species or hybrids

[SlipperGirl]

A few weeks ago I posted about my first paph on slipper talk and some people had said that I made a good choose getting a species rather then a hybrid. So it made me think are species better then hybrids? Well what do all you think, which one to you is better and why do you think it is better than the other?

[cbuchman]

Hanna, it's a really good question, but the answer is more complex. I don't think one is better than the other. The real key is what environment you can provide. If you don't have control over your environment, hybrids can provide more tolerance than species, for example. Hybrids are generally more commercially appealing and hence maintain the consumers' interest in orchid growing and hence the economic viability of orchid growers many of whom are active in conservation and preservation.

I think many hobbyists, myself included, graduate to growing species as they are usually more challenging to grow well. The more I've learned, the more I've been able to select species that will grow in my conditions; for example, I need temperature tolerance and I have found the species from Brazil seems to have this more than others. There is a real thrill when a species is well grown and flowered.

So I don't think hybrids are better than species or the other way around. I think we need both.

[Gage]

For me it depends on the species and the hybrid in question. Of course some people are species snobs (sorry, love you guys), and some people have the wrong idea that species in general are difficult to grow. This also depends somewhat on which alliance of orchids you're thinking about. I know that certain species can bloom multiple times per year and/or are quite vigorous, while many only bloom once per year and some are not so vigorous. Hybrids generally are more vigorous and bloom more often, but this isn't always the case as some selection in breeding can make for gorgeous blooms that don't occur very often and on a wimpy plant. So, again, it depends.

[camille1585]

Hybrids are generally more tolerant of less than ideal conditions since they often have a very mixed background and so have a large genetic base. Also in hybrids you also have what is called 'hybrid vigor', where the offspring is much better than the sum of its parents. For instance, a cross with 2 finicky species can give rise to a vigorous and easy to grow offspring. Hybrids are often more free flowering.

But if you have ideal conditions, then most species adapted to those will do very very well. Species are more challenging to grow well simply since they tend to adapt to a narrower range of conditions than hybrids do. So 'easy' or 'hard' is very relative.

As Gage says, there are 'good' species and there are 'bad' ones. Same with the hybrids. I have (or rather, had) a beautiful Phal hybrid. I'm very good with Phals, but I've gone through 3 plants of this hybrid. It is a very poor grower, develops a poor root system and is very susceptible to disease. I understand now why, despite its beauty, this Phal is so difficult to find.

[Rowangreen]

As a matter of interest, which one's that Camille?

I have both. I just buy what I like the look of!

The issue is further muddied by cultivation of species. Some that were apparently very hard to grow several generations down have been selected to grow in 'captivity' and are now easy. In some cases they look quite different to the original too. (I saw an article a while bike that contrasted 'show' type and wild type Paph spicerianum: very different! Sorry I don't have the link handy)

[camille1585]

Phal I-lan Green Pixie.


Phal I-lan Green Pixie by Camille1585, on Flickr

[Bud]

Beautiful blooms, Camille ! The leaves are the right color and it is perky and robust....I wonder why this kind of hybrid is weak? Maybe it needs several cloning strains to make it stronger....

I chose my orchids by its flowers. It doesnt matter if it is a specie or a hybrid....sometimes I just inherited it or given to me so it is not important what it is as long as it blooms beautifully....fragrance is always a plus!

[AnonYMouse]

I mostly have species because I like diversity.

Originally Posted by Rowangreen

I just buy what I like the look of!...The issue is further muddied by cultivation of species. Some that were apparently very hard to grow several generations down have been selected to grow in 'captivity' and are now easy. In some cases they look quite different to the original too. (I saw an article a while bike that contrasted 'show' type and wild type Paph spicerianum: very different! Sorry I don't have the link handy)

As Rowan states, there are variations within one species. My understanding is, unless tissue cultured (including divisions), variations will creep in. I've seen this pic of a xanthic L. telipogoniflora, for example,
very different in shape (pointier) and color (yellow) from my avatar.

I don't know why the slipper people think species are better. Have you asked them? I'm curious of their reasoning.

[euplusia]

I love them all. With exceptions I am limited to plants from Central and South America. I am fascinated by the wide range of diversity, so there are more species than hybrids in my collection.
In our local group also species are more popular. But among the hardcore enthusiasts it's not just species, it has to be a rare and described variety or clone. From Cattleyas and Laelia purpurata to Dendrobium cuthbertsonii and Ladyslippers, selected varieties (not the line-bred ones, but those collected 100 years ago) are the object of desire.

[WhiteRabbit]

Many times, hybrids can be easier to grow, they can be less particular in their cultural requirements. But, with a species it is easier to find the specific care info for them.