COC Programs

Slideshow Presentations

The Canadian Orchid Congess now has available to COC member societies the following slideshow programs:

  • Huntleyinae by Ingrid Schmidt-Ostrander. It contains general descriptions, culture and name changes; 59 slides of species and 9 of hybrids.
  • Orchid Pests and Diseases prepared by Marilyn Light, consists of 27 slides. This program helps you identify pests and diseases that often are introduced to your collection on infested or diseased plants. A sharp eye for telltale signs will help you keep pests and diseases out and to control them before they become a major problem.
  • Fragrant Orchids produced by Marilyn Light
    More and more hobbyists nowadays cite fragrance as one of the major factors they consider when selecting orchids for their collections. Orchid flowers can offer a veritable potpourri of olfactory delight to adventurous growers. With sweet, spicy, citrus, vanilla and floral notes, the orchid fragrance palette is as varied as are the insect pollinators that the scents may attract. This presentation will tantalize the senses and introduce hobbyists to some common and not so common orchids that can be easily raised. A set of informative notes accompanies the slide set.
  • Oncidiums, compiled by Gordon Heaps, Orchid Society of Alberta
  • Hardy Orchids and how to grow them in your Garden, compiled by Bill Bischoff and Lorne Heshka, Vancouver and Fraser Valley O.S.
    Originally these slides were put together for interested Orchid growers who wanted to expand their hobby into their gardens, mainly in southwestern BC. More than half of the slides are of North American wild Orchids, where the slipper Orchids make up most of the slides. Some slides were taken in natural situations, others are from our garden, where I try to demonstrate where and how to cultivate these different genera and species. The later half of the slides are of Orchids from around the northern Hemisphere. In fact some of the plants shown came from Formosa, Tibet, China and Siberia. These pictures are mostly from our garden. So are the pictures of the European Dactylorhizas. With few exceptions most of these plants can be grown in all provinces of Canada. Others, while hardy, still need some protection in Winter. To be able to grow these orchids closely together I have chosen pot culture. This allows me to consider the individual soil requirements. Especially the pH needed in soils and fertilizers. For anyone interested in growing Orchids in their gardens, I gladly will correspond with them via Email at
  • Cattleyas - by Ken Girard
  • Phragmipediums by Ingrid Ostrander
    There are fifty colour slides of all the Phragmipedium species, including all the newer ones up to September 2002 and a good number of hybrids. There is a short written introduction, with instructions on caring for Phragmipediums etc. and there are short notes for every slide.
  • Lycastes by Ingrid Ostrander
    The program consists of 68 slides plus background on Anguloa, Ida and Lycaste. The first part of the program deals with the description, habits and culture of the three closely related genera of Anguloa, Ida and Lycaste. There are two versions of this - one a little longer than the other. The second part is a slide program showing potting procedures, Anguloas and their hybrids, the newly separated Idas, and Lycaste species and hybrids. Each slide comes with a short comment about the picture shown. To present the whole program should take about 40 to 50 minutes.

Powerpoint Presentations

The programs below are available on CD. They require a computer with Powerpoint installed and digital projector.

  • Tour of Ecuador: A three DVD set that chronicles the doings of a group of Canadian orchid enthusiasts on a tour of Ecuador. Each DVD, produced by J. Hrncirik with sound and colour commentary, is circa 50 minutes and plays on Windows media player. Excellent for those who want to taste the flavour of the country to either go there or to recall past travel.
  • Mario’s Orchids from A to Z - Mario Ferrusi in collaboration with Ed Cott has donated his program in Powerpoint format. A collection of orchid pictures with cultural information.
  • Hardy Orchids by Bill & Carla Bishoff and Lorne Heshka. The slideshow above is now available in PowerPoint. One disk contains an 85 slide PowerPoint presentation of orchids hardy in Canada plus a Word document narrative describing the pictures and the cultural conditions required for the plants presented in the PowerPoint presentation. The program requires a computer with disk drive that runs PowerPoint and a compatible digital projector. Size 61.9 MB and 91.5 KB.
  • The 2008, 19th World Orchid Conference in Miami, Florida by from Robert Lucas, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
    There are 65 Powerpoint format pictures of the major exhibits and trophy winners, and an accompanying text. An excellent program to relive the 2008 WOC for those who were there and a teaser for those who were not to start thinking about Singapore in 2011. In any case this presentation provides an excellent overview of what a major orchid exhibition can offer, including wonderful paphs, phalaenopsis, cattleyas, vandas etc.
  • Phalaenopsis culture under lights from Robert Lucas, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
    This Powerpoint program describes Robert's phalaenopsis culture under lights. It covers all of the essentials in text and pictures. It goes into light intensity, watering, growing media, fertilizing, and temperature. In addition there are sections on deflasking seedlings, hybridizing, and seed sowing. Thank you Robert for sharing your expertise.
  • Dendrobium speciosum, its varieties and influence on its hybrids by Gail Schwartz. This program explores the different varieties of this Australian Dendrobium including growth habits and cultural differences. It was first presented to the Toronto Judging Centre.
  • The Stanhopeas by Inge and Peter Poot. A survey of Stanhopea species including culture requirements and origins. The program deals with species identification and presents some hybrids as well as some intergeneric hybrids. Includes a section on cultivation.
  • Orchids of the Ottawa Region by Henry Steger. A survey of species native to the Ottawa region with habitat as well as closeup photography. An excellent introduction to many of our native orchids.

Ordering a Slide Program

The slide programs are available for loan to the societies. To borrow a program:

  1. The program must be ordered one month before your meeting. Please include in your request the date of the meeting for which you want the slide program.
  2. Include a cheque for $25 as a deposit. This cheque will be returned to your society when the slides are returned.
  3. Also include a separate cheque for $10 to cover the cost of mailing and insurance.
  4. The cheques are to be made payable to "The Canadian Orchid Congress".

Ordering a Powerpoint CD

These programs are available to COC member societies at the cost of copying (approximately $1 per disk) plus mailing from Peter Poot, below. Please leave plenty of time for delivery.

Ordering Address

The program can be ordered from:
Peter Poot
PO Box 241
Goodwood ON L0C 1A0
Phone: 905-640-5643
Email:

If there are any photographers out there who have a collection of slides that may be of interest to the societies, please let us know.