THE WORLD HAS BEEN PURSUING THE PERFECT ORCHID MIX FOR OVER TWO HUNDRED YEARS!
The wait is finally over.........

Aussie Gold^® Orchid Mix was created and developed by Ivan Harrison for use in his own greenhouse, which is located in the semi-desert of East San Diego County in Southern California. On April 8th, 2005 we were awarded our first HCC by AOS for Paphiopedilum William Ambler (rothschildianum x wilhelminiae) and have named it "Aussie Gold" (what else!!!) The paph was, of course, grown in Aussie Gold^® Orchid Mix . Photos of the plant, other blue ribbon orchids and the display from the San Diego County Orchid Society Annual Plant Show and Sale are available on the photos page. The photo and listing can both be found on page 279 of the December 2005 issue of "Awards Quarterly"

95+ degree weather and 20% humidity are not conducive with easy orchid growing and bark tends to rot down very quickly under such extreme conditions. Ivan experimented with different growing media, pots, fertilizers, air movement, light, etc. within the hothouse conservatory that he built on to his house in Santee. Ivan tried everything he read in orchid books and more than once or twice changed all of his 1,500+ orchids into something that appeared to work. Nothing seemed quite right. Through trial and error experimenting with various media with Diatomite, Aussie Gold^® Orchid Mix was born! Ivan has 1,500 orchids from 121 genera, about 40% of which are species, so whatever he uses has to be good.

After a couple of years of increasing success with Aussie Gold^® Orchid Mix , people started noticing a big difference between their plants and Ivan's! We started giving it to friends, so the message began to spread. In November 2003, Ivan and Rosemary formed Van-Rolen Company with their good friend, Leonard Salvatore, and in February 2004 started selling Aussie Gold^® Orchid Mix to orchid lovers.

Aussie Gold^® Orchid Mix is based on Diatomite, which is now used extensively by commercial orchid growers worldwide, who have found that orchids planted in Diatomite grow and bloom faster than in regular orchid mixes (H&R). Aussie Gold^® Orchid Mix augments the proven benefits of Diatomite by including other inert and orchid-friendly ingredients.

Orchids die for a variety of reasons, most notably root rot - caused by deterioration of the medium and over / underwatering.  Aussie Gold^® Orchid Mix eliminates these problems.  Aussie Gold^® Orchid Mix is 100% organic and highly absorbant, and IT DOES NOT DETERIORATE OR BREAK DOWN, AND YOU CANNOT OVERWATER IT. It is also non-toxic, pH neutral and high in silica. Aussie Gold^® Orchid Mix contains absolutely NO bark!

Ivan insists on only using the very best ingredients available on the market today, and the very best Diatomite comes from Australia. This makes Aussie Gold^® Orchid Mix more expensive than other mixes, but it will outperform any bark mix on the market. How much is it worth to keep your orchid healthy? If you paid $100, or even $20, for your orchid, why wouldn't you pay the cost of a cup of coffee per pot to give it a nurturing environment?

We have all heard the naysayers with comments about someone always coming up with something new that won't last. Well, the proof is in the orchids! What worked for Ivan is now working for thousands of orchid growers all across the country. We receive testimonials almost daily from amazed and delighted customers, some of which you can read at the bottom of the "Growing Info" section. Don't be a disbeliever until you've tried it! There are thousands of people from upper Michigan to southern Florida sleeping well knowing their orchids are thriving!

Someone had to create the perfect potting mix! Ivan did it and he's sharing it with everybody who wants to come along.

Ivan has been teaching orchid growing techniques and secrets at orchid societies throughout the southland for the last six years. He was vice president at a large orchid society for four years and built up the Novice Class from less than 20 people to 120 at every meeting, passing on his knowledge (usually in a humorous manner!). In 2003 Ivan and Rosemary were awarded a 90 point Educational Award by the American Orchid Society (AOS). If Ivan can help you, he will. You can email him with questions on Aussie Gold^® Orchid Mix or on growing orchids at Ivan@Aussie-Gold.com.

Ivan and Ro Harrison celebrating their birthdays in July 2004

Ivan and Rosemary Harrison came to San Diego (not in this plane thank goodness!) in 1978 from Nottingham, England and became US citizens in 1988, of which they are both very proud. Ivan has a company in El Cajon called The Furniture Hospital, where he refinishes and restores antique furniture. Ivan drove NASCAR for 20 years, winning the divisional championship at our local track, Cajon Speedway in 1996. The track was closed in March 2005. His racing information can be found at Ivan's profile , and Ro's can be found at Ro's profile.

Since the demise of Cajon Speedway, Ivan has turned his hand (or should that be voice?) to acting. He went for his first audition in June 2005, got a part in the play and hasn't looked back. Information and photos from Ivan's first role, Warnock Waldgrave can be found at The Nerd.

Ivan went straight from The Nerd into the male lead in My Three Angels, which was a huge success. In March 2006, Ivan played his first dramatic role as Roat in Wait Until Dark, (Aubrey nomination) which was the debut play for the new Coronado Playhouse, across from the Hotel Del Coronado.  Later in 2006, Ivan played Froggy in The Foreigner (Aubrey award) at OnStage Playhouse in Chula Vista before becoming involved in technical and special effect design, as well as Assistant to the Director for Dracula.   Ivan played Charles, the Butler in Dracula in January and February 2007, which Ro produced, followed by Frank Foster in How the Other Half Loves by Alan Ayckbourn at the Sunshine Brooks Theater in Oceanside.  Ivan can currently be seen in the role of Francesco in the world premiere of  School of the World by Sal Cipolla  produced by Vantage Theater in conjunction with Centro Culturale de la Raza in Balboa Park.

Orchid Society shows for 2007 have not been updated.  Listings below are for 2006: