Deflasking directly into semi-hydro

[PaphLover]

I will be receiving my first flask of violacea var. coerulea at the end of the month and because of my newfound interest in semi-hydro was curious about planting directly into leca from the flask (my thinking…less stress because you're going from moist conditions to moist conditions and the plant will be in active growth). I thought I would test one of the seedlings in this and probably the rest in sphagnum.

I googled it, looked on Ray's site, and didn't find much about it... except one forum where Ray posted in 2012 that he has done this and it has worked well. Simply remove seedling from agar and pot…without washing away the agar (it will rinse off slowly with each watering).

I'm wondering if this is still how it's done or if things have changed with more experimentation?

I have a heat mat and will be using it.

I'm not sure if violacea, being a warmth-loving plant, will like the semi-hydro in my cool, damp Vancouver climate. I wonder if it will forever need to be on a heat mat? The timing is good, however, since the plant will have the warmth of spring and summer to acclimate and grow in its new semi-hydro home.

Thoughts?

Anyone done this and care to share your experience?

Thanks for your expertise!

[dangerouseddy]

hmm I think it depends on your low temperature they should adapt well afaik so long as the roots don't get too cold.

probably best to put them on a heat mat (at least till it warms up to 70f plus), will probably speed up their growth too.

[Subrosa]

A heat mat will also increase the evaporation rate in your setup which will help with humidity. Depending upon the rest of your conditions you may want to take further steps to maintain high humidity until the seedlings harden off to life outside the flask.

[Fairorchids]

Seedlings require:
HIGH humidity
lower light
somewhat higher temperatures
I use seedlings tubs to achieve this.

I have never grown SH, in part because the set-up takes more space than a standard plastic or clay pot, so I can't comment logically on deflasking directly into SH. However, I do not get a warm and fuzzy feeling.

In standard growing methods, I make every effort to get all seedlings from a flask into a single compot*. They grow a LOT better that way, than they do in individual 2.1/4" rose pots* (let alone the shorter 2" pots). I have tried both, many times.

Based on my experiences, if seedlings come apart when I deflask, I still put them into 4" compots, 6-10 seedlings per pot.

* = I use chopped spaghnum, seedling bark, seedling charcoal & small perlite in 4:2:1:1 ratio.

From compots I move seedlings into either rose pots or a clear plastic 3" pot after 10-15 months in a similar mix.

[PaphLover]

Thanks for the replies.

Subrosa,
Yes, I was going to put the plants in their pots on a bed of leca with water under that (not touching the pot/s) in a plastic tub of some sort with a lid (heat mat under tub to keep them warm and increase evaporation and humidity). I've read you should open the lid for longer periods as the seedlings mature and acclimate to harden them off. I will have to read up more on that because I can't remember if you're supposed to just crack it open at night or leave it widely open at night for airflow to prevent fungal issues.

If I get more info on the deflasking directly into semi-hydro and try that method for one seedling, I'd also put that one in a plastic tub to increase humidity, but would probably place that plastic tub directly on the heat mat to encourage the water in the reservoir to warm up and evaporate. I suppose I could have a small amount of water (not higher than the reservoir) in the bottom of that plastic tub to increase humidity. I wouldn't put that one on a bed of leca and water because I don't think it would warm the actual pot enough to keep the seedling warm.

Fairorchids,
Thanks for your expertise. Yes, I had read that it's better to have the seedlings together in one pot and separate them later when they're stronger. Thanks for your seedling mix ratios as well. I'm still contemplating what to use. My leaning toward sphagnum was only that in doing my research, I found several growers who stated that they found the best results with violacea in moss. Of course, as with all things orchid, there are as many opinions on these things as there are plants, so who knows. I'm open to learn from the experts.

And as Ray always reiterates, it's not that one medium is always better for the plant than another, but what works with the growing conditions under which you're personally growing and caring for your plants. (I think Ray says it more succinctly.)

---------- Post added at 10:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:57 AM ----------

Originally Posted by dangerouseddy

hmm I think it depends on your low temperature they should adapt well afaik so long as the roots don't get too cold.

probably best to put them on a heat mat (at least till it warms up to 70f plus), will probably speed up their growth too.

Thanks! Yes, will definitely do that.

[Ray]

I have been successful in the flask-to-S/H process both as individual plants extracted from the agar, or with the agar block intact.

In the case of the intact block, bury the block to the depth of the agar, then as it dissolves and breaks down,you just drop a few pellets into the voids, keeping the plant depth constant.

You may have "cool, damp" conditions, but as the damp slows evaporative cooling, if you can keep the growing area warm, you might be "ahead of the cultural curve".

[PaphLover]

Thanks for the info, Ray! I was hoping you'd put your two cents in on this thread.

[PaphLover]

Babies!

Trying two little ones in SH. One had plump white roots and the other green. Wasn't sure how big to go with the pots, so they're in wee ones with the smallest LECA from my supply until they grow a bit longer roots.

...Fingers crossed.

As a first timer, I was expecting the seedlings to be quite delicate with thin, floppy, droopy leaves, but they were all quite plump and felt much like new leaves on a potted phal.

Didn't have to break the flask either.