Looking For Firsthand Experience De-Flasking Thelymitra

[Subrosa]

Well it seems the wait is over, and a flask of T. brevifolia will be heading my way shortly! The plants have been in flask going on two years. When I deflask I plan to keep the seedlings under a 10 hour photoperiod and as cool as possible to try to get a full season of growth before letting them go dormant next summer. Does anyone with experience de-flasking Aussie terrestrial orchids have any critique/advice they can offer? Thanks in advance!

Edit: Just found out my T. inflata is also ready and shipping out with the brevifolia.

[isurus79]

While I can't help you here, maybe a broader search for information from people who've unflasked other terrestrials might help.

Is this the only blue orchid species? Alan Koch told me last week about an Aussie terrestrial that is true blue and only gets that coloration from the high aluminum content in the local soil. I can't remember the species name.

[Andrew]

They's are one of the easier Australian terrestrials to deflask. Thelymitra inflata and brevifolia are pauciflora-types and are good species to cut your teeth on. Now should be a good time for you to deflask as you'll get a full growing season for them to produce new tubers. I usually deflask into compots in a mix of equal parts pine-based potting mix and perlite and keep the mix evenly moist until they start to go dormant. You can plant them in your preferred potting mix for the second year. Seedlings with tubers usually survive well. Seedlings without tubers can be a bit hit and miss as they usually don't have enough of a root system to support the plant but they're worth potting up anyway.

Were the flasks from Troy Meyers?

---------- Post added at 01:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:36 PM ----------

Originally Posted by isurus79

Is this the only blue orchid species? Alan Koch told me last week about an Aussie terrestrial that is true blue and only gets that coloration from the high aluminum content in the local soil. I can't remember the species name.

I've heard anything about aluminium content in the soil affecting the colours of the blue species of Thelymitra, Cyanicula or Pheladenia. These orchids also hold their colour in cultivation. Maybe it's a bit of mashed up logic based the effects of aluminium sulphate on Hydrageas.

[Subrosa]

Thanks for the information Andrew! Yes, these flasks are coming from Troy.

[Andrew]

I sent Troy the seed a couple of years ago. It's good to see he had success with it and that it's being spread around.

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by Andrew

I sent Troy the seed a couple of years ago. It's good to see he had success with it and that it's being spread around.

Then thanks are in order to you sir! I gave him a couple pods of a rather obscure (in this country anyway)orchid, Ophrys vernixia which he had never worked ybefore. They germinated a couple months ago, and flasks should be available. Gotta get these kinds of plants out there! Thanks again!

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Andrew

I've heard anything about aluminium content in the soil affecting the colours of the blue species of Thelymitra, Cyanicula or Pheladenia. These orchids also hold their colour in cultivation. Maybe it's a bit of mashed up logic based the effects of aluminium sulphate on Hydrageas.

Good to know, thanks!