The Orchid Hybridizer: Zany Inhabitants of the Orchid World

This article is about that strange group of orchid growers known as hybridizers. They are very easy to recognize, they’re the ones running around the orchid house with glassy eyes and a toothpick in their hand.


First why hybridize at all? Why not just grow species as there are so many beautiful ones? I think the answer is human nature. We always seem to have to improve on things…even perfection.

The truth is that the hybridizers have done their job well. Almost everywhere you go in orchid land their work is visible. Be it those beautiful Phalaenopsis in the garden center, loaded with flowers in a multitude of colors or that almost perfect Paphiopedilum on the judging table.

Now some new growers think that you can cross any two plants and get a crop of great new plants. Unfortunately you usually get worse than either parent. And some think that its just luck, do enough crosses and you’ll have lots of good plants. Again that’s not the answer, though luck does play a role of varying degrees depending on the skill of the breeder.

There is a very small group out there that has what might be called the Midas touch when it comes to breeding orchids. They produce outstanding cross after outstanding cross. Their plants are always at the forefront when it comes to winning awards at the orchid shows.

What makes a good hybridizer? Glazed eyes…yes, absent minded…yes, talking rapidly…sorry, just visualizing.

You could make a long list of what makes a great plant breeder but it really boils down to one thing: The Ability to look at a hybrid and see the parents and to look at the prospective parents and see the unborn sibling. This comes from experience and looking at thousands of crosses.

Want to see how good you are at it? Next time you’re ready to visit your favorite orchid grower, first go to

International Orchid Register – Search by Grex or Parentage

New Hybrids Lists

and look up all of the crosses he has recently registered. The New Hybrids Lists work best for finding this information.

Find out what you can about the parents (hopefully you know something about them already). Now make a prediction on the outcome of the cross and write it down. Take this list with you on your visit and look at the progeny. Did you call any of the results correctly?

If the hybridizer is available and is willing to talk, ask a few questions about the crosses. It’s a humbling experience.

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