Looking for seed to sow - Orchid Board

Afid · #1 01-24-2020, 06:15 PM

I recently built a laminar flow hood (it technically isn't quite finished yet but I will probably finish it tomorrow) . But I am currently lacking any seed to sow. I was wondering if anyone had any seed to spare that they weren't going to use. It doesn't matter species or hybrid, I just want to get the hang of seed sowing. I would be happy to send some flasks back after germination but be aware that this is my first time flasking so expect little or no germination. Thanks!

neophyte · #2 01-25-2020, 05:15 PM

i don't have any seed (sorry :P ) but i just wanted to bump this thread in case any of the growers here with larger collections have any seed to spare. also, i don't know about state regulations for you, but maybe try collecting seeds over the summer or fall from native orchids in your region. of course, terrestrial orchids might have different medium preferences than traditional tropicals, so that's probably something to keep in mind.

Afid · #3 01-25-2020, 05:23 PM

Thanks! I am lucky enough to live on a 30 acre property with 8 species of wild orchid, some of which I hope to propagate at some point. I haven't looked at the regulations in great detail but I'm fairly certain it is ok to collect seed of my own property (although I will still collect as little as possible for obvious reasons).

neophyte · #4 01-25-2020, 05:27 PM

also, while online sellers (on Amazon, ebay, etc.) might be a bit sketchy, some definitely do have real seed (though some are obviously fake). Amazon definitely has some real ones, I think. some websites caution you against buying from sellers who say "100 seeds" because the idea is that the orchid seeds are too small to count individually but honestly any number above 50-100 is probably legitimate - it's probably not that exact number but somewhere close for sure.

---------- Post added at 05:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:26 PM ----------

Afid, you are lucky to have so many native orchids right on your property! i may have to move to Montana now...

Roberta · #5 01-26-2020, 05:12 PM

Afid -
Be patient. Now and then a flower gets "knocked up" either by self pollination or by the activity of insects or hummingbirds. Usually I just clip the pod because I don't see the point of making the plant support it when I'm not going to do anything with it. The next time I get one I'll let it ripen.

camille1585 · #6 01-27-2020, 01:46 AM

Anyone know if OSP still exists? I had gotten media (and seeds) from them years ago for a flasking project. They still have a website, but last updated in 2013...

OrchidSue · #7 02-01-2020, 04:34 PM

Afid, I have a Phalaenopsis mannii that bloomed last year and developed a seed pod. I have been growing my orchids inside under lights since the '80s and have never had a plant out of the blue develop a pod like this. I assume it got selfed somehow, but had 1-2 other plants also blooming at the time so am not completely certain. If you want the pod to experiment with I would be happy to send it to you-just PM me your address. I don't know how long it takes for pods to mature on P. mannii, but it has been on the plant since June 2019. Also don't know if there is any viable seed. Would be interesting to try and find out.

Susan