Mold in Flask :(

**Vivienne** · #1 (**permalink**) 10-07-2007, 10:46 AM

Oh no!! My dad brought me a flask of Vanda from his recent trip. I haven't opened it at all waiting for the plants to grow (which they have). But now there is mold in the flask. Should I remove them to compots now? Urgently? Treat with anything? AHHHH HELP!!!

**Vivienne** · #2 (**permalink**) 10-07-2007, 12:37 PM

I have been reading some other forums and it appears that I had better get this taken care of. Some of the plants are under the agar, which apparently isn't a good thing either. I hope I haven't ruined this!

There does not appear to be a large number of plants - perhaps 6-12 (doubtful). Would you suggest individual pots or group them all together in one pot (suggested by the troymeyers.com info). As they are Vanda I'm worried that the root growth will become tangled if all in the same pot.

Oh how I wish I didn't need to do this in an urgent manner. sniff sniff.

tom499 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-07-2007, 01:16 PM

I think i read washing the plants in diluted physan 20 should clean them up, then I would pot the up together in a big tray, easier to give them all the same conditions then.

They look quite big now (the ones in the picture anyway) so as long as your careful they should be ok. Have you got a propagator? Or maybe pot them up in groups of 3 in normal pots and use a half a clear bottle to cover them, then slowly remove it so the plants can acclimatise to "normal" air

**Vivienne** · #4 (**permalink**) 10-07-2007, 01:23 PM

Thanks Tom! No propagator or 'formal' compot but I have some 2" pots that I can group together and then cover. At least that's my plan right now. Figuring I could put 2-3 per pot and then create some sort of dome to cover them all. Would you suggest Sphagnum Moss or something else? I know the local garden center has coconut fiber stuff.

tom499 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-07-2007, 03:28 PM

I would have a look round and just see which medium seems most used for Vanda seedlings, but I think for Vandas light fluffy spag would be good, as they like to breathe. I'll have a search round too.

Any kind of transparent cover will do, even a tub that peaches come in, as they have a few holes in so there will be abit of air movement.

Good luck and keep us posted

tizzycat · #6 (**permalink**) 10-07-2007, 03:36 PM

Good Luck Vivienne, Hang on in there, you can do it.

**Vivienne** · #7 (**permalink**) 10-07-2007, 04:45 PM

Ahhh - that was nerve-wracking at first, but the task to deflask has been completed. Now to keep these little cuties alive and growing.

They were much stronger than I thought they would be. End result was 4 plants in the flask - 2 with 5 leaves, 1 with 6 leaves and 1 with 8 leaves (pic). Potted them up in their own pots with Sphagnum, those pots are in a large tupperware container with 2 inches of gravel and 1 inch of water on the bottom. They all had at least 5 1" roots on them!!

So here they are... my 4 little Vanda Sansai Blue.

**sandra** · #8 (**permalink**) 10-07-2007, 07:41 PM

I knew you could do it Viv. Those look so cute and packed so neatly. I would think sphag is the best choice also. Vandas and cymbidiums are on my 'someday' list. Good luck with your babies.

Tobi · #9 (**permalink**) 10-07-2007, 08:11 PM

Well done Vivienne. They're in good hands now!!

**Vivienne** · #10 (**permalink**) 10-07-2007, 09:36 PM

Thanks! Now to watch them grow... what, 3-4 years to bloom?

jbigio · #11 (**permalink**) 10-07-2007, 11:05 PM

Hi good job with the flask.someone once told me if you don't have anything to look forward to then you dont have anything to hope for.

arleneg · #12 (**permalink**) 10-08-2007, 03:37 AM

Well done, Vivienne!

Keep us posted on how they're doing.

joan gero · #13 (**permalink**) 10-08-2007, 04:14 AM

Oh you seem to have handled that so well, Vivienne. Great rescue job... we'll all look forward to following these forum-supported babies!

tizzycat · #14 (**permalink**) 10-08-2007, 09:16 AM

Great job Vivienne - looking forward to the updates/progress reports.

**Vivienne** · #15 (**permalink**) 10-08-2007, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbigio

Hi good job with the flask.someone once told me if you don't have anything to look forward to then you dont have anything to hope for.

That is a really great statement. I plan to print it out and post it on my bulletin board!

**Vivienne** · #16 (**permalink**) 10-08-2007, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joan gero

Oh you seem to have handled that so well, Vivienne. Great rescue job... we'll all look forward to following these forum-supported babies!

LOL - perhaps I should change their tags from A, B, C, D to G, E, E, K after OrrchidGeeks.

Thanks to everyone for your support.

**Vivienne** · #17 (**permalink**) 10-18-2007, 01:29 PM

It's only been 10 days since I had to emergency deflask my Vandas. They are doing well... altho I did lose the littlest plant that had been buried in the agar and affected by the mold. I was expecting that one.

So now my question. They are in Sphag Moss inside the container. The humidity is staying in the 60-70% range, but the temps are a bit chilly (68F). How long should I leave them in the moss? I haven't watered them since the deflask as the moss is still wet. I don't want to damage the roots with root rot. Should I move them in to little plastic pots or to sticks with no media yet or wait?

tom499 · #18 (**permalink**) 10-18-2007, 01:41 PM

Not sure exactly how chilly that is, 54F is near 10 celsius right?

But anyway, if you think its gettin abit chilly, you could increase the air circulation. This means you dont have to disturb the plants, and should lower the risk of rot.

Just a little oscillating fan would do the trick.

**Vivienne** · #19 (**permalink**) 10-18-2007, 01:48 PM

It probably could use a little more air circulation but the whole house is around the 70F (~21C I think) area.