Subject: Paph seedpod?
From: Rob Halgren
Date: 4/26/2004 1:57 PM Central Daylight Time
Message-id:
theoneflasehaddock wrote:
Well, then it's self-pollinated. Paphs can't really be crossed with
any other
genus (as far as I know, I don't know if it's possible with Cypripediums,
but
definitely not anything else).
Nope, not cyps, phrags, or selenipediums either. If you do manage
to make that work, let me know... *grin* And if you would be so kind
as to not tell anybody else until I get a few thousand up to blooming
size, that would help too.
Okay. I had heard they couldn't be crossed with Phrags at all, and kind of
assumed that would be true with the others.
Personally, I don't expect that the seedpod would significantly compromise
it,
but Rob has more experience than me with seepods on Paphs, you should listen
to
him, unless you want seedlings.
Depends a lot on the type of breeding, actually. Maudiae types
(like Macabre) are very vigorous in general, and might not even notice.
That's good to hear. I have a P. callosum in bloom I'm going to try pollinating
soon.
Less vigorous plants (many species, some complex hybrids) may take quite
a hit. I know somebody who set too many capsules on a very nice Paph.
kolopakingii (which can have 8 or more flowers per inflorescence) and
killed the poor thing.
It makes sense that multiple seedpods would hurt the plant a lot more. That's a
real shame that it was enough to kill it.
That might be an extreme example. In general,
if you aren't breeding on purpose, it is always better to remove any
capsules that might form. It has to take some energy, which could be
devoted to growing and flowering. Every little bit helps.
For the same reason, a lot of people will cut spikes on first bloom
paphs. I've seen people cut phal spikes too. These incredibly patient
people would rather give the plant another year of uninterrupted growth
and see the next flowering at something more closely approximating the
full potential of the plant. I've done it a few times, but it hurts...
I don't have the moral fortitude for it.
Heh, yeah, I don't know if I could do that either. Though one multifloral
hybrid turned out to have aborted it's stalk on it's own. I may have to
consider it next fall, if my P. rothschildianum decides to go into bloom. It's
vigorous, but probably too small.
Depends if you want a bunch of little Paph Macabre all over the place.
There are a lot of new Macabre which are simply stunning compared to
older versions of that cross. Look for them. The 'old' ones are nice,
the new ones are awe inspiring. If it were me, I might play with
growing some seeds, but I would spend my money on some of that new set
of Macabres. Orchid Zone made this last batch using superior parents.
Various vendors are selling them, if they have any left. Ask for the
newest Orchid Zone Macabres by name, a paph specialist will know what
you are talking about. It is possible that other breeders have also
remade the cross with improved parents, I have only seen the OZ ones.
That's interesting, I will look up some of those.
-
theoneflasehaddock