Orchid flask contaminated

[Silje]

Hi guys!

I went to Thailand on a holiday, and returned with a flask with vanda seedlings. Due to security control at the airport I had to put it in my checked in luggage, not my hand luggage. The result was that the poor seedlings got thrown around a lot. For a week or so, I've been trying to get the roots into the growth medium and the leaves out of it by turning the bottle. This morning, I saw a bit of mould or fungi starting to grow on the top.

I broke the bottle, thinking that there is no way those small seedlings will be able to co-exist with the mould in there.

But what to do now...? ideally, these seedlings should have probably stayed in the bottle for another 6 months or so....at least that's what the salesman told me.





What can I do to try to create a good growth environment for them and see if I can make them survive?

I have no idea what to do with them, and need advice on everything, from growth medium to single or community pot, bagged or in the open...?

Help.

[Rowangreen]

I'm a beginner, so don't really know. But until you do get a reply from someone who knows, I'd put them back in the cleaned jar, just as they are. Screw up a bit of that paper they are on, wet it, and put it in with them but not touching. That should keep them moiste and safe until you get better advice!

[Arenalbotanicalgarden]

Where do you live ? In Florida ( or here in CR) I would put some moss on a tree and tie them on with panty hose.
In Duh North I would get a hold of some ping pong ball size lava rock, boil it(sterility), and loosely put it in a wood basket around those little roots.No compacting. Just to hold it stable.They'll grab on in a month or two. Keep the humidity fairly high.

[Silje]

I live in Namibia, and we're heading into the winter time now, with very low humidity.

I cant get hold of lave rock, I'm afraid... Got limited things to choose from at local nurseries around here. What I do have is large and small bark chips (for my other orchids), and some gravel and decorating stones that I use for my cattleya. I do have a vanda wooden basket though. And if I hang it in the bathroom, it could benefit from higher humidity in there. Otherwise I was considering making myself a tiny, tiny greenhouse...

[Rowangreen]

Maybe you should post this in the advanced or propogation forums? I believe you need to 'wean' the seedlings off being in a flask, so they can't really go straight to adult conditions. So yes, you'll probably need some form of mini greenhouse. Hope you can get some advice from someone with more knowledge!

[Arenalbotanicalgarden]

Large pieces of bark are OK. Keep Vandas airy. They hate their roots being restricted.

[Silje]

Originally Posted by Arenalbotanicalgarden

Large pieces of bark are OK. Keep Vandas airy. They hate their roots being restricted.

Great! Bark it will be.

Thanks for the advice. The large hanging roots are actually part of what I really like about the vandas. That's why I could not resist the bottle. They are never available here in Namibia. Maybe for good reasons, because providing them with enough humidity is going to be a challenge during the winter months.

So you think, just out in open air in the house right away instead of a small green house or something to ensure humidity?

[Lana]

Silje, I have no experience with deflasking whatsoever, but I've read on this forum many times, that seedlings out of the flask need to be in a very humid, warm environment. They have to slowly get used to life outside the flask, and the process needs to be very gentle. As I remember, the advice was to put the seedlings in a small pot with sphagnum moss loosely tucked around the roots, and have this pot in a sort of nursery environment, probably enclosed, but still with air movement, provided with either a small fan, or holes in the enclosure.

[Lana]

Here is a link I found that describes why to do with the seedlings: Deflasking orchid seedlings

[Silje]

Thanks for the suggestions and advice guys.

I ended up with a greenhouse option. I put two small community pots with coconut chips into a ziplock bag. I put some moist tissue in the bottom to ensure humidity, but made sure the pots are not standing directly on it, and put it in the shadow in one of the warmer rooms in the house. I want to take out the pots and mist them regularly. The coconut chips are very loosely holding the plants upright, but with a lot of air. I think I'll be able to see progress as the roots develop without disturbing them further. Crossing fingers that it will work. I'll keep you updated. And come screaming back for help if things takes an ugly turn.

Thanks again. I don't know what my orchids would do without you!