Flasks (Project 15 - Spring 2013)

[shadytrake]

Update on my flask projects. I finally took inventory of all orchids post heater theft. I have been avoiding it. But I have good news. These babies are a lot hardier than we give them credit for.

Phal. schilleriana 'Fragrant Butterfly' x 'Pink Butterfly' ~20 seedlings originally. 14 survived and have rebounded. I have started to really feed them now and if I can keep the humidity up, they will grow better.

Phal. tetraspis 'Olympic' x self ~14 seedlings originally. 6 have rebounded.

Phal. bellina (coerula x sib) x (coerula x sib) ~15 seedlings originally. 12 are growing (small, but growing).

Phal. Luedde-violacea (violacea 'Magnificent' x lueddemanniana 'Woodlawn') ~24 big seedlings originally. 16 growing.

Cattleya intermedia var. coerulea 'Olympic Samba' x intermedia var. orlata 'Marble' - all plants survived.

Cattleya velutina 'Hopbrook' x self - very difficult species. 7 plants are struggling, but growing.

Cattleya walkeriana var. alba 'Pendentive' AM/AOS x self - did not expect any to survive as they were extremely small out of flask. All died when the heater was stolen.

For sure humidity and heat is a factor for babies in the winter. I was impressed that they survived, but in order to THRIVE and grow the babies need the heat and HUMIDITY. It is really critical to fast growth. Mine are behind in growth compared to others, but at least I didn't lose them all.

I did tweak my fertilizer and it seems that all of the orchids like this mixture. I mix K-Lite, liquid seaweed, and a small bit of Epsom salts. I am no longer getting any burn on my Paph/Phrags so I'm sticking with this mixture for now.

[Cntry]

Originally Posted by shadytrake

Hi All,

Got caught by a rain and HAIL storm today so took shelter in the shade house. Took this snap of my Cattleya intermedia babies. They are doing great especially after surviving the stolen heater disaster this past winter.

So exciting! I'm sure the orchids are getting excited seeing their new GH home going up right next door. I'm hoping to have it finished by August 4 (the end of my vacation).

Is the GH almost done now? I bet the seedlings can't wait to move into their new home.

[shadytrake]

Originally Posted by Cntry

Is the GH almost done now? I bet the seedlings can't wait to move into their new home.

Almost done! I have a thread on the greenhouse section titled Harbor Freight Greenhouse. I'm so excited!

[Cntry]

I will have to check out the posts and see some of your pictures.

I would love a REAL glass green house but for now all I can do is use the plastic ones.

[Rowangreen]

Sorry I haven't kept up with this: mad time with working 7 days a week, doing a very demanding course and other worries!

I think it's a great idea to post before and after pics: could I ask people put what the seedlings are too? I don't remember after a year and it saves looking back!

Will post pics myself at some point... (still very busy), but my ambionensis are still in community pots, though the larger ones need to be transplanted into individuals now. I lost the two very tiny seedlings. Amazing to see someone got a flower already! Think it will be years yet for mine.

[shadytrake]

I'll post some pictures this week.

[Cntry]

I can't wait to see how everyone's seedlings are doing now. I have also deflasked my own in June of this year after purchasing them from Carmela's and had no problems with them being shipped. I purchased 8 flasked and split them with 4 other people. We shared each kind 5 ways so we all could get a variety of orchid seedlings. I deflasked them all myself and packaged and shipped them to their new to be parents. Only one person lost theirs due to the heat we believe in the transport. I was so impressed by it all I went and ordered a second batch from Carmela and deflasked them as well. They are all growing nicely. I have lost a few in the process due to the size being really tiny. But I am still happy with the progress so far and its only been a few months now. Can't wait to see what they will be like once they are a year old.

[billc]

It's been a little over a year since I deflasked the paphs I got from Woodstream and they are doing fairly well. Had a little issue with some sort of fungal leaf infection a few weeks ago but seem to have gotten the upper hand again. Some have grown to a 5 in. leaf span, most are about 4 in. and there were a couple of runts that I stuck in coconut coir that haven't really grown too much, but they haven't died either.
Here's what they looked like last Aug. when I first deflasked them.



Here's what they looked like in late Dec.



They have been in individual pots since March or so. Here's what they looked like when I took them out of the compot.



And lastly, here they are today.



Only another 4-5 years and maybe I'll have some nice blooms!

Bill

[shadytrake]

No photo attached Can you repost?

[shadytrake]

I can't believe it! It looks like one of the seedlings is spiking! My Phal expert friend said that many times, the violaceas will bloom fast.

Check it out!