Dendrobium media recommendations

[calvin_orchidL]

Hi all,

I gave in and ordered seeds again from Aaron Hicks!! We're looking at 4 formosae dendrobium species (draconis, dearei, williamsonii, and singkawangense(!!!!!!!)) and two angraecoids (Aeranthes ramosa, angraecum boserii)

I've previously had moderate success with using P668 at half strength supplemented with 20g/L sucrose. Still a noob flasker, but I do have compots of laelia lucasiana, and NBS barkeria spectabilis from seed, as well as some replate flasks of rangaeris amaniensis.

My replate media has always been full strength p668 supplemented with banana. However, I've noticed that while the catt-alliance plants did well on that, the vandaceous rangaeris isn't developing roots as robustly as I'd like it to.

I'm hoping to get good yields with this batch of seeds, as it will probably be my last flasking project for a while (leaving the lab soon, and losing out on nice fume hood, tissue culture tips etc...) so I'm looking for recommendations, and if anyone has had experience with dendrobium specific/vandaceous specific mother flask and reflask medium. Home made medium recommendations are also welcome, although I prefer the premixed stuff because it's just easier to work with and I'm a lazy sob

[Royal]

I've had good germination with a few Dend species on P668 and P669. I'd go with what you're using, just maybe experiment with a few different strengths.

I'm not sure about Vandas, but my guess would be to treat them like Phals, which also do ok on P668 at half strength with a bit of sugar added back. You could try banana and/or potato.

[2ljd]

I've had good results for Den. species using the P723 at full strength...at least for the mother flasks anyway.