Researching Orchids

[kmccormic]

Is there a central repository for orchid species information? Do orchids have to be registered somewhere to be recognized? What does AOS mean when it is listed, and are AOS awards anything special?

Some growers just list the orchid name, no care information, no blooming schedule, no blooming/foliage colors, no general size, or time to get to blooming maturity, etc. For example, other than plugging the name into a search engine, how would I research the examples below?

• Cattleya Loren Fender (C. Landate `Hot Lips` x C. Tripp Johnston `Bate-Toms`)
• Bc. Maikai `Louise`, AM/AOS

Thanks for any light you can shed!
Regards!

[Daethen]

Well, if you want the orchidwiz encyclopedia, it can be gotten on sale right now by going to the website and entering TALK2011 for a promotion code. That is supposed to be one of the most complete and easy to use programs to research chids with.

AOS - American Orchid Society

And yes, an award from them is something special if you are into showing and breeding chids. If you just like the pretty flowers, that is a different story.

[kmccormic]

Unfortunately I don't have $200-$300 for the Encyclopedia. If I did, I'd probably spend it on orchids

[Bud]

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) was founded in 1804 in London, England as the Horticultural Society of London, and gained its present name in a Royal Charter granted in 1861 by Prince Albert. The Royal Horticultural Society is one of the world’s leading horticultural organizations and the UK's leading gardening charity dedicated to advancing horticulture and promoting gardening.
Since the establishment of International Registration Authorities for plants in 1955 the RHS has acted as Registrar for certain groups of cultivated plants. It is now Registrar for nine categories – conifers, clematis, daffodils, dahlias, delphiniums, dianthus, lilies, orchids and rhododendrons. It publishes The International Orchid Register, the central listing of orchid hybrids.
You can go to their site and search for your orchid's name, parents, the year it was registered and the name of the grower; or origin of the species and who first discovered it.
Otherwise...I just google my orchid according to tag and find out as much as I can.

[ronaldhanko]

There is no central repository, probably because of the sheer number of orchid species. The closest is IOSPE on the Internet, but even it gives only very basic information. If you are looking for information on a certain species that's a great place to start, but you'll have to do quite a bit of looking besides.

As to hybrids, which seem to be what you are asking about, all the factors you mentioned are variable depending on the cross, growing conditions, etc., though general care tips for the plants you listed will be found in any book or internet site that gives help with Cattleya alliance hybrids (growing conditions are similar for most of them).

As to recognition - species to not have to be registered but hybrids do to be recognized. The RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) is the place where all registrations are processed and recorded. As to AOS awards, some people are not interested, others like the recognition and the awards do recognize superior plants and superior growing skills.

[kmccormic]

Thanks Guys! I really appreciate the advice.

[camille1585]

And if you ever really need specfic info on an orchid, just ask and someone with Orchidwiz will usually gladly help out.