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About Sapphire Dragon Orchids
SDO is a website dedicated to information and distribution of coerulea Phalanopsis. As a boutique grower, our goal is to provide unique and high quality coerulea phal hybrids and species. Unique orchids have always been our first love. Early in 2000 grower Rob decided to start building a extensive collection of breeding quality coerulea phalaenopsis in hopes of being a leader in this unique line of breeding. By 2005 his breeding stock were producing a strong range of hybrids. In early 2006, the first part of this dream became a reality and Sapphire Dragon Orchids was created.

We are currently based in Southern California. Our lab and growing space is currently very limited, so we only create small quanities of our hybrids and line breeding.

In the future we hope to begin exhibiting and registering our new hybrids. Please keep an eye on our site as we continue to grow.

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Articles and
Information

Discussion on Current Coerulea Phal Species and Hybrids:

Current to 2006

 

Hybridizers Notebook - Thoughts on Coerulea Phal Breeding:

01.05.08
07.15.07
09.12.06
09.12.05

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Photography and Display of the Color Blue
Its generally important to note that the blue coloration in orchids is particularly difficult to accurately capture in a photograph. All of our photos are color corrected to match the color of the plant sitting beside a color calibrated monitor. We've had problems in the past with monitors that did not correctl display color. For instance the site was originally designed on a monitor that apparently looked too blue and the interface looked purple on most peoples monitors and also appeared purple in print. So the interface for the entire site was recently updated so that looks as intended on most monitors and prints correctly.

We make every effort possible to display our photos as accurately as possible, but depending on your monitor they may appear different. The interface for this website should appear deep blue with a hint of violet.


About the Grower and Hybridizer
In 1984 I began my addiction with orchids with the purchase of my first Cattleya. Within the year I found other local growers and my windowsill collection grew to 3 orchids. That same year I joined the Central East Texas Orchid Society. Within a very short time I joined the ranks of orchid enthusisists bearing the orchid fever banner proudly. At the ripe old age of 11, I became the youngest member of our local society. The following year in May I joined the American Orchid Society. Both my interest in orchids and my collection quickly increased in size and it wasn't long before my growing collection made the move from the windowsill to a greenhouse.

 
 

I was lucky enough to learn the orchid ropes at an early age which served to enhance my instincts. Growing orchids came very naturally to me and I was able to easily grow just about anything from cool to warm growing orchids. I was never one to let anyone else tell me I couldn't grow something and my determination has paid off over the years. I've always grown phalaenopsis and was specifically attracted to breeding them due the faster time from seed to bloom. I spent many years doing Columbine breeding and was rather spoiled with the 1 year turn around.

Over Twenty years later, I decided I wanted to focus on something different where I could have the opportunity to contribute to a new line of breeding rather than working on incremental improvements along with 100s of other breeders. After growing a few blue phals I completely fell in love with them and started focusing on putting together a solid collection of coerulea stud plants. It has taken about five years to get the foundations plants in place and now I am focused on creating the rest of the foundations plants while also supplimenting my collection with line breeding from the few other hybrizers that also focus on coerulea phals.

Rob and Laela
 
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From here on out you might say I've got the blues and I've found my prozac replacement!

I hope you enjoy the results of my efforts. Some call it compulsion! I like to think of it as creative selectionism.

Good growing! -Rob

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Disclaimer: All photos, images and articles are the property of Sapphire Dragon Orchids.
Photos are not to be reproduced without written permission. ©2006 Sapphire Dragon Orchids