how is it done?

[exasperatus2002]

Ok, Im sure most of us at some point have the idea or dream of creating an award winning hybrid. Then decide to market it or what have you. What is the process one goes through to accomplish this? My question arrised today as my grandmother in law (83 yrs old) came for a visit and brought me a newpaper article on Robert Fuchs and the world orchid conference in miami. She knows that I am going to be trying my hand at making a hybrid and asked how its all done.

So you've choosen two orchids that you think would be good pod and pollen parents. You've verified the cross hasnt been done before. then, you've made the cross and you have pods. You take the pods and have a company flask them for you. You wait patiently 3-4 years till they first flower and then download the pdf from the RHS to register your hybrid. You send the form, payment & photograph to the RHS to register it, Then what? Where do you go from there? how long do you wait to try to have it judged. What would you look for in the new hybrid (Cattleya alliance for reference) before deciding on getting it judged. If its good and gets a high scoring from the AOS judge, what do you do to try to market the hybrid?

[exasperatus2002]

p.s What did I forget to ask?

[Hummer344]

You forgot to ask about the cost to Market it. LOL

[exasperatus2002]

Originally Posted by Hummer344

You forgot to ask about the cost to Market it. LOL

some things are best left unsaid! lol

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by exasperatus2002

Then what? Where do you go from there? how long do you wait to try to have it judged. What would you look for in the new hybrid (Cattleya alliance for reference) before deciding on getting it judged. If its good and gets a high scoring from the AOS judge, what do you do to try to market the hybrid?

Well from that point on, you can do as much or as little as you like with it. Many breeders will keep a whole batch of seedlings until they flower, then they'll keep the best, sometimes take them to be judged, perhaps get one awarded, and then sell off the rest.

You can find info on Cattleya judging criteria in this thread: http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/gen...d-judging.html There is no set amount of time you should wait to have it judged. Some orchids produce excellent flowers on the first bloom but it is often the case that an orchid's second and subsequent bloomings will be better than the first. Take a look at the judging criteria for cattleyas and if you think your flower has a good chance, or even if you don't think it does but want to learn somethign about the judging process, take it to have it judged.

If you get it awarded, the plant is more valuable than if it were not awarded and it is also more desirable for breeding. the higher the award, the more valuable/desirable.

If you are just breeding and growing the seedlings in your yard, in other words if you do not have your own nursery, consider selling somewhere like eBay. If oyu have a larger operation, consider setting up your own website and getting listed in places like the Orchid Mall. Some orchid societies invite orchid sellers (vendors) to sell at their shows. Join a local society or 2 and enquire about such possibilities. If oyu have some cash flow, you could even take out an ad in one of the AOS publications.