Redneck Orchid Flasking

[snow]

great thred. i,m learning by leaps and bounds.that,s MY way of seeding. i,m going to try that some day.

[Gin]

Interesting, I read something about a brick method with a picture. I tried to find it and didn't, it was quite a long time ago . Gin

[Royal]

This is symbiotic germination, not asymbiotic germination. So, again, we run the risk of confusing two totally different techniques. My previous posts regard in vitro culture, void of any other living organism (axenic culture).

But as for symbiotic germination -- I've seen the brick method too, but I can't remember where either. I've seen the ball of sphag method too, I just never hear of the name "Turkish towel method." I've also seen peat mud, and I've even seen people use corrugated cardboard block set on its side. These techniques can work. Usually germination percentage is relatively low compared to flasking.

It can also be tough to keep the right conditions for that long in an open system. Flasks keep because they're sealed. Could you imagine a soggy ball of sphag under glass for two years? Could get a bit sour.

[vmax3000]

Originally Posted by RoyalOrchids

Could you imagine a soggy ball of sphag under glass for two years? Could get a bit sour.

Seen it in my own "culture" failures!! My first orchids died in two ways....pot of black, brittle sticks or the black mushy death!!

Royal,
Not trying to be insulting or take away from anything you have said or anyone else for that matter. That last image just reminded me of my sad and sordid past with these plants I am mad for!

All of the posts have generated my interest that I want to try sowing by other methods. The agar/media/sterility is hard to replicate without the equipment or the ingenuity (or skill....), as I have read from so many of you. These other methods might be something I could do in my own home and if only two or three survive, might they be the strongest and therefore most worthy to share?? Keep up the posting. I really am wanting to learn, guys!

[Dorothy]

Because this thread is packed full of info .. I am making it a sticky and it will be permanently located at the top of the Propogation Forum

[Royal]

Hey Vanessa,

No offense taken! This is really the whole point of the OB. + + will eventually total up to some serious cash! I'm learning a ton too. I especially like hearing about others' techniques, successes, and failures. Undergrounder has given me some great ideas.

I mentioned the relatively low germination rate of asymbiotic methods, but you are totally right about the strong surviving. In fact, it's been reported that seedlings germinated this way can be flowered sooner, and seem to grow with more vigor than seedlings grown in vitro. I guess there are benefits on either side.

[Gin]

I have noticed there are those that germinate faster and grow faster then the others . Some remind me of runt puppies get there but take longer . Makes me wonder if that is why some of the plants we buy take off and others don't, not matter what we do ?
I had to take the Phal. X I did out of flask early, some are doing ok some did not.
The Coryanthes seedlings from Troy Myers are the same some growing well & some dragging along . Vanessa keep at it, Won't say what I grew in the first ones I tried looked like a movie set for the Swamp Thing ... Gin

[Royal]

Oh yeah, I have my share of contamination too. So far, not too bad, but it is frustrating! For a home/kitchen set-up with a dog and a cat in the house, I'd say 10-25% contamination isn't too bad.

[Undergrounder]

if you do try it, i suggest using a plant you've had yourself for a long time, since there's more chance the mycorrhizic fungi will be living in the roots, and this method doesn't work without them. My family uesd it for Den. speciosum, some of which had been planted in the rocks behind our house for a few years, and Den speciosum are a native of Australia, so there was a good chance these plants had the fungus in their roots. It might not work as well for a young plant established from flask in a foreign land for instance.

and just to have things clear, its -peat- moss wrapped up and boiled in the ball of cloth that i know used, but other people might have used sphag, i don't know.. but i imagine you could substitute coir nowadays, and the fresh sphagnum moss was just placed around the edge of the ball to keep it firm in the pot.

[addictedcountryman]

Gin,

so, basically, if i follow this
Media preparation for homemade flasking ! - Orchid Board for setting up the agar and sterilizing the equipment, then i will be good for that.

as for my seed pod, i don't know if i should "harvest" it yet, i believe it is ready. should i cut it and put it in the fridge? I am so lost- sorry for all of the questions.

then, set up a tanks, with plastic and gloves- how do i sterilize that?

thanks a billion- abby