Species means it is the "wild" flower, as found in nature. They come from many places, and may each have specific needs. Species (or wild) plants are often harder to take care of, and need particular environments. This may or may not affect you.
Hybrids are made by using the pollen of one plant and giving it to another unrelated plant (not the same species). This is a genetic thing, which you may have studied at school. Primary hybrids mean Species + species. Usually just a direct cross of 2 plants.
Hybrids you find in the shops are often multiple crosses. The growers who hybridize orchids do so to make them more attractive, larger, or more able to live in standard housing situations (since most sales will be to people living in houses/apartments). For example, a BLC is a cross between a Brassovola, a Lalia, and a Cattleya. (This is, of course, a cattleya alliance plant, but I am using it as an example). A phal to another Phal would still be called a phal, but a Phalaerianda can be a cross between Aerides x Phalaenopsis x Vanda. The plants still need to be close enough genetically to cross, just like a Donkey and a Horse can be hybridized to make a Mule, but the mule is sterile.
Hybrids are said to be more "people" friendly and are often the first kind of orchid a new orchid grower gets before traveling into the area of "species" which are harder to care for and often will die if you do not have some experience. Generally, if you have gotten enough experience to keep hybrids alive (95%-100% of the time) you can then go and get a species which also often costs more.
For instance, I have now been growing phals (and others) for about 6 years and feel confident that I can care for them well, so I am thinking of getting a species phal this year or the next.
I am sure that there are more experienced growers here with more eloquent ways to explain this.
Best wishes! K
Last edited by Optimist; 04-27-2018 at 11:24 AM..
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