Baby orchid in a flask (?)
 

I have a new baby orchid in a small flask with a dark medium at the bottom. It is a singular orchid inside, so not sure "flask" is the correct word. I know that I shouldn't let it out for about 3 to 5 months when it reaches the top of the "flask" and the medium has settled to flat at the bottom.

Don't know if it needs light or not though, and what temps I should keep it at, among other things. It's Encyclia tampiense, of I got the spelling correct, lol... My apologies if I did not.


Paul McMahon
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Paul

The medium is called agar- it's what most captive orchids spend their first few months of life in. I am not well schooled in that particular specie. But if it looks like it's small, fragile, etc... I'd leave it in for a few months and let it acclimate to your conditions. Flasks should be kept shady, humid and warm. Most orchid babies do not like to dip below 70 degrees. In it's flask it will be protected from pathogens and pests, assuming the flask has not been opened.

A picture would help. That is odd to find a single plant in flask. Not very cost effective to do...

Well first off congratulations on your new baby.

It is not unusual to have a single seedling in a vessel/flask; this is done for several reasons, first is it gives the seedling a good opportunity of survival by way of no competition. Second it can stay in the replate vessel/flask until it about reaches the top. By that time it should have enough roots to help it survive when it is finally potted. The cost should be somewhat higher to purchase a single seedling this way; simply because the more times you replate them the labor and chemical and other materials add up.

I would keep it in a temperature range 23 C/73.4 Deg and a 16 hour photo period under just standard 2 bulb 40 watt fluorescent light about 30 cm/11.81 inches above the replate flask; and hope for the best.

Just a note; when you are picking up or handling the vessel/flask, do not disturb the stopper or seal; the end result of this is a polluted product.

If you go to the Social Group then to Flasking ect……… you can see some photos that I posted that shows some growth racks.