Cattleya warneri var. albescens 'Santa Teresa'

[Rosim_in_BR]

Originally Posted by Shirley

Santa Teresa is so pretty, Mauro. What a beautiful lip! You have such an amazing variety of orchids that we never seem to see or have access to here. Lucky you!

Shirley

Thanks, Shirley. But, like everything else, there is the other side. You have access and are able to grow genera that I have never seen available here, or are impossible to grow, like those incredible cold grower Paphs and Odonto alliance plants. I am happy in two ways here in OB: first cause I can learn about what you grow and how you grow; second, cause I can show a bit of what we have here. It's a good way to enrich both sides, don't you think (let alone the new friends we make almost every day !!!)?

[Phantasm]

The labiata/warneri pictures you have posted are at such a high level after years of selective breeding that they appear to be hybrids. It would be difficult, if not impossible to find such quality in the wild. My guess is that they are easier to grow also?

This is a trend in many genera, and many species are much different from wild collected material. Vanda coerulea is up to F12 populations or so, and the quality is very superior. Paph rothschildianum is much superior than the original jungle clones. There are many more examples.......

[Rosim_in_BR]

Originally Posted by Phantasm

The labiata/warneri pictures you have posted are at such a high level after years of selective breeding that they appear to be hybrids. It would be difficult, if not impossible to find such quality in the wild. My guess is that they are easier to grow also?

After seeing innumerous natural labiatas and warneris in these past 25 years of my affair with orchids I can say that you are full of reason, it is impossible to find such quality flowers in the wild. And yes, you summarize it all, quality and easiness is the mirage all serious breeders are after; they are easier to grow than the ones nearer the natural.