Who wants Bletilla striata seeds?

Ellen · #1 (**permalink**) 12-16-2007, 09:11 PM

Some time ago I mentioned that I would have Bletilla striata seeds this winter from my cultivar 'Olympic Pink', which has a very attractive dark lavender-pink flower. They are now ready, so if you want a packet (contents of one capsule, dry pod harvested), send me a PM with your mailing address.

These are orchid seeds, so there's no guarantee that they will grow under home conditions. However, there are reports that they will grow by sprinkling on damp sphag or other medium, so it's probably worth a try. I'm going to have some flasked and will try growing some on sphag myself, but there are plenty of extras. I'll be curious to see if anyone is successful in growing them at home.

digitalgate · #2 (**permalink**) 12-17-2007, 02:58 AM

is your seed pod still green and unopen?

Ellen · #3 (**permalink**) 12-17-2007, 05:37 PM

No, the pod is not green and unpoen. By "dry pod harvested" I mean that the pod has dried out, split, and the seed has been collected in a coffee filter.

Aleksa · #4 (**permalink**) 12-20-2007, 03:33 PM

Is it possible to send in Europe? I'm very interested in those seeds.

orchid_girl · #5 (**permalink**) 12-20-2007, 05:07 PM

If you can send them to Alabama I'd like to try.

exasperatus2002 · #6 (**permalink**) 12-20-2007, 07:07 PM

I received mine today. Thank you for sending them.

Ellen · #7 (**permalink**) 12-21-2007, 02:21 AM

Aleksa, please PM me. Seeds will be going out to Alabama and other destinations next Wednesday.

Ellen · #8 (**permalink**) 12-27-2007, 04:58 PM

Update: For all of you who are still waiting for Bletilla seeds, they will be shipped out on Monday, Dec. 31.

orchid_girl · #9 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 11:00 AM

I received them today!! Thanks

patticake · #10 (**permalink**) 01-08-2008, 10:35 PM

They arrived yesterday! Thanks... I'm going to give it a whirl. I'm so grateful...

zero742 · #11 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 01:30 PM

Hopefully, by the end of the week, I should have some of my seeds started. I just found this site with quite a bit of useful information on alternative techniques to flasking. I'm going to be trying the terra-cotta pot method. Good luck to everyone, and thanks again for the seeds!

Growing Orchids From Seed

cassier · #12 (**permalink**) 01-13-2008, 02:19 PM

Has anyone thought about how to start their seeds?
I gbought mine to my society meeting where they were giving a talk about pollinating plants. I also read in my orchids magazine about the mother plant putting out a fungus on her roots to help aid in the growing process of the seeds. The fungus acts like the fruit part of a grape that has seeds in it. It some how gives nutrients to the seeds. The mother plant has to have a seed pod on it for it to make the fungus. Someone in the society will try it with his cattleya( he has two pods on it one to go to the lab and one to go on to th roots.

If the pod does turn brown and pops open then the seeds are not sterile anymore. I found out that a little of 3% hydrogen pyroxide will sterilize them. You take the whole solution and put it on the sterile agar in the sterile flask.

Everything has to be sterile. Someone also told me that if you turn your oven on at a very high temp and let it run for a while and then oen it and do your work on the door you can keep the air sterile. Though it would be very uncomfortable.

Anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance
cassie

CathyG · #13 (**permalink**) 01-14-2008, 04:08 AM

I also have the contents of 2 seed pods from bletilla striata. Pretty lavender flowers in the late spring. I have the seeds in a coffee filter as well and would be happy to share with anyone who wants a few. They are not analyzed so no idea of quality et al. I will plant a few at the base of the mother plant in the spring, but I have way too many to keep. PM me with contact info if you are interested in some of the seed.

prisana · #14 (**permalink**) 01-14-2008, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ellen

Update: For all of you who are still waiting for Bletilla seeds, they will be shipped out on Monday, Dec. 31.

Hi, Ellen.

I just got back to orchidgeeks after a few months on hiatus so I didn't see your post that the seeds are ready. Do you still have them ? If not don't worry about it, maybe next time..Thanks Ellen.

Ellen · #15 (**permalink**) 01-18-2008, 01:15 AM

Prisana, I do still have seeds, so if you PM me with your mailing address I'll send you some. The plants produced about 45 good pods. The ones that I'm having professionally flasked have already germinated, so it doesn't take long at all.

prisana · #16 (**permalink**) 01-18-2008, 07:43 AM

Hi Ellen, Thank you for your reply.

CathyG also has some seeds and she decided to share some with me I don't want to take too many since I don't really know what I'm doing yet

. I'm sure other geeks will be interested ,tho. Thanks Ellen

Mercedesladie · #17 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 09:36 PM

Hi CathyG and Ellen,

I would love to have some of the Bletilla striata seeds if you still have them available. I would like to try starting them. I have never started an orchid from seed. This should be very interesting.

Thanks,
Mercedesladie

CathyG · #18 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 02:48 AM

Mercedesladie:

Hopefully, Ellen can help with this. I only had two pods and gave half to Prisana. I am going to try to grow the other half using the method up on the germination from seed thread.

Cathy

patticake · #19 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 06:14 AM

Mine have germinated! I'll try to take/post pics this weekend. I'm holding my breath and checking them about every 15 minutes- (when I'm home) I feel like a new mom. I took pics while I was sowing them, (just in case it worked!)

exasperatus2002 · #20 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patticake

Mine have germinated! I'll try to take/post pics this weekend. I'm holding my breath and checking them about every 15 minutes- (when I'm home) I feel like a new mom. I took pics while I was sowing them, (just in case it worked!)

What medium did you sow them in? I havent tried mine yet since the ground is frozen here. I wanted to try 3 mediums. old potting mix from one of my orchids, leaf litter from the woods (hardwoods) and leaf litter from pine stand. Cyps. like an acidic ph so I got the idea of the pines from them.

mitko · #21 (**permalink**) 02-08-2008, 05:13 AM

Hello ,
I`m a new member of this forum . I would like to try growing bletilla striata from seeds. I have bought agar and would like trying to germinate orchids in vitro. If anybody still have seeds of this nice species ? I will be thankful

patticake · #22 (**permalink**) 02-08-2008, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exasperatus2002

What medium did you sow them in? I havent tried mine yet since the ground is frozen here. I wanted to try 3 mediums. old potting mix from one of my orchids, leaf litter from the woods (hardwoods) and leaf litter from pine stand. Cyps. like an acidic ph so I got the idea of the pines from them.

I started a thread called sowing ellen's seeds- They're still doing o.k.! I'm not worried about the ground being frozen, It's gonna be a long time before they can be planted outside!