Very Easy Sterilisation Method - My Seedlings

[escualida]

Originally Posted by biofuel

After ten days I have 8 jars with bacterial contamination...
In two jars I dont see any signs of contamination. I don't know what I did wrong.
I have a suspicion:
Probably under the orchid seeds could be a bacterial spores, and Cl2 can't kill them, because a part of the surface seed coat didn't avaliable to sterilization agent.

That makes sense, I wonder if there's a way of getting under there...

[biofuel]

Epipactis helleborine have a bigger seeds than other orchids, so I think it's a cause.
Maybe first sterilization seeds in 70% ethanol could solve this problem.
I must try it in this weekend.

[omega_z]

interestibg method. are other types of sterilization agent can be used? such as alcohol, hydrogen peroxide? or it just the one which has volatile properties. thank you.
regards,
yanto

[roby]

only gaseous agents such as chlorine, can perform this type of sterilization

---------- Post added at 06:18 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:13 AM ----------

Originally Posted by biofuel

Epipactis helleborine have a bigger seeds than other orchids, so I think it's a cause.
Maybe first sterilization seeds in 70% ethanol could solve this problem.
I must try it in this weekend.

sowing with very few seeds, I think there are too many big pieces

[alaind52]

Hi Roby,
I am new in the "In vitro" sowing and I find the classical method a bit complicated. I have some jars ready for 3 weeks and, so, would like to try the way of sterilization you talked about. I have a solution of sodium hypochl. at 3,6% (12° Chl.). Do you think that the concentration is enough? What level of concentration do you use? Thanks a lot,

[Rinzo]

[Rinzo]

Just want to report that i had my first success using this method on the first try! ill post pictures along with details later on once the seedlings are a little more visible since i just was just able to see germination today 8/24/13.

[roby]

is an Auxin
1-Naphthaleneacetic acid - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Orchid Whisperer]

I am planning to flask some Cattleya seeds this week.

I have some jars ready that I plan to sew using more conventional methods, but I also want to try this method; I have some extra medium left over, and of course, plenty of seeds.

My medium is home-made, but a different recipe. Google "How to grow orchids from seeds - kitchen style", you will find it.

roby - thank you so much for posting this method!

[Orchid Whisperer]

The Cattleya alliance seeds (Cattlianthe Golden Wax) that I posted about earlier were sewn later, September 4, I think, but 4 of 6 flasks remain uncontaminated & germinated well (3 to 3.5 hours with the bleach fumes). The protocorms are now developing little leaf points.

I also tried 3 flasks of the same seeds using conventional sterilization and sewing methods, 2 failed quickly, the third germinated, but later developed contamination. Roby's method works much better , IMO.