Can you reproduce Phal x self?

[tmoney]

howdy,

there are a couple different methods of cloning with tissue, i think the most popular at home being the spike method (cut a spike that has nodes that did not flower) and there are videos you can watch about that method. don't know success rate, but i've heard its quite low.

and as far as ploidy (where it is normal 2n or 4n) there are some that say you can tell based on some characterisitics like flower size, leav, size, growth rate, etc. but honestly, that isn't really for sure, and the only real way, afaik, is by sending some tissue from the plant in for testing.

some have said you can do a chromosome count yourself if you have a good microscope, but being a biologist that claim seems dubious to me and i haven't tried it miyself. best way would be to find a lab to send part of the plant to. but i' don't know what parts of the plant they use for this test

[Ray]

The question of “how long to flowering” cannot be accurately answered, as that varies all over the map, based upon genetics, care in the flasking process, media formulation, and culture once removed from the flask.

I have seen photos of plants blooming in the flask as soon as 2 years after replating. Then there are typical sibling variations. I sent off a pescatorea hybrid capsule, and ended up taking 20 flasks of 25 seedlings each. They were the hardiest of the thousands that had germinated. Upon deflasking, a few plants bloomed in about 3 years, most were more like 6-7, and some hadn’t bloomed in 10 years, when I threw them away.

[uwodahikamama]

Originally Posted by tmoney

howdy,

there are a couple different methods of cloning with tissue, i think the most popular at home being the spike method (cut a spike that has nodes that did not flower) and there are videos you can watch about that method. don't know success rate, but i've heard its quite low.

and as far as ploidy (where it is normal 2n or 4n) there are some that say you can tell based on some characterisitics like flower size, leav, size, growth rate, etc. but honestly, that isn't really for sure, and the only real way, afaik, is by sending some tissue from the plant in for testing.

some have said you can do a chromosome count yourself if you have a good microscope, but being a biologist that claim seems dubious to me and i haven't tried it miyself. best way would be to find a lab to send part of the plant to. but i' don't know what parts of the plant they use for this test

That makes sense to me! I wasn’t sure if there was a database with plants listed and their chromosomes or something.

Honestly I probably won’t send any tissue in. I’ll just see if I get any pods and pay to have them flasked. If it doesn’t work then I’ll know! All in the name of science I guess, and I’m just the curious sort 😂

I really wish I could try flasking myself but that just seems near impossible!

---------- Post added at 10:11 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:08 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Ray

The question of “how long to flowering” cannot be accurately answered, as that varies all over the map, based upon genetics, care in the flasking process, media formulation, and culture once removed from the flask.

I have seen photos of plants blooming in the flask as soon as 2 years after replating. Then there are typical sibling variations. I sent off a pescatorea hybrid capsule, and ended up taking 20 flasks of 25 seedlings each. They were the hardiest of the thousands that had germinated. Upon deflasking, a few plants bloomed in about 3 years, most were more like 6-7, and some hadn’t bloomed in 10 years, when I threw them away.

That makes sense too! I guess it’s a lesson in patience 😅 Probably won’t wait 10 years though, that’s so long, and no blooms!! Must have been terribly disappointing.

[tmoney]

well as far as flasking, look into different folks. i'm not sure if there is sort of an industry standard contract for flasking services, so it may be worth contacting and asking questions of different flaskers. prices will vary probly, and if you can get in with one who has a proven track recod that would be good too. buuuutt, those really top names may not want to take on one or two seed capsules from a new breeder. or they may them and charge a premium...i just don't know.

marni, meyers, etc are the names that come to mind, but do some research there. in my opinion, flasking is a specialty skill, and we have enough on our plate with selecting and buying quality plants, learning about orchid breeding, attempting to pollinate, (don't forget hand watering 200 plus plants without any or our own hybrid seedlings yet) and better let the more experienced do it for now.

as far as timelines, i am optimistic that if you nail the timing on all phases (minimum 6-8 months for seed capsule maturing, 12-15 months in flasks, and 6-12 months ooflask too flower) with a super early flowering, strong hybrid, you could get blooms in 2 years (only talking phals here, cause i don't know anything else). but even with those times you are stretching to 2.5 years for super good stock. then factor in that the really are gonna come into blooms 6 months after maturing when the season is right. so then, minimum 3 years all things perfect. one little setback and our optimistic timeline to see our first flowers from our crosses is 4.5-5 years. anything before that is a gift....

[uwodahikamama]

Originally Posted by tmoney

well as far as flasking, look into different folks. i'm not sure if there is sort of an industry standard contract for flasking services, so it may be worth contacting and asking questions of different flaskers. prices will vary probly, and if you can get in with one who has a proven track recod that would be good too. buuuutt, those really top names may not want to take on one or two seed capsules from a new breeder. or they may them and charge a premium...i just don't know.

marni, meyers, etc are the names that come to mind, but do some research there. in my opinion, flasking is a specialty skill, and we have enough on our plate with selecting and buying quality plants, learning about orchid breeding, attempting to pollinate, (don't forget hand watering 200 plus plants without any or our own hybrid seedlings yet) and better let the more experienced do it for now.

as far as timelines, i am optimistic that if you nail the timing on all phases (minimum 6-8 months for seed capsule maturing, 12-15 months in flasks, and 6-12 months ooflask too flower) with a super early flowering, strong hybrid, you could get blooms in 2 years (only talking phals here, cause i don't know anything else). but even with those times you are stretching to 2.5 years for super good stock. then factor in that the really are gonna come into blooms 6 months after maturing when the season is right. so then, minimum 3 years all things perfect. one little setback and our optimistic timeline to see our first flowers from our crosses is 4.5-5 years. anything before that is a gift....

I was doing a bit of research, and it isn’t cheap (costs more to do a few pods vs a bunch). But if I have any seed pods in a few months and they have availability I will probably go for it and just pay what they’re asking
I suppose it’s a pricey experiment, but it looks like fun!
I’m crossing my fingers that Dr Bill will have spots available, because I think he’s pretty good and his pricing is good as well. 👍
I am thinking a bit ahead though, because I only just pollinated days ago 😂 so who knows!