Growing Bumble bee from seed

[Diygkas]

Hello everyone!

I have just bought my first orchid, but as i'm a little stubborn i decided to grow it from seeds. And it seems i didn't start with an easy one.

I got the Bumble Bee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora). I've been reading a lot about growing it, and it seems that what i know about plants won't apply here. I read some tutorials on orchids, but none seem to include the bumble bee or the Ophrys genus.

I would like to know if you have any tutorials or tips to grow it or which orchid is similar to it so i can do a better search.

Thanks in advance and sorry for the bad english.

[SFLguy]

Originally Posted by Diygkas

Hello everyone!

I have just bought my first orchid, but as i'm a little stubborn i decided to grow it from seeds. And it seems i didn't start with an easy one.

I got the Bumble Bee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora). I've been reading a lot about growing it, and it seems that what i know about plants won't apply here. I read some tutorials on orchids, but none seem to include the bumble bee or the Ophrys genus.

I would like to know if you have any tutorials or tips to grow it or which orchid is similar to it so i can do a better search.

Thanks in advance and sorry for the bad english.

Have you seen that to grow orchids from seed you'll either need a specific fungus or a completely sterile environment. Also orchid seeds are almost microscopic.
If you're familiar with growing orchids from seed already then I'd imagine Ophrys is very similar to many terrestrial species. They're faster growers than epiphytes from what I've seen

[voyager]

Hello and welcome Diygkas.
I hate to rain on your parade, but growing orchids from seed would require for you to be a superb horticulturist with a strong streak of mad scientist in you.
Growing orchids from seed is very much like growing mushrooms from spoors, you would need to work in a sterile environment with sterile materials.
If your english is adequate enough, try watching this YouTube video.

[pipsxlch]

First, Voyager is on the money about the difficulty and skill required to grow orchid from seed.

Ophrys can be grown in cultivation, but it's touchy and not an easy choice. As a threatened genus, there are also restrictions on international trade in it.

However, it's extremely unlikely that you have/will be getting actual orchid seed- let alone that of an unusual-in-cultivation species such as the Ophrys. Anybody that I've heard who has gotten the 'orchid seeds' on eBay etc. has received seeds of some other type of plant- usually four o'clock Jalapa sp. If it isn't super fine, to the point of looking like powder, it isn't orchid seed.

Living in Brasil, you have access to many fine orchids both native and not, and many fine nurseries. I'd really recommend you at least consult with some of the nurseries about what's available and which would both appeal to you and not be too difficult to grow for a beginner.

Best of luck, whatever you decide!

[Diygkas]

Well.. crap.

First of all, thanks a lot for the replies.

@voyager

i saw the video and indeed the seed i purchased are not tiny, so it's probably a scam. I did however searched for "orchid seed" in google and a few images show bigger seeds. I will just assume it's a scam, but i'll plant my seeds anyway. I mean, what's the harm now that i have all the stuff?

Many thanks for the video and the reality check, haha.

@SFLguy

I'm not familiar with growing orchids. I think i'll just buy one or two, terrestrial like you said, so i can practice how to take care of them. Thanks for the tip =]