“Orchids and All that Jazz” is set for February 20 through 23, 2014, by the San Francisco Orchid Society. It’ll be held in the Festival Pavilion of Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, California.

Said to be the largest orchid show in the world, some 150,000 orchids from around the world will be on display.

The theme promises “a symphony of orchids with the complex and classic feel traditionally associated with Jazz music”. Exhibits and displays will incorporate musical creative concepts while matching music is played throughout the show.

Hours are 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. February 20 (a preview event), 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. February 21, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. February 22 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. February 23.

Seminars are planned February 21, 22 and 23. Here are some tips from Bruce Rogers, author of The Orchid Whisperer (and one of the seminar presenters):

1. Identify the type of Orchid you have and try to provide the right growing conditions. There are warm growing and cool growing orchids, orchids that like lots of light, and ones that prefer less light, so the first step is to find out which type of orchid you have and treat it accordingly.

2. Give your Orchid enough light to bloom. A southern exposure where the plants receive sunlight for most of the day is ideal. If it prefers bright light, situate it close to the window, and if it prefers less light, move it farther away from the window.

3. Water the plants properly. In general, once per week watering is sufficient for Phalaenopsis, Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, and Cymbidiums. Odontoglossums, Oncidiums, Masdevallias, and Miltonias do not like to dry out, and should be watered twice per week (every five days).

4. Fertilize your orchids regularly using a balance fertilizer every two weeks during the spring, summer and fall, and once per month in the winter. A 20-20-20 or 20-10-10 fertilizer used throughout the year works best without the need to use a “grow fertilizer’ or a “bloom fertilizer”. Most people have a number of plants all in different stages of growth. It is too difficult to know when to give each plant the right formula, while using a balance formula provides all the necessary elements the plant needs to grow a flower.

5. Repot your orchids every two years. When you purchase an orchid, it has probably been in its pot for one year. After two years in the same pot, the potting medium will decompose and begin to stay too wet. When this happens, the plants roots tend to rot and the plant goes into decline. By repotting the orchid with new fir bark or sphagnum moss, the plant will increase in size rather than get decline in health.

(Photo courtesy of San Francisco Orchid Society)