What Makes a Classic Orchid?

[Graphicgreg]

Ron Midgett kindly sent us this thoughtful essay. If you have been growing orchids for any period of time, you have probably asked yourself why some orchids reach a zenith of populartiy that can continue for decades. I would add one other quality to Ron's criteria and that could be "ease of growth". Phalaenopsis Baldan's Kaleidoscope would be an example that had this, and other qualities.

Two orchids that I would certainly consider "classics" would be Cattleytonia (Guaritonia) Why Not and Slc. (Cattlianthe) Hazel Boyd...and you could throw the latter's parent, Slc. (Cattlianthe) Jewel Box in for good measure. All clones of these grexes are classic, but my personal pick for "Hazel Boyd" would have to be 'Elizabeth' AM/AOS.