s/h & seedlings

[exasperatus2002]

Ok this one covers a few topics in one so I put it here in orchid care cultivation. I had my only s/h experience with a Psychopsis in a 2" pot which quickly out grew it and I ended up repotting it in bark for the lack of a local leca pellet source. Ive since put a Dendrobium keiki in it and its doing well.

a) My question is has anyone ever raised seedlings in s/h out of flask?
b) If you have, did you try 1/2 in s/h & 1/2 in a tradional mix to see if something will survive the experience.
c) Which of the two mediums would have the greatest growth rate for the seedlings.

[Ron]

Hi.
I will give it a try in answering.
1 It depends on a lot of factors, climate,
2 time of the year, spring and very early autumn are my prime times
3 Type of orchid species being grown on out of flasks.
4 I grow a lot of Cymbidiums from flasks, try to get them in spring if possible but can arrive in early autumn.
These I deflask into a small mix ( 5 to 10 mm) of pine bark (treated) into 48 mm sq pots.

These then grow like wildfire under 50% shade cloth.
see Photo 1.
Photo Number 2 is the same plant 12 months old and ready to go into 100 mm pot in spring.

5. Unless you live in a warm climate I would be carefull in trying some of the more tender variety of orchids such as Paphs, Phallie, Vandas etc.
There are a lot of other orchids that could start a life out in a S/h if conditions suited them.
Do not let me put you off, just check out the type of orchid you wish to grow
My 2 pennys worth
Cheerio
Ron

[exasperatus2002]

This will be for a Cattleya hybrid

[Ron]

Hi.
""This will be for a Cattleya hybrid"".
I have grown Cattleya from flasks "but" keep them inside my house on a hot bed untill they are harden off (about 3 months old) then placed them in the shade house in late spring.
In our area it usually does not get below 10 c in winter and they did ok until a cold winter of 5 C wipe most of them out (seedling) so I would only try it again if I live in an area where winter temp. did not fall below 15%+
So I now have placed them in a controlled Orchid house (were they presently are).

Cheerio
Ron