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Okay I've turned into an orchid S.N.O.B. (Selective New Orchid Buyer).  I avoid "cookie cutter" orchid clones.  Clones are exact copies of the donor plant.  A few terms used to describe such mass produced orchids are meristem, mericlone, and vegetative propagation.  A previously awarded clone may not produce when grown under the conditions I provide.   

 

It makes it more interesting to shop for orchids.  You are given the name and awards of the parent plants, sometimes photographs, and objectives of the cross.  If after research, one or both of the parent plants strike my fancy, then I will by a new seedling, flask, or compot.

 

I research the parents of the seedlings as carefully as I can.  Information on the parent plants, flowers, culture, intent of the breeding, etc.  If older information is available, I may learn the grandparents of the plant used in the cross.  It helps to evaluate the degree of influence that parent will impart to the progeny.  Make your selection from the best parents available.  Keep in mind that many excellent orchids are not awarded because their bloom cycle doesn't coincide with a convenient show or because the grower doesn't choose to pay the fees necessary to register and award a plant.

 

Compots and flasks are especially fun.  They are time consuming and tedious, but you have an opportunity to compare plants' vigor, growth habits, and blooms from seed grown plant.  Sure I call it a crap-shoot gamble, but sometimes you win and are pleasantly surprised by a distinctive unusual bloom.

 

I talked with Katherine Norton last week about a bare root collection of 12 seed grown plants I bought from them in January.  The purchase was my birthday present.  I knew the plants were coming and was still surprised when 4 plants had spikes.  Those 4 bloomed and since then 3 more have bloomed.  I like to think my collection is uniquely mine and not available to the mass market.  It just doesn't get any better than that.

Photographs of two seedlings in bloom on July 31, 2006 are below.