Help me pick some new mini/micro-Catts!

[Leafmite]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

Until 5 mins ago or so ----- I didn't know before that mini purple was a cross of C. pumila × C. walkeriana!

I can definitely see some petal resemblance in my mini purple --- when comparing with walkeriana. Fantastic result.

It is fun to look at the ancestry of the Cattleyas one has in their collection.

[Fairorchids]

There is a degree of truth to that. However, in most hybrids, there are a few exceptionally good ones, which do get the best from each of the parents.

And this brings us back to a series of articles I have been writing for a couple of local orchid societies: Why Buy More Than One. If you buy a single seedling of some new cross, your odds of getting a really good one, are remote. I usually buy anywhere from 3 to 12 of each, since I want to see multiple plants bloom, so I can select a good one (or two) to keep. And, the ones I keep, are then candidates for meristem propagation.

Here are 2 examples.

The first photo shows two seedlings from a selfing of C. Memoria Robert Strait 4N.
The second photo shows two seedlings of C. Christina Mendoza (I have 2 or 3 more, which I want to see bloom before I sell any of them).

You do not have to be a rocket scientist, to figure out which one is the only keeper from these 4 seedlings.

[DrDawn]

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

You do not have to be a rocket scientist, to figure out which one is the only keeper from these 4 seedlings.

So what you're telling me here is that I need to buy many more orchids, FOR SCIENCE! I'll let my husband know that's the reason... (he's the scientist, I'm the engineer)

[JScott]

Originally Posted by DrDawn

So what you're telling me here is that I need to buy many more orchids, FOR SCIENCE! I'll let my husband know that's the reason... (he's the scientist, I'm the engineer)

Yes, you need to buy a lot to make sure you get a good one. I don't have room to buy a dozen seedlings, but when I see seedlings from a new hybrid that I think looks promising, I usually get three or four. I have three Rhyncattleanthe Antone Tony Medeiros (Miya's Fascination 'Odoms Wildfire x Toshie Aoki 'Encore') that I bought from Odom a few years back. I'm excited about them, because that is my favorite red and my favorite yellow with red flares/lip (except maybe Williette Wong 'The Best'. It's amazing. You might even say that it is the best yellow with a red lip). But they are getting big, and I expect the first blooms in a year or so. I can't wait to see how they turn out.

[DrDawn]

Originally Posted by JScott

Yes, you need to buy a lot to make sure you get a good one.

So, you all will appreciate this story...

I was telling my husband last night about the suggestions of the group that I buy MORE orchids. He was thoughtful for a moment and then said, "well, if you need more, why don't you get a paintbrush and try hybridizing some of the ones you already have?". Sooooo, then I had to explain to him how that actually works, the timeframe involved, the stages from flower to pod to flasks to compots to pots. His response? "Well, that sounds like it will take too much room. You should buy more seedlings."

[JScott]

Originally Posted by DrDawn

So, you all will appreciate this story...

I was telling my husband last night about the suggestions of the group that I buy MORE orchids. He was thoughtful for a moment and then said, "well, if you need more, why don't you get a paintbrush and try hybridizing some of the ones you already have?". Sooooo, then I had to explain to him how that actually works, the timeframe involved, the stages from flower to pod to flasks to compots to pots. His response? "Well, that sounds like it will take too much room. You should buy more seedlings."

Exactly! And that's the great thing about seedlings. They are so delightfully tiny! I have limited space, my growing areas are pretty full, but you better believe if I saw seedlings of a hybrid that really excited me, I could sure as heck find room for five more seedlings

[estación seca]

A cactus friend would leave new purchases in her car in the garage, and sneak them into the house one by one, so her husband didn't notice.

[Diane56Victor]

Originally Posted by estación seca

A cactus friend would leave new purchases in her car in the garage, and sneak them into the house one by one, so her husband didn't notice.

I do something similar occasionally too.

The garage has a door to the garden where my orchid shelves are. Pop the plant on the shelf and no one any wiser. Easier than explaining why I needed just one one more after getting 3 deliveries in the post in the past month!

[Leafmite]

Or, just make certain to plan the arrival of plants for when the rest of the family will not be at home and have everything ready to go so they can be potted and added to the collection before anyone arrives home (with time to clean up any mess and hide any boxes and packing material).

---------- Post added at 04:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:07 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

There is a degree of truth to that. However, in most hybrids, there are a few exceptionally good ones, which do get the best from each of the parents.

And this brings us back to a series of articles I have been writing for a couple of local orchid societies: Why Buy More Than One. If you buy a single seedling of some new cross, your odds of getting a really good one, are remote. I usually buy anywhere from 3 to 12 of each, since I want to see multiple plants bloom, so I can select a good one (or two) to keep. And, the ones I keep, are then candidates for meristem propagation.

I wish I had the space for multiples as I know I am taking a chance with those SVO orchids but I am just going to have to cross my fingers and hope that the ones I received are pleasing to me when they bloom. If I do not like the results, they will be candidates for an orchid society sale.

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by DrDawn

...I was telling my husband last night about the suggestions of the group that I buy MORE orchids. He was thoughtful for a moment and then said, "well, if you need more, why don't you get a paintbrush and try hybridizing some of the ones you already have?". Sooooo, then I had to explain to him how that actually works, the timeframe involved, the stages from flower to pod to flasks to compots to pots. His response? "Well, that sounds like it will take too much room. You should buy more seedlings."

I try to explain to parents of young kids that at decision points they should give the kids several defined choices, all of which are acceptable to the parents.