Which do you prefer Species or Hybrid?

[cb977]

That works too

It's all about what makes us happy

[peeweelovesbooks]

Species, definitely. I've had more luck with them than hybrids. Who knows why>

[quiltergal]

Originally Posted by stefpix

some Cattleya hybrids are over the top and a bit hideous.

I couldn't agree more. Some of the giant Phals fall under that realm for me too......Frankenflowers.

[natasha]

for me, i think it boils down to what actually suitable for my climate and my habit.
for phals, it would be species as i can flower them. the hybrids no longer in my must buy list as they never flower here!
for vandas, it would be the hybrids, since the species i bought are either already dead or in orchid hospital.
for dens, i think i can do both! though i am actually better in flowering the hybrids, especially the horn type.

[Tropicgirl]

I lean towards the ones that end in 'chid.

I like the challenge of species and the fact that they are more natural. I think it's very important to keep all of the species going in our collections, who knows how much longer they will be around in the wild.

But I also like the ease of some hybrids and the beauty that is created with them. Yes, some do end up looking like Frankenflower, but others are gorgeous.

I really just love them all, I have a hard time picking one.

[trdyl]

I really thought the hybrid was going to be the leader on this. And not a single vote for it yet.

[stefpix]

There are too many hybrids and you do not really know what they are. I wonder why they are growing so many hybrids anyway. People would buy species and more primary hybrids if tehy were more available. I wonder what is the advantage for nurseries to hybridize so much. The only hybrids that seem not too freaky to me are some Vandas and some Phals [but many freaky phals]. I do not really get the need to make hybrids with so many large flowered species.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by jrodpad

Why are species so much more difficult to care for than hybrids? Feel free to heckle me for the noobie question.

- J

As was mentioned, this is an excellent question.

Species are not necessarily more difficult to grow than hybrids.

Hybrids can be difficult to grow too.

The level of difficulty is really not the issue. As RosieC had mentioned, species are more heavily adapted to their natural environment. Orchids in general are not generalists. They are niche plants. There are specific niches they inhabit and they don't usually grow in large stands of multiple individuals compared to many of the other plants that occur in the same habitats (there are exceptions).

Sometimes the conditions of the habitats are very counterintuitive. Other times, the conditions of the habitats have a lot of very specific and seemingly unimportant elements about it that sometimes they're ignored (some details can be worked around or ignored, but some details are crucial). Then there's the fact that not all environments are easily reproducible for some people, depending on what the grower's growing area is like (specifically). Another thing to consider is that not many people understand how orchids behave. This one is the clincher - sometimes, there's just not enough specific information on the habitat that the species come from (both textual and photographic).

There is more attention to detail with growing species. It's one of those things where you have to often times go the extra mile.

[stefpix]

well plants and animals adapt to different environments anyway. there have been so many climatic changes.

the same specie can live in different areas... they evolve.
Also hybrids are not an average of the parents. One parent could be very dominant and the other very recessive.

Anyway I started with hybrid phals from Lowes etc on closeout. some thrived some died in the same conditions. Some seedlings may be strong, some may be runts.

In the beginning I wanted some Vandas got some seedlings. People on Gardenweb advised against and tehy all lived ecept one . new leaves new roots. Very adaptable [but who knows if they will bloom?].
You never know until you try.

[Andrew]

I grow both species and hybrids. I like the obvious diversity between species while I like the combined traits in hybrids that you just can't find in species. I am, however, more critical of poor form/colour in a hybrid (or even a line bred species) than I am in a species from a known location.