Growing Calopogon tuberosus from seed
Login
User Name
Password   


Registration is FREE. Click to become a member of OrchidBoard community
(You're NOT logged in)

menu menu

Sponsor
Donate Now
and become
Forum Supporter.

Growing Calopogon tuberosus from seed
Many perks!
<...more...>


Sponsor
 

Google


Fauna Top Sites
LOG IN/REGISTER TO CLOSE THIS ADVERTISEMENT
  #1  
Old 08-15-2011, 04:46 PM
Linus_Cello Linus_Cello is offline
Jr. Member
 

Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 8
Growing Calopogon tuberosus from seed
Default Growing Calopogon tuberosus from seed

Greetings!
So my grass pink, Calopogon tuberosus, has a seed pod. What's the best way to grow this from seed? What should I look for to tell that the seed pod is mature? How long will I have to wait until after germination do the seedlinds becomes blooming size?
Thanks!

Last edited by Linus_Cello; 08-16-2011 at 10:42 AM..
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 08-16-2011, 01:14 AM
WhiteRabbit WhiteRabbit is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: May 2008
Zone: 9a
Location: Nor Cal
Posts: 26,634
Default

gl!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-26-2011, 10:16 AM
Royal Royal is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Jan 2008
Zone: 8a
Location: Piney Woods of East Texas
Age: 46
Posts: 3,253
Default

Hi Linus,

Growing orchid from seed is a tricky undertaking. The best way to grow them from seed is to have a laboratory prepare flasks for you. Check out Troy Meyers Conservatory. Good info there on harvesting seed as well. In perfect conditions, expect to be waiting at least 5 or 6 years to see a bloom. Longer if grown in less than optimal conditions.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-26-2011, 10:59 AM
Linus_Cello Linus_Cello is offline
Jr. Member
 

Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 8
Growing Calopogon tuberosus from seed
Default

Someone posted a link to the following on another forum. I'm going to try the dry spaghnum bog method.

Cyp. Haven: Calopogon Seed Germination

Calopogon Seed Germination

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"If you want to raise Calopogon from seed, collect the capsules before they split (around Sept 1). Surface sterilize the capsule, then remove the seed aseptically and sow on G&B mother flask medium IV or V prepared according to instructions. Some seeds will germinate immmediately but all will germinate if the flasks are chilled to 4-8C for about eight weeks. I keep the flasks in the dark but I believe that these seeds will germinate both in the dark and in the light. Don't sow too thickly otherwise the seedlings will be inseparable. Replating is not really necessary.

"Alternatively, you can collect mature seed and sow in a sphagnum bog. These orchids prefer the drier parts of the bog where tamarack and spruce can grow. If the seeds germinate and grow, you should have blooming plants in a couple of years." (The above was provided by Marilyn Light of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)

Calopogon tuberosus and Cpg. pallidus are very easy to germinate from dry seed so I have not done any of them green pod. (The hybrid between the two is named Cpg. Adventure.) They are one of the few hardy terrestrials which can be grown in flask much like their tropical cousins, but with a few exceptions. Just about any good culture media will do.

Once the seed is flasked, the flask can be placed as close as six inches away from florescent tubes to germinate. They like full sun and germinate without any trouble in lots of light. When they are about the size of a head of a pin, reflask them to about a half inch apart in a taller flask. They will grow their first leaf, which will be about an inch or so long, and sit there for the next 5 or 6 months, making up a little corm. Then, they will begin dyeing back, which is the indication that they now need a rest. Place them in a cool area for a week or so, then into a cold area of about 35 degrees Fahrenheit for about three months. This is their vernalization. After this period, bring out of the cooler and place again under bright light. They will immediately begin growing and should develop a three inch leaf or so. Again, they will sit there for 5-6 months making up their next years corm. When they begin to die back again, they can be removed and chilled or chilled in the bottle and removed after the vernalization.

The Calopogons are easy to grow in a mixture of sphagnum peat (Sunshine Peat) and sand (I use sandblasting sand, silica or flint), half and half. Plant in tall pots of at least 6 inches diameter, and plant a full diameter and a half deep. Keep plants moist to wet at all times, preferably with rain or distilled water. Keep in full sun for best growth and blooming.

The seedling corms can be spread out evenly, then covered to one and a half their diameter. The smaller ones are mixed with the soil mix then spread evenly and covered with another thin layer of soil.

For outside growing, in pots, they are allowed to get frosted off in the fall, then dug and cleaned of all debris. The old corms are removed and thrown away, since they will not grow again. The new corms are allowed to surface dry and any scaring to heal, dipped in a benomyl (or other fungicide) solution, again allowed to air dry, then placed in bags of wet sand and stored in the refrigerator over winter. Here (Iowa), in April they are again planted out.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 09-02-2011, 04:36 PM
Royal Royal is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Jan 2008
Zone: 8a
Location: Piney Woods of East Texas
Age: 46
Posts: 3,253
Default

Good luck!
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
calopogon, pod, seed, size, tuberosus, growing


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
What got you hooked growing orchids? Oscarman Beginner Discussion 137 08-22-2022 11:08 AM
How sick can orchid growing make us? Tropic Advanced Discussion 30 10-05-2013 03:03 PM
Zeer pot and growing Cyp hybrids Linus_Cello Cypripedium Alliance - others 3 08-17-2011 05:01 PM
Maria's Growing space....picture heavy! peeweelovesbooks Members' Displays 16 03-27-2011 05:29 PM
Cool growing species rescue : temperatures ? s.kallima Beginner Discussion 5 11-05-2008 11:40 AM

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:58 AM.

© 2007 OrchidBoard.com
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.37 (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Feedback Buttons provided by Advanced Post Thanks / Like (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.

Clubs vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.