Growing Orchid Hybrids
Thursday, January 8th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
The orchids (scientifically speaking, Orchidacea) are a grouping of plants consisting of well over than 20,000 identified species, quite a few of which are very valuable commercially. Many people consider them to be far and away the most interesting order of plants in the entire vegetable kingdom due to their unusual mode of growth and existence, their bizarre habits and the multitudinous shapes and forms of their blooms, which are distinct from those of all the other plants — fine in texture and with wonderful, glowing colors.
Orchids are also to be remarked on because of their well-known adaptability and the extent to which they will easily cross-breed or cross-fertilize. This is so in their natural environs as well as when they are under cultivation. This fact also accounts for the almost endless varieties of flowers and colors that can be the outcome of hybridization.
Some botany: The orchid flower as a rule is made up of these parts: the sepals, petals, the labellum (or pouch), and the column (or crest).
The labellum is generally the most notable part as well as the most important organ of the flower. Insects enter it looking for the succulent juices held inside the spur or walls of the flower, pollinating the plant in the process and furthering cross-fertilization in the bargain. This is how such a large number of new varieties come about in the wild, and these are the orchids that are termed natural hybrids. But under cultivation this work must be performed by human caretakers using small camel’s hair brushes and with a careful eye and judgment as to the right moment for fertilization. It is in this manner that the loveliest orchid hybrids are created, and these are termed garden hybrids.
Among the the things that makes orchid growing so much fun is the dream of producing our own orchid hybrids. It takes knowledge and a modicum of patience, but even non-professionals have created breathtaking plants by experimenting with hybridization.
If you’re interested in experimenting with hybridizing orchids, you should first have some good experience in the basic cultivation of these plants. Only when you feel confident in growing and caring for orchids should you venture on the more demanding effort of hybridizing them. Orchids are slow growing, and slow to come to bloom, so you must be prepared to wait often years to see if your hybridizing attempts are successful. Nevertheless, when you do succeeed, it’s an incredible experience. You can produce not only some beautiful flowers by this process, but also orchid varieties never before seen in the world.
Clearly, you must gain all the knowledge that you can before attempting to hybridize orchids. Fortunately, there are good books available on all aspects of orchid growing, including step-by-step instructions on hybridization.
The most thorough guide to today’s orchid Gardening, I have found, is Orchid Care Expert by a Mr. Nigel Howard, which may be downloaded from the Internet. Mr. Howard’s ebook is a complete course in itself, perfect for neophytes as well as the more experienced. In addition, spend some time at the Orchid Secretswebsite, which contains an ever-expanding library of articles on all facets of orchid cultivation.
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