Something to consider.....

[MrCym]

On this Forum, we try and share oodles of useful information about the genus Cymbidium. Gradually in El Retiro, we have been adding a different hybridizing twist which may or may not work!

Because there is no seasonality in Cymbidium blooming, this close to the Equator, I have been tempted to cross an in-bloom early with an in-bloom late. Temptation has become too great so lately I've made a small number of hybrids like this. My hope, rather than an expectation, is that possibly at least some of the progeny will actually bloom twice in a temperate calendar year. Now I suspect if this plan is successful, it's more likely that places like California, Australia, South Africa and Brazil would see more of a double crop likelihood but time will tell. We're not talking about many crossings and you can be sure we'll give enthusiasts a heads-up when the crosses are ready to be marketed. Just a little bit of fun with a possibly exciting result.

[cricketerry]

And having a 'little bit of fun' is important in life. An interesting concept Andy, I will be very interested to see what happens.

[Diane56Victor]

Sometimes you just have to give into temptation!
Hmm..... Temptation, that could be a good name for these few crosses.

[cricketerry]

Sometimes you just have to give into temptation!
Hmm..... Temptation, that could be a good name for these few crosses.

It sure would. Unfortunately Temptation has already been registered by SBOE.

[MrCym]

I succumbed to orchid temptation long ago!

[Murph]

Plants blooming over an extended period, and even two flushes, is exactly what cut flower growers want. The same plant can be worked that little bit more, needing less manipulation of the environment.

Some of this was done a while back with early species, such as Cym tracyanum or erythrostylum onto Cym lowianum or the Aussie species.

[MrCym]

Yes, but I think the process can be improved. The earliest standard blooming species is possibly Cym. erythrostylum closely followed by Cym. tracyanum. The latest blooming standard species would have to be lowianum and i'ansonii. I'm not sure how to strengthen the cutting quality of either erythrostylum or tracyanum. Of course Cym. lowianum is a marvelous keeper. Maybe the only strategies that will work must involve smaller flowered species like Cym. ensifolium and Cym. sinense but that would be a 2-3 generational commitment and I'm unlikely to see the results.

A little observation that I have recently made may interest you too. Our cross of Cym. ensifolium album X Cym Bennett-Poeii gave just one plant that bloomed. The plant is exceedingly vigorous and loves warmer conditions. I made a couple of whimsical crosses from this plant, now named Rhonda Rango and some of the resulting seedlings are clearly higher ploidy as seen by looking at their roots. If I take some of the apparent higher ploidy seedlings when they bloom, I will be able to breed with something that is carrying the genetics from both ends of the season. And the flower size on the Rhonda Rango 'NH' is not small either. Life for the hybridizer is always full of surprises.....

[OrchidWise]

I have several seedlings of ensifolium x erythraeum and one of them has flowered twice this year (Adelaide, Australia)......Firstly in March and then again in September (as we had a warmer than usual winter leading into Spring), however, I am thinking it just got confused. But I'll be keeping an eye on them just in case it becomes a habit......

[MrCym]

Cym. ensifolium will spike several times a year so that trait is inheritable!

[jjurlina]

Once succumbed never to part...