don't know what to do with Walkeriana

[bracab]

My senile mother in law in a nursing home was given Walkeriana Le.Mem.Robert Strait in a bottle with some kind of jelly and foil on the top. There appear to be several young plants and the jelly is starting to mould but the plants still looking healthy.

What do I do with them?????

thanks

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Is it just the flowers or are there plants with leaves and roots and such?

You can't grow the flowers.

If you've got plants, I believe your plant may be a Cattleya hybrid. I don't recognize the name. To my knowledge there is no such intergeneric Cattleya cross as "Walkeriana".

If you have a pic, that'd be great.

However, if it's a Cattleya hybrid, grow them potted in large grade wood chips.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

This is just a side note that's off the topic of orchids.

I don't wanna tell you what to say or think, or even behave, but...

Whatever issues you had with your mother, or however you thought of her...

Even if she's truly senile, please just refer to her as just your mother. It kinda sounds bad that no one brought the issue up and the description of senile pops up.

I understand it can be frustrating and difficult to deal with the elderly when they're in that state, but...

Remember she raised you into a functioning and self-sufficient adult. That's difficult, costly, and time consuming.

I may not have kids, but helping my parents raise my little sister was hard.

In the end, no matter what, your parents deserve some kind of respect.

[Silla--glamour]

Hi bro, that's a flask, you should quickly deflask them and transplant them immediately, as flask has a perishable validity. Though they look fresh but the mould as you have said in the growing media might be infecting the young plants, here's the post i have written to help you with this. my name is silla--glamour and nice to meet you

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...-seedling.html

and last but not least, the maximum seedling can stay in the flask is best 3 months, anything more than that might not be good thanks

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Oh...

Read the post over again. Total misread.

Yeah, they're flasked seedlings of what is most likely a Cattleya intergeneric.

Seedlings grow shadier than the adults. So bright shade to medium light should work. They also like it humid. Try growing them in a shallow tray that has drainage holes with fine wood chips.

[bracab]

thanks to everyone for their help, I did not intend offence with the senile moter story. In context I was amazed or amused that someone would have given a blind lady with dementia living in full time care what I have now learned to be a flask of seedlings! I will attempt to care for them and come back here for more advice!

[Brenda Aarts]

While may not seem practical, maybe nice intentions in that your mo-in law can give other relatives/friends a plant each for them to grow & enjoy and think of her. Some extra work for you in the meantime, who knows, maybe a start of something good for you??!! Good luck with the de-flasking.

[PaphMadMan]

A clarification on the identification of your orchid flask. It appears you may have a cross of Cattleya walkeriana and Lc. Memoria Robert Strait. This would be called Lc. Crownfox Sweetheart.