Comments on: Ecuador orchid flask baby report http://www.orchidkarma.com/ecuador-orchid-flask-baby-report/ My name is Karma, I am from Gothenburg, Sweden and I blog about my orchid obsession. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:34:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Karma http://www.orchidkarma.com/ecuador-orchid-flask-baby-report/comment-page-1/#comment-623 Karma Wed, 22 Sep 2010 08:03:42 +0000 http://www.orchidkarma.com/?p=2777#comment-623 Thanks Ron. I have not tried placing seedlings straight from flask to EpiWeb or semi-hydro. But the 1-2 year old Masdevallia and Dracula seedlings I moved to EpiWeb this summer are thriving!! Probably more due to the improved conditions in the cool viv than the growing media, but still. I will try and take some photos and write an update. I also just moved a lot of 4 Paphiopedilum sanderianum seedlings into semi-hydro with volcanic rocks last weekend - Mic I promised you an experiment, here it is. :) I will photo these guys too... Thanks Ron. I have not tried placing seedlings straight from flask to EpiWeb or semi-hydro. But the 1-2 year old Masdevallia and Dracula seedlings I moved to EpiWeb this summer are thriving!! Probably more due to the improved conditions in the cool viv than the growing media, but still. I will try and take some photos and write an update. I also just moved a lot of 4 Paphiopedilum sanderianum seedlings into semi-hydro with volcanic rocks last weekend – Mic I promised you an experiment, here it is. :) I will photo these guys too…

]]> By: Ron Hanko http://www.orchidkarma.com/ecuador-orchid-flask-baby-report/comment-page-1/#comment-622 Ron Hanko Tue, 21 Sep 2010 20:02:38 +0000 http://www.orchidkarma.com/?p=2777#comment-622 Very interested to see how you treat your seedlings. I, too, use sphagnum, but am interested in the epiweb as a choice and the sh method sounds tantalizing. Very interested to see how you treat your seedlings. I, too, use sphagnum, but am interested in the epiweb as a choice and the sh method sounds tantalizing.

]]> By: Karma http://www.orchidkarma.com/ecuador-orchid-flask-baby-report/comment-page-1/#comment-621 Karma Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:34:53 +0000 http://www.orchidkarma.com/?p=2777#comment-621 Agar or agar-agar (you spelled it correctly) is from red algae and is basically just used to solidify the nutrient solution so the seeds don't drown when you sow. When you deflask the seedling it is best to thoroughly wash the agar solution clean from the seedlings as it is highly susceptible to molding when exposed to air. I usually use a strainer for this and run it under tepid water. Next I place the clean seedlings in a bath with a very mild fungicide solution (about 1/4 to 1/2 of recommended dose) for 10-15 minutes while preparing the community pot. I have never used (or even seen) Aussie Gold, but it sounds fine for the purpose. I usually use sphagnum moss for mine. You want to carefully plant each seedling so the newborn and sensitive roots are covered with a loosely packed layer of media. You can put them pretty close together both to save space and to keep the humidity a little higher around the seedlings. Keep evenly moist - but not wet - after planting. Best to keep them in a small nursery vivarium or tub so the RH remain even and high and they gradually get them hardened and used to the "real world". You can read more in detail exactly how I deflask my orchid seedlings here: <a href="http://www.orchidkarma.com/how-i-grow-my-orchids/deflasking-orchids/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Deflasking orchids.</a> Good luck!! Agar or agar-agar (you spelled it correctly) is from red algae and is basically just used to solidify the nutrient solution so the seeds don’t drown when you sow. When you deflask the seedling it is best to thoroughly wash the agar solution clean from the seedlings as it is highly susceptible to molding when exposed to air. I usually use a strainer for this and run it under tepid water. Next I place the clean seedlings in a bath with a very mild fungicide solution (about 1/4 to 1/2 of recommended dose) for 10-15 minutes while preparing the community pot. I have never used (or even seen) Aussie Gold, but it sounds fine for the purpose. I usually use sphagnum moss for mine. You want to carefully plant each seedling so the newborn and sensitive roots are covered with a loosely packed layer of media. You can put them pretty close together both to save space and to keep the humidity a little higher around the seedlings. Keep evenly moist – but not wet – after planting. Best to keep them in a small nursery vivarium or tub so the RH remain even and high and they gradually get them hardened and used to the “real world”.

You can read more in detail exactly how I deflask my orchid seedlings here: Deflasking orchids. Good luck!!

]]> By: Larz Kremer http://www.orchidkarma.com/ecuador-orchid-flask-baby-report/comment-page-1/#comment-620 Larz Kremer Tue, 21 Sep 2010 13:58:46 +0000 http://www.orchidkarma.com/?p=2777#comment-620 I've been purchasing orchid flasks/compots of late, they arrive in agar (sp.) When I pot them out, should I just lay the rooting medium and small seedlings on fine planting medium such as Aussie Gold, or should I separate each little plant? There are probably about 20-30 plants per plastic covered compot I've received. Should I keep moist and covered after repotting? Thanks so much! I’ve been purchasing orchid flasks/compots of late, they arrive in agar (sp.) When I pot them out, should I just lay the rooting medium and small seedlings on fine planting medium such as Aussie Gold, or should I separate each little plant? There are probably about 20-30 plants per plastic covered compot I’ve received. Should I keep moist and covered after repotting? Thanks so much!

]]> By: Karma http://www.orchidkarma.com/ecuador-orchid-flask-baby-report/comment-page-1/#comment-575 Karma Wed, 01 Sep 2010 08:36:42 +0000 http://www.orchidkarma.com/?p=2777#comment-575 Thanks Alina! It is nice to hear that you enjoy my blog. :) Good luck with your flasks, I too really enjoy following the development of the little ones from seedling to flower. <em>PS! I removed your link since it was a blacklisted adress. If you did not know that you might want to talk to your web host or provider.</em> Thanks Alina! It is nice to hear that you enjoy my blog. :) Good luck with your flasks, I too really enjoy following the development of the little ones from seedling to flower.

PS! I removed your link since it was a blacklisted adress. If you did not know that you might want to talk to your web host or provider.

]]> By: Alina http://www.orchidkarma.com/ecuador-orchid-flask-baby-report/comment-page-1/#comment-574 Alina Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:28:21 +0000 http://www.orchidkarma.com/?p=2777#comment-574 Hi, Karma. Thank you for your such impressive blog. I read it regulary ang get a lot of useful information. I live in St.Petersburg and started growing orchids 6 month ago but have little experience with flasks. I like to watch them growing))) Hi, Karma.
Thank you for your such impressive blog. I read it regulary ang get a lot of useful information. I live in St.Petersburg and started growing orchids 6 month ago but have little experience with flasks. I like to watch them growing)))

]]> By: Lisa http://www.orchidkarma.com/ecuador-orchid-flask-baby-report/comment-page-1/#comment-549 Lisa Wed, 04 Aug 2010 03:09:45 +0000 http://www.orchidkarma.com/?p=2777#comment-549 Thanks! I'm in the US (Louisiana). Now that I know who makes them, I'm hoping that I can find someone that sells them online or find something similar. Haha...yes...definitely classier. ;) Thanks! I’m in the US (Louisiana). Now that I know who makes them, I’m hoping that I can find someone that sells them online or find something similar.
Haha…yes…definitely classier. ;)

]]> By: Karma http://www.orchidkarma.com/ecuador-orchid-flask-baby-report/comment-page-1/#comment-548 Karma Tue, 03 Aug 2010 13:02:14 +0000 http://www.orchidkarma.com/?p=2777#comment-548 Anytime. :) I have a few different genera I can enroll in the experiment. I will report back with the results. Anytime. :) I have a few different genera I can enroll in the experiment. I will report back with the results.

]]> By: mic http://www.orchidkarma.com/ecuador-orchid-flask-baby-report/comment-page-1/#comment-547 mic Tue, 03 Aug 2010 11:26:19 +0000 http://www.orchidkarma.com/?p=2777#comment-547 thank you for the reply. I forgot to tell you that the seedling I've tried with semi-hydroponic are phalaenopsis. Please post any experiment you might be trying on other genra. mic thank you for the reply.
I forgot to tell you that the seedling I’ve tried with semi-hydroponic are phalaenopsis. Please post any experiment you might be trying on other genra.
mic

]]> By: Karma http://www.orchidkarma.com/ecuador-orchid-flask-baby-report/comment-page-1/#comment-546 Karma Tue, 03 Aug 2010 08:03:18 +0000 http://www.orchidkarma.com/?p=2777#comment-546 Thanks a lot guys! :) Mic, no I have not tried other mediums for deflasked seedlings, at least not yet. But semi-hydro sound like an interesting choice. I grow a few orchids in semi-hydro with volcanic rocks (my Phragmipedium mainly) and they are doing very well. Perhaps I will try moving a few seedlings over in this and see if there is any difference. I have a few Dendrobium seedlings that seem to be standing still! Lisa, I bought my mini-greenhouses in the garden center at the local builders store (K-Rauta). I am not sure of where you live, but it is made by <a href="http://www.nelson.se/default.aspx?tillsida=prod&productid=259721&lng=SWE" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Lord Nelson</a> perhaps you can find it where you live too. I think they work quite well, definitely classier than ziploc bags... ;) Thanks a lot guys! :)

Mic, no I have not tried other mediums for deflasked seedlings, at least not yet. But semi-hydro sound like an interesting choice. I grow a few orchids in semi-hydro with volcanic rocks (my Phragmipedium mainly) and they are doing very well. Perhaps I will try moving a few seedlings over in this and see if there is any difference. I have a few Dendrobium seedlings that seem to be standing still!

Lisa, I bought my mini-greenhouses in the garden center at the local builders store (K-Rauta). I am not sure of where you live, but it is made by Lord Nelson perhaps you can find it where you live too. I think they work quite well, definitely classier than ziploc bags… ;)

]]>