Really good read!

The glove box?

Why not use a large plastic tub with a strong bleach solution 1 inch or 25mm in the bottom and work with the bleach fumes through the whole process?

Hi Natalie

How did you clean the flasks? did you autoclave with a pressure cooker as per usual?

update of seed germination
 

Here is update photo of seed germinatiin of den. pulchellum. i thought i will not replate and let them grow then deflask. would it be okay? Asking experts opinion. though i am happy with my little achivement.

bump

well, I know that this message is a bit old, but... you've mistaked! you must put the bleach tampon under the lid, not over! I don't know how your flask is now, but if you put the tampon over the lid, it's all perfectly useless!

Resurrecting an old thread here. What strength % wise is the bleach (sodium hypochlorite) and do you dilute it for use with the pad?

Giuseppe, that is fun! :rofl:

The cotton pad you see is not soaked; it is the final closing over the tiny hole made for gas exchange!
The chlorine-soaked piece of cotton has long been removed from in between the two layers of plastic wrap under the lid...

Have used this method with many different seeds now, also non-orchid seeds, and contamination is pretty low, always under 10%, but germination is erratic. This can of course be due to many other reasons.

Could you tell me if this procedure can be done on plantlets being transferred from a mother flask to another flask(replaiting). Should this be feasable please provide me with the protocol. Thank you for your time and response to my question. Guido

I know this was asked a looooonnnnngggg time ago, but better late than never I suppose.

I prep my sowing tubs by cleaning them in a solution of Milton and then drying them off in a warm oven. Then I pour the prepared media straight into them, fit the lids loosely, and sterilize in the microwave (800W) at full power for about 8-10mins. Not very conventional, but it works. I've got Bulbophyllum, Oncidium, and Cymbidium seedlings (the Dendrobium didn't grow so well in my first batch of homemade media - trial and error!).

I have tried this method it works great and so easy. I kept the pads on for 2 hours 45 mins.

can I get medium that in jar with out making it?

Hi Condo
You can try
Phyto Technology labs
Sigma Chemical Co.
G & B Orchid lab
G & S Labs

Hi Roby,
I'm a new member and I found very interesting your post about seed disinfestation using Sodium Hypochlorite fumes. But unfortunately I can't see the picture of your setup. Could you please post some update ? It would be great if you have a document describing your method.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Regards,
Francois.

Hello APIOU, Welcome to the Orchid Board! I hope Roby does update the photos - they were very helpful.

Hello Estacion,

Roby didn't reply me. I have understood the process is a dry fumes. But I would like to have the picture of his setup. His post was quite old and I'm not sure that Roby is still active in this forum.

Thanks and best regards,
Francois

i am new to this too and i think it would be perfect if someone making a video out of this method from scratch

Thanks for the system
 

Updating : in that time I also sowed Dendrobium and it did succeed as well. I got 52 plants and some are starting to flower for the first time now. So I still use the sytem of Roby with pleasure.

First blooming.
[IMG]http://galeriedesorchidoux.free.fr/g.../IMGP6599b.jpg[/IMG]
http://galeriedesorchidoux.free.fr/g...5/IMGP6593.JPG

Nice flowers, and I like the look of the plant too!

Is it a hybrid? If so, what are the parents plants?

Dendrobium antennatum
 

It is a botanical one, Dendrobium antennatum.

An alternative way of using gaseous chlorine---opening and closing the medium jars inside a transparent ziplock bag and adding HCL to the bleach so that chlorine gas is released inside the bags---and therefore with much less risk of contamination is described here. Also read the comments where some extra details are described such as turning upside down the jar inside the bag to let the chlorine gas flow out: Hobibotanik Metodu ile Evde %100 Garantili Orkide Tohumu Cimlendirme - YouTube

---------- Post added at 03:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:12 PM ----------

An alternative way of using gaseous chlorine---opening and closing the medium jars inside a transparent ziplock bag and adding HCL to the bleach so that chlorine gas is released inside the bags---and therefore with much less risk of contamination is described here. Also read the comments where some extra details are described such as turning upside down the jar inside the bag to let the chlorine gas flow out: Hobibotanik Metodu ile Evde %100 Garantili Orkide Tohumu Cimlendirme - YouTube

A word of caution about this method: Chlorine Gas is VERY toxic and can be highly dangerous even in small amounts. Be extremely careful with it.

Hmm, interesting. However I couldn't find anything in the comments about turning the jars upside down to release the chlorine? I imagine its heavier than air so it just flows out. But since the volume of the bag is finite I don't see that really working very well. There would still be too much chlorine inside the jar.
I have 2 pods ripening any week now so maybe I'll give that a try!

Anyone else tried this? What are your experiences?

Honestly, just don't try chlorine gas. Sowing seeds isn't worth risking death or permanent invalidity.

If you choose the "green pod" technique, seeds are sterile and you only need to throw the capsule in bleach.

If you prefer collecting the dry seeds, dilute bleach/hydrogen peroxide will do the trick.

If you need more info I can send you a bunch of resources!

I work in the petroleum industry. Chlorine, in various forms, is part of my experience. Unless you have very specific training in the safe handling of chlorine, and its gaseous state in particular, DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME! Chlorine gas in very small amounts can cause irreparable lung damage. Excuse the graphic, but it will cause your lungs to fill with fluid and you will drown. Hazmat teams use fully encapsulating chemical suits when dealing with it. Don't put yourself at risk unnecessarily.

Thanks for the warning guys. I've tried to work with unopened seed pods before, but I was working at home, over the steam and I had to chuck everything away eventually because of the contamination. That's why I thought of using this method.

I guess I'll just try and use one of the laminar flow cabinets at work. Hope my boss doesn't catch me! ;)

Any tip as to how to prevent later contamination of jars? How do you close yours? I was thinking of wrapping the lids with parafilm or similar.

I use a mix of cling wrap, 3M micropore tape or nothing at all depending on what I have on hand.

That thread is a (old) sticky, maybe you should start a new one with the rest of your questions!

Greetings to all. This topic is old but I wanted to know if anyone has used this method successfully. and also if it is possible replate without the chlorine gases damaging the seedlings.

**** chlorine gas. (Redacted by Moderator) If you don’t have access to a flow hood you can work inside a still air box made from a Rubbermaid tub. Additionally, using plant protection mix in your media is super effective at preventing contamination, so much so that it’s reported that plating can be done in open air.

Sorry Roberta!

After reviewing the op, it’s an interesting protocol that doesn’t actively produce chlorine gas but I think surface sterilization of seeds with dilute bleach solution would seem to be more efficient and effective. As far as replating, the above still holds true.

What would that phytosanitary mixture be about in the culture media? Is there a topic in the forum where it is explained?

It may have been discussed somewhere on here before but I haven't looked. It's a media addendum that helps prevent contamination by fungi and bacteria and can also be used to surface sterilize seeds and explants if the typical protocols using bleach, etc. aren't working. A little bit goes a long way. Here's the website, check the product description and FAQs. Plant Preservative Mixture (PPM) 30 Milliliters

I have used this method with Oeceoclades, Eulophia, Cynorkis, Ansellia species and Cattleya hybrids. I am so glad I found this.