Orchid Virgin... needs help with seedlings...

[*Trouble*]

Many thanks for the links, very handy.

The way my friend and I saw it... £5 (300 baht) for a chance at 5 new orchids... bargain.

I'm hoping to go to the London Orchid Show too... may have to take out another mortgage before I go, my wish list will have begun by then.

[ipv6ready]

Originally Posted by Undergrounder

And number 2 tip is give them really high humidity and really really good air flow for quite a few months out of the flask. This is my setup, a fishtank with a fan inside on a timer. I wet the vermiculite on the bottom periodically to keep it humid. When i first started i used a propagating box which had high humidity but no air movement and as a consequence i lost heaps of orchids to mould. And if i put them out in the air, they dried up and shrivelled to a crisp. Humidity AND air movement is key.

Anyway good luck!

Quick question Undergrounder what do one do with so many phals?

Do you sell them? If so I would beinterested in one of the baby Phals

Opps sorry for going off track

[*Trouble*]

Both sets of 'babies' were deflasked 6 months ago now. I didn't have a choice in the end as some sort of mold set in on my poor little Vanda's (luckily it washed off and they're no worse for wear).
All my babies are still alive, but not growing much at all. Is that normal..? I'd heard it would take years to get them to flowering size...

Also, my friends seedlings don't appear to be growing at all in their flasks (we bought them early Jan 08). Any idea what she can do to get them to grow..? She had them in a dimly lit area, so I advised getting them closer to light (but not too close).... months down the line and they're still not growing.

[jay]

Trouble - if you just deflasked this year, then you probably have a couple of years to see flowers. It really does depend on the plant though. I have heard that there are some Dendrobiums that go from flask to flower in 18 months. At the same time, Paph. rothschildianum can take 10-15 years from flask to bloom if you have a slower one.

I agree with your advise for your friend. Possibly increase the light, but not direct sunlight as that would cook them.

Do you have any pictures of your seedlings?

[lambelkip]

Originally Posted by *Trouble*

Also, my friends seedlings don't appear to be growing at all in their flasks (we bought them early Jan 08). Any idea what she can do to get them to grow..? She had them in a dimly lit area, so I advised getting them closer to light (but not too close).... months down the line and they're still not growing.

if they're not growing, even with the higher light levels, it could be a sign that they've used up the nutrients in the medium, and need to be de-flasked (or re-flasked). how big are they?

[Serge]

I start orchid 3 months ago.Order a flask of B, nodosa
1 month ago . I repot 3 weeks ago with information i read on this forum and so far 99% success.

Thank you everybody!!!