Newbie Media Meltdown!!

[bazinga]

Hello,

Another media question (from newbie) after hours of reading other posts. I am trying to germinate some seeds I received today:

Paphiopedilum Exul
Brassavola Cucullata
Pomatocalapa Spicata
Dendrobium Signatum
Dendrobium Polytrichum

Why these? Well cause they looked pretty and being a newbie I didn't do my homework first on seed propagation.

For me this is just going to be an experiment to see if I can get any results, and if I do, well hey a new hobbie. I am not too worried about the sterilization part cause there seems to be a tonn of info on what to buy and how to do it properly. My concern is the media to use to give my seeds the best chance of survival on a budget. From what I have learned now, it seems like there isn't a generic mother flasking media for all orchid seeds to start in. The only thing I have seen a million times is p668 and that some seeds need coconut water or banana or that some can use both and Paphiopedilum don't like banana.

My goal is to try anyways, succeed or fail!! I am thinking of buying the p668 and going from there. It seems like there is a vast wealth of knowledge in this forum which I need but I feel I bought some seeds with not much info on what media to use.

If anyone can help with some pointers of add this or try this, I would love to hear it and I think many a newbies would like it to.

If I used p668 as a starting point what else should I look at?
Can one use coconut water bought from a grocery store?
Can I make my own banana mix or is it best to use the bought banana powder?
I have read about using vitamins, which ones give some good results?

Thanks,
Chris

[Ashley9]

depending on the orchids that went into it... if you info search for the media needs for the specific plants...you will definitely get results. there are so many different ways to germinate... i have seen countless recipes. good luck

[Discus]

If you're serious about this, there's a ton of stuff to learn; the best way is probably from a comprehensive book. Asymbiotic Technique of Orchid Seed Germination is good.

If you want to learn more about potential media, Orchid Seed Germination Media books is the ultimate book for this. This has suggestions of particular media for particular groups. I did a brief review of it on LibraryThing Orchid Seed Germination Media: A Compendium of Formulations by Aaron J. Hicks | LibraryThing

A very brief overview is available in a table on their site: media information but the books contain far more information.

[bazinga]

Well seems like I am going to be ordering that book: Orchid Seed Germination Media: A Compendium of Formulations by Aaron J. Hicks. Does anyone else have the book and do they recommend it also?