We are committed in our effort to produce seed- grown Colombian orchid species.

These laboratory efforts are at the heart of our business and allow us to offer seldom-seen, showy species such as Eriopsis rutidobulbon pictured here...

This delightful intermediate grower produces long inflorescences of melon-scented flowers in the late winter.

It is our belief that by offering collectors these seed-grown populations of Colombian orchids we are doing our part toward their conservation. Seed-grown orchids translate into less collecting pressure to meet commercial demand. Seed-grown distribution of Colombian species means a widespread base of genetic material that serves as a living archive which can serve to perpetuate the species. In some instances, these seed-grown species can even be used to re-populate areas destroyed by natural or other occurrences.

Andrea Niessen graduated from the German School in Cali and went on to study Biology with a major in Botany at the Universidad del Valle in Cali. She then went on to earn a Master of Science at the University of Florida in Gainesville in the Botany Department with a major in Cytology and Electron Microscopy and a minor in Virology. She also worked in research for 10 years at the INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR TROPICAL AGRICULTURE CIAT in Cali and was the Research Associate for the Virology Unit. (Many papers and publications in Bean, Rice and Tropical Pastures Virus Research). 

Andrea admires a nicely-flowered specimen of Cycnoches barthiorum at a meeting of the Asociación Vallecaucana de Orquidelogía, (Cali Orchid Society). This species was named in honor of her grandfather who was one of the first to catalog the orchids of the Cauca Valley. Both she and Juan Carlos have been active in their society for many years.

Juan Carlos Uribe was born in Bogotá Colombia, but with deep roots in the Cauca Valley. Studied Agronomy at the National University of Colombia. Got a Masters degree at Texas A&M University in Agronomy with emphasis on pasture management. Having a close relationship with nature since his family has been planting trees to reclaim land for almost half a century, was captivated by orchids in his taxonomy class.
    But it wasn´t until 1984 when started to grow them himself and met Andrea at a meeting of the Cauca Valley Orchid Society. They started together Orquideas del Valle in 1986.
    Since 1984 he has been managing his family's ranch, growing sugar cane, raising beef and dual purpose cattle, and a small forestry operation.

Juan Carlos does a selfing on an
Acineta superba that is naturalized at El Barranco. Selfings and sib-crosses of select Colombian species provide the backbone of Orquídeas del Valle's nursery stock.