Best orchids in the world

emily_phuket

15 years ago

Hi.

Can anyone tell me which country supplies/exports the best orchids in the world?

Many thanks,

Emily

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Comments (17)

xmpraedicta
15 years ago
My vote would be.....Scotland. ;-)

In all seriousness, to me this is a subjective question - what's the 'best orchid'? Ie I don't really care much for vanda hybrids, which I'm sure tropical countries like Thailand and Malaysia are wonderful for. I suppose for what I consider to be the 'best' orchids, the United States is my country of choice. I think it depends on what you're looking for I think.
richardol
15 years ago
Not wanting to start an argument but I kind of lean toward Taiwan, certainly for Phals. Japan is coming along pretty well for exports, too.

However, if you are a species collector as I am, there are plenty here in the good old U S of A.
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Hey Mike, What CJ said about Hausermann's. I feel for you. Periodically, I just *have* to have a specific orchid and zoom in on finding it. Nothing's on my list right now, so I just zoomed in (obsessed) on 'Joe.' Here's what's turned up. Phal Orchid World was registered in 1984, and the cultivar Orchid World 'Joe' was awarded in 1989. Rfraser's thread that you linked was from 2008, so chances of finding this particular cultivar may be slim. On the other hand, it's been wildly popular, so maybe loads of hobbyists still have plants. In that thread, Richard said, "As to Joe, the fragrance starts out kind of spicy and ends up candy like in a sort of bubble-gummy way." If it's any consolation - when I've been at Orchids Limited, different people have sniffed the same flower and have described the scent in way different ways. Options: 1. Contact Discover Orchids, although they may not be in business anymore. It's difficult to tell from their site: http://www.discoverorchids.com/. They list Orchid World 'Joe,' but their photo is from a 1999 blooming. 2. Post a message here for Richard Fraser - evidently, you can't email him from his member page: Where did he get his plant, has it had a keiki in the meantime & maybe he'd be willing to part with it, etc.? 3. Contact Peter Lin @ Big Leaf Orchids, who's had this one in the past. http://www.bigleaforchids.com/ If he doesn't have 'Joe,' perhaps he can suggest another cultivar - 'Carmela' or 'Bonnie Vasquez,' or another Phal that smells the same, at least to him. 4. Also, post on his forum, which has several threads about Orchid World. Unfortunately, the most recent thread seems to be from 2010. 5. Contact Olympic Orchids, http://shop.olympicorchids.ihost.net. They have an orchid finder service. 6. Post on other orchid forums re: sources, extra plants, keikis, etc. For example, in 2012 this OP had a large, healthy-looking plant, and another person in the same thread had 2 keikis: http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchidtalk/phalaenopsis-oncidium-intergenerics-bloom/33670-phalaenopsis-orchid-world-joe.html 7. Start a new thread here to ask if others have 'Joe' or other cultivars that smell the same to them. 8. Look for a different Orchid World cultivar - a different one might have the same scent... *but* might be as difficult to find as 'Joe.' Here's a comment on cultivar names from Ray Barkalow of First Rays Orchids, but the year of the post doesn't seem to be given. The OP was asking about the parents of Phal. Orchid World 'Carmela.' 'Bonnie Vasquez' is another cultivar. From Ray: Actually Joanna, 'Carmela' and 'Joe' could be from the very same parents. Basically, once a cross is bloomed and named, such as Orchid World, each and every plant from the cross of Malibu Imp and Deventeriana - even if it's the reciprocal cross, Deventeriana x Malibu Imp - is Orchid World. From among the different Orchid Worlds out there, some are likely to have outstanding characteristics, so the owner has the right to attach a cultivar name to the plant, in these cases, 'Joe' and 'Carmela.' They could have been from the very same seed capsule or from a totally different set of parents. Anyone can attach a cultivar name to any plant they own that does not already have one. There is no registration involved as there is for grex names like "Orchid World." If I got a particularly nice Orchid World, I could print the tag to say Phalaenopsis Orchid World 'First Rays', but if I had 'Joe' it would always be 'Joe'. Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info! http://www.mombu.com/orchids/orchids-gardens/t-question-about-parents-10853995.html Hopefully, something in here will be helpful. Best, WhiteCat8 Here is a link that might be useful: Orchid finder, Olympic Orchids
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Just to be clear, this isn't my Phalaenopsis, I thought that you needed a picture to perhaps ID the particular Phal I was talking about. I will be receiving MY phal in the next week, but since you asked I put up a picture in case you could go recognize it in your own or someone else's collection. I'm curious if this grows just like any other Phal or if it has particular care requirements so I can grow it to its' potential.
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anglo
15 years ago
As Calvin said, "it depends on what you're looking for." My own main interest is in Brazilian bifoliate Cattleyas, for example. As you would expect, the best cultivars are exported from Brazil. In general, I'd say that if we're looking for exporters of the best species of whatever genus, we'd probably be looking in countries or regions of the world where the respective orchids are indigenous.

But outstanding selective breeding of non-native orchid species and hybridization is being done all over. In fact, it could be that the world's finest examples of Phalaenopsis violacea were bred in the USA (Norton). Many of the world's most highly awarded hybrid orchids have been bred here also.
wetfeet101b
15 years ago
I agree that this is a very subjective question. It is just like asking "Which country has the most beautiful people?"

Each orchid exporting country has certain genera that are considered its "best" products.
As stated above, Taiwan will probably beat Brazil in the phalaenopsis arena. But Brazil's cattleyas will most likely beat Taiwan's cattleyas.

It all depends on the genera of interest and what qualifies as the "best" based on your criteria.
tropical_philippines
15 years ago
Which country supplies/exports the best orchids in the world?

Now that is a $1 million dollar question! :)
It's like asking which orchid genera is the most beautiful of all!
Some will say cattleyas; others, phalaenopses; and still others, vandas,
dendrobiums, oncidiums, paphiopedilums, arachnis, aerides, cymbidiums, etc. (the list goes on).

I think it depends on:
First, which orchid genera we are considering;
Second, if man-made hybrids are allowed; and
Third, if ease of culture and cultivation are considered.

If man-made hybrids are allowed, and cultural and cultivation requirements
are NOT considered, my personal, 'subjective' assessment would be:

Taiwan for the best phalaenopses hybrids;
Brazil for the best cattleya hybrids;
Thailand for the best vanda hybrids; and
U.S.A. for the best of other orchid genera.

However, since I love 'vandas' and easily find them the *best* and the
*most beautiful* orchid genus in the world, hands down, I think Thailand
will walk away with my award. :) (99% of my hybrid vandas are from Thailand!)

However, if ONLY natural hybrids or species are allowed, and cultural
and cultivation requirements still NOT considered, I personally believe nothing comes close
to the beauty, the majesty, and the grandness of the 'Waling-waling'.(Scientific name: 'Vanda sanderiana').

Incidentally, it comes from the tropical rainforests of the Philippines.
(I'm sure all of you will have already anticipated my skewed 'ending'... :) hehehe! )

{{gwi:180796}}
'Waling-waling' (scientific name: 'Vanda sanderiana')
(Endemic to Mindanao, Philippines. Endangered species.
Flowers can grow as big as the size of a saucer or a small plate.
Can have multiple flower spikes [2-4 per plant] with 6 to 10 saucer-sized flowers per spike or inflorescence.)

---------------------
Here's a photo of one of my favorite 'man-made' hybrid vandas from Thailand:
{{gwi:180797}}
Red 'Vanda sanderiana' hybrid

And another one:
{{gwi:180804}}
Pink 'Vanda sanderiana' hybrid

And yet another one:
{{gwi:180807}}
Blue 'Vanda coerulea' hybrid

No wonder I love vandas! :)

I bought my vandas here:
{{gwi:180810}}
The owner of this orchid nursery regularly visits Thailand to purchase 'exotic' Vanda hybrids.

More of my orchid collection and vanda photos here.

Cheers and peace to all!

:) tropical
jodik_gw
15 years ago
First... I agree with everyone else that it all depends on which orchids you're talking about... various areas of the globe specialize in different orchids.

And, second... the Vanda photos really make me wish I had the climate and environment to grow them! Wow!
arthurm
15 years ago
Jodik, it depends on whether you would like to live in that Climate. Would you miss the change of seasons?

Tropical, stop displaying these pictures!!!!!! LOl.

My wife will not let me have a third glasshouse where i would have misters, heating and so on to create tropical lowland conditions.

Best Orchids in the world? I once asked a famous orchid judge/orchid nursery owner "what was his
favourite genera. He said "I love them all"
mrbreeze
15 years ago
That's a rather easy question. Angraecoids. They're the best. By any measure.
tropical_philippines
15 years ago
Arthurm,

I agree with the orchid judge/orchid nursery owner.
I LOVE 'EM ALL!!! Each orchid genera have their own 'MOST BEAUTIFUL'
and most 'EXQUISITE' specimens.

Anyway, had a recent visit to the local orchid nursery here in my country and got a glimpse
of just how these orchid nurseries grow them...

{{gwi:180812}}
Mature vandas in bloom.

{{gwi:180813}}
Young vandas waiting to grow.

{{gwi:180814}}
Vandas in bloom for transport to the seller's 'orchid station.'

For those who live in temperate climates and love a good challenge,
growing vandas can be a very rewarding experience especially when you get them to bloom
like the beauties shown below...

{{gwi:180815}}
A hybrid vanda with beautiful, violet flowers. The gorgeous, big flowers
look so luscious that everytime I see them, I always feel like devouring and eating them. :)

{{gwi:180816}}
A red beauty. This hybrid vanda flowers around Christmas time here so
I 'nickname' it 'Christmas' vanda.

{{gwi:180821}}
A blue-violet beauty. This vanda has delicate blue-violet color and tessellation
inherited from 'Vanda coerulea', one of its parents.

{{gwi:180823}}
An orange-red vanda. One of the rarer color combinations I've found in vandas.
The flowers remind me of my ever reliable, Kagawara Christie Low ({{gwi:180795}})
though the flowers on the 'Kagawara' are much smaller.

Ok, ok... I get it... No more 'vanda' photos! :) LOL!
Hope you enjoyed...

Cheers!

:) tropical
pcan-z9
15 years ago
What it must be like to walk around in a place like that!! I'd been in a daze.....lol...
Beautiful Pictures!! Thank you for sharing them!!
Pat....
jodik_gw
15 years ago
Honestly, I think I could move to a more tropical climate and not miss the winters very much, at all! I'd sort of miss spring, when the world around me renews itself and comes back to life... and perhaps I'd miss the beautiful colors of autumn a bit... but living in the cold north with Lupus is getting to be like torture! The older I get, the more it bothers me! A tropical climate wouldn't cure my disease, but it would make it bit more tolerable.

Gardening helps keep me moving and fit, and it takes my mind off the fact that I'm in constant pain... so, I think I'd trade climates in a heartbeat! It would be fabulous to garden all year long! Just think of all the wonderful orchids I could grow if I lived somewhere, anywhere, south of where I am now!

I just love the colors of Vanda orchids! Even the plant, itself, is nice looking!

If asked which orchid I prefer the most, I think my response would be... all of them! They all have merit, and even though I can't grow all types here, I still enjoy seeing photos and reading about them! I'm only limited in what I can grow by my environment and my current state of knowledge, which will grow as I continue to research and learn and gain experience!
counselor4444
15 years ago
tropical: holy moly those vandas are amazing! I love 'Waling-waling' (scientific name: 'Vanda sanderiana')
and the orange/red one after it as well. Too bad I can't provide conditions that will support vandas. But boy are they amazing! thanks so much for sharing!
smwboxer
15 years ago
I'd say anywhere that exports species. I'm not particularly fond of the gaudy hybrids that are shipped in from Taiwan. I have a few but they are being quickly replaced by species.
bcfromfl
15 years ago
Since MrB hasn't made an appearance yet, I'll be presumptuous and speak for him as well. The best orchids in the world? No question...ANGS!! (***fireworks!***)
xmpraedicta
15 years ago
Bruce - MrB has indeed already made a claim quite accurate to what you predicted for him, a little ways above : )
bcfromfl
15 years ago
Ahhh, yes. Eyes aren't what they used to be... Sorry MrB!
the_analyst
15 years ago
Wow, beautiful photos. I not to ashamed to say I'm jealous!

Sarah

Best orchids in the world

Comments (17)

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richardol

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