I would like to introduce new candidate for this week - Vandachostylis Fuchs Cream Puff (V. (Neof) falcata x Van. Five Friendships).

This cross was originated and registered by RF Orchids in 1995 and well known previously as Darwinara.

Previous Awards:

There’s no AOS awards for this cross. Van. Five Friendships has 8 AOS awards and Vanda falcata has over 100 awards!

Description:

One main growth with 3 main inflorescences:

A. 22 flowers and 1 bud;

B. 17 flowers and 4 buds;

C. 20 flowers and 1 bud.

Plus 1 basal inflorescence off secondary growth with 15 flowers.

Total: 74 flowers and 6 buds.

Size of the plant is 48 cm wide x 43 cm tall.

3 main Inflorescences: 30, 29, and 28 cm tall.

Flower Measurements:

NS H - 3.5 cm; NS V - 4.0 cm;

Dorsal Sep. W - 1.1 cm; Dorsal Sep. L - 1.9 cm;

Petal W - 0.7 cm; Petals L - 2.0 cm;

Lat/Sepal W - 1.5 cm; Lat/Sepal L - 1.8 cm;

Lip/Pouch W - 0.9 cm; Lip/Pouch L - 1.7 cm.

I would like to mention that flowers of Van. Five Friendships has size 2.4 cm x 2.8 cm (or so) and V. falcata have similar size with much narrow segments!

Pictures of the plant, inflorescences and flowers are attached (pictures were made inside and outside on the natural light).

First time in our Virtual Judging we will be able to submit video of the plant, I believe it will help!

I hope everyone will enjoy this Virtual judging!

Judges' Comments

Tom Mirenda

Very pretty miniature vandaceous hybrid. I believe this clone of Five Friendship got an FCC years ago….well deserved

Mostly for being ‘adorable’ because of the charmingly bold contrasting spots on the segments…. if not a knock out flower. This hybrid has lovely blended colors which are quite nice, very pleasing…nd terrific, well-flowered and arranged inflorescences, with somewhat larger blooms….a nice combination of pluses….However, the form has back-slided somewhat due to the additional dose of V. falcata.

I would very much like to see other clones of this cross before making a decision of awardability…..however, I think just on its own merits, I could see giving it a mid HCC….of maybe 77 or 78 points.

Al Messina

Seventy six flowers and six buds on a very well grown plant. Flowers not as good as parents(V FF).This is reason the cross has been in hobby for 25 years and even Bob Fuchs has not gotten it awarded. However: This plant should easily qualify for a culture award on subsequent bloom, perhaps with six or more inflorescences (See: Summerfield Elegance,128 fls on 7 infls, CCM 83,2005).

Thanks for allowing me to participate.

Trevor Yee

Appealing hybrid with attractive pink blush on all segments. The sample single flower picture shows nice broad segments, good circular outline and is relatively flat.

Four inflorescences provide a great display - though skewed to one side of the plant. This makes it visually heavy to the right and not balanced.

However, upon closer inspection, many of the flowers have evidence of insect attack, bruised petals, old/missing pollen caps, and even spider webbing on the spike. These cultural issues in my view preclude it from being nominated for a quality award.

Regards Trevor Yee

Mark Werther

Vandachostylis Fuchs Cream Puff (V. (Neof) falcata x Van. Five Friendships).

I have learned over the years of AOS Judging to not say "it cannot be". However, these flowers are a bit of a mystery to be able to get up to 3.5cm. after being crossed with a falcata. The structure of the plant and wingspan at 48cm. unfortunately reinforces the possibility that it is not an immediate descendant of falcata. The opening/fenestration of the flowers is characteristic of a falcata influence and the inflorescence flower distribution is directly from a Five Friendships..

My assumption is that there may be another shot of something involved in order to arrive at this presentation. Or the unlikely chance that its parents and grandparents have arisen in very unusual circumstance. There is also Aerides falcata with larger flowers and pendant inflorescences - but with flowers of different shape. Just a wild stab.

I like the inflorescences and the individual flowers are exceptional if it is correct for a falcata cross and temporarily forgetting about the conundrum could go for a low AM.

This, as many of Sergey's virtuals, should prove very interesting.

Mark Werther

Carrie Buchman

Vandachostylis Fuchs Cream Puff (V. falcata x Van. Five Friendships)

This is an interesting cross. I’d love to know what the hybridizer was hoping to realize. The floriferousness of the candidate is greatly improved over V. falcata and is aligned with that of its Van. Five Friendships parent. The spacing of the flowers on the inflorescence is good, not too crowded and not too spaced. However, the photos show brown spots and chewed (?) segments on multiple flowers.

The flower is bigger than the geometric mean of either parent. The flower is round, but it is not full; The slender petals and the resulting fenestration is not aesthetically pleasing. From a distance the flower color is attractive, but in the close ups, the color suffusion is mottled and muddy. I would pass on this plant.

Kind Regards,

Carrie Buchman

Bob Winkley

Thank you for the most recent virtual candidate. I find the flower count, inflorescence arrangement, coloration, and overall graceful form of this flower very attractive. My biggest concern with this flowering is that there appears to be a fair amount of damage to a number of flowers and as such that would preclude me from nominating the plant regardless of how much I like the flower. I hope that this candidate will show up on a judging table in the future when all flowers might be pristine.

All the best -

Bob W.

Deb Bodei

Vandachostylis Fuchs Cream Puff

Observations and Commentary

I am assessing this plant for a flower award since the condition of the blooms (on at least one inflorescence) and less than pristine grooming precludes it from scoring for culture in my opinion. However, I do like the way the plant is generally presenting itself and it would be great if there was one more inflorescence where the stick is showing front and center.

These smaller sized, interesting vanda crosses have become very popular and I own a number of them myself and find them rewarding to grow and often fragrant. I’ll stick to the flower for this discussion. There are a number of blooms fading on this plant especially on one of the inflorescences. However, there are enough at peak bloom to consider the bloom.

The Five Friendships parent favored the fuller form of coelestis. Most of the fullness was replaced by the narrow segments when crossed again with falcata. The flower still has good balance and symmetry with a nice lip. The sepals fill in the circle but petal width is lacking on this cross. With 50% falcata that is expected, but gives it a pleasant starry form. If the color is true in the photo, the delicate lavender is the strong point for this flower.

Recommendation

Provided the photos are accurate for color I would nominate this plant for a flower award based on the unique color and relatively good form compared to awarded plants with similar parents that have been awarded for this genus. I would score it as an HCC (76-77) and probably would expect subsequent awards to be for culture, not flower.

Thank you for including my commentary,

Deb

Sergey Skoropad

Vandachostylis Fuchs Cream Puff:

Lovely flowers, soft color. I would like to pay more attention to the flowers.

Flowers of the current candidate are much larger then flowers of both parents: Van. Five Friendship and Vanda falcata. Shape of the flowers looks much closer to Van. Five Friendship than to V. falcata. Even flowers not as full as flowers of Van. Five Friendship I found that flowers has improvements over the parents, especially V. falcata.

Color is very pleasant. Interesting that none of the awarded Van. Five Friendship has color similar to flowers of our candidate.

Flower count: 74 flowers and 6 buds - I found this number is very good for this cross.

Presentation could be better - will be great to see inflorescences equally presented from both sides of the plant to give symmetrical presentation.

Conditions of the flowers: although most of the flowers are in perfect condition I can see few flower with black dots and missing parts. Considering that plant has 74 flowers I don’t think this will be a problem.

Nomination: I would nominate this plant for flower award and score mid HCC 77-78 pts. If all flowers will be in perfect condition I believe it worth low AM.

I suggest next time to stuck inflorescences for symmetrical presentation and bring plant to the judging next year.

Thanks

Sergey

Martin Motes

Van. Fuchs Cream Puff: This plant exhibits the drawbacks of breeding with V. falcata: diminished color and open form. It is not an improvement on Van. Five Friendships which are impressive compact pot plants. Although the flowers are strangely large. I would not score it.

It is well grown and slightly better flowered and groomed might well garner a cultural award.

Nate DePinto

Vandachostylis Fuchs Cream Puff

Sizable, well grown, healthy plant with four naturally erect inflorescences that form well-rounded vertical fox tails. The flowers are a charming mauve purple that ombre into white with a distinct and vivid bright violet lip.

While researching this cross there are many plants of this same cross that have mostly white flowers and are much sloppier in form. While this candidate does have slightly reflexed petals and sepals (from Vanda falcata), the flowers are more flat than many of thus crosses I found online. Flowers arranged on the influences seem to be tightly spaced and overlapping each other a bit, this might detract from overall appearance.

This seems to be a beautiful outcome from the two parents and seems to be very floriferous, noticing past spikes on the plant. On some of the close up photos, necrosis of a few of the petal tips and spots on the lips of the flowers can be noted. Overall I believe that this plant is well grown and flowered very well for the size of the plant. Color is there and form is a good balance of both parents. Taking all that has been said into consideration, I could see this plant easily being awarded with a high HCC.

Exhibitor - David and Joan Rosenfeld, NJ