phal propagation

[poonam]

Hi,
I have tried to cross pollinate my orchids several times just as the technique says. however, i have not been successful. I fail to understand why. The flower which has been pollinated shrivels and falls down but capsule doesnt form. Any help would be very appreciated,
Regards

[orchidsarefun]

Look up "ploidy" or "diploidy" in Google. Basically your phals have to be genetically compatible for any seed capsule/pod to develop to maturity after polination. Other than the usual pollination problems like pollen too old etc ( conditions not right ), this compatibility is essential.

Check this site
The International Orchid Register / RHS Gardening
to see if the parents have any registered progeny and are thus "confirmed" breeders. If they do then its likely that your cultural conditions for pollination weren't ideal at the time of pollination. If at first you don't succeed, then try and try again !

[poonam]

Hi Thanks ill check the site. And yes ill keep on trying till I succeed. Just one more thing where is the capsule supposed to form? On the stem or where the flower dropped.
Regards

[orchidsarefun]

there are a lot of sites with info, including this thread - Propagation - on OB !

Here are 2 others

Lotte & Thomas Orchids

https://lab.troymeyers.com/flasking/article.php

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by poonam

Hi Thanks ill check the site. And yes ill keep on trying till I succeed. Just one more thing where is the capsule supposed to form? On the stem or where the flower dropped.
Regards

I haven't pollinated myself, but have a few times had orchid blooms pollinated by insects. It is the ovary, right behind the actual bloom, that swells

diagram of Phalaenopsis

http://pcp.oxfordjournals.org/conten...5/F1.large.jpg

and a couple of pix of my Epidendrum with seed pods

[RosieC]

As I understand it many mass market Phals may be sterile. I think this is down to the "ploidy" or "diploidy" thing mentioned above which means that if breeders don't take care what they bread together the offspring can be sterile. I don't fully understand it though so I might be wrong on that.