step by step...

exasperatus2002 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-18-2008, 09:28 PM

Im going to post my first attempt of making a hybrid. Step by step, bud to pod (hopefully).

So heres some back ground. I got my Slc. Chia Lin 'New City' AM/AOS for a Christmas but my cat broke the spike off after it was open for a week so I saved the pollinia and stored it in a coffee filter in an envelope somewhere safe from moisture. Now I've been waiting on my Guarianthe aurantiaca (formerly Cattleya aurantiaca) to bloom for me.

heres a few teaser photos so you can suffer in anticipation along with me for the next step...

articuno75 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-18-2008, 09:47 PM

AAaaahhhhh!!!!! I can't wait! The anticipation is going to kill me!!!

exasperatus2002 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-20-2008, 11:05 PM

Ok last night was day 3 since the first of two blooms opened up. So I figured Id try to pollenate the first flower and keep the other for reference. I read somewhere here, that you would notice in 24 hrs if its going to do something so I wanted a control flower. I took the pollinia I had saved in a coffee filter out and grabbed a flat tooth pick. I first touched the flat end of the tooth pick on the stigmatic depression (its the area behind the anther cap). Since its sticky back there, it will help hold the pollinia on the toothpick when trying to do your thing. I then put the pollinia in place and gently pressed upwards to make sure I had contact. This was done on the right flower last night. Now tonight the 2nd flower was open enough so I wanted to do that one tonight. But first for reference.

When I conpared the flower I worked on last night I noticed that the lip is curling to form a tube instead of being somewhat being a 1/2 pipe shape like normal. Also the two petals are crossing each other which isnt normal. Does this mean I've succeeded or just damage from handling during pollenation..?? time will tell. I hope it takes. heres the pics for reference. Please note, using a clean, sterilized exacto knife, I trimmed the sheath back after it was open so I wouldnt accidently snap off a flower while working on it.

This is what the regular blooms are supposed to look like-

This is the control bloom. The left flower which I did tonight while taking these photos.

this is the right bloom which I tried to pollenate 24 hours ago. Note how the lip is now forming a tube instead of being normal.

exasperatus2002 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-20-2008, 11:11 PM

Now if you thought I was anxious while waiting for these buds to open.... Guess how I feel now to the 10th power. Wouldnt you know it, I picked a dandy to work with. I was doing some reading on my orchid and supposedly, it has the smallest flower size in Cattleya. The article is a tad outdated since it's been moved to a different genus now. But still there wasnt alot of room to work in while trying to keep the pollinia on the toothpick and not on the floor.

patticake · #5 (**permalink**) 02-21-2008, 05:48 AM

Good luck!! I have always been fascinated with hybridizing. Done some with other plants, but never with orchids(yet!)- I've been reading a lot about it. I have a couple of Catt. crosses, and a Paph. cross coming in the mail to me soon. It's like waiting to open a present! I can't wait until I can do the whole process!
Keep us posted! I look forward to hearing about, and seeing the progress!

exasperatus2002 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-21-2008, 08:45 AM

I checked again when I got up this morning and the lip is locked up like fort knox. I think this flower has removed its welcome matt.

Aleksa · #7 (**permalink**) 02-21-2008, 09:50 AM

Good luck. Pollination of orchid was always a mystery for me...

digitalgate · #8 (**permalink**) 02-21-2008, 05:04 PM

oh goodness this thread is going to be older than me... I already 400 years old..

exasperatus2002 · #9 (**permalink**) 02-25-2008, 11:29 PM

Heres an update with pics........

five days since I started my cross and it looks like one of the two didnt take but theres good sign on the second that I might get a pod....God willing. The flower on the left is turning yellow and looking bad but the first one I did. The flower on the right, the stem of the flower is getting uniform in thickness and staying green in color.

Someone mentioned on the aos that it might not be possible because my pollen parent is a 4n and the pod parent isnt. I dont know what that means. But I have hope. I'll be persistant and also pick up a few other Catts to try later.

patticake · #10 (**permalink**) 02-26-2008, 03:57 AM

The one on the right looks promising! A 4n- is a tetraploid. When crossed with a diploid will create a triploid. I believe that the problem would be with crossing a diploid with a triploid, not the tetraploid. This is what I read. Not having hands on experience, who knows. Diploids have an even number of chromosomes. Tetraploids have twice that-(4n) Triploids are (3n).
Whew! I'm all 'ploided out! Good luck! Continue to keep us posted!

digitalgate · #11 (**permalink**) 02-26-2008, 04:20 AM

you not out of woods yet. There are many way this can go wrong. Normally when i cross
hybrid. only 10 to 20% successed.

patticake · #12 (**permalink**) 02-26-2008, 06:35 PM

I've read that the chromosomes have to be even to take. In this way, even 5n and 6n are possible. I know that my tetriploid daylillies are much sturdier and robust than the diploids. I assume it's that way with orchids. Any imput from the pros?

exasperatus2002 · #13 (**permalink**) 03-01-2008, 04:24 PM

Day 11---

patticake · #14 (**permalink**) 03-01-2008, 04:53 PM

aw, cool!

**kmarch** · #15 (**permalink**) 03-01-2008, 06:38 PM

Looks like progress! So far so good!

exasperatus2002 · #16 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 12:00 AM

day 18-

the pod is starting to get a baby belly...

flowerchild · #17 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 05:13 AM

When can we expect the appearance of little ones???

digitalgate · #18 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 05:34 AM

ok from here onward , you will not have any surprise. It look stabilized now . It can take
quite a beating from onward. call the company who is going to do seed pod germination
for you and look for a cheap and good ones.

exasperatus2002 · #19 (**permalink**) 03-10-2008, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digitalgate

ok from here onward , you will not have any surprise. It look stabilized now . It can take
quite a beating from onward. call the company who is going to do seed pod germination
for you and look for a cheap and good ones.

Thanks digitalgate. I hope it can take a beating. We had a storm on saturday and we have no utilities and wont for another day. Its in a south window and warms up during the day but the nights are getting chilly.

exasperatus2002 · #20 (**permalink**) 03-10-2008, 09:24 AM

You know what they say, anything worth a lick didnt come easy.

exasperatus2002 · #21 (**permalink**) 03-12-2008, 11:36 PM

Yeahh!!! I've got my utilities back!!! Saturday we have 50-60 mph winds during a bad storm and 2 trees came down and destroyed my utility service. No power, heat....nada. My family and I stayed in a hotel sat & sun. Then, after the landlord claimed act of God & stated he's not willing/responsible for expenses incurred due to his tree cutting off our service & waiting for him to get a certified electrician to replace the meter breaker & ug. power line, he was gracious enough to allow us to tap the electric from our recently evicted neighbors trailor to run the chest freezer and wood pellet stove so we can come home. My orchids seem very resilient. Over the weekend there was no heat and I needed atleast a fleece jacket to stay warm. then with the pellet stove on, it was mighty hot in here. My Phal didnt blast any flowers and my 1st attempt at a hybrid is still alive. Heres pics of the storm damage & of the pod. With my mortgage & lot rent, its cheaper then a 2 bdrm apt. and I get a yard to work. I just put a deposit on a house which is sweet.

day 22... the after math-