Deflasking straight into LECA????

[orchidea]

I was wondering if anybody on this forum was able to deflask into LECA directly from the flask. I have seen seedlings growing in LECA but I am not sure if they were deflasked like that.
I am interested with deflasking Dens and Paphs.
I was thinking that it could be less chance for such small plants to catch bacteria or fungus. But I didn't find anyone suggesting LECA for deflasking in everything I have read so far.......
Thank you all as always.

[exasperatus2002]

I s/w ray once & he deflasks straight into leca. I have some deflasked Cattleya seedlings in leca now. Use a fine grade leca. Give it a good rinsing & 24 hr soak before putting them in it. Most importantly, as with any deflasked babies, watch them diligently for signs of damping off. Make sure you have enough humidity too.

[kmarch]

It might be ok to deflask Dendrobiums straight into LECA depending on what kind they are but I would not deflask paphs into leca. Paphs need gentle, even moisture around their roots and I believe LECA would let them dry out too much unless you kept them in a controlled environment where the humidity was high and were you watered frequently (as in daily or every other day).

What are your conditions?
Specifically what paphs and dens are you deflasking?

[Bolero]

Why don't you try one or two of each in LECA and see how that works first rather than doing them all?

[plucker]

I tried 3 flasks of phals and they worked well. I just used normal expanded clay pellets. They never got any special treatment.

[orchidea]

Originally Posted by kmarch

What are your conditions?
Specifically what paphs and dens are you deflasking?

I received my first flask today!!!!! It's Den antennatum x self (see picture). I will receive my other one next week. It's Paph appletonianum x self.
Oh boy, what was I thinking??????? Both are species. And the only two good reasons I have for doing that is:
1-the Spring is comming and they should get stronger before winter comes (if they do make it).
2-my itch for trying deflasking and see them grow (again, if they do make it).
As for my conditions, I bought a see-through storage bin that I will make into a mini GH for the first few weeks or couple of months. I bought a mini (4 shelf) GH as well. That is for the winter where they can go under lights.
Poor things got scrambled in the shipping, some leaves got broken... .
Any suggestion or advice anybody have will be grately appreciated!!!!!!!!!
I have read tons of information on deflasking, my had spins right now.

I will deflask tomorrow morning. Wish me luck..........

[tocarmar]

I haven't used straight leca for deflasking Paphs. When I deflask my Paphs, species or my hybrids I use Spaghnum Moss for the 1st 6 months +. When the seedlings get past the danger point (1st few months) then I can pot them in seedling bark mix. The Den seedlings should do well as long as humidity is high, good air movement, and bright light.

[Brooke]

You won't get damping off in LECA. Here is the Wiki link to explain it.
Damping off - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Orchidea broken leaves won't be a problem.

The quicker you can get them hardened off, the healthier they will be. Keeping them covered up with high humidity and no air movement creates a more hostile environment for a fungal/bacterial attack than fresh air and sunshine.

Have fun - Brooke

[Ray]

I deflask most plants directly into LECA under semi-hydroponic culture, and that certainly addresses the "even moisture" issue.

If they are in agar, I place the entire block on the LECA, and fill up around it to the level of the agar. As the agar dissolves with waterings, I just drop a few "pebbles" to fill in the voids, and eventually have a compot established in s/h culture.

Incidentally, I typically use a large pot (6.5" or even 8") filled about halfway with LECA, which serves two purposes: 1) by having the LECA be so shallow, it can wick uniformly right to the top, and 2) the free head space above the seedlings holds humidity around them, making it easier to harden them off. I put a piece of plastic wrap over the top at first, the leave it off for longer and longer periods over the next couple of weeks.

[RPfeiffer]

Ray's method sounds so easy! I purchased a flask and was deflasked by the seller at the time of shipping about a year or so ago and once they arrived I put them into a compot. For the heck of it I potted a couple into a s/h compot. Those in the s/h have struggled the most for me. I used a small plastic container to so that the moisture would wick to the top and kept the humidity high. I year later, I still have one plant left in the s/h compot....if that is what you want to call it. It has roots but the leaves continue to struggle for some reason?

[Ray]

Becca, what plants and under what conditions?

[RPfeiffer]

Hi Ray! It was a Laelia lundii flask/compot that I bought from Troy Meyer's. The s/h culture was just something I tried for the heck of it with a couple of them. I kept them in high humidity (70%) and sometimes higher under intermediate temps (highs in the 70) with good air circulation and medium light, nothing strong. I still have it, but due to moving it isn't in the high humidity currently. The roots look ok from what I can see, but it is the growths, and any new growths that are struggling. I'm just letting it do it's thing. I have a few other seedlings from the flask potted in a seedling bark mix that are doing great!

[Ray]

I think you're keeping them too cool, Becca. Laelia lundii normally sees nighttime lows in the upper-60's low 70's, with daytime temps considerably higher. Couple that with the increase evaporation from the LECA (and accompanying cooling) compared to bark, and you might be stressing them more than you realize.

[orchidea]

Thank you Ray,
Sorry I am interfering, but it was my post originally, so maybe it's OK......
I put my new deflasked den seedlings on the heating mat. It still getting into the low 60 at night in the house. So I keep them at about 70 min.
Ray would you please comment on my S/H deflasked seedlings in my thread - Deflasked!!! Please be my critics, I want to learn..
I would really apreciate if you could.
Thanks a lot.

[maria1971]

I deflask straight into fine grade LECA--for the catt alliance species though. My Eulophiella seedlings are in moss. The roots are too fine.

[zaeem]

Every suggestion followed and covered several5 catts and vandas in ziplock in a tray of fine grade mix of coconut chips,charcoal and styraform peanuts bits,unfortunately all died no air or least air within a weak.

NOW i have several in community tray with same mix no sun light but in shade.awaiting result.temp 85 f humidity 50%,just may be ok spray lightly daily.Is this ok?Thanks
regards
zaeem

[zaeem]

my babies are vanda two tone
V.taveesuksee + v.Pimchai

I attach photos here thanks.
zaeem