Phalaenopsis pollination

[barbaraD]

I have tried several times to pollinate some of my Phals, both self pollination and crossing. I know I am doing it correctly but nothing ever happens. I did read somewhere that mericlones are sterile and therefore cannot be pollinated. Is this correct? Heck many of the plants sold now days are mericlones. I have applied Keiki paste to some and have new plants forming but would really love to try getting a seed pod and home flasking. Any suggestions on what I might be doing wrong?

[orchidlady]

Most of the modern Phal hybrids don't breed well or at all because many of them are aneuploid-that is, they don't have the normal number of chromosomes. These modern hybrids are produced without regard for their chromosome count, so cannot reproduce by seed. It is unlikely that you are doing anything wrong. Mericloning itself doesn't make the plant sterile. The best thing is to get a plant that is known to be a good breeder and experiment with that.

Susan

[barbaraD]

I have to order all my plants online. Any suggestions on good companies to purchase from? Please PM per community rules.

[tcatl]

I love the look of tiny baby phals, so I got out my toothpick and played with crosses. The selfs did not work, all of them fell off. I have had 7 seed pods forming for a month or so now. Then last week a flower that I polinated before all the rest decided it was going to start forming a pod. All of these came out of large nurseries that supply chain stores, as far as online ordering...I am without a clue.