Flasking media?

[Dorchid]

To any growers who flask, what media do you use for initial and replating? What have you had the best luck with and are some better than others? Looking for an all around and not so much genera-specific. That said, my first attempt at sowing later this summer (hopefully) will be oncidium/odontoglossum seed.

[estación seca]

I'm not an expert, but there really are large differences in outcome with media tailored to specific genera. You can buy it in small pouches that mix up to only a liter.

[Dorchid]

Outside of epiphytic v terrestrial and one for cattleyas, I'm not seeing a whole lot of tailored stuff out there in my early searches. Really, I was curious if people prefer say, Hill's mother and replate formulas, or P669 mother and the replate formula from TOSP, or something from phytotech like Knudson's C or Vacin & West. I'm just rummaging around online but figured there might be some practical input from current site users who are having success flasking.

[thom144e]

same question for anoectochilus roxburghii. I want to give it a go, but need some info as to what to add to basic MS media. I live in China. the plants are native here. any info is appreciated

---------- Post added at 02:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:34 PM ----------

Originally Posted by estación seca

I'm not an expert, but there really are large differences in outcome with media tailored to specific genera. You can buy it in small pouches that mix up to only a liter.

I would love to buy something even close to what is recommended for anoectochillus roxburghii, a terrestrial, but I can find nothing.. Just looking in the wrong place? or censored here in China? got any URL or web sites or places where I can find what i need? thanks thomas

[estación seca]

I think your best bet would be to find vendors of this plant and ask them whether they know anybody mericloning them. I don't know whether they are being mericloned but it is possible. I know a company called Olympic Orchids sells small jewel orchid plants but I don't know where they source them.

[Mr.Fakename]

You didn't specify is you want to sow or clone them.

There are few records of successful propagation of the Anoectochilus genre, and I didn't find anything for the particular species you want.

A cloning procedure using nodes of Anoectochilus formosanus mentions that MS medium is a good start:

Stem segments with nodes should be layered on half‐strength MS
medium containing NAA 0.3 mg l–1 and kinetin 3 mg l–1. After the
segments develop three to four leaves it is necessary to transfer them to MS medium
supplemented with NAA 1 mg l–1 and kinetin 0.3 mg l–1 to induce root
formation. (Huang et al., 1991)

During the original research the cultures were maintained at 25°C under 16‐h photoperiods of 27 µmol m−2 s−1

[Dorchid]

Thanks, Mr. F! I think I may have read something similar for using MS for TC. I’m actually looking at starting seeds. Will likely go with the P669 and additives from TOSP as it seems like people gave good results with it.

[Mr.Fakename]

Oh gosh sorry for the misunderstanding, I was replying to the latest post!

Did you find answers or are you still looking?

[Dorchid]

Oops...that’s my bad...I didn’t see there was another inquiry...sorry.

[Mr.Fakename]

Don't be sorry, it's because someone stole your thread haha!

As ES said, there's not a clearly best all-around performer; all researches on orchid sowing clearly mention that "each species, hybrid, individual plants, and seed used has specific requirements and it's best to follow the directions given to ensure success".


Now trying to answer your question:

PhytoTechnology Laboratories have a ton of good, readily available and well documented media.
I have P658 for sowing and P668 for replates, works great on Phal.
P723 is also pretty common for several genera.

Vacin and Went, Knudson C, Murashige and Skoog are also top contestants, your rummaging was fruitful.

As far as I can tell, the media sold by PhytoTech are "key in the hand", but the other ones are getting old and lack commonly added ingredients like coco water, banana or even yeast.
They're mostly used as a starting point and require you to add stuff like auxins and anti‐auxin, cytokinins, acids, vitamins...

I personally prefer to play it safe and get something that was designed for orchids by default, there are so many versions of MS or Vacin and Went that it's easy to get lost.