My first orchid demise....

[patticake]

My first fatality...

My tiny Bletilla striata seedlings have disappeared

They were doing pretty well. I check them every day. Today when I checked, they were gone!

I looked closely, and could see tiny clear thread-like worms. REALLY tiny. I think they are from soil gnats. The gnats aren't harmful, but the larva are. I read that they will destroy very fine roots. The largest seedling was only about 1/8th of an inch. This has really frustrated me.

I'm really sorry, Ellen! I tried!

[pikevi]

I am sorry to hear about the loss, patticake.

I am sure next time they all will survive.

Good luck.

[patticake]

Originally Posted by pikevi

I am sorry to hear about the loss, patticake.

I am sure next time they all will survive.

Good luck.

Oh, I don't think so....Thank you for your support, but I know when I've met with defeat! I was trying to grow them as an experiment for Ellen. (several others were too) She was going to have some flasked, but wanted some folks to experiment with growing them at home. I made it quite a ways, considering that they're not supposed to be grown that way! I have grown Streptocarpus and African Violets from seed this way, but they grow faster and can keep ahead of the beasties! It was a great learning experience for me, and I thank Ellen for giving me the chance to try! I now know that I'll always send orchid seeds to someone for flasking!!!

[Brooke]

Sorry Patti about your seedling loss and it does sound like fungus gnat larvae had a good meal.

Next time you can combat them by bottom watering to keep the top dry, keeping a fine grit on the top of the mix or only watering with water that has a mosquito dunk in it. The mosquito dunk will kill the larvae.

If you can keep the top of your potting media dry, the adult fungus gnats will not reenter the media to lay their eggs. Also if you use the very fine coir for the media, fungus gnats will not enter it to lay eggs.

I hope you get another chance to try to grow the seeds again.

Brooke

[patticake]

Thanks, Brooke- They were bottom watered-wick method. I had a thread back a ways called planting ellens seeds. I don't know if I want to go there again...
Thanks for the info on the gnats, though. That's good stuff to know in the future!

[articuno75]

So sorry to hear about that. I was really pulling for them!

Dumb bugs.... I hate bugs.

[patticake]

Thanks, Jenny... And SORRY, Ellen...

[solay]

Patti, that's too bad. They were looking good and I wanted you to prove them wrong! You did kinda. They sprouted. I hope you try it again one day. So sorry.

[Jennifer]

Awww... sorry for your loss of the seedlings! I'm in the process of losing my first seedling too... we can go in the corner and eat ice cream and cry together. Waaaaa!

[patticake]

Originally Posted by Jennifer

Awww... sorry for your loss of the seedlings! I'm in the process of losing my first seedling too... we can go in the corner and eat ice cream and cry together. Waaaaa!

Cold Stone Creamery-Cake batter ice cream with chocolate chip cookie dough added, for me-A pint ought to do.

[Jennifer]

Originally Posted by patticake

Cold Stone Creamery-Cake batter ice cream with chocolate chip cookie dough added, for me-A pint ought to do.

That sounds absolutely sinful! Where do I sign?

[patticake]

Cold Stone Creamery, near us... They mix the icecream you want on frozen marble counter tops... It's the best!

[Jennifer]

Originally Posted by patticake

Cold Stone Creamery, near us... They mix the icecream you want on frozen marble counter tops... It's the best!

We have one near me as well. However, there's a reason why I've never been in there! I'm scared to go in and get hooked. Ben and Jerry's is bad enough.

[patticake]

I only go once in a while-maybe 2 times a year. It's really expensive, but so yummy!My waist line can't take more than that!

[Jirel]

Dang you people! We had a Cold Stone move in here and I had successfully resisted going in (despite having visited one in Michicgan) until now. I have guests comming over tonight, we may have to go there for desert.

[solay]

We have one too and we there a few weeks back. Yes it is pricey but yummy. I'm into strawberry so everything strawberry for me. Plus a load of whipped cream of course. My waistline was gone years ago so what the heck. More please!!!

[patticake]

Ha-Ha! I still say the cake-batter ice cream w/ chocolate chip cookie dough mixed in. It reminds me of baking with my mom... Ultimate comfort food!

[patlee]

We have a Cold Stone just around the corner. I have never even tried it--they seem so expensive and a couple of trips there could get me a new orchid. Are they really any different than any other ice cream store?

[patticake]

Oh, yea....I mean you can get vanilla, but what's the point? (besides it being from an orchid!) You choose the flavor you want, and the mix-ins and they smush it all together on the frozen counter and then pack it. I'm not an ice cream fan, period. Except for their
cake batter ice cream......

I think I'm licking the beaters!!!

[solay]

Pat, you can try it just once and see. I think the draw really is that you can add what ever you want to it to make it your own. i don't really go there much either but once in a while it's goooood. Eating out of a carton from your freezer is not as enjoyable as going to a ice cream shop and savoring the moment. Now I'm drooling.

[Jennifer]

Alright, you guys gotta stop! I'm sitting here on my lunch break, trying to be a good girl at eat my bowl of leaves and all I see is this jibber jabber about my one true weakness!!! To Coldstone with me... I can take it no longer!