Oooh I have fungus

[Ashley]

I decided to have a go at growing seedlings and bought two flasks at a show recently, I had bee advised to leave them in there as long as possible but as you will see below I have got fungus so I have transplanted them today.

I treated them with fungiside and they are on a bark perlite mix so now its just crossed fingures I suppose.

They are Phal equestris and cattleya alba x leopoldii

wish me luck not the best start.

Kat

[gmdiaz]

Wishing you all the best luck and best growing!

I haven't tried growing seedlings from a flask, so I will be very interested to follow your progress!

I am sure someone will come along shortly that can advise you on how to make the best out of a shaky start!

[John]

Hi Kat, You did the right thing to get the plants out as soon as possible. From the photo, it looks like they will be large enough to make it on their own. Any idea how the flasks were contaminated? Did they get opened by accident? Generally once a flask goes two to three weeks without signs of contamination you would be good for as long as needed. If the flasks weren't opened then maybe you could contact the vendor and inform him about what happened. He may even replace them for you. Be careful not to over water the seedlings. Good luck.
John

[Royal]

John is right. You did the right thing, and they may make it. I'm curious about the contam too. The lids may have creeped loose in transit. Good luck!

[shakkai]

Kat, Good thing you got them out of there so that they have a chance. The most important thing that you can do now is keep a close eye on them, check them several times a day and act quickly if you see any troubles - wilting, more fungus, rot, etc.

What's the humidity like at your place now? I placed a propagator cover over mine when I deflasked them, and that kept the humidity above 80% even with the vents fully open.

[Ross]

Do you think a precautionary spray with Physan 20 or Thiomyl would be in order? That's what I would do.

[Royal]

Yeah. Physan 20. She did say she sprayed a fungicide. That should do the trick, as long as it wasn't too strong for the plants.

[Ashley]

Thanks all for the responses

I have treated with a fungiside and they havent wilted over night.

Have to say i know how they got contaminated
who knew they shouldnt be opened oh well we all learn the hard way.

I have bought several books and read up about growing from seedlings but it is always the obvious that they dont print, not one said DONT OPEN the flask.

perhaps the fact germinating seeds needs to be sterile should have given me a clue.

The humidty generally is about 50% but i have put them in mini propagators with lids so hopefully that will help.

they are on a medium of bark and perlite with some moss to try and keep the humidity up.

Wish me luck not the best of starts

Kat

[Royal]

Originally Posted by Ashley

T

Have to say i know how they got contaminated
who knew they shouldnt be opened oh well we all learn the hard way.

I have bought several books and read up about growing from seedlings but it is always the obvious that they dont print, not one said DONT OPEN the flask.

Kat

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

[Orchidaholic]

I contaminated a flask of P. wardii on accident that I purchased a few months ago. I bought it at a society meeting and kept it in my hand for most of the meeting. Not even thinking about the repercussions of my body temp raising the flask temp to 80+F. 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!