Phal. Pod Matured

[Taceas]

Back in March (iirc) I pollinated two of my mutt Phalaenopsis sp. . One is a diminutive white with pink I picked up at a greenhouse in Montana during my honeymoon a few years ago. The other is a pretty fuschia rescue from our local Walmart. Its my first attempt at orchid pollination and I was successful for the most part I think.

The two I cross-pollinated are the middle white and right fuschia. These were decorations on a carrot cake for Easter.


A couple of close-ups of the whitish one:


This particular Phal blooms like clockwork every winter, usually opens up around the end of January, just in time for my birthday. And as thus its one of my favourites.


The pod matured in October and over the past weekend has split open along the side. I collected it in a paper envelope and have it saved.

I am really not interested in propagating via flasks or other chemistry experiments. I lack the know-how, equipment, ingredients, and patience. Is there any decent way to get the seeds to grow otherwise?

For the heck of it I sprinkled a couple "taps worth" on the soil media of my Macodes petola. It stays moist in its covered pot and it's been outside getting natural rain this past summer, so maybe it has the right innoculants in the potting medium to encourage growth. Any idea if this will work?

Would anyone be willing to take the pod and flask all they can and give me a handful of babies and sell the rest for themselves?

Thanks in advance.

[jay greenthumb]

Hi, I'm new to this forum but i sawyour post and had to say something. For a lab write up i want to publish i'm propagating orchids from seeds i've never done before but i'm working with the university and i'd be more than willing to try!

[jay greenthumb]

I"m sorry i Didnt really Awnser you Original question


Without the Equipment and know-how it is possible but the chances of the seeds getting contaminated and not germinating is significantly Higher and it probably wouldnt work.

[Royal]

I'd try to get a few going for you. I'm no pro, but have had some success. I bet you could send a little to several members to increase your odds.

[Taceas]

Sorry for not replying sooner. If you both PM me your mailing addresses, I'll cut the pod in half and send you each some.

I'm sure you'll have better luck than I at this sort of thing. I just find myself fortunate in that I can get my orchids to be happy enough to bloom every year as it is.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained, eh?. They're just mutt orchids, but the one is rather sentimental to me and I was hoping to get something out "her".

[Royal]

Hi Jay. Cool avatar. I love Brugmansias. I just wanted to say welcome and go for it. It sounds like you have a good resource in the University, and the OB is the BEST resource (It's "The source for all your orchid needs"). Being young, you have a big jump on a lot of us, and being an OB member you can benefit from the wealth of knowledge here. Have confidence and don't let the "chances of failure" get in the way of trying. Good luck on the paper.

[dgenovese1]

Hi Misty,

I'd be willing to try a few too. I should have my lab finished being set up in the next week or two, so you can send me some seed if you'd like or have some left after sending the others theirs. You can actually just sprinkle some on a piece of paper and fold it up and put it into an envelope. This way you won't have to send me part of the pod. I'll PM you my snail mail address.

[Taceas]

For all of those I sent samples of the pod to, were you able to determine if they had viable seeds? And if so, has anything grown from them?

Just looking for an update.

[Royal]

Hi Misty,

I sowed them about 4 weeks ago - no contamination. If they're good I'd expect to see some action in the next few weeks to a month.

[dgenovese1]

Hi Misty,
I didn't have the good technique that Royal did. Mine ended up contaminated. Sorry about that, and about not letting you know sooner.

I hope that Royal gets some good germination for you.