honey - Orchid Board

Yukonphal · #1 10-01-2011, 03:08 AM

OK ...yet another weird question from a newbie.
If raw (unheated,unpasteurised) honey is anti bacterial,anti fungal AND an antiseptic, my question is....
Has anyone ever tried something like mixing orchid seed with honey for sowing on agar ?

silken · #2 10-01-2011, 12:08 PM

I haven't heard of honey but it sort of makes sense. I have heard of success using coconut milk for germinating seedlings as it is loaded with all kinds of nutrients.

I mixed some coconut milk in water and spritzed it on the rhizome of a cattleya that was on the way out and it produced 7 new growths! Unfortunately it still died but it was really far gone in the first place. I guess there weren't enough (any) roots to support all the new growths) But it was a good experiment as it did really encourage growth.

Sorry, a bit of the honey topic

Yukonphal · #3 10-01-2011, 01:41 PM

I guess I was thinking that if honey does all those things , could it be used instead of sterilizing seed?

silken · #4 10-01-2011, 02:51 PM

Hopefully someone else will have a thought on it. I have heard they found honey that was good still in King Tut's tomb or one of those guys! So it must be sterile!

Kelo · #5 10-01-2011, 03:00 PM

Honey is excellent! Honey NEVER 'goes off'. If applied to cuts (most sugars work too) it aids the repair. I also added honey to my agar. Tips using honey for orchid seed is easily found on line - OrchidTalk Orchid Forums - Grow Orchids! - DIY - guide to orchid propagation! or ALL ORCHIDS - TODO ORQUIDEAS IN VITRO CULTURE

nenella · #6 10-01-2011, 03:51 PM

Interesting read! Thanks!

Kelo · #7 10-01-2011, 05:13 PM

No worries!

phragguy · #8 10-01-2011, 07:58 PM

I also use honey in agar for diffiicult seedlings when replating

Monstera deliciosa · #9 11-20-2011, 05:58 PM

Hello, I use it instead of sugar many times during seed's hydratation and also mixed with the water I add to some flasks that are too dry after a while.

Regards

Yukonphal · #10 07-02-2012, 05:02 PM

OK I took the plunge....had some seed that were probably as contaminated as you can get ( a capsule exploded in my kitchen so I had seed everywhere)...took some off a ladle on the kitchen counter.
got the seed on to a piece of clean paper
put 3 drops of honey on a clean yogurt lid and mixed the seed in with a toothpick
seeded one flask with this seed filled honey
its been 2 days now.....the seed turned green and the honey went liquid.....but no contamination
so far