experimenting with flasking media

[catasetum-ian]

additional pics.....
also additional questions,
1. anyone had tried successfully with flasking without prior sterilizing the seed?
2. again anyone had used seed pods that are still green and successfully germinated them?
3. anyone knows usually how long does catasetums seed takes to germinate?
sorry so many questions....hehehehe

[Robert]

additional pics.....
also additional questions,
1. anyone had tried successfully with flasking without prior sterilizing the seed?
2. again anyone had used seed pods that are still green and successfully germinated them?
3. anyone knows usually how long does catasetums seed takes to germinate?
sorry so many questions....hehehehe

Hi Ian,
1/ripe and opened pods with seeds exposed to the air need to be sterilise.
2/pods that had truned slightly yellowish brown, before it breaks open, it's time to harvest. The pods need to be clean off dead parts, scrub and cleaned with detergent. lastly dip in ethanol and burn to kill remaining minute living contaiminants. Inside the sterile chamber cut open the pods using a sterilised blade and introduced the seeds into the sterilised flasks. Any tools for cutting and picking seeds must be sterilsed ie dip in ethanol and burn. Transfer of seeds must be done in sterile chamber.
3/ i have no experience germinating catasetums yet.

[catasetum-ian]

Hi Ian,
1/ripe and opened pods with seeds exposed to the air need to be sterilise.
2/pods that had truned slightly yellowish brown, before it breaks open, it's time to harvest. The pods need to be clean off dead parts, scrub and cleaned with detergent. lastly dip in ethanol and burn to kill remaining minute living contaiminants. Inside the sterile chamber cut open the pods using a sterilised blade and introduced the seeds into the sterilised flasks. Any tools for cutting and picking seeds must be sterilsed ie dip in ethanol and burn. Transfer of seeds must be done in sterile chamber.
3/ i have no experience germinating catasetums yet.

thanks for the tips, so far i managed to sow them, it has been 89days post sowing. so far no sign of germination and also not contamination yet.
i just did the sterilization of the external seed pod and then did the sowing in a sterile chamber.
and in addition, i managed to find a website saying catasetum seed might take about 2 to 9 months to germinate. i am still keeping my finger cross. hopefully one day i would have the chance of posting the pic of the emerging green Gremlins