flasking Cattleya

[kaiha]

I would like to try and flask a couple of different types of Cattleya. This will be my first attempt, I have an old 30 gal fish tank I will use for a glove box, I have my seed and media on order. I have a pressure cooker, jars, and bleach.

I was wondering, what part of growing the seed in flask is harder, the mother flask, or replating.

Thanks Barb

[aussieorchid]

Depending on what type of seed you are using i.e. green pod or seed pods that have opened will depend on how difficult it is. If the pods are closed the seed is already sterile if opened you will have to sterilise the seed. I would say the mother flask is more difficult as you have to get everything sterile for this stage whereas the replating is just a matter of keeping everything sterile. Anyway give it try and see how you go you will have fun doing it and the more practice the better you will become at it.

[Djarum Black]

Hi Barb,

In my opinion, I don't think either are hard. However, I do think that replating is more stressful then the mother flask. When you start out, there is nothing really in the jars to see so if one or all the jars end up contaminated it is not so bad. You can just start over. However, when you actually have months worth of protcorms in jars the reflasking part might become pretty stressful to do correctly. For example, right now, I have C. maxima that needs reflasking but because the yield count was so low, I'm a little afraid to open the jar. There are only six little portocorms in there that germinated in 5 months worth of waiting on that jar. 5 Months is a long time to wait only to end up with nothing

I say tottally go for it though if you have the patience to practice and possibly try and try again because it can be a whole lot of fun too.

[newflasker]

Originally Posted by Djarum Black

Hi Barb,
......
However, when you actually have months worth of protcorms in jars the reflasking part might become pretty stressful to do correctly. For example, right now, I have C. maxima that needs reflasking but because the yield count was so low, I'm a little afraid to open the jar. There are only six little portocorms in there that germinated in 5 months worth of waiting on that jar. 5 Months is a long time to wait only to end up with nothing

I totally agree with you, DJ. You have only 5 protocorms and replating may got contaminate and 5 months of waiting is disappear in the air. So these are some tips:

- Try dry seeds instead of green seed. You can store dry seed to use later if you got contamination.

- Don't use all dry seeds at a time. Divide them into groups, wrap in paper and store in refrigerator; I store my seed in ref and after 8 months there are some good seeds.

- Use medium that is for sowing as well as maintenance (ex phytotech knudson modified C) so you can grow protocorms without replating ; when seedlings have enough roots you may try replating if medium are so bad. At that time, if you got contamination you can deflask and continue grow seedlings as normal plants. This strategy works for me. I got some contaminate flasks when replating and I can continue grow them. My 2 cents, Cheers.

[kaiha]

Thanks for the info.

I am going to try dry seed first, from OSP. as I have nothing flowering to save seeds from, like you said newflasker I can save the seeds and try again. I also ordered media from them, 1 for the mother flask and 1 for replating.

My biggest worry is keeping things sterile, to avoid contamination. Should I let the mother flasks sit for 5 days before sowing the seed to see if there will be contamination, or sow them after they cool down from the pressure cooker?

I am hoping to get set up on the weekend and start next week.

Thanks Barb

[newflasker]

Hi Barb,
You have a pressure cooker you are safe; however, it's better to wait for 7 days (not 5) especially you don't have a lot of seeds and you sow the first time. One more tip, punch or drill a tiny hole on the top (1-2 mm), cover by 2 bandages (cross). When you take the jar out of the cooker close the top right away. If you don't do that when you take the jars/bottles out of the pressure cooker and let them cool the contaminate air could enter. If you close the top when it's hot the jar will be under pressure. When you open for sowing it sucks the contaminate air in. Using a hole with 2 bandages cover reduce contamination as well as avoid under or over pressure inside of jars. Remember don't close the top too tight before cook it could break your jar. Gooood luuuccck.

[kaiha]

Maybe I will try the recipe that Dj used and then I could start this week and let them sit for the week, then I can use 2 different media's.