Creating Crosses

[SurfDudeVb]

I currently have quite a few different tolumnias in bloom at the moment and was thinking of trying to pollinate some of them. How would I go about finding out if any of my varieties already have crosses created from them. So, to say, if I crossed a Pretty n Pink and Genting Angel, and wanted to called it a Pink Angel, but someone had already done this and named it. How would I go about finding that out?

[kmarch]

Orchid hybrids are registered and named through the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society). Here is their database of registered orchid hybrids:The International Orchid Register / RHS Gardening

Before you search for the crosses, first use the Grex Name Search to make sure the names you have are valid registered names. If you have an invalid name you won't be able to register a cross using that plant as a parent. For example, you mentioned Tolumnia Pretty n Pink. No cross has been registered using that name. It may be invalid.

When searching, note that the fields are very sensitive. The slightest misspelling will return no results. Also the fields can not accommodate punctuation of any kind even if it correctly appears in the name. For example if the name of the hybrid is Bill's Best You can not use the apostrophe, nor can you search without it like this: Bills Best. You will have to use only part of the name in your search, maybe just Best or Bill. This will probably return some irrelevant results, but it's just one of the quirks you have to deal with when using the database.

Also when searching to see if a particular crossing has been registered (Parentage Search), be sure to search the cross both ways (with each being the seed parent) because if the cross has been registered, you never know which parent the other breeder might have used as the seed parent so you should search both ways.

[SurfDudeVb]

Ok, so I did some digging. My plan was to cross my Genting Angel with my Tequila Sunrise and called it a Drunk Angel. Upon searching the database, Tequila Sunrise isn't registered. So, if I was to pollinate my Genting Angel with my Tequila Sunrise, and then have seed and flask it. Would I be able to call it Drunken Angel? I know I wouldn't be able to register it, but this now makes me wonder how the Tequila Sunrise isn't registered?

This now also brings up another question for me. I have some Oncidiums here that have names on there tags. But when I search them in the database they aren't there, does this mean these are rouge crosses unregistered and the breeders don't care.

[orchids4me]

If these came from hausermanns or Oak hills. They have a note under each one
Of these as" not a registered name" I think hausermanns has some listed as not registered that oak hills doesn't mention. Difference between the two vendors I found is hausermanns are potted and oak hills are mounted double check the vendors listing also if this may be where you got them or the vendor you did get them from. I noticed the genting in th name ones weren't a while back.
Good luck

[SurfDudeVb]

I don't know the policies on discussing who they came through. But I got them through ParkSide Orchids. I ran into them originally at the National Orchid Sale about a month back. I have no problem with making these crosses and having them flasked for my own amusement and fun. I am just now interested in the naming process of these specific grower crosses that have supposed names. Such as I have a Vuyl. Fall in Love 'Mark's Passion' from Kalapana Tropicals, that I also purchased at the same show, but, again doesn't come up on the database.

Edit: Also if I'm to make a cross, name it, then try to market it, but someone has made this same cross and is marketing it under a different name, what then? Who takes precedent? Is it a first come first serve basis, or do we just continue on with the same plant with different names?

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by SurfDudeVb

My plan was to cross my Genting Angel with my Tequila Sunrise and called it a Drunk Angel. Upon searching the database, Tequila Sunrise isn't registered. So, if I was to pollinate my Genting Angel with my Tequila Sunrise, and then have seed and flask it. Would I be able to call it Drunken Angel?

The short answer is: No, you wouldn't even be able to register it.

The longer answer is 1) re-read my previous comments (above) about not being able to register a cross using a parent with an invalid name,

2) If you were able to find out the parents of the one with an invalid name (Tequila Sunrise) you could register your new hybrid even if that cross had not been named but you must know the parents in order to do that.

3) It's possible that Tequila Sunrise is a pending registration, maybe it's been filed but not yet processed/approved. You'd need to contact the RHS to see if that were the case.

Originally Posted by SurfDudeVb

I know I wouldn't be able to register it, but this now makes me wonder how the Tequila Sunrise isn't registered?

As I mentioned above it could just be a pending registration. Also sometimes people just slap a name on something. It's sad but true.

Originally Posted by SurfDudeVb

I have some Oncidiums here that have names on there tags. But when I search them in the database they aren't there, does this mean these are rouge crosses unregistered and the breeders don't care.

Possibly. As I said above, it's sad but it does happen.

Are you sure they're not listed in the RHS database? Sometimes it can be a tricky database to search. I did find a listing for your Vuls. Here it is: http://apps.rhs.org.uk/horticultural....asp?ID=114461 It sounds like you might be having some trouble with your searches.