My Flask Report

[shadytrake]

Not that anyone is really interested, but I thought I would post my de-flasking results.

Since August 2009 here is what I have attempted.

First flask - C. aurantiaca from Meyers- yield 50 seedlings. After trading a few compots and loss, I have 7 NBS keepers.

Den. heterocarpum from Meyers - yield 80. Edit-found one survivor in the seedling tray! Dens are hard.

Den. thrysiflorum from Meyers - yield 32. Edit-found one survivor in the seedling tray! Dens are really hard.

Schlimmia condorana from Meyers - yield 50. way too difficult. Lost them almost immediately.

Epi. pseudoepidendrum from Meyers - yield 65. Very difficult but I have 1 surviving NBS seedling.

Max. brunnea - yield 60. way too difficult. Lost them almost immediately.

C. dowiana var rosita 'Cammie' x warscewiczii 'CAS' from Meyers - yield 50. Slowly but surely I'm getting better. 16 seedlings going strong.

Den. formosum 'Apricot Avalanche' x self from Meyers - yield 50. Finally some success with Dens. 12 SMALL seedlings coming along.

L. tenebrosa 'Rainforest' FCC/AOS x self from Meyers- yield 50. 8 seedlings going strong

Epi. ilense from Woodstream Orchids - yield 18. Too small in the flask. Lost to fungus.

Epi. Plastic Doll (pseudepidendrum 'Rudolph' CHM/AOS x ilense 'Penns Creek') from Woodstream Orchids - yield 18. Difficult but I have 3 strong seedlings going.

Epi. dixorum 'Hummingbird' x self from Woodstream - yield 13. Can't kill this one. All seedlings survived. Kept 3 big seedlings.

Den. brymerianum 'Charlie' × self from Meyers - yield 50. Dens are still very hard. 6 seedlings are hanging in there.

C. araguaiensis 'MC4756' × self from Meyers - yield 50. 20 seedlings going strong.

B. cucullata 'Red Star' × self from Meyers - yield 45. Difficult but 7 seedlings going.

Mc. albopurpurea x L. tenebrosa from ebay Topmacsniper - yield 35. 20 seedlings going strong.

L. purpurata 'WCL' x Mc. brysiana 'Heckler's' from ebay Topmacsniper - yield 35. 22 seedlings going strong.

Mc. albopurpurea from ebay Topmacsniper - yield 40. 30 seedlings going strong.

Epi. criniferum 'MC2285' × self from Meyers - yield 65. Too soon to tell. They are just de-flasked.

I guess practice does make you better.

[stefpix]

I have been growing orchids for less than 2 years and usually I buy seedlings or small plants to save. I noticed as well that Cattleyas seem harder to kill than Dendrobiums for some reason. COngratulations on your flasks. Do you have any photos?


if you have a spare seedling to shars of C. araguaiensis or Den. formosumit would make me happy. What did you lose most plants to?

[WhiteRabbit]

wow! that's awesome Melissa!

[shadytrake]

Originally Posted by stefpix

I noticed as well that Cattleyas seem harder to kill than Dendrobiums for some reason. COngratulations on your flasks. Do you have any photos?

if you have a spare seedling to shars of C. araguaiensis or Den. formosumit would make me happy. What did you lose most plants to?

I have a few photos here and there. Yes for some reason the Dens are harder to get going. I don't have any spares right now. They are still too small and fragile. I might have later on. I want to wait to make sure I get a few really strong ones to keep.

[FairyInTheFlowers]

WOW! You have abig load coming up!

[stefpix]

Would be great to see the photos of the progress/ process...

If you are going to toss/ trash some runts/ weaklings you could send them here, I will recycle them for postage!
good luck!
do you grow them in a green house?

[Connie Star]

Wow Melissa- those are impressive results. Were most of the losses due to fungus?

[shadytrake]

Connie,

Most of the loss was really due to inexperience. Troy Meyers is coming to Memphis (I think) for the MOC congress and our May Orchid show and I really want to pick his brain a little for tips and tricks.

I have a system down for the Catts and they seem to be working.

[stefpix]

What is the system for the Cattleyas? why do you think it did not work for the Dendrobiums? was it more for too much water or not enough of it?

[Junebug]

Congratulations on your many successes. I admire your persistance, patience, and skill. I've never tried growing from flasks but I'd like to give it a try some day.

Would love to see some photos.