My seedling experiment

[Kasiopea]

So I started my seedling fun today.
I have a bunch of Cattleya Violacea seedlings I deflsked about three weeks ago. They were all planted into a moss, bark mix. The lager seedlings with more bark the smaller babies more sphagnum. Today I decided to do a little experiment I mounted the larger seedlings that are showing some new root grows on different media. One on a Kool Log, some on bark, some on dry moss blocks and one in a pot with bark sphagnum mix. Thought it would be fun to follow the progress.

Also, any tips on surviving the little itty bitty babies are welcome. I have been fighting fungus and rot with them since the first day. Used peroxide at first and then to mist the container, yet fungus still popped up here and there. Switched to using Virkon S as recommended to me and no more fungus issue but am still loosing some babies to what it seems rot, I think I'm keeping them too wet at all times and they just go soggy on me. So I'm cutting down on the moisture at this point will see how it goes. There were about 40 of the tiny tiny ones. Now left with say 15. I guess it's the nature of things but I'd still like to save as many as I can.

I'm fertilizing every week and have a small amount of nutrients in the water I use to spray them. Also added a bit of KLN to the mix to promote root growth.
Will keep posted with updates.


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[Kasiopea]

So quick update, the babies seem to be more interested in growing new leaves then roots, many of them lost all roots yet spiking new leaves. I have added KLN to the fertilizer mix which works wonders with my adult plants for root growth but these buggers seem to be stubborn. I'll have to take more pics but anyone have any advise? I have been watering less for the winter, not sure if this has anything to do with it. I was going to try the florist foam method as well see if that makes a difference.


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[NYCorchidman]

Wish you best luck!
Watching seedlings develop is a lot of fun and very rewarding.

[WhiteRabbit]

I can't keep tiny seedlings alive for long, so I can't offer any advice, sorry - I hope you have much better luck! Your likely more humid climate will probably be helpful

[Helene]

Hope everything is fine with your seedlings, and that they start to make roots aswell as leaves.

Is it the temperature? How high is it? Read something about high temperature makes them wanna grow leaves- but maybe it depends on what specie it is.

Would love to see more pictures, to see how much seedlings grow in two-three months☺️

[Silje]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

I can't keep tiny seedlings alive for long, so I can't offer any advice, sorry - I hope you have much better luck! Your likely more humid climate will probably be helpful

Me neither. I can seed them and get the seedlings up to a decent size, with roots and nice leaves, in a flask, but once they're out of there...they have a tendency to wilt away within a few weeks.

I suspect I fiddle too much with them and that they'd be happier without my interference. This will be my approach for next attempt. I think it's fun to flask to I have a steady supply of test bunnies, but up to now I've not managed to grow one of my own seedlings up to a decent (or anywhere near flowering) size.

But that's also why I love these threads because they're inspirational and motivating.