Mold in Flask

[jblume1127]

Hi, I'm a recent graduate from college and we were able to flask orchids for one of my classes. I know the basic process, but don't have any of the equipment. At the end of the year, I took two flasks home. The phalaenopsis flask looks fine, but there is another orchid species we propagated that I do not know what it is and there is mold growing in the agar.

The tallest seedling is about a half inch tall with minimal roots. The mold is white and has grown pretty steadily for several weeks and now covers the surface of the agar. The taller seedlings seem to be unaffected. Some of the smaller orchids have died and are brown and slimy looking. I'm assuming that's a bad sign, but I'm wondering if I could salvage these guys some way. I was really hoping to keep the new species, being that I have about 16 phals as it is.

I read from this source and others that sometimes the mold isn't a problem depending on the type, but I think in each of those cases, the orchids were a lot larger.

Any help would be appreciated. If I need to put them down, it would be better to know for sure from people more experienced. Thank you!