Macodes sanderiana deflasking - Page 3 - Orchid Board

OrchidLover1982 · #21 03-20-2009, 12:40 AM

yeah that does happen sometimes. Just means you will have to deflask them right away. What are you deflasking them into? i used trays of sphagnum moss to good success and evenly distributed them throughout the tray.

Were they large seedlings? put some pics up when you have deflasked them

Bloomin_Aussie · #22 03-20-2009, 02:49 AM

I put them into a seedling tray with sphagnum. Got a good 26 plants out of it too. I'll see how they do in this for the moment but I'll probably put them into slightly larger pots once they take off. The whole lot are in a mini greenhouse I picked up from Bunnings for about $10. Works a treat.

These plants look like they were grown from stems of existing plants not from seed as they show clear cuts across the stem at the bottom. Doesn't bother me too much though. A plant is a plant after all. I'll get some pics up later.

OrchidLover1982 · #23 03-20-2009, 11:05 PM

Probably mericlones.

yeah those mini-greenhouses are good, just make sure they are shady. and keep up the humidity with a good mist every so often.

all the best

Bloomin_Aussie · #24 03-21-2009, 06:40 AM

I'd say so.

I'll probably keep them inside I think. Temps seem to be dropping at the moment so I think they'll be happier. I also have a heating pad (used for heating reptile tanks) which I can use to maintain a constant temp. As for light, my lounge room should have adequate lighting... no direct sunlight but I expect these guys being jungle terrestrials are happy in shade.

Oh, I meant to say earlier that the plants are not as fragile as they look. I was expecting soft fleshy leaves and stems and very brittle roots. Instead the leaves and stems are hard... like they are made out of plastic or something and the roots are like wire. They're also covered in hairs and I found that it was very difficult to separate plants whose roots had grown together because the hairs on the roots seemed to be tangled. Was like pulling apart velcro but without the ripping sound.

OrchidLover1982 · #25 03-21-2009, 05:27 PM

sounds like you have it all worked out. I also used a heat mat for mine as well i had deflasked during winter. They seem to tolerate very high humidity well with not much ventilation. For lighting i just used a flourescent aquarium light that i had here. Now that they are outside and hardened up they should be able to cope with our winter here which is usually frost free and they are in a very protected position.

Yeah the plantlets are surprisingly tough aren't they. Very thick leaves. I know what you mean about the roots and trying to separate them to. The root hairs get entangled and you have to really pull hard sometimes to get them apart.

Bloomin_Aussie · #26 03-22-2009, 08:56 AM

Forgot to include my pic before...

Macodes sanderiana deflasking-img_1063_17r-jpg

Photos really do not do this plant justice.

OrchidLover1982 · #27 03-22-2009, 06:00 PM

expect them to grow quite fast with adequate light and heat. I read before the species is a slow grower but i found this wasn't the case. They are as fast as my other anoectochilus. A bit of folia spray doesn't go astray either in speeding things along from time to time.

Bloomin_Aussie · #28 03-22-2009, 07:21 PM

I noticed that. The new shoots that were developing at the base of the stems when I potted them out have grown about 1cm already and have sprouted leaves.

What exactly do you use for feeding?

OrchidLover1982 · #29 03-23-2009, 02:56 AM

I use Miracle Gro all purpose. I don't feed very often though.

Bloomin_Aussie · #30 03-23-2009, 03:07 AM

I see that recommended for lots of things... might have to get some.