Christmas means new orchids? Noid or not to Noid?

[Rowangreen]

I had promised myself a cheap noid from Columbia Road flower market this weekend.

But I couldn't resist going into my local garden centre... they have a range of gorgeous unlabelled paths, oncs and phals (gorgeous small red flowered one of the latter...I've resisted those for months!). Today they also have some labelled plants: labelled Brassia 'Toscane'. I believe that should be Bratonia but never mind! Easy Orchids stock the same plant cheaper... but I'd have to wait months, and the plants are beauties: lots of fat unwrinkled pulbs in each pot, some with new growths, flower spikes just opening with one or none flowers open on each spike.

I have a feeling I may end up with a Columbia Road noid AND something from the garden centre...

PS: Anyone know if 'Toscane' will qualify as a none-noid? I've found a few references to it, but it doesn't seem to be RHS registered?

[quiltergal]

Just say no to NOIDs! Treat yourself to something with a name.

[Paul Mc]

NOID's actually have names, but the growers often dont give them. I say, if you like the bloom, NOID's need homes too.

[Gage]

I do appreciate having a name with any orchid I buy, it's so nice to be able to know the exact lineage. But when it comes down to it, I pick the plant I prefer regardless of whether it has a name or not. After all, I'm the one that's going to be watching it all year round. I may not be able to show it formally or tell people its proper name, but I don't grow them for others, I grow them for my own pleasure and delight. However, if I was growing for resale, I would definitely make sure I am providing orchids with names. So my advice is buy what you really love and don't settle for anything less, noid or named. And please post pics of your choices!!!

[Paul Mc]

It's the holidays! We all need love, lol...

[Rowangreen]

I will post pics of whatever I get... Would be lovely if everyone posted pics of any Christmas pressie orchids too!

Meanwhile... I think I just accidentaly identified the red phal!

Doritaenopsis Black Bird | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Shop - Orchideen Lucke

I think I will now be continuing to resist the noid versions of that and making an order from Orchideen Lucke once the spring arrives...

[Vanda lover]

I sometimes lose labels anyway, so it doesn't matter if it's a NOID. I wish we had those kind of choices here. All there are is Phals and the odd cym, so I don't buy at Christmas.

[Cym Ladye]

Originally Posted by quiltergal

Just say no to NOIDs! Treat yourself to something with a name.

Buying plants without names only puts money in the pockets of the off shore mass marketers with thousands of clones of the same plants. Buy orchids with names and support reputable growers and hybridizers in your own country.

A plant with a name such as Brqssia 'Toscane' indicates not a registration, but the clonal or mass marketing name given the mericlones of a plant. You will not find it registered when the name is in single quotes.

CL

[Rowangreen]

I can't guarentee it was in single or double quotes... Looking at different sources there seems to be some disagreement as to whether it's Toscana or Toscanne as well. I think the plants are coming from Europe and there may be translation problems. I did find one reference to it being exhibited at a show though? So yes, I think it's a mass market clone like you say. But it definitely has a name. Presumably 'reputable' hybridisers don't register all their plants: does that stop offspring being registered or shown if their parentage is known?

(By the way, Toscane/Toscana is also available from Orchideen Lucke: do they count as 'reputable'?)

When it comes down to it, I think getting what I like comes first. But if there's possibilities for breeding/showing later that would be nice too.

[silken]

There are very few choices for me to get named plants here too. I must look 650km away at Paramount to find any selection of named plants. And as Vanda lover said, mostly NOID Phals and Cyms. But that doesn't stop me from occasionally getting one I like. It's as lovely with or without a name.