South Coast Orchid Society

The South Coast Orchid Society of Long Beach will host a program by Donna Ballard titled “Deflasking: Where Commercial Orchids Come From” at Whaley Park Community Center (5620 E. Atherton St., Long Beach) at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 25.

Long ago, orchids came from tropical jungles. Today’s orchid hybrids often come from tissue culture in “flasks” or “bottles,” part of a huge industry worth billions.

With professional experience in horticulture and training in the American Orchid Society judging program, Ballard will explain how orchids are propagated from divisions, seeds, or by cloning. Ballard will demonstrate how these small plants are grown to blooming size.

Orchids grown by members will be on display. The program is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact southcoastorchidsociety@ gmail.com.