Deflasking-when?

[Connie Star]

I deflasked my Catt dowianas about 4 weeks ago. I put them in a shallow pot with sphagnum and put plastic loosely over them. Spritz daily with rain water and have fertilized weakly twice. They're looking good. I'm well pleased with my little experiment so far.

[dsim]

Originally Posted by Undergrounder

I'd say so yes.. just keep an eye on them.

thanks, what to watch out for? so that i can inform the "care taker", the flask is now 800km away... it is a gift, yet to reach me.

[Undergrounder]

One thing to watch out for are a majority of leaves going yellow, grey or brown. This indicates that they're getting old and running out of water/nutrients or air. A few old leaves dying is normal.. but if more than a few are dying and it it's spreading, they need to be deflasked.

A severe fungal outbreak is the other thing to watch out for. If you see strange white/green/black dots or little hairs growing over the surface of the jelly, like mold in a coffee cup, they will need to be deflasked soon. Plants can handle a little mold/fungus in the flask, but once it spreads it can start to kill off the roots.

Mold usually gets in through the cotton stopper in the plug, or around the tiny air gaps around the plug. You can minimise mold infection getting into the bottle by keeping the cotton dry (don't tip it upside-down and let water inside the flask wet the cotton!). Also, wrap the whole plug area in a bunch of foil and securely tape off the foil to minimise air movement around the plug.

[Tropicgirl]

Originally Posted by Connie Star

I deflasked my Catt dowianas about 4 weeks ago. I put them in a shallow pot with sphagnum and put plastic loosely over them. Spritz daily with rain water and have fertilized weakly twice. They're looking good. I'm well pleased with my little experiment so far.

Pictures, pictures, please please!

BTW-is your avatar pic of you in Costa Rica?

[Connie Star]

Originally Posted by Tropicgirl

Pictures, pictures, please please!

BTW-is your avatar pic of you in Costa Rica?

There's not much to look at yet, but I will try to post some photos when I get a chance.

Yes, my avatar is me in Monteverde Costa Rica with the Pacific 20 miles in the background. I'd move there tomorrow if I could.

[Tropicgirl]

Originally Posted by Connie Star

There's not much to look at yet, but I will try to post some photos when I get a chance.

Yes, my avatar is me in Monteverde Costa Rica with the Pacific 20 miles in the background. I'd move there tomorrow if I could.

I have been wanting to vacation there forever. Everyone I know that has been there loves it (and all of them would move there if they could, too!).

[dsim]

Originally Posted by Undergrounder

I'd say so yes.. just keep an eye on them.

finally, i got the bottle... seems like they did not grow much over the last 2 months since my last post in april...

shall i deflask them now?

[Tropicgirl]

They look ready to me.

[Connie Star]

Originally Posted by dsim

finally, i got the bottle... seems like they did not grow much over the last 2 months since my last post in april...

shall i deflask them now?

I would deflask them soon- they look like mine did when I deflasked them 3 months ago, and mine are growing nicely. I put them into a compot with sphagnum. I initially had a plastic bag loosely over the pot, but I opened it for air, and so I could mist it, once a day. I put them under artificial light and out of the window light for a month. Now they are in the sunny window but behind a fern.
Are yours Cattleya dowiana, like mine?

[dsim]

Originally Posted by Connie Star

I would deflask them soon- they look like mine did when I deflasked them 3 months ago, and mine are growing nicely. I put them into a compot with sphagnum. I initially had a plastic bag loosely over the pot, but I opened it for air, and so I could mist it, once a day. I put them under artificial light and out of the window light for a month. Now they are in the sunny window but behind a fern.
Are yours Cattleya dowiana, like mine?

i just deflasked them today, about 40 plants, not counting "miniature" ones. not sure about what hybdrid/species, it is a gift to me. all i know it is suppose to be a mix of three types, one type is a paph. but all look the same to me..