Greetings from Santa Barbara
 

Hi y'all
My name is Lance and I live in Santa Barbara county, Ca. I don't know if many of you know but Santa Barbara has tons of orchid nurseries which is why I got interested in the first place. Aside from growing orchids I also grow many Carnivorous plants. You all know the venus fly trap, right? Well... theres a lot more species of CP's that have different trapping mechanisms to trap different things. Heres some pics of my Nepenthes (tropical pitcher plants) which live in situ with some tropical orchids in the wild.

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/...DSC_0004-3.jpg

Nepenthes X Ile De France. This hybrid was created by Lecoufle several decades ago. As you can see the trap is similar to a pitcher that you drink from, with the digestive fluid at the bottom.


http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/...DSC_0052-1.jpg

Nepenthes X red leopard...hence the name, this pitcher plant looks like a red leopard.

Anyways, the reason I got into orchid growing is because Nepenthes flower randomly at random times (basically the opposite of orchids). This makes it very hard to create some cool hybrids. Also, Nepenthes are a-sexual, with only 30% of all plants being female. A mature Nepenthes may flower next month, or in 20 years. I hope that I can expand my witty amount of orchids and hopefully make some cool hybrids to share!


- Lance

Hi Lance, welcome to OB!
yes, indeed you are in a cool spot in CA.. great whether and very nice orchids nurseries around...

Your Nepenthes x Red Leopard is gorgeous! :)

as for hybridizing orchids, I have posted some info in your other thread where you ask for info regarding C. schilleriana pollinia...

If you are indeed interested in growing your own orchids from seeds, I would suggest you read some of the articles that have been published here in OB, in order to have you started in this whole world... Good luck!

Welcome to Orchid Board! You have a wealth of resources there in Santa Barbara. I've bought several orchids from Santa Barbara Orchid Estates. Being able to buy locally is a huge advantage because you know that those orchids will grow in your environment.

:welcomeflowers: Glad you found us!

Beautiful pitcher plant!

Welcome! That's a gorgeous plant you have!
I, too, love SBOE. I have several plants from them. You're lucky you live so close to that place!

Hello and welcome, love the pitchers!
Joann

Welcome! I love Santa Barbara! I went last year to the Santa Barbara Orchid Estates International orchid fair and loved it. Their nursery is awesome. Nice people too. I'm hopping to go this year too. I would love to live there!

Your pitchers are beautiful! I always have been intrigued by them. Thanks for sharing!

Welcome! You are so lucky to live where you do. Not only is Santa Barbara beautiful, but you have those orchid nurseries. Hmmm. Maybe I should move. :hmm

Welcome :welcomeflowers: