I'm thinking of creating another Weed Orchid

[voyager]

I've posted in other threads about my "weed orchids", the self seeding Arundinas, Vandas, Epidendrums, Phaius', Spathoglottis', and maybe some others I don't recall right now, that are growing "wildly" in my yard.
I am about to try to get another "weed orchid" established.

In my previous thread about my orchid purchases from the greenhouse going out of business, one of the orchids I bought was a Dendrobium 'Samurai' a primary hybrid cross between D. antennatum and D. stratiotes.


It had a seedpod on it that ripened and broadcast its seed.
It has now produced 2 more seed pods.



When they begin to split, I'll spread them around on my trees and see what they can do.
Any suggestions as to the best way to accomplish this, or just start smearing them on the trees in likely locations?

And, if I'm completely honest, this post is also partly instigated by my getting a new camera and taking photos of my orchids while trying and testing it out.
Where else can I show orchid photos and expect them to be appreciated?

[Jade]

your orchid is amazing! I knew that den. stratiotes is frequently used in breedings but, onestly I love this orchid and it deserves to be in every collection.
You can show your pics on flickr, I think that the second photo is pretty nice. Beautiful colors, and good bokeh.

[RJSquirrel]

a very old technique which was used before in vitro, use the symbiotic fungus which is growing on/in the roots of the adult orchid (which produced the capsule). The seeds are sown very close to the roots and are kept moist to start germination.
The number of seedlings is limited because many protocorms and seedlings will get killed by pests and fungi.

smearing the seeds on the trees will not provide the symbiotic fungus the orchid seeds need for food. The fungus give the seed food and sugar until they are able to provide for themselves.

[dendro king]

What worked for me was spreading the seed around a mother plants roots and keeping it very moist all the time

[RJSquirrel]

well see theres it actually works and you got lots of babies out of that packet

[voyager]

I went to the farmer's market this morning for fruit and produce, ... and an orchid fix.

Much to my surprise there were very few orchid pushers.
I saw nothing that stopped my twitching.
So, I decided to check out what was going on at the greenhouse that's shutting down.
He's still selling off orchids.
He has a lot less, but still has a lot of them.
And, his pricing has dropped even more.

After a quick scan through the greenhouses I grabbed 4 more orchids, one of which is another Den. 'Samurai' specifically to be mounted in a tree.

I need instant gratification.
I cannot wait for the seeds to grow new blooming size plants.
I'll still try spreading the seed when the pods open, though.

[Optimist]

Who knows, the symbiotic fungus may be floating around in the air. Obviously the wild orchids get enough of it to grow. I think only when in a sterile lab do you need to bring medium in.

Its like when I wondered where exactly this nitrifying bacteria was that I needed to cycle my fish tank. In the air. Where is the yeast you need to get sourdough starter cooking? In the air.

[voyager]

Originally Posted by Optimist

Who knows, the symbiotic fungus may be floating around in the air. Obviously the wild orchids get enough of it to grow. I think only when in a sterile lab do you need to bring medium in.

Its like when I wondered where exactly this nitrifying bacteria was that I needed to cycle my fish tank. In the air. Where is the yeast you need to get sourdough starter cooking? In the air.

My thoughts exactly.
Being as I already have self seeding orchids running wild around the lot, there is no doubt that the conditions needed already exist here. The only need is to get the seeds to the locations where the helper fungi is already established.
I figure that by spreading it around in many different locations, I'll hit the lottery somewhere along the line sooner or later. From the way the Vandas are propagating all over the place here, I think it'll be sooner than later.

The new D. 'Samurai" is in.


It is about 15' off the ground.
That should give it a good chance to spread seed around after it forms pods.

PLUS:
My Ascda. Muang Thong yard orchid has an inflorescence well started. It has a smaller saucer shaped white flower with a small purplish lip, very pretty blossoms.

[Optimist]

Amazing!

[voyager]

About a week & a half ago, I split my original Den. Samurai [pics earlier in this thread] into 3 portions and mounted them in 3 separate trees.
The portion with the cane that has the 2 seed pods on it is in a tree out along-side the street. I mounted it so high up in that tree that I had to pull my Dakota down next to it so I could set the ladder up in its bed to get as high as I wanted to go.
When those pods finally split more height will let the seed spread farther.
I'm pretty sure I've now created another new invasive weed.