Pod split

I checked these pods yesterday morning and they were fine, but by 3:00 they had both split open. (It was a very hot day.) Have I contaminated the seed? I cut the pods off the plant and have them in a tissue (sealed up) hoping they'll dry. Is that the correct thing to do?

Aerangis citrata

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Hi Sadie,

It is possible to have airborne mold spores or other contaminants latch on to the chaff ( even in a window of a couple of hours).
Some growers/breeders prefer "green pods" over "popped pods" because mold spores cannot penetrate the seed pod and this is it easier to keep the seed batch sterile.

A popped pod is not hopeless though, you can still sterilize it to eliminate any potential mold/contaminants.

However, there is also that rare (but potentially troublesome) possibility that a stray orchid seed from another plant has latched onto the chaff of the open pod. This could get mixed into your seed batch and have a duck mixed in with the swans.

Good luck with it.

Cheers,
BD

I have read to clip a coffee filter over the pod in case this happens .. Gin

seeds can be steriliized with a diluted bleach. If i remember correctly 10% bleach for 5 to 10 mins.

I did that before and my seeds turned from brown to yellow, though someone here said it was normal. (my purchased paph seeds failed to germinate though...)

I think it is 5% bleach with a drop of soap in a small vile shake for 10 minutes let settle then remove the bleach solution add distilled boiled water shake then repete again .I read this on the internet. might of been here Gin