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| Cal Orchids has a stunning array of hybrid Japanese bred Lycaste. 3 long benches full, probably close to 1,000 plants. I don't know how many crosses he has but I would estimate between 30 and 50. I was there yesterday and picked out the best 5 out of about 50 plants in bloom. He offers them on his web page but there is a problem with that. Most are the product of 5 plus generations of line breeding by a Japanese breeder. 95% of the progeny is probably Lycaste skinneri but all colors are represented. All are seedlings and the seedling variation is pronounced. I saw plants with identical name tags and totally different flowers, both color, size and quality varies from plant to plant, even with the same name tag. I live close enough to Santa Barbara where I could go there and cherry pick premium plants in bloom but if you don't have that luxury, buying them becomes a little bit of a problem. The name really does not mean that much as there is considerably variation in the seedling expression. If you buy unbloomed plants, it becomes a crap shoot, you may get fantastic or mediocre. I myself plan to visit his place one or two more times, 4 to 6 weeks apart, to scan the current crop of plants in bloom and do some cherry picking. James Rose and his wife, the owners are easy to talk to, if you need to order from afar, tell him what you want, he'll pick some plants for you and send you pictures of the bloom, thus you get a better handle on this. The blooming season is well under way but most of his plants are in bud and a vast array of flowers should be ready for inspection over the next few month. Even though 5 or 6 generations ago L cruente and/or L longiscapa are in the progeny, the flowers all have the skinneri look and could almost be considered primary skinneri crosses. Very dramatic and beautiful flowers I would highly recommend them. Nick |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by lisa_z5wmi Z5 (My Page) on Thu, Dec 6, 12 at 15:42
| I have got to get out to California. So many places I'd like to go a-hunting! I'm trying to put together a visit to my in-laws in San Diego when the Santa Barbara show is- I am adding Cal-Orchids to my visit list now! |
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- Posted by orchidnick z9Ca (orchidnick@yahoo.com) on Thu, Dec 6, 12 at 18:13
| SB Orchid Show is in early March, the Lycaste may still be in bloom, hope yo make it. Bring lots of money, California is broke. A disadvantage of my suggested 'Cherry Picking' buying technique is that the Cherry Picker in Chief (James Rose, the owner) gets there first. There was a beautiful white one I lusted for but it was too good for me. I guess he wanted to get it awarded first and would not sell it. If you cherry pick, you get excellent plants, avoid the mediocer and poor ones but the award quality ones are probably culled by then. If you buy a bunch of unbloomed ones, you take your chance, you may get poor quality or hit the jack pot with an award quality one. Another disadvantasge is that it is more painful to get past the cash register with a box of super, top of the line plants than with unbloomed ones. Once you get home, the gone dollar bills are forgotten but the beautiful flowers are very much in sight. Nick |
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