Unflasking Dendrophylax Lindenii - The Ghost Orchid

[Cjcorner]

After making sure everything was clean and sterile I broke my flask. Here are the pictures of the nerve wracking aftermath. I kept the largest and healthiest for my improvised terrarium grow area. Then I took a little ride to a local swampy area and found a couple suitable trees to put them on. I also put a couple in a couple places in my back yard that stays damp all the time. I even prayed over the little guys...lets hope they all take!

After breaking the flask I put everything in this soda bottle I had ready. As per my studies I put a drop of a rooting hormone, physan and my own addition; honey. I swirled everything around gently after removing the large pieces of glass and then left them to soak while I re-bleached my hands.



I've enlarged several pictures so you can see the tiny things. When I saw how many were floating I was thrilled. I expected 5-8 plantlets and instead found a couple dozen. There were also tiny ones floating in there I didn't count. You know I sent a thank you letter to this vendor!



I was advised to use several surfaces and on top of the suggested variety I added a new one of my own. I used a plastic netting type bag, filled it with moss and then sat a few of the smaller plantlets on top of the netting.



I felt that I wanted to try a twig with the moss growing on it since moss and ghost orchids seem to be found side by side growing in the wild.

[Cjcorner]

A few more up close pictures of the little things.







And their makeshift terrarium in phalaenopsis level light.

[Cjcorner]

I was already covered in sweat when I headed out for the swamp. Lets just say next time I wear boots. lol That was one huge bleeping snake! The arrow is pointing at the two tree trunks the ghost orchids were placed one. The huge oak has a rift running on one side and it made for the perfect nook to splash the rest of the tiny ones onto. I thought a few pics of the swamps beauty were called for as well...



The resurrection fern is looking amazing!



This tree used to be covered in Encyclia tampensis. A huge storm took half the tree down and now there are areas where there were huge clumps and all but a few remain. The section coming down is allowing too much sun to come in. Thankfully there are other trees in the area still nice and covered with them.

[Cjcorner]

One end, where the natural spring is at, is just mind boggling pretty. I love to go here and sit. The water lilies should be in bloom shortly...

[Cjcorner]

And lastly; a couple were placed on my trees out back. I'll be monitoring these and perhaps putting buckets of water nearby if it gets too dry.





I will update this post about every two weeks to a month. Hopefully at least a couple will make it. I think the biggest challenge is going to be keeping the snails off them.

[Katherine]

What an exciting enterprise! Best to your success!

[catasetum-ian]

sorry to hear about your flask, but on the other hand it seems like interesting journey is awaiting them in the swampy area! some of the plantlets seems healthy and big enough. keep us posted!
good luck!!

[zainal abidin]

What an interesting view on your backyard wow the ghost just pretty nice size and hoping the small seedlings that you attached will continuously to grow.

[Stan]

Will try to do the same, my husband already bought 2 flask of dendrophylax lindenii but no luck, they are very sensitive and dries out quickly.
Goodluck to your planlets and keep us posted.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Very nice, Connie. I look forward to the updates. I tried to grow Dendrophylax Lindenii, but it got too dry in my greenhouse. I hope you get these to grow and bloom.

cheers,
BD