I think I'm a pregnant Phal.
 

I pollinated a Phal. Memoria Karen Sale 'Jean' with (Dpts.Hawaiian break x Phal. Equestris CharFou) on 6/14/08 and this started to form, it is the first success in getting a possible seed pod.
The first photos are of the pollinated flower and the possible seed pod.The second photos are of the pollen donor.

I didn't like the photo of Dpts.Hawaiian Break x Phal. Equestris CharFou. so here is a better one.

:cheer:Aight, way to go! She's definitely pregnant! :cheer: Keep us posted on the progress. :goodluck:

The proud parents are very pretty! Congrats!

If you're going to get serious about breeding...
 

...then you have to get accurate in your documentation, and understand what you're getting yourself into.

1. It's a "capsule", not a "pod".
2. The pollen parent of your pollen-parent hybrid is a species, so should not be capitalized, and the cultivar name should be enclosed in single quotes: Phal. equestris 'CharFou'
3. The swelling of the ovary does not necessarily mean the cross has "taken", but it's a pretty good chance in this case, considering the similarity in the background of the parents.
4. You need to seriously consider what you will do with the capsule. You can send it off to a lab for culturing (that would be my recommendation), but understand you can get literally thousands of seedlings from a single capsule, so consider growing space!
5. If you intend to name the cross, you will have to investigate the origin of the pollen parent, and register that cross first (after a bit of digging). Then you have to be the first to flower the new hybrid, and THEN you can register it.

First I want to say thank you to all who have commented and a big thank you to Ray.

Ray it's members like yourself, and others ,who help and inform the rest of us so that we can have the knowledge to succeed with this wonderful addiction.

I did not think about registering, how do you do it?
I am not worried about the space as I have access to a large growing area, if I am able to do it right I would love to be able to bloom ,and possibly have judged, my own cross. I think that would be the ultimate reward for a hobbiest.

I'm still confused on how to correctly write the name's of crosses. The name on the tag of the pollen donor is written just like this, Dpts.Hawaiian Break x Phal. equestris CharFou. I would not know if this is correct or not, I just took for granted that the nursery wrote it correctly.

:yikes: Ray that is a lot of info to take in, but you are certainly right, growing 'chids from seed is not to be taken carelessly...

Nonetheless, congratulations luckygrower :clap: on your almost pregger phal. :goodluck: please do keep us posted, and as Ray said, since 'you can get literally thousands of seedlings" I wouldn't mind giving you a hand by taking in one of them :biggrin:

:rofl:

Here is Ray's site on orchid naming and also registering your orchid hybrid
Orchid Naming
Registering Your Orchid Hybrid

This is the site for the application to register an orchid - Royal Horticultural Society - Plants: Registration of Orchids

Awesome photos of the almost pregnant phal and awesome advice from everyone especially Ray... thanks people for all the lessons in Orchid propagation and growing.

Thanks so much Dorothy,
Ray's site is amazing!
I've been doing some research for the last hour or so and have found quite a bit of information. The info given to me and the rest of us on this forum by people like yourself and Ray is priceless to those of us still learning about orchids.
Thank all of you again.

You are most welcome :)

I will also thank you for the compliments on the website!

My attitude about orchid growing is that sharing as much info as I can will help others and with their experience, will get them to share what they learn with me!

Not long ago, I gave a presentation at an OS that appeared to be fairly viable. Later, one member took me aside and told me that there were about 4 people in the society (including one commercial grower) who are really knowledgeable, but they refuse to share what they know with the rest! I was appalled. All I can take from that is that they wanted to receive the "oohs and ahhs" when they brought good plants in, but were too selfish to allow anyone else to do so.

Who needs a society like that?

What a shame and so sad for those people who are missing out ..
I believe that what you send out into the world will return to you tenfold .. it's always a win-win situation when it's positive :)

For the novices on the Board, could someone point out exactly where this "capsule" is? I'd like to know and haven't been able to figure it out.

If you look at the second picture it is the swollen green stem behind the wilting flower.

I, for one, have learned a bunch from you, Ray, and will always be thankful for you sharing what you know. I hope others will as well.

Thank you, luckygrower, for enlightening me!

Thank you Luckygrower for starting this thread.
Three days ago I attempted the same thing you have done. Now I wait, no signs of morning sickness yet.:rofl: Heck, I'm not even sure I "did" it right. (Dorothy, there's an opening for you!)
So, about how long before there is 'swelling'?

Ray, you know you are invaluable here. Your knowledge and advice is always given freely and with no thought of return. It is very much appreciated.

I am so very glad I found this forum!
Al
P.S.
Always expermented since I was a child. The best way to learn is to try.

Al - The end results always tell you whether you did it right or not ;)
and I avert my eyes from swelling bulbous structures ... (ok, sometimes I peek ;) )
:coverlaugh:

hip hip huhray for ''ray''

I don't know if it was this particular attempt or not but here is a little history of what I have observed.
This attempt it took about 2 weeks for the flower to fold in on it's self before the capsule started to swell and get greener,then the flower withered and fell off,on all my previous attempts the flower folded in on itself and died within a few days.

Hey there Luckygrower!!! Just wondering how's the pregnant mom doing ??? Any more swelling??

Well it is still swelling and getting rather big.
I plan on attending the Santa Barbra orchid show this weekend and when I return I will post some update photo's.
I have read here on another forum that it should take about 130 days before the capsule will be ripe and ready for flasking.

I cannot even put into words how excited this makes me! I have always strayed away from the more difficult things like pollination and focused on just getting my 'chids to flower. All this advice and the helpful people really give me inspiration to try it one day when I have more space, time, etc. I really hope this one works out for you, luckygrower!!! Can't wait to see more pics.

Well I'm back and here is a photo taken today of the pregnant mom.
One thing I need to add is that if pollenation is successful, the capsule starts to turn green from the flower end then gets greener moving towards the stem.

How is your orchid doing now?

Sorry I did not update, I miss judged the time and the capsule split and the seed was lost on the bench

Oh no, im sorry. Hope u have better luck next time :)