Your ideas for the next summer plant project

[Rowangreen]

Camille, I think maybe they wouldn't have to be young plants in that case: eg could ask Schwerter which of their phal crosses are seed grown. I suspect some are. I also get the impression that everything on the Roelke site is seed grown.

Right, I've been out pounding the streets again and probably doing way too much thinking about this... and I've gone really wild now!

This would definitely not be for a quick summer project, but if people are interested we could get going with it pretty fast.

Basically it seems to me that if we are going for a flask project then we are going for something long term, basically several years, and possibly with quite a lead in time while our flasks grow. So, if people are willing to commit to that, why not go the whole hog and start by making the crosses ourselves?

Here's how I see it working:

1) People with suitable parents suggest them. If enough people say 'yes I'd like one of those' then they go ahead and polinate. We could have several different crosses started as long as people show reasonable interest, as some might not take. With any luck we'll be able to do at least some of the same crosses in each region.
2) While the pods are growing we sort out a flasking service in each region. From what I've seen many will flask in return for keeping the spares if they like what's on offer. Or we could organise a deal where each person who wants a flask pays a little in advance, so that the person providing the seed didn't have to pay for the flasking.
3) Once pods are ready (or growing well if they are going to be ready at different times) we do polls to find out which there will be enough buyers for. Maybe several will get through this stage if there's enough interest!
4) Winners go to the flasker's. They get distributed from there. If we want to get really fancy maybe we could ask the flasker to grow on some to young plant stage for those that don't think they can handle a flask?
5) Couple more years and we get flowers!

Actually that is one hell of a task! Certainly a long term commitment... but I think it would be very cool if there were enough people wanted to go for it.

[zxyqu]

This is an interesting idea, but there are some very big complicating factors. While it is totally feasible, and interesting, I dont foresee people being interested in a 4-6+ year project. As an example, hybrid phals = 6 month pod time, assuming you could cross it the day the project poll ends, and that there is any seed to sow. After harvest you're talking a year+ in lab before the replates are done, and by the time they are received to everyone, it'll likely be 2 years after the project has ended. Then after those 2 years, you've still got to wait another 2-4 years just to bloom out a few. And none of this includes how the flasker/pollinator is going to get paid should some people decide 2 years later they aren't interested any more.

For this to work, and believe me I really like this idea, we'd need to find someone with a few flasks on hand (maybe a Taiwanese grower) ready to ship out and be deflasked. Or at least close to that. That way people get plants quickly. A lot harder to decide no on the project if people get the plants ASAP. Also easier for the person dealing with the flask to get $$$ back.
So, let's hold off on the flask idea until we can get a lot of these questions answered. Maybe a next Spring project or something.

[Rowangreen]

Is it really 2 years in flask? I didn't realise it was that long! If so I guess that is tooooo long! LOL

I don't think the money is an issue so much. A lot of flasking services seem to be interested in keeping any spares: presumably they'll sell any spare. The person getting the flask would also buy them from the service, not the person who pollinated and grew the seed.

[Wynn Dee13]

If we did a flask project it would be best to start in the spring to give the seedlings a good start. I think a plant out of flask is not an easy plant to grow either so a lot of people might not want to do that. Also I don't know if I want to wait five years for it to bloom. I have been growing orchids for over 10 years and seedlings out of flask are still a huge challenge for me. I have yet to keep one alive long enough to bloom it. I do find Phals to be easier though but maybe that is just me.

[camille1585]

I am having a tough time finding seed grown hybrids in all 3 regions. I haven't put a whole lot of effort into it, but I'd prefer to save all the searching for the winter months, in preparation for the spring project which could be the seed hybrid and/or flask project.

Sooooo, I have an alternative suggestion. As Rosie pointed out, 3 plant projects have rather 'diluted' participation in the threads afterwards, since people are spread over 3 projects. So I thought of a way to keep it a 1 plant project, and likely have enough plants in the US.

Why not come up with a list of common (ie, easy to find so availability in US is no problem) and very variable hybrids/species?
Examples (that I have not researched at all)
*Neo falcata (already did)
*Tolumnia (there are zillions of colors available!)
*Oncidium Twinkle
*Phal equestris
*Rupiculous Laelias in general
* ??

[nenella]

I don't mind any of the above suggestions Love them ALL ! also Gastrochillus is another favourite of mine as they are also easy to grow and there are ?at least 50 odd different ones...

[zxyqu]

Phal equestris sounds like an option as well, as there are several cultivars and numerous places with various ones.
Good idea Camille, now take a break

[Rowangreen]

Common variables now, flask/seedling in spring sounds a great plan to me.

More for the CV list:

Paph maudiae
Brassia or Brassia hybrid (good excuse to get a gorgeous Miltassia type LOL)

[camille1585]

Good ideas! I like Brassias too. And it's nice to be able to include hybrids, without the pressure of finding the exact same one in all regions. Makes for a bit of a different project, since as Bob says, it gets a bit boring to do the same thing all the time.
We could also add groups of very similar orchids, ex: Phal parishii, Phal lobbii and their hybrid. They are extremely similar, so it's like everyone growing the same thing.

I'll kick off this project probably the second week of July or so, so we can buy the winning plant roughly 4 weeks after.

[Call_Me_Bob]

That would be cool Camille! Like pick a subgenus. Such as subgenus Parishii of phalaenopsis, or section stauroglottis (equestris) of subgenus phal, of the genus phalaenopsis. Or even like say pick from P schilleriana, stuartiana, or phillipinensis. Or something like that!