did something INSANE ordered a flask of chids....

[Corsetière]

This is not insane! It's extremely practical! Such a good value in the # of orchids per dollar spent.

[kindrag23]

Not if I kill them though

[silken]

Good luck. You sure picked a nice cross that would sell well if you grow them to large seedlings. I have never tried it but would like to. I'm sure you will do fine with them.

[kindrag23]

@silken thank you! They should be here thursday. If they do well enough they may be gifted out lol!

[Kevin_PR]

I tried a couple flask this year. Don't get agitated if you see some or all die. I'd say humidity is the most important thing for them. When in flask they receive 100% humidity. I mounted all mine on tree fern and keep them in shade.

[Bud]

you are very brave to start from flask....agar is 'jello' you eat do not be afraid of it....they also put a bit of sugar or pineapple juice in the flask for the seedlings....
make sure you research on doing 'compots' or transferring and repotting from flasks....I have read about it but I have never dared do it.
I only collect established plants = that way I wont kill it

[Kevin_PR]

I think you will have a good number of surviviors because the parents are pretty tough plants. I would hesitate on buying a flask of any pleurothallid though(the mature ones are hard enough as it is). I think pleurothallids are the only group that I don't feel overly guilty when they don't make it.

[kindrag23]

Well I have live sphagnum coming in that I will put in a tiny terrarium and then place a clean ice tray in there over that and place then the babies on the ice tray so hopefully they will get the humidity they need and on my stand they wont get to much light. Just what streams through the window. The sphagnum will hopefully stay happy and the seedlings as well...

[pipsxlch]

You can do it! I don't know where you are in Texas and if humidity's an issue for you, but Id consider starting them in a 'grow house/tray', or an old aquarium, something like that where you can maintain a higher humidity while the get their bearings so to speak. There will probably be a mix of sizes in the flask, from some almost as big as seedlings you may have bought individually to some that are just past (or even still) protocorms. I'd put them in compots with similar sized siblings. The smallest ones will probably die off; don't be sad, they would have anyhow. They should be good growers, the only thing I'd worry about is a quick spreading fungus or rot damp off which can wipe out a compot in a day. Just keep an eye on them. I agree, once you get them going you should have no problem selling off the extras, I'd buy one of those! They should be stunning in, oh, four or five years...

[kindrag23]

Haha I know it will be a battle...whats a compot? I have small 3 inch net pots I was planning on putting in shallowly in the bottom with orchid moss.

---------- Post added at 08:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:00 PM ----------

@pipsxlch I plan on a small aquarium with live sphag to help keep up the humidity.