Encyclia phoenicia pod harvesting time

[Maru777]

Hello everyone! I am trying for the first time to propagate an orchid via seeds. I cross pollinated an enc phoenicia with itself - the last 2 flowers on a flower spike. I did not actually expect to get a seed pod but I now have 2. They look nice and fat right now but I do not know when they are supposed to be ripe. I’ve been reading on the method of propagation and would like to try the green pod method so I can sterilize the pod whole rather than the seeds, which seems more of a pain. For this I need to harvest the pod when it is sufficiently mature but before it opens. The problem is I have no idea when that is. I pollinated the flowers on July 8, that much I know. I have my agar agar jars ready but no clue when to cut the pods. Help please! Thank you!

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Maru777

Hello everyone! I am trying for the first time to propagate an orchid via seeds. I cross pollinated an enc phoenicia with itself - the last 2 flowers on a flower spike. I did not actually expect to get a seed pod but I now have 2. They look nice and fat right now but I do not know when they are supposed to be ripe. I’ve been reading on the method of propagation and would like to try the green pod method so I can sterilize the pod whole rather than the seeds, which seems more of a pain. For this I need to harvest the pod when it is sufficiently mature but before it opens. The problem is I have no idea when that is. I pollinated the flowers on July 8, that much I know. I have my agar agar jars ready but no clue when to cut the pods. Help please! Thank you!

I don't do seed propagation myself, but do save pods for other people to play with. You'll just need to observe. It'll get fatter and fatter, stay green. If it looks like it is starting to "strain" at the seems, or starts to change color, grab it. Often only a few days between those signs and actually splitting.

[Bluecrab]

Looks like roughly 5-6mos for Encyclia to ripen 160days avg....as always your mileage may vary.
Harvesting Times of Orchid Seed Capsules for the Green Pod Culture Process.

PS. if you end up with more than you need I would love to try a pinch as I recently started flasking, and like to try different sp. Thanks

[Maru777]

Originally Posted by Bluecrab

PS. if you end up with more than you need I would love to try a pinch as I recently started flasking, and like to try different sp. Thanks

Would love to, but I live outside the US and your USDA means business when they check things. Which, to be honest I can kind of understand. Getting things here from the US or Europe is even more of a production.

I think the pods are almost done since they seem to be changing color a little bit. Fingers crossed!

[SG in CR]

I have several Encyclia species that I allow to got to seed and they are some of the pods that take the longest to mature and open naturally I know of. Most of them will pop almost a full year later when the plant is starting to produce new spikes. Apasia are like that too.
But I think the seed are mature a bit sooner. I have some E. stellata, E. cordigera and E. ceratistes that I pollinated between Jan and April and the pods are already as big as they will get. From past experience they will remain nearly unchanged until the dry season is in full effect. I've broken some open this early in the past, and the seed was still one big white solid mass. I'm not sure if it would germinate. But if left to develop, they will start to change color a week or so in advance of popping.
I germinate mine naturally ex-vitro, so I can't offer any advice as to how soon they would be viable for in-vitro sowing. But seeing as you have two it might be a good idea to leave one on till you notice it turning more yellowish.