My abject de-flasking failure aka Cattleya walkeriana mass suicide

[peeweelovesbooks]

So,

Because I like to share my failures as well as my successes with you fantastic people, I'd like to confess that my Cattleya walkeriana var. alba 'Pendentive' seedlings committed mass suicide last week, in a violent Jim-Jones cult-ish kind of way.


Ahem. . . (clearing throat)


Well, actually, Maria thinks (because Maria is peeweelovesbooks' alternate personality, that is why I get to talk about her in the third person) that she overwatered the seedlings. She was actually negligent and left her seedlings outside in torrential South Florida rain.

It actually only took one heavy watering, but her seedlings (which had heretofore had grown, oh, I'd say about a millimeter) of said plant rapidly declined.

So, my confession serves several purposes:

1) To confess my failure in an open forum. Yes, I am an orchid killer. Not only an orchid killer, but an orchid serial killer (I hope Troy Meyers is not reading this).

2) To admit that while #1 is true, I learned something from this: I know exactly how to kill cattleya walkerianas, which means that when I get my second flask (yes, I reserved another one) I hope I have a better chance of them surviving.

3) And most important, to seek advice from you fantabulous cattleya growers on how to raise walkerianas from babies. I know they are finicky as adults, but I see that baby walkerianas require the equivalent of a private nanny. So, any tips would be helpful (hopefully someone will take pity on me and give me pointers before I get my second flask) Mauro? Roly? Jan? Ray?????? Bueller????????????


Thanks everyone for allowing me to post my orchid failure, and not rescinding my orchid addict card.

I think the two lone survivors must be like 10N...in light of the fact that they withstood Maria's abuse. I know they will grow pseudobulbs 10 feet long with flowers the size of a dinner plate. I can't wait!!


Happy growing!!

[RosieC]

I'm so sorry about your loss, I can't help I'm afraid as I've never grown them, but I hope you have better luck next time.

[camille1585]

That's really too bad that you murdered them all. I'm trying to muster the appropriate amount of sympathy, but it's really hard because your post is so well written that it left me laughing.
All I can say is to not let 'Maria' go near the babies next time! Sorry I can't give you pointers, i've never deflasked anything.

[Cookiemonster]

mariiiaaaa your a riot thanks for giving me a good laugh at work


Anyways I think failure is the best way to learn - and while it is very disappointing to have such a loss sometimes it happens to teach us to not do XYZ again!
I dont have any advice for you since I avoid flasks like I do roaches, but obviously they got WAY too moist and rotted, from what I know seedlings need the moisture but there is a fine line between growth and rot- maybe a fan to dry them out faster or a mix of moss and something that drains quickly would help the next time.
Let me know, I wish you success in round 2

[ToddsterVonCattMan]

PeeWee, so sorry for your losses... But like the others, I have to admit that your post was written with great humor and helped me have a hood hearty laugh after a long day...

I hope the more experienced chime in. Many of us are listening. I have grown and bloomed many orchids over the years, but raising the little ones out of the flask has always eluded me...!

And no less than walkeriana, PeeWee...! Wow, you are brave...!

[peeweelovesbooks]

Originally Posted by ToddsterVonCattMan

PeeWee, so sorry for your losses... But like the others, I have to admit that your post was written with great humor and helped me have a hood hearty laugh after a long day...

I hope the more experienced chime in. Many of us are listening. I have grown and bloomed many orchids over the years, but raising the little ones out of the flask has always eluded me...!

And no less than walkeriana, PeeWee...! Wow, you are brave...!

Thanks for the props, but when I saw the walkeriana on Troy Meyer's addictive website, this was my thought process:






"oooooooooooooooooooohhhh pretty AND an alba!! I waaaaaaaaaaaaant one" (insert desperate clicking of the mouse before the flasks were sold out). Never did I think that they were harder to grow than mangoes in the Sahara.

(wink)

[quietmorning]

I have no pointers for you - my sides are hurting so much from laughing, I may want to quit before I suffocate.

[Becca]

My only pointer is that I have been told that seedlings that have just been deflasked cannot handle even heavy misting from a spray bottle....so maybe it wasn't Maria over watered them....maybe it was more that they just couldn't handle the torrential down pour....hopefully someone else will chime in and say why seedlings can't handle even a heavy misting from a spray, is it due to rot? I can't really remember. I have some seedlings that I have gotten from Troy Meyer's and from trading with others....I've killed my fare share as well...it's not easy...but it sure is fun trying!

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[shadytrake]

x 22

Sorry for your loss Maria. Good that you keep the humor about it.

Keep on trying.

"Hello my name is Maria"

"Hi Maria" the support group says.

"I am an addict and my last flask purchase was yesterday."

"Will you share?" the support group says.

[Psyguy10]

Maria, i'm very sorry to hear about the poor little baby catts... but i have to be honest and say that your posts have me laughing like a maniac

but in all seriousness you'll get a 'nuther flask and grow the heck outta it i know you will

**checks to make sure his tank full of compots don't see "jim jones cult comment**