I think I made a mistake (ho ho)

[Optimist]

I believe after the pollination the flower will drop. I mean, after all, it got what it came for. The rest still hope to get --- you know, in that way.

[PaphLover]

That's ok, you will be able to tell from the flower stem. If pollinated, it elongates, turns green, and fattens into a seed pod. Apparently, orchids sometimes make barren/false/fake seedpods …tricky plants. Still, it's interesting to watch the process, I've found.

Optimist,
My flowers didn't drop, but turned yellow and dried up as time went by. They are still holding on to the end of the pod.

[ChrisV]

If you're an undergraduate college student I'm almost positive that you will be able to find either a grad student or a member of the faculty in the bio department who is willing to help.

[katrina]

Maybe you could pitch the idea as an experiment that could also be used as a teaching/learning experience for other students interested in botany/orchids/plant reproduction


Aside from the processes involved...your next biggest challenge will be time. The process from pollination to actually having seedlings that are out of flask is many, many months...a couple of years is not out of the possibility. From out of flask to flowering size will be another 18 months to 2 years...under optimal growing conditions. Very time intensive. Do some reading up on it to get a full understanding of the time and energy required. You might find it more rewarding to start of with buying a flask of orchids and see how you do with those first. Just a thought.