Cattleya Protocorms on Bark

[Anglo]

These Cattleya intermedia protocorms were salvaged from a contaminated replate flask two weeks ago. For the sake of experimentation, I’ve been growing them on a piece of old bark. The bark is positioned halfway down into a 5 ¼-inch mortar that has ¼ inch of water in the bottom and about a 1-inch layer of air under the bark. The mortar is in a plastic freezer bag at night and most if the day to keep the humidity high, but with some periodic drying and air circulation. It sits under fluorescent light for 16 hours per day, more or less. I’ve been keeping the bark surface moist and giving the seedlings a drop or two of water nearly every day with various nutrients every two or three days.

One disadvantage of putting protocorms on bark at this stage of development is that since they did not germinate and grow on the bark, they are not yet attached to it. They fall over easily, so they must be handled and watered very carefully. Another disadvantage is that they must be regularly tended to, unlike those in flasks.

On the positive side, they are more fun than the ones in flasks because they are not obscured and distorted behind glass and condensation. It’s easy to observe and photograph them. Another advantage is that they won’t require any acclimation to speak of. Deflasking won’t be an issue.

Two of the pics provide an earlier and current view of the seedling in the middle and show its first root initiating.