Deflasking Paphiopedilum rothschildianum

[Piper]

Hi Tim,

Even though I know little about flasking and even less about what roths like, I'll toss in my two cents (careful - you get what you pay for!)

Sphagnum moss actually has natural antibiotic properties that minimize bacterial and fungal problems. I've never heard of the need to sterilize it, and in fact nuking it may well neutralize its antibiotic ability. Don't know. Use New Zealand sphag - it's the very best (although I'm sure Australian sphag is lovely too) and the plants can tell the difference. Must be the accent...

As for speedy growth, it's got to be about making the plants as happy as possible. This is not, 'if a little is good, a lot is better.' I love sunlight (particulary as I wait for 4 feet of snow to melt!), but I wouldn't want 24 hours of it every day. Too much sun will stress the seedlings and slow their growth. Same for heat, water, fertilizer, etc. There's a 'best' amount for each factor and too much or too little will slow growth. The trick is finding what the best amount is.

Oh well, that's the limit (and then some) of my knowledge on this thread. Alls I can say is, I admire your patience! I possess none of it! Good luck!

Julie

[bench72]

Ok, I've done it. The plants are out of the bottle!

1. Louis, I didn't use the sugar solution. The remaining sugar went into the coffee... it is a necessity otherwise, I can be, well let's just say, it would not be a good look if I am deprived of coffee.

2. Julie, Ozzie sphag is the best!!! hehehe... I didn't know about the anti-fungal quality of it though, so I thought I'd best nuke it to sterilise it. As it is, I didn't end up using it because I wanted to keep the mix simple. Although I had to use some perlite (soaked in boiled water, I didn't know if I could nuke it) to raise the level of the media in the pot.

3. Compotted plants have gone into the study... the temperature there is more constant.

Pictures and process in website. Fingers crossed they don't all die overnight...

Cheers
Tim

[LJA]

The little compot looks good, Tim!

Keep a close eye for damp-off, given the plastic bag covering.

Here's wishing lots of luck to the little guys--nice going!

(Link to Tim's website again, so you don't have to scroll to top: http://www.geocities.com/oz-tim/proth.html )

[Piper]

Cool journal, Tim! Good luck! Mack sure you post your first blooms for us in six years...

Julie

[bench72]

Hi Louis, Julie,


I've taken the plastic off this morning... I figure a week is long enuff... I'm not gonna molly cuddle these babies

A few of the bottom leaves are browning off, however, there seems to be new leaves forming so guess there's a trade off. Will post update on the website in a little while, ie after I get back from luncho... a boy has got to have a life... sorta...

cheers
tim
oh yeah, forgot... Julie, I hope it does take only six years... but everyday, I start to think that maybe it might take that eighteen years

[Piper]

Hey Tim,

With all that obsessive-compulsive love, how could they not want to grow for you in record-breaking time?

To quote some forgotten self-help book (I was more impressed with the quote than the book...a friend insisted I read it), "If at times we weren't challenged to believe in the extremely unlikely, then faith wouldn't be faith - would it?"

So bro, keep the faith! You'll have happy little roth brats beating around your windowsills/grow-lights/green house in no time!

Julie