mericlone peloric phalaenopsis

[Alys]

I have read that peloric phalaenopsis can be unstable and the flowers not come back with the peloric characteristics. Is this true for one that has be started as a mericlone?

[Ray]

There's peloria or pelorism and there's deformity.

True peloria should carry through in a mericlone, although sometimes odd genetic twists can happen that alter them a bit.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Alys

I have read that peloric phalaenopsis can be unstable and the flowers not come back with the peloric characteristics. Is this true for one that has be started as a mericlone?

I know that there is lots of breeding for peloric flowers in Phalaenopsis. (The "big foot" or "big lip" type is one of the peloric forms that is very popular). As with any characteristic (and especially for traits that may be recessive) only a small number of seedlings in a cross will have the sought-after trait. Then, to have these reliably peloric (or any other trait) the plant is mericloned. But that is done for mass-produced orchids generally, not just Phals. (Catts, Vandas, Oncidiums, etc) The unpredictability of seed crosses is desirable for hybridizers trying for the "next new thing" and undesirable for mass-producing nurseries that want to know what they are sending to market.

[SallyO420]

Thank you for all the helpful replies. I did just buy the Kelpak and supplies and am in the process of using them. I have already seen big improvements!