Oooh I have fungus

[Ashley]

Originally Posted by RoyalOrchids

Live and learn, right? Now you know. It sounds like you're doing fine.

Thanks RO yes i am pleased to say 5 days in and they are still with us I have read somewhere that the first two weeks are the most dangerous so nearly half way there. Its not the first mistake in gardening I have made and I am sure it wont be the last either

Kat

[Ashley]

Originally Posted by Orchidaholic

I It took all of 2 days after being placed in my orchidarium for it to start growing fungi! Going from 80 to 65F lets in alot of air/spores apparently. They were all no more than an inch tall (some only 1/2inch tall) but had to get out quick. They all did quite well compotted in trio's in live sphagnum... Good luck!

Thanks OA

I am curious are the spores already in the flask and its the temp change that triggers them, obviously I know in my case taking the lid off let the little beasts flood in, but how did they get into yours?

Thanks Kat

[Orchidaholic]

No the spores were not in there originally, flask environments should be 99.9999% sterile(or better). The fungi spores were able to enter due to the drastic temp changes causing the expanse followed by the sudden contraction of the air pressures inside the flask was equivalent to opening the jar. I was thrilled with what I thought I was purchasing that I didn't let go of the jar for probably 2hrs. Intern transferring my body temp(skin temp is 82-87F+/-)to the jar which allows the heated/expanded air to escape. When I got home and put them in the orchidarium(night temps 65-68F) it allowed the air to severely contract and suck in outside air greater than normal air transfers a vented flask can protect against.

So after all this happened I realized that the Paphiopedalum wardii wasn't the Cypripedium wardii that I really wanted and thought I had purchased... Sometimes you really gotta pay attention to the nomenclature to know what your getting! But never let anything get you down, I needed a paph anyways so why not start with a species paph!!!

Good luck with your seedlings. If they are looking good almost a week out, more than likely they'll be fine! Since you have a few to play with, it is the perfect time to start the adventures of experimenting with different planting methods I.E. clay or plastic pots, mounted, bark or treefern media etc... Change things around and see what works best for you.

[shakkai]

Kat, I'm so happy to hear that your babies are doing well! I'd love to see some of them!! I have recently just done the deflasking thing - and its worked well for me so far

What a great experience!!

[Orchidaholic]

Shakkai good luck with the unflasked babies!!! What species/hybrid did you unflask? If it is possible for you, keep them in a large enclosure(big tuperware container) and slowly acclimate them to you air. Just remember that these lil guys have been in 100% humidity inside the flask so make it a slow transition to your growing area's humidity levels. Best of luck to ya mate!

[Ashley]

Well here they are one week on and still alive they are on bark & perlite with some moss in between them to keep the humidity up with out rotting off.

Shakkai would love to see your too if you ahve any pics.

Kat

[shakkai]

I have photos in the thread I started. I need to take some updated photos now that I've started to pot & mount them - though they are all still being kept under a propagator top, as I believe in only changing one thing at a time.

The thread is: Deflasked!

I got Dendrobium cuthbertsonii and Sarcochilus ceciliae. No problems with humidity here, so I've had a pretty easy time of it!

[Ashley]

Well another week on and they are still with us no dying off from any of the seedlings from the flasks.

I did have one odd seedling I bought on ebay dendrobium grandiflorum unfortunately the leaf has died off but the roots aare still looking ok, will it regrow leaves or should i get rid of it so i dont risk anything preading to the others?

Thanks
Kat

[Royal]

Originally Posted by Ashley

Well another week on and they are still with us no dying off from any of the seedlings from the flasks.

I did have one odd seedling I bought on ebay dendrobium grandiflorum unfortunately the leaf has died off but the roots aare still looking ok, will it regrow leaves or should i get rid of it so i dont risk anything preading to the others?

Thanks
Kat

I'd keep it around, maybe quarantined. A lost root or leaf is not extraordinary with seedlings. It's a rough world out here.

[Ashley]

Thanks RO I will do that and see how it goes.

As for hard world what do they have to worry about we provide them with lovely conditions and pamper them all we ask is they grow and flower, it that too much, they should try having to work for a living

Kat