C. War Paint

[pipsxlch]

Older cross, I got this one approx. 25 years ago from a nurseryman named Chapman. He'd set up a booth at a local flea market and had tons of these, ranging from deep pinks through salmon to orange and into deep lavenders. There were a few reds; this was the deepest of them. In life, it looks as red as blood.

I wasn't looking for an orchid that day, poor thing had to come home strapped to the front forks of my motorcycle and it was a chilly day.

I almost lost it in a severe cold snap several years ago that took out quite a few plants. Seems all better now. It's a very easy grower, mid sized, throws multiple leads quickly. Flowers are fragrant during the day. Plant currently has 16 3 1/2- 4" flowers/buds on 3 leads.

[estación seca]

Yes, a long-term keeper!

[No-Pro-mwa]

So pretty. Glad it made it.

[FSUOrchids]

There are still FL vendors I see selling this cross at shows. It's a nice plant.

[Leafmite]

Those flowers are beautiful. I can see why it is still sold today.

[dounoharm]

beautiful!! I really like the old crosses....searching for more this summer, that one is now on my list!

[rbarata]

Nice red, pipsxlch.

One of these days I'll get one as red as yours.

[brsucculents]

I wish these old crosses were readily available. Very nice.

[estación seca]

Difficult decisions for a US-based hybridizer who grows here... remake old crosses using parents superior to those used in the original cross, or make new crosses?

People addicted to showing and winning awards often prefer new things, thinking they are more likely to get awards. But maybe hobbyists would rather buy a seedling from a known good cross than take a real gamble.

It's akin to the decision to buy a mericlone of an awarded hybrid, or take a chance on a seedling from a new cross. The awarded mericlone is almost always going to give a "better" flower from the perspective of an AOS judge. But some people like surprises.

Many of the new-cross seedlings I've bought have turned out to be relative duds compared to what was hoped for in the description. But I do like surprises.

In Asia hybridizers sow all the seeds from a pod, grow them all out, and select the best for mericloning for the mass market, not show-quality flowers. Best to them means does it fit in a box? How long will it last in a box? How fast can it be brought to flower under commercial growing conditions?

[pipsxlch]

I saw this cross last year at a couple local shows too... think Jerry Meola (OrchidsAmore) had them, and he posts here sometimes. I don't know if his are seed grown or mericlone and if they would bloom out the same color as mine or not; the ones Mr. Chapman had were consistent in size and shape, but not color.

Dounoharm, get back to me in the spring and remind me to see about dividing it.