Flasks (Project 15 - Spring 2013)

[orchidsarefun]

thanks, a great help - I wasn't able to find an illustrative picture like that anywhere.....maybe just as well as I don't like that type, with the looooong rhizome between pbulbs and it not being compact.
Now I have a lot of time to get to like them....

[zxyqu]

Yeah flasks are the ultimate test of patience in orchids, especially some of the Cattleya family plants. Luckily, Phals are only a 2/4 year wait from seed to bloom, so I'll stick with them.

Ok, so here is part one of the project. Wasn't sure it was going to happen, so I went ahead with one flask before the project started. This was a flask I was lucky enough to get from Kingfisher in Canada (I know, be jealous Cody...), and it was packed last Winter. I let it grow until Spring picked up, and I was super pleased with how many plants were in it. Phal LD's Bear Queen (DTE x bellina) is the cross. Attached are the Flask photo, a picture of the ones I chose to deflask and pot up, and another of the smaller seedlings I replated. I know everyone cant replate, but if you can, it's a great way to get 10+ more plants as the tiny ones can be reflasked until they are up to size. Enjoy, this is gonna be a great project.

[shadytrake]

Originally Posted by zxyqu

Yeah flasks are the ultimate test of patience in orchids, especially some of the Cattleya family plants. Luckily, Phals are only a 2/4 year wait from seed to bloom, so I'll stick with them.

Ok, so here is part one of the project. Wasn't sure it was going to happen, so I went ahead with one flask before the project started. This was a flask I was lucky enough to get from Kingfisher in Canada (I know, be jealous Cody...), and it was packed last Winter. I let it grow until Spring picked up, and I was super pleased with how many plants were in it. Phal LD's Bear Queen (DTE x bellina) is the cross. Attached are the Flask photo, a picture of the ones I chose to deflask and pot up, and another of the smaller seedlings I replated. I know everyone cant replate, but if you can, it's a great way to get 10+ more plants as the tiny ones can be reflasked until they are up to size. Enjoy, this is gonna be a great project.

Cool! If any in my flasks are too small, I'm going to ask my Phal expert friend to replate for me. He has a laminar hood and the experience to do it.

[Call_Me_Bob]

Jealous!!!!!! I have one seedling of LDs bear queen and I want MORE! It's my favorite cross!

[shadytrake]

Got the flasks today. Have to sterilize some more moss as I used all of this batch to pot the schilleriana.

The community pot belongs to my share project partner. I don't pot in compots for myself per the suggestion from the local Phal expert. He said he always pots in singles now so that he doesn't do any damage when re-potting. Also, he said in singles you can re-pot when that plant is ready.

I did not use any chemical wash as I have killed too many seedlings by burning them. Now I use a plain water wash and sterilized moss (pressure cooked).

Here are the pictures. My project buddy will be getting the compot (mailing this weekend or next Thursday - depending on if he wants them to harden off for a week)

[escualida]

How cute is the mottling on the tiny little leaves? Adorable. Thanks for sharing

Is there any kind of ventilation in the box?

[RebeccaBC]

K here's the pics of my seedling. When I tried to look up the parents I couldn't find much, so if anyone has any info on it let me know

First picture was from a day or two after I brought it home, the second pic is from just a few days ago and hopefully shows the new growth on it. Since I've brought it home it's produced a new leaf and 5 new roots. The roots are going in every different direction possible, made it hard to repot the sucker.

[shadytrake]

Originally Posted by escualida

How cute is the mottling on the tiny little leaves? Adorable. Thanks for sharing

Is there any kind of ventilation in the box?

No ventilation for the first week. Then you start opening it. The sterilized moss keeps any mold away.

[Rowangreen]

Sorry I haven't posted about mine yet, and it looks like I'll be offline for a couple of days, so will post pictures after that!

Briefly though... my phal ambioensis flask from Writhlington School was pretty desparate to be unflasked! Great long roots (some going up to the top of a tall flask...), hardly any medium left. There were also some fungus growing, though they seemed to be co-existing fine with the plants!

In preperation I washed pots, propagator and tools first with dishwash, then with 10% bleach solution (not stronger as I've heard it can desicate rather than kill nasties if it's stronger). I also damped down and microwaved some moss. After microwaving I added a bit more de-ionised water with some fert in.

Opened the flask and let it soak in some room temp water for a while, then eased the plants out. It tooks quite a while to get those long roots sorted out! Lucky that phal roots are quite resilient (the paphs I deflasked in October I found had brittle roots... whoops!). Also removed some dead roots and leaves. Didn't use any kind of wash on the seedlings except plain water.

I've ended up with 9 plants of various sizes, with the smallest being pretty microscopic. I don't have facilities to re-plate those, so giving them a go... They are now in two compots in a propogator without heating, over a bed of leca with water in. Running about 20-23 degrees c at the moment and 100% humidity. Looking ok so far.

[zxyqu]

Shady, believe it or not you can leave them in that for months without any mold growing in it. I know it sounds horrible, but it works wonders for some of my seedlings. A friend of mine also does this, and has incredible results with seedlings.