Very upset.....

[markclkk]

Just receive flasks of minced jelly with orchid of the following species.

Paphiopedilum niveum
Dendrobium pulchellum
Bulbophyllum rufuslabrum
Cattleya walkerian fma. alba
Phalaenopsis stuartiana var. nobilis
Dendrobium lituiflorum

Is it normal to receive the ball of orchids? Or 1cm height Cattleya that are too undeveloped to remove from flask but i have to do it anyway as it is already all messup? I am quite upset....but may be it is because my expectation for mail order is too high?

[berkeleysgr8]

I don't think the agar should break up like that! You should have been able to keep the jars until the seedlings were of a more suitable size for de-flasking. You should contact the seller about the problem!

[kmarch]

Hi markclkk,

To some extent, yes it is somewhat common for flasks of orchids, when shipped through the mail, to arive pretty shaken up. For this reason it is often recommended that people who buy flasks be prepared to deflask their seedlings as soon as they arrive. I occasionally see this recommendation/warning on websites where flasks are sold. So that part of your delima, flasks shaken up in the mail, is not uncommon I think.

However the other part, the 1cm cattleya seedlings....that's pretty tiny. Too tiny to be deflasked in my opinion (though I do not have much experience with cattleya flasks). The seller should know how flasks are shaken up in the mail and they should know that the plants usually need to be deflasked upon arrival, so I would think they should have known that these were too tiny. I dont' know all the details, but it seems to me they perhaps should have known these were too small to sell, or at least to ship. That's the part that borthers me.

[Ron]

Hi.
I agree with Kevin on the plant size.
I get a fair amount of Paphs and Phallies flasks from Taiwan.
the size of the Paphs seedlings are usually about 5 to 6cm tall.
Cattley's I have seen perhaps even bigger.
The Phallies are so big the agar can not be tumbles.
Resonable mail order nursery usually make the agar a bit thicker so you usually get no major tumbling or broken plants.
I regular get flasks also from many parts of Australia and they arrive in good condition.
Check back on the seller and see what he will do to replace them.
good idea to take some Photos as well of the fasks.
Best of Luck.
Ron

[markclkk]

Originally Posted by kmarch

Hi markclkk,

To some extent, yes it is somewhat common for flasks of orchids, when shipped through the mail, to arive pretty shaken up. For this reason it is often recommended that people who buy flasks be prepared to deflask their seedlings as soon as they arrive. I occasionally see this recommendation/warning on websites where flasks are sold. So that part of your delima, flasks shaken up in the mail, is not uncommon I think.

However the other part, the 1cm cattleya seedlings....that's pretty tiny. Too tiny to be deflasked in my opinion (though I do not have much experience with cattleya flasks). The seller should know how flasks are shaken up in the mail and they should know that the plants usually need to be deflasked upon arrival, so I would think they should have known that these were too tiny. I dont' know all the details, but it seems to me they perhaps should have known these were too small to sell, or at least to ship. That's the part that borthers me.

Thanks. That is exactly what i have in mind too. Anyway, had email the seller about the condition of the orchids. I also specifically told the seller that i will have to deflask them as soon as they arrive.

For the cattleya, that would set me back at least two more years before i get to see the flower.

[markclkk]

Paphiopedilum niveum arrive OK. The medium slides a little bit but still in one piece thanks to it big size plant/root.

Phalaenopsis were completely upside down overall should still be OK.

The two Den were too full to topple in anyway.

[kmarch]

So it sounds like the only real problem flaskwas the catts? If so that's good to know. It indicates they probably know their stuff and the catts aren't typical of their product. If my assumptions are then right about the vendor I suspect they'll handle things right.

[markclkk]

Hope they will do the corrective action accordingly. As i am quite impressed with other aspect of their service so far. And i will almost certain about go back for more. Once i tested out what i can grow and what i can't.

[Anton]

The two options available are :
1. deflask them straight away into seedling trays.

2. If you know an orchid cultivator, you could get them to replate the seedlings into fresh media and fresh flasks which they would do under sterile conditions.

Then you could leave them to mature a bit longer under ideal conditions.

I received 6 flasks from Bali in the condition you received yours. The larger seedlings were able to be potted straight away, but I VIRTUALLY LOST A FLASK OF COELOGYNE CELEBENISIS from being tumbled into a tight ball and the media had all but mixed into the ball.

If I knew then what I know now, I would have gotten them replated and probably would have been able to save them.

[markclkk]

Originally Posted by Anton

The two options available are :
1. deflask them straight away into seedling trays.

2. If you know an orchid cultivator, you could get them to replate the seedlings into fresh media and fresh flasks which they would do under sterile conditions.

Then you could leave them to mature a bit longer under ideal conditions.

I received 6 flasks from Bali in the condition you received yours. The larger seedlings were able to be potted straight away, but I VIRTUALLY LOST A FLASK OF COELOGYNE CELEBENISIS from being tumbled into a tight ball and the media had all but mixed into the ball.

If I knew then what I know now, I would have gotten them replated and probably would have been able to save them.

Will see how it goes tonight after i clean them up and take photo. Mine is from Thailand. The size of the seedling too varies greatly.

[kmarch]

That's en excellent option Anton!

[digitalgate]

try this
The Orchid People (S) Pte Ltd - Supplier of Top Quality Orchids Worldwide

let me know how much they charge.

[markclkk]

Finally finish settling 3 of the 6 flask.

Bulbo (on pine bark) - lots of broken leave but should be OK as the PB is quite establish.

Catt (on spaghnum moss)- all has small leave that is 1cm or less. But the root is fat and more than an inch long. Long root and small leave. I guess the chance of surviving is better than the other way round.

Paphiopedilum niveum, not a single plant has unbroken leave. Settle them on charcoal, vermiculite mix. (and a few in spaghnum moss)

[tizzycat]

I don't know anything about de-flasking, but I do understand your disappointment and wish you luck.

[Ron]

Hi
Glad to see you have cleaned them up and planted the seedlings out.
Best of luck with them.
A bit of TLC should see them respond, it is amazing the survival rate of even the small plants sometimes
Best of luck and keep us informed on their progess.
Best part of the growing of orchids for me, to see a tiny plant come out of a flasks and turn it into a beautiful flowering orchid.
Cheerio
Ron

[Anton]

Trouble is Ron, they take so damn long before they do it.

I have some Vandas that will take around 7 years.

[markclkk]

Originally Posted by Ron

Hi
Glad to see you have cleaned them up and planted the seedlings out.
Best of luck with them.
A bit of TLC should see them respond, it is amazing the survival rate of even the small plants sometimes
Best of luck and keep us informed on their progess.
Best part of the growing of orchids for me, to see a tiny plant come out of a flasks and turn it into a beautiful flowering orchid.
Cheerio
Ron

Totally agree with you. I used to grow gesneriad from seeds. It feels good seeing a tiny seed grown into a blooming plant. But most of those i grow will bloom within a year. 8 months usually. With orchid, more waiting is needed.

[Ron]

Hi Anton
Growing from flasks to flowering

Trouble is Ron, they take so damn long before they do it.

I totally agree but I still love doing it.
My Paph. St Swithin's from flask are now 8 years old and I suspect the earliest will take maybe a few more years and the rest...maybe 10 to 20 years.
Buuuuuuuuuttt when they flower, WILL I be happy.
You bet!

Cheerio
Ron

[Anton]

Well after all, I bought them as a retirement project, and I envisage that to be in around 4 years if all goes well.

I am just sick and tired of having a GH full of seedlings at various stages.
I WANT COLOUR !!!!

[markclkk]

Originally Posted by Anton

Well after all, I bought them as a retirement project, and I envisage that to be in around 4 years if all goes well.

I am just sick and tired of having a GH full of seedlings at various stages.
I WANT COLOUR !!!!

Just in case if you get bored. You can always paint the flower pot and add what ever colour and pattern of flower you fancy. I painted some of my plastic pot with very pale pink too.

(Actually that is to prevent media mix geeting too much sunlight and grow algae. At the same time, provide better surface for me to write on it.)