My new project: a vanda flask (updated)
 

I'm so excited because the flask that I received from Carmela's looks fantastic! I have a Vanda suavis compot that is doing great, so I figured since I haven't had luck ordering slightly older seedlings as of late I'd purchase another flask.

Sorry about the sideways picture!!!

Awesome! Flasks are fun aren't they? :biggrin: Just one more thing to get addicted to... :rofl:

Be sure to post pics of the little babies all potted up! & If you haven't deflasked yet, I'd suggest doing a tutorial/"how I do it" on deflasking, there's not really a whole lot of "Deflasking Tutorials" on this board, certainly not for Vandas (I think I saw one at one time... But it was an old one, using the search function). There's a members project on flasks (I'm doing it), go see if they are letting more join in, I think so, b/c it's a LONG project Lol, and we r just sharing pics/updates. :biggrin:

If I can remember this time (I forgot to take pics last time :blushing:), I will also post a tutorial/how I done it, on my other flask.

Good Luck! :waving

That vanda looks amazing!

And yes, please!!! to a tutorial. I've not had much luck with de-flasking so far and would really try to get better at this.

Flasks are fun and addicting! Thanks for the well wishes!! I have seen the members project and from what I've had a chance to read it is very interesting!

---------- Post added at 09:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:02 PM ----------

:rofl:Thank you!!!

They look great!

Here's the seedlings freshly deflasked.

I couldn't believe there was over 70 plants (I stopped counting)! Lol! I made four compots!

:)
 

lucky you!!! don't have a Vanda yet, share!!!! lol, they look happy hope they do great

Lol! I have two more flask on the way, so I just might have to share depending on what's in the flasks that arrive!! Thank you for your kind words; I hope they remain happy too!

Ooooo well keep me in mind :) I wish you the best with these babies keep us updated, I'm sure many of us want to see stages of development and such

Yay!! Woohoo! 70 plants is awesome! :biggrin:

Yes, definitely keep us updated - with these, and the others that you're about to receive!! ;) Good Luck!

Thank you again for your kind words!! I'll keep updating as they will grow. And I'll keep you in mind if I have a good survival rate.

---------- Post added at 12:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:32 PM ----------

I will definitely keep updating! Thanks for reading my posts and for your encouragement!!

Sounds like an interesting project, checked their site couldn't find any vanda flasks, when the get some more ready I think I just might give it a try. Please keep us posted

Thank you and I will keep posting. While these came from Carmela's, I bought them from her eBay store ( I think peaandshell is her vender name). If you search orchid flasks on eBay you can see what she has available. I kept watching this flask and I was lucky enough to get it for what I believe is a steal. Good luck! And make sure to post if you get one.

Good Luck - they look great.

It looks like you used sphag for the media. Is that what was recommended ? I only point this out because when I was researching deflasking/seedling mix it was mentioned somewhere that sphag shouldn't be used for vandas.
I couldn't find the specific reference again, but found this - with interesting comment about the use of a compot too.

Advice for deflasking Vanda seedlings - GardenBanter.co.uk

Thank you so much for your kind words and the link!!

For me sphagnum moss is what works, I'm a disaster with any kind of bark mix!!! Lol! The plants that I kill have always been in bark, I know that's what most use, but it's just not for me.

I have brought another bunch of seedlings to juvenile size using moss, but as soon as the root growth was substantial the plants were removed from it. It is a careful balance, but I grow them inside while they're young, so it doesn't rot them out and I let them have very dry periods as seedlings.

Any updates Nikki? I'd love to hear how they're doing! :)

Lol! I was going to update the other day, but thought it may be too soon, thanks for asking! They're doing great! I have only lost a few, they were the smallest of the bunch, I wasn't even sure if I should of kept them when deflasking, but I didn't have anything to lose. Surprisingly, even a large amount of the very small are still alive and well!

When I deflasked them to harden them off, I left them on paper until the were completely dry and for a several hours after until I potted them up. I read from several sources that many times people don't harden off the seedlings well and then the end up dying.

I did not use any fungicide or bactericide, as I have read here and on another forum that it stalls growth. My seedlings are a little spoiled though and don't come into contact with my other orchids, so it eliminates some worry.

I also haven't started fertilizing yet and that has had no effect on these guys. They are growing like weeds. I plan on fertilizing in the next week or so. I think in the next couple of months a few will be ready for their own pots, as the compots are getting very tight.

I should note that when watering, I let them dry out fully before watering again. They have a lot of plump roots and root growth. If I had a different type of orchid this watering method might not work. I also haven't had any issues with rot, which I know can easily happen with these guys.

These plants also are given good air circulation, as I keep the fan on in that room. The fan is kept on low, so that they don't dry out too quickly.

Here's a picture of all my compots.

Those are healthy looking babies. I haven't tried any from flasks, but I do have a few seedlings. It takes time and patience. I have heard that some can flower in as little as 3 years.

I ordered Cattleya babies from them and yes it is peaandshell on ebay. They are monstrous! Mine have all already been moved to actual potting media since they are so big.

Thank you for your kind words! I think some will be good to bloom in three years, but the smaller ones I think will be at least five years until I get flowers.

---------- Post added at 11:12 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:09 AM ----------

Very cool!

It looks to me like you are doing everything right. Good luck! It is so satisfying to grow to blooming from seedlings!

Thank you I appreciate your encouragement and kind words!

Nikkik these look awesome, I am keeping my fingers crossed! I am still afraid of flaking, but thanks to kind Kindra I have already few tiny mini babies and I am still keeping them alive, so maybe it is not so horrifying! I can't wait to see some 70 small vandas in the baskets once these grow up!

Thanks, Tommy! I promise it's not scary and I like the fact that they get used to my culture from the first day out of the flask.

I think I may have to get rid of a few because I have 70 from one flasks, but I have a total of 4 flasks, so I have well over 150 seedlings! I'm thinking space may be an issue once they get big!:rofl:

nikkik I am so sure you can easily get rid of some with help of OB members:-) Kindra was so very nice and shared many of hers with us already, so even some of us were "not so brave" to get the flask themselves, we still ended up growing flask babies:-))) And vanda babies must be really cute once they start to look as mini vandas, I can only imagine:-) And hey, if they actually make it all to seedling size, there is eBay! :-)

Thanks, Tommy! I have already had a few request for some. As they start to get bigger, I will decide what to do with them. A couple of the compots are species that are pretty uncommon, so the flasks were more pricey then my hybrids, so a few will definitely end up on eBay in the hopes of recouping some of the cost.

I wish Canadians had more orchids to choose from on ebay. We only have one Canadian seller.

It's always nice to have choices and it's a bummer you only have one seller of orchids. I find eBay to be a mixed bag and while I haven't had too many issues, I have found the prices to be inflated for certain plants and sometimes the size description is not completely accurate.

If given the choice, I rather buy from a show, greenhouse or grower over the phone.

Yes, sometimes that's true. I have bought twice from the Canadian seller [Zygopetalum] and I am very happy with the plants. But he also has a greenhouse with a larger selection anyway. I paid $15 for a real nice miltoncidium that has a mature growth and a new growth. It should flower before too long.

[QUOTE=nikkik;621981

I did not use any fungicide or bactericide, as I have read here and on another forum that it stalls growth. My seedlings are a little spoiled though and don't come into contact with my other orchids, so it eliminates some worry.

These plants also are given good air circulation, as I keep the fan on in that room. The fan is kept on low, so that they don't dry out too quickly.

They look so great! You and I may have to do some deflask chids trading!!

HAHA I thought I was the only one who kept their babies in their own room with their own window/cool mist humidifier!! HEHE[COLOR="Silver"]

---------- Post added at 06:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:01 PM ----------

[/COLOR]ALL of mine have to be from ebay or online sellers. Even if i go to the Dallas area all I seem to find are stinking average NOID phal's. Sorry you don't have any better pickings where you live.

[QUOTE=kindrag23;622205]It is a shame that it is such an expensive pain to bring them over the border.

I truly can't understand why it is such a big deal...we border ya'll...Something from a 3rd world country I can understand the excessive paperwork requirements....that was how we got fire ants...o gosh I am going to stop there or I will begin ranting....