when should you take a pod off ready to flask, with photos

[orchiddream]

can anyone tell me when is the best time to take the pod off the orchid. I don't know whether I took mine off too early, (i took off after 6 months) as ive flasked the seeds and its been 4 weeks and cant see anything that's happened.. a few little pieces have gone a brown colour but I think that maybe the orchid peel where I scraped the seeds, but then Im not sure. it is really dis heartening that its took all this time from pollination to have a feeling its not going to work . a few photos below. please anyone reply with there knowledge.. thanks

[Orchid Whisperer]

You know for sure that seed is ripe when the pod starts to split open on its own (dehisc).

You can sew green seeds, if you are fairly certain when the pod should be ripe and harvest the pod just before that. Different orchid species can take different times to ripen, though. Also, the time it takes for seed to germinate may range from a few weeks to many months.

What kinds of seed did you flask?

Good luck with your project.

[orchiddream]

phaleonopsis, thanks for your reply, does everything look ok in the jars, the unit is electric heated, and the jars are in sealed bags with bleach solution.

[Orchid Whisperer]

I can't really tell from the photos, but contamination is usually the biggest concern, and easy to spot (big fuzzy patches).

Orchid seeds IMO, look like wet corn meal when they germinate. If you do not already have a good magnifier (5x or 10x), I suggest getting one. You can usually recognize the seeds that are germinating, they will swell a lot in the middle. Orchid seeds that are not yet germinated look like tiny hairs with a small bump in the center.

This post might be better in the Propagation Forum. There is a post there on an easy flasking method that I like: http://www.orchidboard.com/community...seedlings.html Your method is somewhat different; it may work ok, but it is different from what I have used successfully.

[Ray]

How long has it been in flask?

[orchiddream]

4 weeks on Tuesday, they have been in the jars.

[Ray]

If the seed is viable, it may be several more weeks before they even thinks of germinating. Unless you sterilized the seed well, as has been said, mold is your biggest enemy.


Ray Barkalow
Sent using Tapatalk

[orchiddream]

I had 1 tiny spot of mould, so I read that if you scoop it out and put a little bleach solution in the hole it should be ok, and so far so good.