Changes at New Horizon Orchids.

[MrCym]

Maybe an appropriate time to reiterate direction and hybridizing goals. I have tried to keep Forum readers updated as things evolve.

Essentially, New Horizon has become a "seedlings only" establishment. Selling divisions into the hobby market has evolved into a lot of work for little return not to mention the hassles of dealing with bureaucratic morons. So our flasks will reign supreme.

There will be two classes of flasks. The first will be hobbyist types. A few standards, lots of intermediates and true minis with a strong focus on Warmth-Tolerant (WT) lines and our famous pendulous offerings. Anyone who gets a good one is free to clone the plant, breed with it or whatever you choose. You will quickly become aware of the sleazy pirates who lurk in the wider orchid world but that will be your worry, not mine.

The other class of Cymbidium (and Odont Alliance intergenerics) will only be offered to a small group of buyers who have an agreement with New Horizon to pay us royalties on their clones. That royalty payment obligation will apply almost totally to pot plant types. There will be a higher one time royalty payment on Cym varieties we consider proven in the cut flower market. These arrangements will be made privately with our royalty-paying group.

When I croak, of course the seedling offerings will inevitably disappear but my widow will continue to interact with our valued customers as needed. Chances are there will still be seedlings coming from the Lab.

I chanced upon an old flask listing from Alvin Bryant back in the late 1970's, recently. He was offering seedling flasks, 25 plants, for $27.50 Australian!!! I think I've been a bit tardy in adjusting prices for our product. It will be a two edged sword... wholesale royalty-paying customers will see no change but retail buyers can expect a small price increase for sure!

[Gary S]

Cym seedling flasks with 25 replates at Barrita are $55 to $60AUD per flask currently, with crosses from a variety of sources - John Gate and Greg Bryant.

[jjurlina]

While hobbyists access to flasks will disappear I assume that werre you have 'agents' that your seedlings will be avaiable ex de-flasking. Sad as there are few if any odont breeders left in our part of the world. Have you discussed with your agents the possibility of on selling flasks rather than de flasking? For the sake of the orchid world I hope thast you can maintain breeding for as long as possible.

[MrCym]

Well I've seen "Shitfield" Cyms offered by Barrita. My opinion of Greg Bryant as a hybridizer is well known. I keep reminding people that Gormless Greg claims to be producing export Standard Cym hybrids yet figures show no cut flower Cyms exported from Australia every year. Little NZ at least sends out five million blooms annually to Northern Hemisphere markets.

In NZ I depend on Ian Daviss for at least some market penetration but I'd stopped using Pakkret for Odont flasks because of proliferation issues. However Kobsukh has a new medium that looks excellent so I will start sending him some Odont pods again. However, that means flasks in 2027 to be realistic.