Peninsula Hybrids
Gerardus B.Staal Ph.D.
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- Gerardus Staal is a retired entomologist, who has worked on the development
of novel insect control agents such as Enstar (kinoprene, for whiteflies),
Mavrik (fluvalinate, for many insects and mites), Altosid ( methoprene,
for mosquitos and flies) and Precor (hydroprene, for cockroaches). The
orchid bug bit around 1975 and resulted in a second career in the growing,
propagation, and hybridization of rare orchid species. The specialization
soon shifted to cooler growing orchids (especially Pleurothallids, Odonts,
Maxillarias, Epidendrums, Dendrobiums and lately also Bulbophyllums), and
to the exclusion of the more common commercial orchids such as Phalaenopsis,
Paphiopedilum and Cymbidium, which have never been part of the program.
The greenhouses are now being kept at 60 to 70?F with lower and higher
extremes only occasionally and with high humidity through frequent watering
and additional under bench misting above 75 F.
- Gerardus has also been involved in several local orchid societies with
a total of 5 presidential years in three of these and has been a member
of the AOS Research Committee and a president of the Pleurothallid Alliance.
- The introduction of many rare species has resulted in many CBR (Certificate
of Botanical Recognition) awards from the AOS judging system. The hybridization
work has led to many other awards, of which two Awards of Quality (Masdevallia
Southern Sun and Masdevallia Mario Ferrusi) and several Awards of Distinction(
Staalara Gerardus, Baptirettia Royal Marble, Epidendrum Playtime, and Porrovallia
Phil Jesup stand out). In these AQ and AD awards the awards were obtained
by other exhibitors but are shared by the hybridizer according to AOS rules.
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- The propagation of rare species is motivated by conservation considerations.
It reduces the pressure on wild populations and the species may at least
be perpetuated ex situ. The propagation and hybridization work has led
to the development of methods using plastic flasks, which facilitate shipping.
However, several of the early types available for this purpose turned out
to be inherently flawed. Many polycarbonate flasks, though autoclavable,
had poorly fitting lids, allowing secondary contamination by mite vectors.
This led to huge losses of flask during the incubation periods. Also, several
types of lids for these flasks turned out to be poorly resistant to ultraviolet
radiation and often did not last long enough under fluorescent lighting.
Throughout several years of experimentation, flasks made from PET plastic
turned out to be much better. Being non autoclavable, these require Electron
Beam(EB) sterilization.
- Sterilizing the flasks separately cuts down on autoclave space because
the agar medium can now be autoclaved in bulk. Newer,
- more UV resistant polypropylene lids have been found. Much development
work has been devoted to finding materials suitable
- for multiple use bacterial filters in the lids as well as long lasting
tape seals and disinfectant solutions to create permanent
- barriers against vectors and microorganisms around the closures. At
this time all problems associated with plastic flasks are
- considered to have been solved. All seed sowing is done in polystyrene
petridishes (also sterilized by EB), which cuts down on
- space significantly since these can be stacked. Properly sealed and
provided with disinfectant on the rim, such seeding dishes
- have been kept sterile and hydrated for up to 5 years.
- More recently, growing substrates made from recycled rubber tires have
been investigated for greenhouse use. Metal-free rubber crumbs (1/8")
have undergone extensive trials and have turned out to be unsuitable as
bulk medium since the roots appear to dislike long term direct contact
with wet crumbs. (The larger chunks advocated for plants such as Phalaenopsis
are to be avoided anyway because they are laced with very unfriendly pieces
of sharp wire). However, this is not the end of the story. The excellent
drainage and virtual indestructibility of the 1/8"crumbs have been
put to good use by surrounding sphagnum/root balls at all sides with crumbs.
This cuts down on mosses and ferns that soon invade moss grown plants and
good drainage remains assured. Simultaneously the use of floor tiles made
from recycled rubber as a mounting substrate was also investigated. These
were found to have several advantages over cork and tree fern plaques.
These tiles are everlasting and the roots of mounted orchids freely adhere
to this substrate (There are no pores in this material to hold water or
allow root penetration). With a non-corrosive aluminum hook and plastic
coated wire to fix the plant on a clump or layer of sphagnum moss, the
combination is very attractive and very long lasting. It was found to be
the salvation for many small plants that did not thrive in pots. Plants
like Masdevallia decumana are now growing and blooming as they never did
in a pot. Another invaluable tool in the greenhouses has been the weekly
use of an agricultural detergent through the watering system.This retains
and reestablishes the wettability of sphagnum moss even after dehydration.
This inexpensive material, in this case No Foam B, has shown no harmful
effects on orchid plants, including the flowers. Gerardus is also a frequent
lecturer for orchid societies on topics such as Masdevallia Hybridizing,
Epidendrum Species and Hybrids, Pest and Disease Control in Orchids, and
Artificial Propagation of Orchids. Talks are illustrated with state of
the art photography. Plants for raffle tables can be supplied.
The hybridization lines include the following:
- A Pleurothallids : novelty hybrids with warmer growing species such
as Masd. livingstoneana, glandulosa and erinacea , spectacular parents
such as M. datura, macrura, norops, welischii, hercules, coccinea alba
etc. and novelty intergenerics between Dracula, Porroglossum, Trisetella
etc. Intergeneric hybrids with Pleurothallis so far have failed to grow
adequately..
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- B. Odontoglossum alliance : specializing in small mountable intergenerics
with parents such as Baptistonia, Mexicoa, Comparettia, Ionopsis, Rodriguezia,
Cochlioda, Scelochilus and Symphyglossum.
- Also hybrids of Odm retusum, edwardii, bictoniense, coronarium, harryanum,
wyattianum, Ada spp, Brassia spp and various other oncidiinae.
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- C. Dendrobium : Hybrids with species such as D. mohlianum, victoriae-reginae,
myiakei, tapiniense, lawesii, cuthbersonii, tetragonum, speciosum etc.
Intergenerics with Eria spp and Epigeneium spp.are attempted.
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- D. Maxillaria and intergenerics with allied genera such as Lycaste,
Promenea, Cochleanthes, Bollea etc.
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- E. Bulbophyllum : A recently assembled collection of about 100 species
will allow for the start of an active propagation and hybridization program
(several hybrid pods are already ripening). More intergenerics with Cirrhopetalum,
Hapalochilum and Trias are planned.
- F. Epidendrum and allied genera.
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- Commercially, Peninsula Hybrids sells flasks with species and hybrids
(400 ml flasks with 16 plants and 900 ml flasks with 36 plants. Phytosanitary
documents are supplied at cost for international shipments (minimum $200).
Cites documents are not usually required.
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- A price list is available on request. Peninsula Hybrids is also listed
in Orchidmall.com. The email address is:
- penhybstaal@earthlink.net.
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- Peninsula Hybrids
- 635 Marion Avenue
- Palo Alto CA 94301 USA
- Tel/fax (650) 328 2404
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