Sowing seeds of terrestrials in the ground

[Kevin_PR]

I've seen that some people have had some success sowing seed of orchids directly on trees and have heard of orchids like Phaius germinate in regular garden soil. I was thinking of sowing seed of my Eulophia graminea in a pot of promix and see what happens. Has anyone else done this. I figure since promix has Mycorhyzzae they might germinate. Although it may not be the right fungus.

[Orchid Whisperer]

The seeds will probably will grow.

Be careful - that is one of the orchid species that can become an invasive weed.

[samarak]

I've tried it with a few of our local hardy terrestrial orchids, with zero success. My environment in NW Arkansas is so different from yours I don't know if that means anything or not. Sometimes there is a year when there are lots of pods of some species out in the woods, and when that happens I will collect a little seed, some rotted wood from the area (a random shot at getting a compatible fungus), and sow them together in my yard, but we've never gotten any orchids (except the Spiranthes that were there already).

But with Eulophia graminea, which seems to be spreading readily in Florida, I'd guess your odds would be better.

There was an article in the AOS "Orchids" a few years ago about someone in California who got some germination of Masdevallias, I think (or was it Draculas?), when some seed spilled onto his wooden bench, so it can certainly happen if the conditions are right. He said those plants were more vigorous than those from the same pod which had been flasked.

Steve

(I can grow Cynorkis fastigiata from seed .... but that's not really saying much.)

[Orchid Whisperer]

<snip by Orchid Whisperer>

Originally Posted by samarak

(I can grow Cynorkis fastigiata from seed .... but that's not really saying much.)

That would be interesting to try! (If you ever get some seed that you think may be viable and feel like sharing, let me know!) Curious how you grew them - on soil? Or did you go the flasking-on-agar route?

I am currently trying my hand at growing a Cattleya alliance plant from seed. No results yet.

[Island Girl]

That sounds like a fun project! I know that Peter Lin (of Big Leaf Orchids) had a seed pod burst, and they landed on the mount with the pod parent P. venosa and germinated... He eventually had like 10-20 seedlings or something like that (there were quite a few!). He grew them on to flowering size, or close to it.... I'll see if I can find that thread on his forum, and post it here

Here is the thread: Big Leaf Orchid forum &bull; View topic - OMG - Great news to share on Phal venosa seeds

[Silje]

I've tried with Eulophia speciosa. In farm soil collected from where it grows wild in the bush. No success first time around. I'm planning on pollinating and collecting seeds again during this rainy season. Then I'll probably try a combination. Some in soil, others in flask.

[Kevin_PR]

Originally Posted by Silje

I've tried with Eulophia speciosa. In farm soil collected from where it grows wild in the bush. No success first time around. I'm planning on pollinating and collecting seeds again during this rainy season. Then I'll probably try a combination. Some in soil, others in flask.

Awesome. I would love some of those seed pods if you don't mind. I think sending seedpods does not need documentation(?) But lets not start another heated conversation

[samarak]

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

<snip by Orchid Whisperer>

That would be interesting to try! (If you ever get some seed that you think may be viable and feel like sharing, let me know!) Curious how you grew them - on soil? Or did you go the flasking-on-agar route?

I am currently trying my hand at growing a Cattleya alliance plant from seed. No results yet.

Hi Orchid Whisperer,

I can easily send you some Cynorkis fastigiata seed or probably even a plant - if you're sure you want it! It's one of the few orchids that germinates readily without much effort, and some people consider them greenhouse weeds and pull them out along with the oxalis. I have no idea where I first acquired it - it wasn't something I bought, or that someone intentionally gave me - but now I have them all over the place. A few germinate in epiphytic mixes, but most in soil (I grow quite a few terrestrials as well as non-orchids, so there are lots of pots with soil in my greenhouse).

It's not a very spectacular orchid - small white flowers, maybe 3 cm tall and 2 wide, with a long spur in the back - but they are cute and I like them despite their weedy reputation and I don't kill them. I do carefully remove them from the pot in which they germinated, if I can do that without disturbing the original resident, and pot them up with their kin elsewhere in the greenhouse.

As far as I can tell, every flower sets a pod without any external pollinator, so it would be a good source of practice seed that you would know was viable!

Steve

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Something I wanted to try also, wondering if it may work:-) I would love to do this in our dog park by the house, that would be awesome!

[kindrag23]

Slightly off subject but I have a glass flask and cork from my seedlings I got if anyone would like it. I certainly have no use for it.