Getting brave

[nanhug]

Hi,

I am new to this forum and it seems that a lot of you know a lot about orchids.

I would like to try my hand at raising them from seed just for the experience.

Anyone know how to get started and where a good place to get supplies would be?

Thanks,

Nancy

[mayres]

oh boy - you don't know what you are asking (I don't mean to be derogatory). Growing from seed is extremely difficult and requires a lab and extremely controlled environmental conditions. Seeds as fine as dust (there can be over a half million seeds in one mature orchid seed pod) are sewn in a sterile environment on agar with other media - in things such as glass flasks or in some cases jars. The best most users can do is to wait until the professionals have divided them in succeeding steps and moved them into other flasks called a community compote - where you get 25+ little plants - and even raising them from this stage is no small feat without the proper equipment. What some people will do is make a cross, mature the seed pod, and then ship this off to a prefessional to raise up to a maturity that can be handled by the originator. Here is a link to some additional comments - http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/582/71920 mike

[nanhug]

Thanks for the input. Don't think I am quite ready for that one yet. Do you know anything about cross cultivating? Can you cross one plant with another in same family and leave it intack and get a cross that way or do you have to go to seed?

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Not quite sure what you are asking. Why don't you buy a beginner book on orchids. Many explain the biology of orchids, and this may serve you much better than asking a number of random questions. Cynthia

[flaorchidfan]

i found it easier to start out with adult plants such as oncidiums and dendrobiums and get new plants by trimmings and seperating large plants first. This is not as hard as seeding but is still enjoyable and gives new plants to give to people and trade.

[jerrymeola]

If you are asking if you can vegetatively cross orchids by grafting or similar techniques the aswer is not currently. I have never heard of it being done. You can try to be the first.

[nanhug]

Hey Andrew, thanks for the input. I think I'll try your suggestion before I bite off more then I can chew.

Nancy