Catt. violacea deflask
 

Hey all,
I deflasked a batch of seedlings that I got from Mick Fournier (HBI, Producer of Fine Orchids in Flask) a week ago today (which was Feb. 8, 2013) and This flask is Cattleya violacea coerulea 'Fabio Nahas' x self, which is supposed to be one of the best blue coeruleas out there and they tend to retain the color in the progeny. I figured I'd show what I did and how they are doing.

Here's the flask, which I kept sealed for a month because the seedlings were still small with plenty of media, so why rush things? In the picture, there is a lot of media on the glass because the pic was taken right after it came in the mail. That gunk worked its way down to the bottom fairly quickly. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8095/8...01c8f0e10a.jpg
Cattleya violacea coerulea 'Fabio Nahas' x self 1/7/2013 by Isurus79, on Flickr

Here is my deflasking method. I soaked a bunch of long fiber spag (the really good stuff!) overnight in a diluted bath of fertilizer water and used distilled water for this. Then I slowly worked the seedlings out with my fingers and chop sticks. Then I washed the media off the plants under the tap. As you may be able to tell, I'm doing this all on my back porch. I love Texas weather! lol Fairly simple I'd say! :biggrin:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8251/8...f89519109e.jpg
Catt. violacea coerulea 'Fabio Nahas' x self by Isurus79, on Flickr

Next I separated the plants as best I could. I was able to tease apart most seedlings, but the really small ones I kept as clumps. I put them on wet paper towels to keep them moist while working with them.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8388/8...2a4eb85fc0.jpg
Catt. violacea coerulea 'Fabio Nahas' x self by Isurus79, on Flickr

Then I took the largest plants and planted them in plastic containers I'd saved for just such a purpose. I cut them in half (the containers) so I could easily plant the flasklings and then punched holes in them so i could easily twist tie the two halves together to keep the humidity up, but not keep the container airtight. The following pics show two containers with the largest seedlings, but I also ended up needing two 4" pots with cellophane over top for the smaller plants. FYI- When I pulled the spag out of its soaking bath, I wrung it out pretty well so that the media felt like a freshly squeezed sponge, moist but very springy.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8231/8...96d34cc388.jpg
Catt. violacea coerulea 'Fabio Nahas' x self by Isurus79, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8095/8...e60e124d8a.jpg
Catt. violacea coerulea 'Fabio Nahas' x self by Isurus79, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8247/8...6075a39662.jpg
Catt. violacea coerulea 'Fabio Nahas' x self by Isurus79, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8520/8...e476f86e22.jpg
Catt. violacea coerulea 'Fabio Nahas' x self by Isurus79, on Flickr

Over the past few nights, I've been leaving the lids (the screw top lids, not the large portion that I twist tied onto the "pot") to the containers slightly open and now they are totally off at night. If the media starts to look too dry, I just spray it with some pure water. The fert in the spag should keep these guys happy in terms of nutrient needs until I repot them singly in a few months, give or take. Tomorrow I will start leaving the lids off during the day and soon I'll be leaving the lids off completely. In a week or two, I will begin taking the humidity domes off and I'd like them to be completely free of the domes in two weeks.

I went through all 4 containers today and lost only four plants. I'll update the thread as things progress. I'd show pics, but they would look almost identical to the pics I already showed! Some plants have initiated new leaves already and there is some spotting on some of the leaves and some older leaf die back. Nothing that concerns me though.. :waving

Very nice instructional series, Steve. Thanks.

Thanks Ron! Fingers are definitely crossed that I have WAY too many Catts and not that I have too few! ;)

Look at all those gorgeous violacea seedlings! You are one lucky man Steve!! violacea is my favorite Cattleya!

I really am! And I'm expecting them to be well formed coeruleas to boot! Of course, the OB will first and only place I publish the pics when they bloom. :biggrin:

Yes, that is a very attractive list of flasks that he has. Thank you for the photo tutorial, it is very helpfull.

No problem David. I actually did a lot of research, but the main sites that provided the most information was Deflasking orchid seedlings and https://lab.troymeyers.com/flasking/...Flaskling-Care

As for Mick's line of flasks, I really had to hold myself back and only order one. He has some really great stuff! Especially for Catt lovers.

Yes, I have ordered a flask of Cattleya dolosa and it has been hard to resist ordering more flasks.

David,
Be sure to post a thread of your deflasking efforts/methods! I know I for one would love follow along. :waving

You make it look almost easy Steve. Thanks for posting. I think this spring I'm going to try a flask.

Bill