Orchid Society of Canberra Meetings
General meetings
5 August
Topic: Complex paphiopedilums
Presenter: Jane Wright
How to grow complex paphiopedilums plus plants for sale
2 September
Topic: Preparing for the Show, labelling plants and unpotting community pots
Presenter: Jane Wright
7 October
Topic: How show champions were grown plus growing Australian Native dendrobiums
Presenters: Growers of the show champions and Brindabella orchids
4 November
Topic: Growing and Flowering Cymbidiums
Presenters: Various society members
Doors open from 6:00pm for setup and benching of plants, meeting commences 7:30pm.
If you have a sick plant and want advice, bring it to the meeting in a sealed plastic bag and our experts will look at it.
Venue: Ainslie Football Club, 52 Wakefield Avenue, Ainslie.
Information for new or intending members on the society and its meeting arrangements
Some of the orchids benched at a recent meeting
The Society has implemented a more structured process for benching of orchids at its general meetings.
For each plant being benched members are asked to complete a benching card identifying the class of the plant, its name and the members name, and place this with their plant in the marked area for that class.
Plant classes will be fixed for all meetings so cards can be prefilled or cards will be available for completing at the meeting.
The plant classes do not distinguish between species and hybrids and provides an additional class for novice (including junior) growers:
In other respects the classes follow fairly closely the classifications used for our show and in Appendix 1 of our book.
Members can check their Novice/Open status for 2026 in the Member page of the website.
The cards allow for plant number to be entered by the marshal.
Below is an example of a completed card:
Members have the option of voting electronically (paper forms still available). The voting form is accessed by smart phone by using the camera function to scan a QR code at the meeting.
19-20 September Spring Orchid Show
The Show will be held in conjunction with the Horticultural Society of Canberra Spring Bulb and Camellia Show in the Fitzroy Pavilion, EPIC (Entry from Stirling Avenue adjacent McDonalds, Federal Highway)
These shows typically include a section for orchids which Orchid Society members are encouraged to support.
For latest information, see the Horticultural Society website.
19-20 September Spring Bulb and Camellia Show
Held in conjunction with the Orchid Society, 19-20 September at the the Fitzroy Pavilion, EPIC (Entry from Stirling Avenue adjacent McDonalds, Federal Highway)
31 October-1 November Iris, Rhododendron and Azalea Show
Mallee Pavilion, EPIC (Entry from Stirling Avenue adjacent McDonalds, Federal Highway)
14-15 November Spring Exhibition and Rose Show
The Abbey, Federation Square, Nicholls.
Events of possible interest to Canberra members. We try to keep the information as accurate as possible. Please advise if there are any errors. A list of all orchid show dates in NSW is on the Orchid Society of NSW website
15-17 May: Fri/Sat 9am-4pm | Sun 9am-3pm
- Orchids Out West
Philip Charley Pavillion
Hawkesbury Showground
Clarendon
11 July: 9am-3pm
- Shoalhaven Orchid Society Show
Bomaderry Community Centre,
19 Birriley St, Bomaderry
7-8 August: Sat 9am-4pm | Sun 9am-1pm
- Sapphire Coast Orchid Club Winter Show
Twyford Hall
Market St, Merimbula
5 September: Sat 9am-3pm
- Shoalhaven Orchid Society
Bomaderry Community Hall, 19 Birriley St Bomaderry
11-12 September
- Sapphire Coast Orchid Society
Tathra Surf Club
30-31 September
Sapphire Coast Orchid Club Summer Show
Pambula Town Hall
Pambula
18-20 October: Fri/Sat 9:30am-4pm | Sun 9:30am-2pm
- Orchids Central
Club Condell Park
178 Eldridge Rd, Bankstown
17 October: Sat 9am-3pm
- Shoalhaven Orchid Society
Bomaderry Community Centre
19 Birrely St, Bomaderry