Trying to ID an Orchid Collection at Local College

14 years ago

Hey,

I've recently assumed care of the small orchid collection at my local college greenhouse. I'm new at this orchid thing - only got into it a few years ago when I took over our houseplants and managed to get the orchids we had blooming again. So, I don't know much about ID, just about how to keep the orchids generally happy. Problem: while there is a list of names that came with the collection, it's been 10 yrs or so since the collection was donated and the labels were not kept up. There is the beginning of a book of identified photographs, but it was never completed and not all of the photographs are of good quality. I'm slowly working on matching photos with plants as they bloom (and taking better photos), but I'm running into some I can't ID with the resources I have. I would also like to double check the ones I think I have ID'd correctly.

I tried the ever helpful 'Google', but that didn't bring any results. The sorts of names I have to work with are: examples - [U]Phalanopsis[/U] Zauberrose 'Mendenhall' x [U]Phal.[/U] Lyric Serenade 'Zephyr' ; [U]Phalaenopsis[/U] Heritage ; [U]Brassolaeliocattleya[/U] Green Heart 'Imperal Jade' x [U]Blc.[/U] 'Diane K. Sauleda' ; etc and so on.

Does anyone know of a ID source for cultivars I could use? Or if I posted a list of names, would any of you be able to help me find photos so that when the plants come into bloom I can match them with their proper name? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

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Comments (4)

arthurm
14 years ago
Here is a link to the Register of orchid names at Kew. That might help when you only can see parts of names on old tags because you can search for parts of names using the grex search. eg try putting in Zaub and see what comes up.

The numbers are going to beat you from getting a complete result, so many registered hybrids and then the infinite variations within each grex as each plant grown from seed will be different.

Anyway, start as i suggested, do some tidying up of the data you have and the come back here for more help.

Here is a link that might be useful: RHS Site
silverdreamer
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you. I'll try that.
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ron_tacoma
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recently I got the same kind of job. At least you got some names to work with. The collection I have to look after, 75 orchids, of which only about 10 have name labels. Most have been in a pot for so long the bark has turned to dirt. Now a lot are getting root rot. One cattleya is so over grown I bet I could cut 4 or 5 subdivisions out of it. There are some Oncidiums or Colamara or odontoglossum that are so overgrown there is more growth outside the pot than in it. I am not sure what they are until they flower. Then it will be flip the coin and guess. I told the new manager after we get them cleaned up. Put them up for sale as NOID's and get maybe $5 apiece. If they are in flower maybe we can get $15
richardol
14 years ago
I had the same experience with the collection I maintain. Not quite as bad, about 3/4 are identified. Of the rest, some had no tag, some had an unreadable tag, some had a tag written in ink that is completely blank now. They had only had a few months of no care so things were not terrible but generally over watered and there was scale getting established.

Luckily I don't have to worry about selling them, but I am cataloging them and taking flower and plant pictures. The owner in 87, so there will come a time when they will need to be sent to new homes.

I am not giving them a specific name unless I am sure, that would not be fair to future owners. But there is a market for NOIDs that are well grown and blooming.

Trying to ID an Orchid Collection at Local College

Comments (4)

arthurm

silverdreamer
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Trying to ID an Orchid Collection at Local College

Comments (4)

arthurm

silverdreamerOriginal Author

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richardol

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silverdreamer
Original Author