compoting....agar on or agar off?? - Orchid Board

Marco · #1 11-02-2006, 05:27 PM

Just curious as to how people deflask then compot seedlings. Do you compt agar on or off?? If you compot agar off what is your experience, survival rate and what particular genus was it? Do you have any particular comments about the agar on method?

If you compot agar off does leaving agar, the agar that you just can't get out, pose any complications?

Gin · #2 11-02-2006, 07:14 PM

Hi , I have compotted both ways . Phals. and broughtonia
The thing I did not like about the agar on it gets funky looking those were done the intact method a group with the agar on .
When doing the agar off I use a dilute Physan to remove the agar then ro water to rinse the roots .
Survival rate was good on the Phals. agar off ,not as good on the bros. agar on . Gin

Phantasm · #3 11-02-2006, 07:44 PM

I have tried both also, and don't notice much difference.
Sometimes an excess of agar will contribute to some rot so I try to keep them on the dry side.

Wendy · #4 11-02-2006, 11:23 PM

I've had limited experience with compots but have done it both ways. The roots were a little hard to untangle when it came time to separate the compot (leaving the agar on) but after a bit of a soak it came right off. Both ways survived the same.

Shadow · #5 11-03-2006, 02:20 PM

Question to all experienced people here - have you done this in the lab or you have lab at home?

phragguy · #6 11-03-2006, 07:32 PM

I have done both ways. The agar off works very well for me. When I left the agar on I had a bunch of rot. A few times with the agar on it was fine. I think it depends on how much agar was used to firm up the media. I have tried the on method with my own phrags. The besseae hated it.

Marco · #7 11-03-2006, 07:42 PM

Thanks for the great input everyone.

Shadow - I've only unflasked and compotted several flasks. I did it at home in my room.

Shadow · #8 11-03-2006, 08:09 PM

Few explanations to the beginner, please.

I understand the meaning of unflasking, but I don't know the meaning of compotting. Is it to sow seeds into the flask?

Marco · #9 11-03-2006, 08:21 PM

Most of the time seedlings from flask can't be left on their own in a pot because they would be to over potted so they're put together in one pot a compot.

I think compot is short for community pot. But I could be mistaken.

Here pictures of my neofinetia on right and (neo x vanda) on left compots. I compotted agar off.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g7...a/DSCN1324.jpg