Amino Acids ( for seed growth)

[Aki_James]

I just have a question regarding amino acids. I have some Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens and Calypso bulbosa var Americana. seeds from my own plants, as well as I ordered some Cypripedium parviflorum and Cypripedium acaule seeds from a Canadian vendor.

I have put my own seeds through the cold stratification and the others came pre stratified(sp?). I have my own medium from where my wild and spreading colonies of plants grow in the back yard-ish area, as well as the seeds came with a humus mix which is suppose to have the correct Fungal hyphae to create the mycorrhizal symbiosis (although I trust my own mix more). I have not sterilized the seed yet as I will not do this until sowing.

The very specific instructions from the vendor of the seeds says to saturate the medium with "amino acids"(available at most health food stores) in a water dilution after sowing.

The only amino acids I can find at health food stores are in capsule form, do they really mean for me to crack capsules to get the oils out?...I know there are several amino acids and that it is a class of minerals and elements. But does anyone have any experience with this? I'm not sure what amino acids I should use.

I would like to try to propagate from seed without going to flasking first, I know the odds are better from flasking especially with Cypripedium acaule..But the whole thing seems too high tech for me...LOL

Any help with regards to amino acids or perhaps a product that is specifically used for plants would be appreciated.