How Long Does it Take from deflasking to first blooming?

[NYCorchidman]

For maudiae type, I understand it can be as early as 2 years as many of mine indicate.

For parvis (without counting emersonii and hangianum), it can be 4 or 5years (give or take).

How about parvi & multi hybrids?
Anyone tried these types of hybrids please help.
I hope it is not something like 10 years.

[WhiteRabbit]

[Fairorchids]

Some of the first rothschildianum selfings took 10-16 years, and sanderianum is on the same scale.

I did an F.C. Puddle x spicerianum cross, and the first seedling bloomed in 18 months.

Anywhere inbetwen these extremes, with Maudiaes taking 24-30 months, and complex Paphs usually 5-7 years

However, plants grown in Hawaii bloom much sooner.

[NYCorchidman]

Thanks, Kim.

I'm losing my motivation. lol
I guess I'll just have to continue to spend lots of money buying mature plants and trying my luck.

18 months sounds really good by the way.
I guess spicerianum helped speed the growth rate?
I have a complex crossed with spicerianum, and it grows just like spicerianum, quick to form a clump, compact, and fast growing. The thing is the flower looks almost like spicerianum as well instead of a mix of the two parents.

How did yours look?? The hybrid of F.C. Puddle and spicerianum? I can sort of imagine, but good ones of course will be very good.

[Fairorchids]

Cross had been made before, and named 'Pepperpuddle'. The flowers are sort of nondescript, but it does bloom on small plants, so I might use it again towards 'teacup' type breeding. I do not have a photo, as I was away when first one bloomed.

On a different note, if you have the space, I would encourage you to invest in flasks. This way you get to see a number of plants, and you can select the one or ones you want to keep.

Alternatively, you can set up wholesale account with some of the Hawaiian breeders, which requires orders with net value in excess of $250-300, and usually min 5 pcs of each item. However, now you are getting BS plants, possibly in bud, and at very reasonable prices. The flip side is of course, that you will also get a lot of plants, that are not worth keeping.

In the long run, it will probably balance with buying only plants in bloom, or selected divisions of known breeding plants.