> "I think there are lots of Paphiopedilum growers out there and several > hundred producers. The problem is that the plants are all grown from > seed or they are divisions. As a result you will never see Paph > hybrids offered like Phalaenopsis, Oncidiums, Cattelyas or > Dendrobiums or any other group that can be clonally propagated"
Here in California we see an awful lot of Paphs sold in the big box stores. Right along with the Phals, Odont intergenerics (Wildcats by the thousands), Oncidiums, Miltoniopsis, and "hard cane" Dendrobiums. They are mostly Maudiae types, both albescent and vinicolor, and they have the same low prices as the others. If they didn't move the buyers would phase them out. Clearly the market is there for seed grown crops. It must be there for superior clones if they could ever be produced at the same price. Hobbyists here in the Bay Area are fairly Paph crazed, but it looks like the general public here likes them as well. On a different note, Mark your Calendars now for the Pacific Orchid Exposition, coming up faster than I care to think about. February 17th-20th 2005. Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, Ca. Dennis Westler
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