Well, I've been growing them for over 20 years. I started looking for a 'stress relief' hobby when my knees started giving me trouble. I was no longer able to run around the air-strip to burn off the days 'issues' anymore. I'm a retired U.S. Marine (and therefore in
need of daily stress-relief), and I was rather worn out from the physical conditioning I used to be able to keep up with. I started growing plants as an alternative, but they were too easy. Next, I started growing orchids because I was told that they were harder. They got too easy eventually. Finally, I settled on primarily species orchids since they tend to be comfortable in a narrow range of conditions, and most have distinct growth/rest periods. It is more challenging since you HAVE to know your plants, or they will not thrive, and eventually die.
As far as what I grow, I have a few phalaenopsis, dendrobiums, encyclias, oncidiums, vandas, papilionanthes (terete vandas), rhynchostylis, neofinetia, aerides, trichoglottis, cattleyas, laelias, epidendrums, grammatophyllums (mini ones), warmth tolerant cymbidiums, and a small number of other species I'm experimenting with: peristeria elata, arundina graminifolia, spathoglottis kimballiana and plicata, maxillaria tenufolia, a couple of vandopsis lissochiloides, and a monster vanilla vine. My easiest to grow are the vandas, but they also take up the most room. I have crossed a few, but gave the pods to others to raise due to my lack of room. I normally don't cross anything, but friends (orchid hybridizers and sellers) have asked for pollen, or to have me make crosses for them because
I have a number of species that seem to grow for me but are a challenge for others.
Of the ones I have, I don't usually have more than 1 or 2 of each since my space is limited. It gives me more time to fuss with the ones I have. If I was a commercial grower/seller with tens of thousands, I'd think of them more like 'product' and less like my 'chids. I prefer species orchids, but I have found a few hybrid vandas, and phalaenopsis that are scented (hybridizing these generally results in scentless progeny), and those I hang on to.
Due to my experience with the hybridizing process, and association with others that create hybrids regularly, I am still surprised with your use of the term 'clonal' name when you are actually referring to the 'varietal' name. I've never heard anyone here use it in that way. (unless actually referring to a mericlone)
I have some pics on photobucket if you are curioius:
Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket
I think most are searchable. You will notice it is not under my real name (I'm paranoid about too much info on-line). BTW - yug ain't my real name either, but it was short and easy to use, so I use it.