Is flasking the only way or is there an easier way?

[Bulbopedilum]

I was just wondering if flasking is the only way to germinate orchid seeds or if there is another easier way. I plan to make some seeds with my Phal NoID and in the maybe-far future attempt to make Echinolabium x Whatever other bulbo I have got.

[Subrosa]

There has been some success germinating orchids on wet cardboard:
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[slarm]

I was looking for an easier way as well. I found one site which explained that in the 19th century, they would collect live bark and sow seeds onto them and keep them moist. Sometimes there was an appropriate fungi present and they would establish protocorms. Similarly, the roots of established orchids often have the symbiotic fungi required, so seeds sowed in their locale may make protocorms.

It is possible to flask seeds without especially advanced equipment. I have experimented some. I was hoping that through supplemental ingredients in the medium I could stave off infection. I found cinnamon powder and oregano to delay/hinder/prevent establishment of fungal and bacterial colonies. I looked through quite a lot of studies before attempting it. Unfortunately, it is not a catch-all and it is possible oregano is a hindrance to germination. My second run of flasks with oregano was 0% infected, but I see no germination yet. Still, the first run took around 5-7 months to establish protocorms so it is possible!

[Fairorchids]

If you grow the mother plant in a spaghnum/bark mix, and it has been in the same pot for a year or so, you can sow onto the surface of the mix in the pot.

You will have to keep the mix moist, and do not use a heavy stream when watering. Most seed will wash away, but you might get a few seedlings this way.

I have done this successfully with Paphiopedilum. I have not tried with other genera.

[slarm]

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

You will have to keep the mix moist, and do not use a heavy stream when watering. Most seed will wash away, but you might get a few seedlings this way.

Wouldn't this mean the medium usually too wet for the parent plant in our non-epiphytic conditions?

[Subrosa]

Many temperate terrestrials will self sow readily in suitable substrate. For example between its stoloniferous habit and prolific self seeding, Spiranthes odorata could easily be categorized as a weed in peat bog conditions. Cynorkis fastigiata is another "weed", as are several of the introduced terrestrials in FL including Oeceoclades maculata and Eulophia graminea.

[slarm]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

Many temperate terrestrials will self sow readily in suitable substrate.

Likewise I have heard the same for other eulophia species and even here I saw some examples. But for non-terrestrials, I'm not aware of the same case being common or possible. I do, however, know of a local grower to me who has wild-sown protocorms nestled around the roots of I think dendrobiums attached to his trees. I didn't see anything happen with epidendrum reed stem seeds I scattered around the base of a bigger plant, which is not to say it is not possible, but that I think as a viable means of propagation, it pales.

[Fairorchids]

Originally Posted by slarm

Wouldn't this mean the medium usually too wet for the parent plant in our non-epiphytic conditions?

With the exception of Brachypetalums (& some Parvisepalums), the other Paphiopedilums do not want to dry out, so medium should always be anywhere from moist to wet.

The same applies to Phalaenopsis, most Bulbophyllums and most of the cloud forest plants.

[lusenok]

Flasking seems to be the only reliable way. Orchids seeds are missing endosperm that contains nutrients so in nature they have to rely on fungi to supply nutrients to them. People sow orchid seeds on top of nutrient medium to help with germination and early growth.

[jcec1]

I wonder if given your location there would be fungi in the environment that would be beneficial in phalaenopsis germination. Do you have any local wild plants?