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.

[Des]

That is very interesting , I have been wanting to sterilize some CHC , add some germination nutrient and sprinkle some Cymbidium seed over the CHC and cover with some clear Klingwrap . I hope to get some of the seed to germinate ,in which case I will remove the klingwrap and water as per normal with sterilized nutrient. Looking at what you have done tells me that I might have some measure of success !!

[Ethan]

That is very very cool. I've never seen photos of such a young orchid like this before. Thank you for sharing!!!

[slipperfreak]

Very neat.

[trdyl]

Cool!

[RosieC]

Neat, you can see the tiny root nubbins starting to form!

[Royal]

This is an interesting project. Where you just curious or are these p-corms of some special value to you?

[Anglo]

Thanks for the kind comments.

Des, if you get the right stuff for germination, that might work. Good luck!

And Royal, I had actually thought of trying this for experimentation while replating the protocorms of this sowing (at an earlier stage of development); to put a few on bark to see how they could do compared to those in flasks.

I didn’t do it then, but when some fungus showed up in one of the replate flasks several weeks later, I decided that would be the next best time to give it a shot. I chose the three largest ones in the flask because I figured the best growers would be most worth saving, but they’re not of special value beyond that. I have more of the same in uncontaminated flasks.

[Royal]

Keep us posted on their progress. I've tried salvaging and growing out protocorms before but I was not successful. My culture is just not good enough.

If they make it, I bet these bloom before the others still in flask. Good luck.

[Pippin]

Can we have an update. Please