How to take care of seedlings

[dianecty]

Hi guys! I just bought some orchid seedlings on Ebay and I was wondering if they need special care. Do I put them in the smallest pots I can find, using small bark? do I use rooting hormone? What else should I do?

They are cattleyas, phals, dends, I think.

Thanks.

[Ross]

A pretty broad question. I have an Epidendrum seedling in a thumb pot with small bark mix. I have Cats and Brassavolas and an Encyclia, mounted on small chunks of cedar shingle. Both work. They need a pretty constant supply of moisture at this point in their lives. The Epidendrum pot is in an orchidarium with high light and 90+ % humidity. The others get daily dunkings and are right in full south window sunlight. Nothing like getting them used to the real world early! Full sun at 45 degrees latitude is not same as down south so depending on where you are, you might want to watch for overly red leaves and protect from sunburn.

[Royal]

"Seedling" is kind of broad too. If they just came out of a flask they will need high humidity. If they have been planted out for a while, they can take a little fertilizer and higher light. Just watch them closely and they'll tell you if they're happy. Make any changes gradually and you'll be fine.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Seedlings fresh out of flask are usually in varying stages of development. Some are large seedlings with well developed leaves and initial root systems. Others are smaller with just developing roots. While there are still a few that are just coming out of their protocorm stages and going into the first stages of becoming a recognizable seedling. Then there are the dead.

Seedlings fresh out of the flask should be grown temporarily in a community pot or community tray/saucer/plate type setting with moss. The reason for moss is because the seedlings must have a high amount of moisture and humidity to survive. Only allow the medium to become damp or wait until the roots have completely dried out before watering again. You must be diligent with your watering or the seedlings will die out quickly.

The compot must not have more than three plants each if the pot is around two to three inches. Avoid overcompetition for nutrients, light, and space as much as possible.

DO NOT PACK IN THE MEDIUM TOO TIGHTLY. Your seedlings may become waterlogged and die. Allow the medium to be loosely packed enough to allow for air circulation, but tight enough for the roots to be able to anchor itself.

All seedlings will burn under too bright of a light regardless of whether the adults are able to tolerate the strong rays of the sun. Grow your seedlings in bright shade.

Fertilization should occur only about a month to three months after seedlings are placed in compots.

Separate them into individual tiny pots when they get to be about an inch or two in height or have at least three growths on them.

Water them preferrably with RO/DI water to prevent root and leaf damage.

Protect them from being grown in the wrong temperature range (many seedlings grow under intermediate conditions well).

A very large number of losses may occur naturally through the process of natural selection.

[dianecty]

Hi! I just found out that the seedlings have just been brought out of the compots. They are 20% of the way to being full grown. So if they are in this stage, how do I take care of them? Thank you!!

[Royal]

These should have quite a few roots and possibly some new growths. Gradually introduce them to brighter light, approaching that of an adult, over a period of several weeks. Watch the leaf color, slight lightening is good, yellowing is not. Also increase fertilizer gradually, building up to your normal dose over a similar period of time.

These should be past the toughest stage. They will have hardened up and will be a little more forgiving than if they were right out of the flask. Like I said, just keep an eye on them and take things slow. We have faith in you.

[dianecty]

Thank you! I'll try it and tell you what happens. I will be using styrofoam drinking cups, sphagnum moss. I will be leaving space at the bottom of the cup so that the plant will have air. Of course, I'll put holes in the cup on the bottom and sides. I read this on Ebay.