Beginners choices

[basalt]

Ok, so I'm barely experienced in orchid growing and I'm trying to fly before I can even walk but I quite fancy giving seed culture ago.

On the plus side, I've 20 years sterile technique under my belt and access to proper autoclaves and sterile hoods. Never done plant culture before but I used to culture mushrooms.

I've two orchids in flower at the mo - Pleione formosana & Pleione Tongariro.

Question is, which one to try? I figured on self crossing for simplicity and presumably the formosana would breed true. The tongariro being hybrids I guess will produce variation in the next generation.

Any reason not to self the the tongariro? and will the effort of making seed have much impact on the growth of the plant for next year?

Though it'll be months before the pod's ready, what's a sensible number of flasks to start with?

cheers
Basalt

[kmarch]

What's the goal of your breeding? If it is to just gain experience, it really doesn't matter. If it is to achieve certain colour, form, or floriferousness, goals then it might matter. With Pleione, you're not going to get a lot of variation, even in the hybrids. Little Pleione hybridizing has been done and even the different Pleione species look quite a bit alike.

[basalt]

Good point, I just want the challenge of suceeding - though I doubt I will on a first attempt. I figure the albeit slight variation from selfing a hybrid pleione just adds a little more interest - or might do five years down the line when the offspring flower.

[orchids4me]

Good Luck with your project !