Paph British Bulldog x Avenger

[mauraec]

Geoff will certainly know far better than I, Maura, but if I'm remembering correctly, I think they generally prefer cooler temps than the Maudiae types.

Thanks, Paul - that's a good start!

[Dorsetman]

Do you cultivate them the same as a Maudiae? Or do they require much different care? I'd really like to widen my paph horizons a little.

I am not very imaginative in this way , all my orchids are in one and the same greenhouse - Cattleyas. Vandas, Oncidiums, Paphs - everything. All the paphs are on one bench , all in the same compost, etc etc. The complex hybrids are in some ways the easiest of all - as in all branches of orchids. Individual species may demand this or that, but in a hybrid, all that gets mixed up together and special needs tend to disappear. The only thing to say about this section is that you do need to see them in flower, or see a pic of the flower of the actual plant,. or trust your dealer. Complex paphs got a bad name because so many horrible plants were produced by crosses made from inferior parents, or in combinations which did not work . And of course you do have a problem in that it is no use looking for a particular clone ( with few exceptions) because these things just cannot be mass produced, unlike most other orchids . Tissue propagation ( meristem culture) is impossible - and more than one orchid nursery has gone bust spending thousands - even millions in one case - trying to do that. So, when you find something you like, sweet-talk the owner for a division !

[GenevaDad]

Oh my goodness! Gorgeous! Worthy of anyone's wish list!

[mauraec]

I am not very imaginative in this way , all my orchids are in one and the same greenhouse - Cattleyas. Vandas, Oncidiums, Paphs - everything. All the paphs are on one bench , all in the same compost, etc etc. The complex hybrids are in some ways the easiest of all - as in all branches of orchids. Individual species may demand this or that, but in a hybrid, all that gets mixed up together and special needs tend to disappear. The only thing to say about this section is that you do need to see them in flower, or see a pic of the flower of the actual plant,. or trust your dealer. Complex paphs got a bad name because so many horrible plants were produced by crosses made from inferior parents, or in combinations which did not work . And of course you do have a problem in that it is no use looking for a particular clone ( with few exceptions) because these things just cannot be mass produced, unlike most other orchids . Tissue propagation ( meristem culture) is impossible - and more than one orchid nursery has gone bust spending thousands - even millions in one case - trying to do that. So, when you find something you like, sweet-talk the owner for a division !

Thank you - you remind me of a New Zealand orchid grower who admonished everyone "NOT to mollycoddle them"! I have found a nursery specializing in bredding and growing paphs about 3 or 4 hours away from me - they are going to send me a list of their inventory and their bud/spike inventory. When my husband is released from the hospital (probably not any time soon), we'll go over and see what they have. From what little I do know, they grow paphs from Paphanatics, as well as others, so I think they're very discriminating - they are also going to go out of business by the end of next year, as you noted so sagely.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Wonderful, almost perfect round slipper orchid bloom, Geoff. I looked this one up to see if it had been named and it is not yet named. It is a very complex hybrid.

cheers,
BD

[Dorsetman]

bred by my long-time acquaintances and friends who once ran a specialisty paph nursery in UK, moved to Florida, then back to UK, and handed the nurseruy on to the next generation ( who hardly know a slipper from an old boot .. but that's another story). Since they no longer run a nursery they have no interest in registering names, and whilst I am sure that they would happily allow me to register it, I have already named paphs for my wife, mother, etc. etc ( even - rather immodestly for myself )and don't intend to use it for breeding myself, so unless I successfully submitted it for an RHS award - in which case I would have to register it - there is no point in paying out good money just to name a local landmark or something !

[mauraec]

bred by my long-time acquaintances and friends who once ran a specialisty paph nursery in UK, moved to Florida, then back to UK, and handed the nurseruy on to the next generation ( who hardly know a slipper from an old boot .. but that's another story). Since they no longer run a nursery they have no interest in registering names, and whilst I am sure that they would happily allow me to register it, I have already named paphs for my wife, mother, etc. etc ( even - rather immodestly for myself )and don't intend to use it for breeding myself, so unless I successfully submitted it for an RHS award - in which case I would have to register it - there is no point in paying out good money just to name a local landmark or something !

Aha! So now we know your hidden motive for raising fabulous orchids, Geoff! If you can't win an award with it, and name it after a loved one, it's merely an exercise in growing skills - of which you have countless numbers.....