Newbie Guide To Seed Sowing

[bazinga]

Hello,

If you missed my other posts on the process I have done, here are the links:

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...llination.html
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...-multiple.html
Newbie Guide To Flasking
Building a Glove Box

This is the process I took to sow my seed.

First things you will need:

Coffee Filters
Medication syringes (I found them at any drug store or grocery store for $2 each)
3% Peroxide - 500 ml size (I also found a pump bottle one which turned out to be very handy)
Bleach
Sugar
Rubber Gloves
Glove Box
Flasks
Seeds

1: I made a cup of sugar water. 10 parts water to one part sugar.
2: I labeled each syringe with a number that matched the seed type I was using, so I knew which one was which.

3: I sprinkled the seeds into a very small spoon and added the sugar water to each spoon.
4: I carefully stirred the water and seeds with the tip of the syringe and then sucked up the sugar water and seeds into the syringe.

Sorry none of the pictures worked but this is right after.


5: I let the seeds sit in the sugar water for more then 12 hours.

This is what the seeds looked like the next day. Very Very Tiny Also DON'T Shake Them.




6: I used 2 little pieces of coffee filter and pushed out the sugar water.


7: I then let them sit in a cup of peroxide while I got everything else ready.


8: I got some tools I thought I might need onto boil. (ended up I only needed the measuring cup)


9: I cleaned out the glove box (lid, gloves, EVERYTHING) with 1 part bleach to 9 parts water.


10: I also sprayed everything that went into the box with a 1 to 9 bleach to water mix. In the measuring cup I have peroxide in that, not water.



11: I gave one last quick spray and then closed the lid on the glove box and let it sit for to minutes.


12: I sucked 1 ml of peroxide into each syringe. I let them sit for 30 minutes, every 5 min I would shake the syringes around to stir up the seeds.



13: Whenever I opened or removed tinfoil from the flasks or exposed a new surface, I would give it a quick spray with the peroxide. (not the bleach)


14: When I got one of the flasks open, I gave one last shake to the syringes and then sprayed it onto the media.


15: I tightened the lid and replaced the tin foil. I did 5 different orchid seeds into 5 different flasks, and yes you can do the process with all 5 going at the same time.


Now this is the first time I have done this, so I do not know if it will work. I will keep you updated.

Also, if you have done something similar, I am sure others that read this will love to hear any tips from the pros!!

[orchidsarefun]

GL - it looks to me like you have all the process steps down pat.
The only comment I would make is that I don't think you have viable seed, far too soon. In my experience, phal pods need at least 5 months. But hopefully I am proved wrong.

[bazinga]

Thanks for the reply. The seeds are not the phal seeds from the other post. (Those ones are still on the plant)

I bought some seeds online and those are the ones I used for this post.

[Silje]

Yes! Please keep us updated.This is a very interesting thread. Same as your flasking thread some weeks ago.

I've got a seed pod ripening on one of my NOID phals that I consider to use as a test bunny.

[roby]

Excellent! you will be successful if peroxide is degraded soon.
Do you exposed to bright light the flask after sowing?

I hope so

If peroxide is not transformed immediately into water and oxygen kills the seeds.

[bazinga]

Thanks for the tip Roby. I didn't know that you had to expose it to light. I did a quick google on it and it say the best way is light and air for about 8-10 hours. Now since the flasks are tightened is light and the air in the flasks enough? Also when you say bright light will any light do or is the sun the best? If anyone knows I would love to hear it.

[roby]

Some have noted that the sowing in the evening, often do not germinate, while those made during the day germinate better.
When I used the method with hydrogen peroxide, let a lamp near the flask for 12 hours.
obviously also depends on the strength of the seed.

[bazinga]

Well I did sow the seeds during the day, well more like afternoon. I am hoping that was enough time to change the peroxide to water.

There is a thin layer of water (hopefully not peroxide) ontop of the media and from what I can see, no contamination. Is this layer of water ok?

[roby]

if it is not too much is ok, if you want you can keep the flasks tilted so that the water falls to one side. Some do cool down the medium in an inclined position.

[bazinga]

Thank you very much Roby! The information you have provided is very valuable. I will be using all of these tips for the next time I try.

I would say there is about 1 millimeter of liquid ontop of the media.