of raffle prizes.

　At the meetings members are shown the host's hot houses and see how the
hosts grow them. Usually the host members provide morning tea and also
happily and generously provide lunch, although this is not a requirement.
Other members also bring plates (food). Members bring along their beloved
plants in flower and give description of their plants and how they grow
them. We also discuss various problems with growing paphs. Various fund
raisings activities are always held and the funds are then used to buy
plants for the member's benefit at a discount. The group have now purchased
several flasks of paphs and all members are encouraged to grow some in
compots. Later on when they are big enough they can be sold to the members
at discounted price. Every month, we discuss the plants in our care and so
to learn more from each other. The group bought 2 flasks of each crossing,
so as to give more opportunity to buy one later.

　Our membership has grown to more than 80 from about 45 households. The group have a few interstate members. The annual subscription is just A$10 per household. At meetings the average attendees have been between 35 to 50 members, enough for an average backyard to hold our paph group meeting.

For further information, please write to Peter&Beryl Brown, 23 Horsham Way, Nollamara WA 6061 Australia or phone on 61 8 9349 6851.

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