K
Kevin
Guest
I am wanting to try soem orchid breeding, and in particular, slipper orchids. I have 4 Phrags in bloom and in spike right now, and would like to try a cross. I have been trying to find info how to do this, what are the best ways, which species/hybrids are best to use and so on, but I have yet to nail it down. I will only be making the cross, not doing the actual flasking. So, here's my questions:
I have a Sergeant Eric in bloom, and Rosalie Dixler, Cardinale 'Ingrid' and Hanne Popow in spike right now. Which would make the best cross? Well, I should rephrase that, as 'best' is relative. Which would you make and why? I have many other Phrags, but these are the ones that will flower soon. After doing quite a bit of research, I found, surprisingly, that none of these crosses have been made before. At least, not registered.
A question: if they have not been registered, that doesn't necessarily mean that they have never been tried before. If not, why not? If yes, then did they not have good germination? I have a hard time believing that they would result in a bad flower. I have found similar crosses, but not exact. For example, Elizabeth Castle is Mem. Dick Clements x Hanne Popow. Close, but not quite, as Rosalie Dixler is just a smaller version of Mem. Dick Clements.
As far as the actual pollination, is there a trick? Some people say the humidity has to be high in order for the pollen to stick. Some people use honey. Is it best to leave as much of the flower intact when pollinating, to possibly put more energy into setting the seed? What are the chances that any of these crosses will actually take?
Which parent is best to be used for the pod or the pollen? Sometimes the pod parent lends more dominant traits to the cross, but not always. I would suspect that the pod parent should be a very large, healthy plant. That would disqualify my Hanne Popow, as it is a very small division. The others should be good.
My goal would be either a bright red flower, like Rosalie Dixler, or a nice white/pink, along the lines of Cardinale. I'm thinking that the Rosalie Dixler x Hanne Popow would be nice. Or Sergeant Eric x Rosalie Dixler. Maybe I should wait until some of my other Phrags bloom.
Sorry for the long intro here, but I would like some input. I could just go ahead and try any cross, but this a long-term endeavour, so I want to make it count. Thanks in advance for your help.
I have a Sergeant Eric in bloom, and Rosalie Dixler, Cardinale 'Ingrid' and Hanne Popow in spike right now. Which would make the best cross? Well, I should rephrase that, as 'best' is relative. Which would you make and why? I have many other Phrags, but these are the ones that will flower soon. After doing quite a bit of research, I found, surprisingly, that none of these crosses have been made before. At least, not registered.
A question: if they have not been registered, that doesn't necessarily mean that they have never been tried before. If not, why not? If yes, then did they not have good germination? I have a hard time believing that they would result in a bad flower. I have found similar crosses, but not exact. For example, Elizabeth Castle is Mem. Dick Clements x Hanne Popow. Close, but not quite, as Rosalie Dixler is just a smaller version of Mem. Dick Clements.
As far as the actual pollination, is there a trick? Some people say the humidity has to be high in order for the pollen to stick. Some people use honey. Is it best to leave as much of the flower intact when pollinating, to possibly put more energy into setting the seed? What are the chances that any of these crosses will actually take?
Which parent is best to be used for the pod or the pollen? Sometimes the pod parent lends more dominant traits to the cross, but not always. I would suspect that the pod parent should be a very large, healthy plant. That would disqualify my Hanne Popow, as it is a very small division. The others should be good.
My goal would be either a bright red flower, like Rosalie Dixler, or a nice white/pink, along the lines of Cardinale. I'm thinking that the Rosalie Dixler x Hanne Popow would be nice. Or Sergeant Eric x Rosalie Dixler. Maybe I should wait until some of my other Phrags bloom.
Sorry for the long intro here, but I would like some input. I could just go ahead and try any cross, but this a long-term endeavour, so I want to make it count. Thanks in advance for your help.
