Summer 2024 plant project - plant selection

[camille1585]

I noticed that the spring 2024 project never got off the ground. Since that thread has been dormant for a while, I thought I'd go ahead and start a new one.

Anyone interested in a summer project? I'm hoping we can select a plant within the next couple weeks so we can start shopping early July.

Tolumnia was the current proposal in the previous thread, but that's not an easy plant for many people. We can stick with that if that's what everyone likes, however I think it would be nice to find a plant which is more likely to succeed for the majority of growing conditions we all have.


We could pick a species as we often do, or all hybrids within a species/type (like we did with Sarcochilus) or maybe do something like 'any primary hybrid of species xyz'.

Any ideas? Ideally something that can be found somewhat easily in both the USA and EU.


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Current project idea : Select a species. It and all primary hybrids of it can be purchased for the project

List of possible candidates so far

• Brassavola species (B. nodosa?)
• Onc sotoanum
• Vanda (Neofinetia) falcata
  
• Paph species

Final project idea : Any Paph primary hybrid. Choice is up to participant, so they can choose a cross matching their experience level and growing conditions.

[Roberta]

How about primary hybrids (with component species where possible)? I'm really stoked having Phal (Vandopirea) Little One blooming at the same time as both of its parents (Phal hygrochila/Hygrochlus[Vandopsis] parishii and Phal [Sedirea] japonica). (I'll be posting soon, was just waiting to get more flowers open on the Phal hygrochila)

With primaries, one can often clearly see the influence of both parents and as an orchid nerd, I find that really interesting and instructive.

[camille1585]

That was my thought. If we all have fun picking primaries that all have a given species as one parent, it could be really, really cool to see how the other parent influences the look of the blooms.

For instance, primary hybrids of Neofinetia falcata are pretty and easier to bloom than the species, and differ quite a lot in form (though those are rare and get snapped up pretty fast if a vendor does carry one).

[Roberta]

I have another that's interesting... C. Quinquecolor, which is C. forbesii which I also have,(very cold-tolerant) by C. aclandiae (which I don't have because it's a warm-grower and I don't have GH space). The hybrid is cold-tolerant like forbesii but colorful and fragrant like aclandiae.

The possibilities are endless, different people will have different primaries and different insights. Since it would be the concept, rather than specific plants, making up the project, EVERYBODY can play. Where someone might have the species that is the parent of somebody else's primary, if they can share the photo that makes it even better.

[Blueszz]

I like this idea! But about Cattlyas, these might be hard bloom in Northern latitudes. Isn’t it.

I bought this year a few despite I’m not convinced they will flower for me. They might flower. Just not sure. But we have quite some members living more up north.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Blueszz

I like this idea! But about Cattlyas, these might be hard bloom in Northern latitudes. Isn’t it.

I bought this year a few despite I’m not convinced they will flower for me. They might flower. Just not sure. But we have quite some members living more up north.

Most will flower fine here, I've seen quite a few photos on the NOV facebook page. I also have 3 Catts myself that bloom pretty reliably. Maybe they'd have more leads and flowers further south, but they do well enough for me. My Catt aclandaie hybrid has a cluster of 5 buds right now.

The issue I have with Catts though is the size! Might be better to stick to some more compact species/primaries if we go that route.

[Blueszz]

Recently I got Oncidium eucycline. A nice intermediate to warm growing plant. I think preferring warm. It’s a small species. But maybe it’s not challenging enough?

[Roberta]

No need for everyone to pick the same, I don't think. There are minis in most of the tribes For instance, among the Oncidinae, there is Onc. John Louis Shirrah (Onc. hyphaematicum x sotoanum) and of course Onc. Twinkle (Onc. cheirophorum x Onc. sotoanum)

[Keysguy]

Phal (Vandopirea) Little One

Awesome plant Roberta.
Here's mine back in early April.
I forget how many spikes it had but it was my best bloom on it ever.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Keysguy

Awesome plant Roberta.
Here's mine back in early April.
I forget how many spikes it had but it was my best bloom on it ever.

Looks great! And very fragrant too. Clearly, temperature-tolerant, your climate is a lot warmer than mine - All 3 of my plants (Little One and its parents) live outside, coastal southern California with winter lows to 40 F or occasionally lower. A little different than south Florida, I think.