Orchid Seeds Germinated On My Tree!

[epiphyte78]

Most of the seedlings didn't make it...but here's a recent photo of the largest seedling...


Dockrillia, Crassula, Orchid seedling by epiphyte78, on Flickr

I have several seed pods in a bag...mostly of Reed Stem Epidendrum. I'll sow them in a few months but I'll probably try and use an eye dropper this time.

Has anybody else tried sowing orchid seeds directly on their orchid trees?

---------- Post added 01-19-2013 at 12:25 AM ---------- Previous post was 01-18-2013 at 11:49 PM ----------

Originally Posted by orchidsarefun

thanks for posting, very interesting.
I was wondering if you could tell if there were more protocorms around dead roots or live roots ?

I can't remember exactly but I think most of the protocorms were around live roots.

Originally Posted by orchidsarefun

If a root dies, does the fungus release spores which then attach to the trunk a bit further away and then perhaps provide an environment for a seed to germinate?

The spores are even smaller than orchid seeds...so when they are released the wind could take them anywhere I suppose.

Originally Posted by orchidsarefun

Is the fungus visible to the naked eye ?

Nope, too small!

Originally Posted by orchidsarefun

I wonder if the relationship between the two prevents another fungi from taking hold.

From what I've read...I think that plants can choose which fungus they associate with...Plants and Fungi Play the 'Underground Market'.

Originally Posted by orchidsarefun

Please keep us informed, it will be very interesting to see what proportion of the protocorms develop on, or if there is some process of natural selection where only those in a certain environment conducive to futher growth survive.
I suppose you also need to see if any of your neighbours' trees are hosts as well !

Few of the seedlings survived. I think that slugs were the biggest culprit.

None of my neighbors "water" their trees...so I don't think that the fungus would survive on their trees. It would be a different story in Florida though.

[orchidsarefun]

your experience and a couple of others I have read about has inspired me to try a similar thing on an indoor mounted orchid. I have a c cernua seedpod that should be mature in about a month and I am going to spread seed around

1) the roots of a mounted bc yellow bird that I have.
2) the roots of the c cernua

I don't expect much, but who knows...

[tucker85]

Excellent photographs and lots of good information. Thanks for posting this.

[epiphyte78]

Originally Posted by orchidsarefun

your experience and a couple of others I have read about has inspired me to try a similar thing on an indoor mounted orchid. I have a c cernua seedpod that should be mature in about a month and I am going to spread seed around

1) the roots of a mounted bc yellow bird that I have.
2) the roots of the c cernua

I don't expect much, but who knows...

That's great that you're going to give it a try! Hopefully one of those orchids has the appropriate fungus in its roots.

Here are a couple of my favorite photos of cernua growing on trees... C cernua in cultivation and C cernua in situ.

One thing you might consider trying is to attach a division of your cernua to a bonsai. Here's my Jade plant "bonsai" that I attached a couple dozen miniature orchids to...


Crassula Bonsai With Orchids 3a by epiphyte78, on Flickr

The "bark" is totally smooth though so I don't think I'd be able to sow orchid seeds on it.

[Aki_James]

Wow that is really beautiful. I am more than just a little envious!!! Must be wonderful to live somewhere warm and be able to do that....Sorry I think I have the winter blues up here.....sigh...I want that tree....in my living room.

[The Orchid Boy]

Cool!

[Froggle]

I'm with Aki James, I'd love to be able to grow tropical orchids outdoors! It must have been an exciting thing for you to discover epiphyte78! Great to see the close up pics too.

[GardenTheater]

Thanks for the update. It's wonderful that one of the seedlings survived.

[Bud]

Glendale, California is sometimes visited by frost maybe every other year....otherwise you can grow some orchids outdoors all year. Some Dendrobiums can withstand a couple of weeks of frost and the thermal heat emanating from the tree will save it. There must be a beneficial fungi on that tree that nourishes the seeds and provide it with the necessary sugars for growth. Just as the trees that the ghost orchids grow from in the glades that allows them to attach to the bark and thrive= whereas in captivity indoors it is hard to grow ghost orchids....it must be something in the bark, the humidity and the temperature cycle of the seasons.

[epiphyte78]

The seedlings are all looking like Laelia anceps...


Laelia anceps Volunteer by epiphyte78, on Flickr

Here's the larger version of the photo.

I know I sowed other types of orchids...so why only Laelia anceps? Maybe because the other orchids require a specific type of fungus that isn't present on my tree. And/or perhaps the conditions on my tree are too harsh for the other orchids that I tried?

My Mexican Laelias are all starting to bloom...so I'm going to cross them with Cattleyas, Encyclias, Brassavolas...and see if any of the crosses will germinate on my tree.

Anybody want to guess how long it will take to select for an epiphytic orchid that can naturalize here in Southern California?