The Cross Breeding of Orchids
The orchids (scientifically speaking, Orchidacea) are a group of plants consisting of well over than 20,000 known species, quite a few of which are highly valuable commercially. Many people believe them to be far and away the most intriguing order of plants in the entire vegetable kingdom because of their unusual mode of growth and existence, their odd habits and the multitudinous shapes and forms of their flowers, which are distinct from those of all the other plants — delicate seeming in texture and with wonderful, glowing tints.
Orchids are also to be remarked upon owing to their well-known adaptability and the degree to which they will freely cross breed or cross-fertilize. This is true in their natural environs as well as under cultivation. This fact also accounts for the virtually endless varieties of flowers and colors that can occur from the hybridizing process.
A little botany: The orchid flower as a rule consists of these parts: sepals, the petals, the labellum or pouch, and the column or crest.
On most orchids the labellum is generally the most conspicuous part as well as the most important organ of the flower. Insects crawl or fly into it looking for the sweet juices stored inside the spur or walls of the flower, pollinating the plant in the process and bringing about cross-fertilization in the bargain. This is how so many new varieties are produced in the wild, and these are termed natural hybrids. But under cultivation this task must be accomplished by human caretakers using small camel’s hair brushes and with a careful eye and judgment as to the right time for fertilization. It is in this manner that the most wonderful hybrid orchids are produced, and these are termed garden hybrids.
Among the the things that makes growing orchids so exciting is the dream of producing our own hybrid orchids. It takes knowledge and a modicum of patience, but even non-professionals have created some astounding orchids by experimenting with hybridization.
If you are interested in experimenting with hybridizing orchids, you should first have some solid experience in the basic cultivation of these plants.Only when you have gained confidence in working with orchids should you try the more demanding task of hybridization. Orchids are slow growing plants, and slow to produce blooms, so you must be comfortable with waiting sometimes years to find out if your hybridizing efforts are successful. Nevertheless, when it succeeds, it’s an incredible experience. You can produce not only some beautiful flowers by this process, but also orchid varieties that have never before been seen in the world.
Certainly, you must seek out all the how-to information that you can before trying your hand at hybridizing orchids. Fortunately, there are good books available on all aspects of orchid growing, including step-by-step instructions on hybridizing orchids.
The most complete guidebook to 21st-century orchid growing, many growers agree, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which can be downloaded online. Howard’s well-written guide constitutes a comprehensive education all by itself. And, it’s suitable for novices as well as the more experienced orchid growers. Additionally, check out the Orchid Secretssite, which contains an ever-growing database of articles on many topics of orchid care.
No related posts.