This event was modeled in part after existing greatness, namely the legendary San Francisco Orchid Society's Pacific Orchid Exposition.  Years back I (Bruce Davidson) attended the POE and was very impressed with the show from start to finish.  I enjoyed the amazing orchid displays, the wine tasting on the Gala Preview Night, the gourmet finger foods, the skill sessions and the presence of high quality vendors.

As a Director of Sales for the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites-San Jose International Airport we had a modest budget to do client events as a showcase of our property to potential clients as well as providing our loyal clients a thank you for years of partnership.  My idea was to take the elements of the POE that I loved and merge it with our provision of a client event to create a free orchid event of similar caliber in quality but on a much smaller scale.

Over the years we experimented by added some other features to the show such as American Orchid Society Judging and a fundraising auction to support the Orchid Conservation Alliance.  

The most important aspect of this show's uniqueness is maintaining a casual intimate atmosphere where the public can interact with professional commercial and expert orchid growers from our region.  We have worked hard to keep this show 100% free to the public because I believe every person deserves to have the opportunity to experience the beauty of orchids in a format similar to our sister society's POE regardless of their financial standing.  Wine tasting and admission continue to be free.

The first year this orchid event occurred as the Express Orchid Exhibition it was an actual "orchid show" with displays and ribbon judging. In subsequent years we nixed the displays because of lack of space, which I feel is a huge improvement.   Although displays are very nice I hate to be tormented by seeing and falling in love with a plant that is not for sale. And so in year two of this event to present every orchid at the show has a price tag.  

By the third year of the Express Orchid Exhibition the event grew so large in attendance that it had to be moved to a bigger location.  And so we are delighted that the once Express Orchid Exhibition got a new name, The San Jose Orchid Exposition and a new home in historic San Jose Japantown with the help of our dear friend Jeanne Katsuro, the Owner of The Classic Rock Fine Jewelry store.

Methods of Orchid Conservation

Our primary goal of this show is conservation by giving the public an active awareness about orchids, successful orchid culture and the need to take action now to preserve these plants for future generations. 

Orchid conservation happens in many ways.

1. We can protect the ecosystems that orchids exist in by preventing illegal collection of plants and destruction of habitat. Solution: donate to the Orchid Conservation Alliance  
2. We can grow "superior"(more ornamentally valuable)forms of the species so that wild plants are not sought after and commercial production of the species meets the demand of the public. Solution: Purchase orchids from Orchid Growers that engage better breeding of the species, or even growing and maintaining pure forms of the species
3. We can instruct the general public on how to grow their orchid species well in non-commercial environments to insure that a back-up population of the species is kept intact in the instance that all wild forms of the species are lost to deforestation. Solution:  Join a local orchid society to glean valuable orchid growing skills from the experience of others.  Only purchase orchid plants from a grower that that is willing to take the time to make you a successful grower of orchids under your conditions.
4. We can self pollinate an orchid species in our care to produce orchid seed that can  insure a diversity of forms of the species are available for the general public to enjoy.  Solution:  When you become a more advanced orchid enthusiasts pollinate your favorite species and send the pod to a lab so that you can raise the seedlings and share plants with your colleagues at the orchid society. Every seedling will be unique but retain the charm and beauty of the pure species!

Bruce Davidson, MBA.   Real Orchid Growers Marketing Director

In a nutshell I've been growing plants ever since I could walk. My maternal grandparents owned a very successful fertilizer and insecticide business that supplied many aspects of the San Francisco Bay Area.  My grandparents were responsible for instilling in me an appreciation for gardening which started with basic annuals and later turned into a passion for orchids.  I've been the Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President and President of the Santa Clara Valley Orchid Society and now serve as the Marketing Director and Past President for the SCVOS.  I've also been the Vice President for the San Francisco Orchid Society.  I spent a period of time studying in the American Orchid Society Judging Program. 

My orchid "specialty area" is non-commercial orchid culture with an emphasis on identifying species of orchids that will grow under relatively extreme conditions outdoors in areas with limited frost exposure.  I'm interested in identifying the most successful outdoor propagation methods for each temperature tolerant species.  I'm currently working on non-traditional potting methods growing orchids indoors.  

I feel the number one success principle for orchid culture is that of a non-rotting core root system.  My favorite orchids include Laelia anceps, Laelia purpurata, Cattleya intermedia, Dendrobium cuthbersonii, Dendrobium kingianum, Masdevallia coccinea, Masdevallia veitchiana and Psychopsis.  I grow orchids indoors on a window sill, under lights, on a shaded balcony, on the shaded side of a house, in a semi open-semi shaded area, in fully exposed conditions, and under a fully shaded-fully covered area.  I have grown orchids in relatively cool conditions in the San Francisco Bay Area and the more extreme conditions of hot and cold in the East Bay and South Bay.  My collection of orchids now numbers approximately 1,500.

I lecture on various topics of non-commercial orchid culture with the goal of making people's experience with orchids successful and rewarding.  My ongoing interest is encouraging orchid conservation and the longterm viability of small orchid hybridizers and growers through the promotion of modest sized local orchid events such as the San Jose Orchid Exposition. I wish that people will never lose sight of the fact that orchids are a good clean fun way for communities to be brought together around a completely positive focus. The events I create with my community are also venues for residents, local businesses and organizations to network with one another.

My day job is the Director of Sales for the Holiday Inn Express-San Jose International Airport located San Jose, CA.  I find that most people can find at least something they enjoy about the fascinating world of Orchidacea and that the orchid mystique is notably embedded in all the world's cultures.