Looking For Orchid Seeds

[rupprechta]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone has any information on places that sell legitimate orchid seed, or if anyone had any orchid seed that they would willing to share. Most things that I have read say that most of orchid seed that is for sale on sites like eBay is not legitimate. I want to try my hands at flasking orchids seeds. Currently, I am a materials scientist and have been trained to do aseptic techniques for culturing mammalian cells. So I think that I have a shot at being able to pull it off without a lot of problems. Any information would be great and much appreciated. Thanks!

[Fairorchids]

I assume that you have read up on the proper procedures (mother flask for germination, then replating into 2nd flask, where protocorns have to be spaced so that each seedling has room to grow).

However, what is your purpose?

Producing a dozen flasks of something nobody is interested in, does not achieve much.

Are you looking to flask for others, for a fee?
Are you looking to sell flasks (on Ebay or elsewhere)?

I currently have a couple of pods on two different reedstem Epidendrums (both species), which I am not planning to do anything with. Since I did not pollinate flowers myself, I don't really know how far along the pods are. If I keep an eye on them, I can probably harvest them just before they split (=> dry seed flasking). But, please explain your plans/purpose, so I can decide whether I should allocate time to this.

[rupprechta]

Yeah, I have read about the procedure for flasking and replating. I have no intention of selling flasks orchids or starting flasks of orchids for a fee. I would be willing to share flasks of seedlings if someone was willing share seeds. I am just interested in learning how to do it. Ultimately, I want to be able to propagate/cross-pollinate my current orchids.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Where are you located?

I can send you some pregnant pods

[rupprechta]

Thank You! Just outside of Pittsburgh, PA (I can pay for shipping). I can PM my address if that is not too far for you to send some. What types do you have in pods now?

[Dorchid]

Watching. Just crossed a phal and selfed an oncidium. Seems like a fun project. AOS says about 110 days for the phals and 122 for the oncidium to be ready for green pods. Is this what people are finding?

[Fairorchids]

The AOS data is suspect. My flasker recommends significantly longer time.

For bifoliate Cattleya, AOS shows 110-150 days. My flasker recommends about 8 months.

[Dorchid]

GTK! Do you have any personal experience with this? Is AOS not reputable? Being new I’d like to gather as much info from first hand sources as possible. I have also read they can take up to a year, so 8 months doesn’t seem out of the ordinary.