Phal. primarys vs species:

[weiss]

1. How much more difficult would you estimate Phal. species are to grow and flower than Phal. primary hybrids?

2. Who are your favorite 3 vendors for Phal. primary hybrids? I can't seem to find anyone listing a lot for sell?

[littlefrog]

Are you limiting yourself to primary hybrids for some aesthetic reason?

The answer to your question is completely dependent on the species in question. Phal. aphrodite is probably as easy or easier to grow than any complex hybrid. Which makes a lot of sense, because they have been line bred for decades... Phal minus on the other hand, is impossible for me to grow.

I think that as a very oversimplified generalization, any given primary hybrid should be easier to grow than its parents. And any more complex hybrid even easier to grow.

Oak Hill has a good selection of phal species. And some primary hybrids. I don't know of anybody who specializes in primary hybrids, usually it is either species or anything goes.

[weiss]

Thanks for your reply. Yes I prefer the look of the species more than the modern "flat dinner plate look".
Modern hybrids mostly have the same shape, round and flat. I also like the challange of growing as many of the 50 or so species that I can.

[littlefrog]

In that case, don't worry about how hard they are to grow, stick with the species and natural hybrids. It is a worthy goal, and well worth taking the extra effort to make work. There are too many orchids in the world to bother with growing what you don't like...

You may need to find some microclimates in your growing area, or do some experimentation, but you will make it work.