The Drunken Angel Project

[SurfDudeVb]

I am an experienced orchid keeper but have never delved into the world of pollinating, or flasking my own seeds. After seeing the success of others, on this forum and others, at not only getting flowers to pollinate, but getting viable seeds. I decided I would give it a go.

I just recently picked up some Tolumnias at the National Capitol Orchid Show, then also ordered some more later from the same grower. I decided I would delve into giving these a go since I like there small size and great flowers. Also if this works and I get them flasked, it's alot easier to keep 75-100 of these little guys.

So, 2 days ago on 11/5 I went ahead and attempted to pollinate my Tolumnia Genting Angel x Tolumnia Tequila Sunrise. I did this with the idea of calling the hybrid "Drunken Angel". I also then took the pollen from the Genting Angel, and did this backcross of Tequila Sunrise x Genting Angel, and thought to call this one "Saved Sinner". I only attempted to pollinate the bottom two flowers on each.

Today I went to check on my little project and it seems like it might have worked on one flower from each cross. One flower on each plant has folded it's little arms on the stigma inwards, almost like a venus fly trap would close. I believe this is what I am looking for correct?!?

Well, with my suspected success I pollinated 2 more flowers from each plant this afternoon. I hope to get some more closing flowers and hopefully get to move forward some more into the world of seed propagation and flasking...

[switchblade]

drunken angel lol. Interested to see the results

[Dendian]

Sounds like a neat cross.

The only hitch is that I can't find a Tolu Tequila Sunrise registered. If its one of those unregistered crosses you will have to wait until it is registered before you can register the children.

Anyway - sounds like you are on your way to parentage - by the time they are big enough to flower you may be able to register them

[1joyceh]

Your project sounds great!!
and, if you are sucessful, I want to be first on the list for babies!!
Love the names

[RebelCowgirl]

Oh I absolutly love the names and sign me up for babies also Lol

[SurfDudeVb]

I am very excited to be giving this a try and I'm sure if I get this all the way to the flasking point I will have plenty of extras.

Does anyone on here have an experience with pollinating Tolumnias, or any experience flasking them?

[TheBlazingAugust]

Sorry to rain on the parade, but you will only be able to register this as one hybrid. Regardless of the order, any hybrid that contains two specific grex can only be under one name. An example to clarify would be this: Someone registers a cross with the parents of 'Dog' and 'Cat' under the name 'Mayhem.' A while later, someone makes the cross 'Cat' x 'Dog.' This will still be called 'Mayhem.' A real orchid example would be Phalaenopsis Penang Girl, which is (violacea x venosa). If a person were to make the opposite cross, (venosa x violacea), it would still be Penang Girl. BUT!!! Don't let this stop you in your attempts at breeding, as making a reciprocal cross is a great idea and it gives you a wider range of progeny, which lets you better see the variability in a cross.

[SurfDudeVb]

That works fine for me... I guess with this first round of crosses I could see which seed comes out with more of the characteristics that I like and then cross back one of the offspring with the parent with the preferred characteristic to further bring it out. Is my thinking process correct in this?

[terra_australis]

Originally Posted by SurfDudeVb

That works fine for me... I guess with this first round of crosses I could see which seed comes out with more of the characteristics that I like and then cross back one of the offspring with the parent with the preferred characteristic to further bring it out. Is my thinking process correct in this?

As long as you can wait that long

[kmarch]

Have you sorted out the name and registration problems you mentioned in your other thread? Creating Crosses If not, unfortunately you're not going to be able to register any cross you make using Tequila Sunrise.

[SurfDudeVb]

The registering factor would be nice, but I really just wanna do this to see if I can.

News to update though, checked on the pollinated Genting Angel. The stigma has swollen closed on 2 of the 4 pollinated. The first one to start swelling the flower is starting to wilt and die already. After doing some reading on some Tolumnia species pod maturation dates, I think this pod process should only take about 3 months, that is the long estimate. I don't know if the hybrids grow with more vigor or will take longer, so I went with the longer so I don't get my hopes up.

[SurfDudeVb]

Well.... Sadly neither pollination worked on either plant.

Luckily, there was another round of blooms from both plants. I attempted to pollinate another flower from each plant today. As the rest of the blooms open I think I am going to try to pollinate them as well.

I am very excited and am eager to try to get this cross to pollinate. I am even more dedicated because when I made the first cross back on 11/5, I also did a self cross on a Tolumnia Pink Panther which has been succesful. The Pink Panther has developed a little green pod that is growing very quickly. I will post pictures tomorrow on my day off.

[1joyceh]

Congratulations on your Pink Panther!! sounds like it is a go
Drunken Angel will happen, just another try may do the trick!!
can't wait for the pictures !!

[SurfDudeVb]

Sadly, none of the Drunken Angel Project flowers were successful. I did have some luck however with some others. I have a Pink Panther self that is coming up on 2 months as a seed pod. I also have a Red Berry self done a few days ago, and also a Genting Orange mutated flower crossed with a Pretty N Pink mutated flower. I at least will get to try my hand at flasking some Tolumnias.

I also have one seed pod developing, I'm excited about, that isn't related in terms of being a Tolumnia cross. I took some pollen from one of the Red Berry Tolumnias which had one of the smallest flowers of the group I have, and pollinated a Vuyl. Fall in Love 'Mark's Passion'. This seed pod has been developing now for a week or so and is moving much more slowly than the Tolumnia pods.

[terra_australis]

Sorry to hear about the fail on the Drunken Angel project. Don't give up though!

[1joyceh]

It sounds like you certainly will get some experience flasking!! Even though Drunken Angel didn't take this time, by the time she does, you'll have the flasking down pat. Congratulations on your sucesses

[SurfDudeVb]

OK, well looks like I will have one more chance to make this happen. I have been wait patiently for this last set of buds to open on both plants. Timing has been a little off with the Genting Angel just opening its first bloom in the last batch, while I only have 2 more blooms opening on the Tequila Sunrise. I lost a few chances to do this cross when I transferred all of this plants over to there rock mount and lost a few buds. I will post some updates when I have some more.

[1joyceh]

good luck SurfDude!!!!!