Questions about Seedlings
 

I see so many of you have posted pictures of gorgeous blooms from seedlings. It seems they take 3-5 years to start blooming but it must be worth buying them due to their parentage and cost.

I am curious about difference in care for a seedling vs fully grown plant.
For example- Dendrobium seedling - if mature plants gets the 'chill hours' and dry time in winter,would you do the same for a seedling also?
Catttleya seedling- would you expose seedling to same conditions (light,heat,dry etc) as mature one?
Are seedlings more difficult to care for?

Hoping to learn from fellow growers.
Thanks a lot.

Different orchids will take more or less time to reach bloom size - some Phals, for instance, can bloom while very young. Some others can be more than 5 years before being bloom size.

For Dens that typically want a winter rest in order to bloom- no, I wouldn't do that for seedlings.

Catt seedlings - I'd probably go with a bit less light.

Seedlings aren't going to bloom anytime soon, so they don't need as high light, nor winter rests (things that are needed for blooming)

Seedlings (small ones especially) are very easy to overwater, underwater, burn, etc. And they just don't have the ability to withstand some of our mistakes, the way a more mature plant might be able to. I've had some success with larger seedlings, but any tiny ones have all succumbed to either over or underwatering at some point. Of course, it can be done! Just need to be careful with the water, and also be prepared for losses.

Near bloom size orchids (usually 1-2 years away from bloom size), will cost less than bloom size, more than seedlings, but are easier than seedlings. Large seedlings (maybe 2-3 years from bloom size), in my experience have also been not too difficult - they're usually big enough to withstand a little more abuse than smaller ones.

That answers my questions.
Many thanks.

another factor is whether or not you eventually plan to propagate orchids. Growing seedlings on, from a flask or compot, is good on-the-job training if ultimately you want to propagate.
Its what I am doing and my experience so far is that seedlings are remarkably resilient - but cannot overcome any attention deficit from the owner with regards to growing requirements. Yep, everything depends on your commitment. "Older" plants are definitely more forgiving.