| Gummie, Most orchid plants grown commercially are started in sterile medium (an agar mix) in small closed glass jars called flasks. When they've grown enough, they can be removed from the flask and planted in a pot. Removal from the flask is called "deflasking". This is probably the most stressful time in the plant's entire life because it is going from a sterile, humid, protected environment to one full of pathogens, dry air, and possible mechanical damage. That's why we try to be careful and ease them slowly into the real world. |