Anyone know of HUGE flowering maudiae type?

[PaphMadMan]

Yes, there are some out there who pass off other plants as Maudiae 'The Queen', and many who claim it is the same as 'Bankhaus' or 'Magnificum'. If you run across the real thing the difference is obvious.

Your Clair de Lune 'Edgard van Belle' is a good choice, but the flower in your picture is not nearly as good as that clone is capable of. Grow it well for a couple years and step back. Even then I'd still bet on 'The Queesn' to do better on a good day.

What is really the biggest? I doubt anyone knows. Even if someone took the time to search all award records for Maudiae types, it is still likely that the largest flower ever was never seen by any judges.

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by PaphMadMan

Yes, there are some out there who pass off other plants as Maudiae 'The Queen', and many who claim it is the same as 'Bankhaus' or 'Magnificum'. If you run across the real thing the difference is obvious.

Your Clair de Lune 'Edgard van Belle' is a good choice, but the flower in your picture is not nearly as good as that clone is capable of. Grow it well for a couple years and step back. Even then I'd still bet on 'The Queesn' to do better on a good day.

What is really the biggest? I doubt anyone knows. Even if someone took the time to search all award records for Maudiae types, it is still likely that the largest flower ever was never seen by any judges.

It seems to be the trend that highly popular things of anything usually have knock offs.

I agree with you about the flower shape. I've seen some nice shapes on 'EVB' with flat & round dorsal with overall well balanced flower.

By the way, the flower I saw at the flower store was bigger than this one pictured here.

I wish I took a picture of it with my hand next to it.

---------- Post added at 01:30 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:27 AM ----------

Originally Posted by jeremyinsf

I like your thinking! Anyway, this one is good enough for me. And I learned some stuff along the way. And I'm having fun. And maybe I helped someone else somehow. That's all that actually matters in my orchid world.

True, everyone has a different taste and whatever makes you happy.

I didn't know Alma Gavaert is not a vigorous grower as the other two "giants". Maybe that's why they are used a lot in the breeding for flower quality but not sold as commonly as the other giants.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by PaphMadMan

Yes, there are some out there who pass off other plants as Maudiae 'The Queen', and many who claim it is the same as 'Bankhaus' or 'Magnificum'. If you run across the real thing the difference is obvious.

I don't think it's quite THAT obvious, because you're forgetting the possibility of a poorly-grown plant.

You can have an FCC cultivar, but if it is not given its proper culture, it will not continue to perform up to that level.

I have actually acquired a number of really nice specimens by buying plants with "questionable" identification, and giving them some extra attention.