Orchid Care OrchidTalk Orchid Forum Links Nursery

Welcome to OrchidTalk Orchid Forums


The Friendliest Orchid Community on the Internet!


  •  » Learn to Repot your Orchids
  •  » Learn Orchid Care Tips and Secrets
  •  » Find the perfect Orchid for your Growing Environment
  •  » Chat with Orchid Growing Professionals

OrchidTalk - "Bringing People Together to Grow Orchids Better!"


Let us help you grow your Orchids better; Join our community today.


YES! I want to register an account for free right now!


Register or Login now to remove this advertisement.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 20

Thread: Brassavola cucullata - compotting a flask...

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Buhl Idaho
    Posts
    928

    Default Brassavola cucullata - compotting a flask...

    This is my first attempt at comotting plants from flask. It came from a well respected flasking service and he, as I understand is the norm, sent it already deflasked. What a stupendous service at an ASTOUNDING price. I have discovered that if you are not FAST at responding to emails you most likely will not get the flask you so crave, especially in paphs!!!.

    This is how the plants are sent to you: deflasked and in an inflated twirly bag. It looks like they traveled well in this way. Certainly much better than tumbled and tossed in a large glass or plastic container. It also gives him the opportunity to reduce the cost by dividing up the spoils and on shipping.

    OK all you experts, how many are in there?
    Attached Images Attached Images  

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Buhl Idaho
    Posts
    928

    Default The set up

    Here are some of the things I used to accomplish the task. The colander has the sphag in it waiting to be wetted. There is a bowl of RO water and some special fertilizer I got for cuttings. I put it in the water at about 1/2 strength with the measuring spoons.

    On the left is the bowl I plan on using to do the compot. At this point I am wondering if it will be big enough considering the mass of plants in the bag!

    A couple of things added once I got started was a chop stick, a pair of plastic tweezers and some sharp, pointy bonsai shears.
    Attached Images Attached Images  

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Buhl Idaho
    Posts
    928

    Default HOLY MOLY!!!!

    Now I am SERIOUSLY considering where I am going to put all these babies! I was promised a quantity of at least 25 plants: 1... 2... 3... oh forget it.

    First as they were uncerimoniously dumped into the bowl.

    Second after some gentle teasing and separating.

    Any clues on quantity yet?
    Attached Images Attached Images   

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Buhl Idaho
    Posts
    928

    Default Let the sorting begin...

    Here is how I sorted the plants, at least a little bit. I got a tray and lined it with a paper towel and then wetted the towel to keep the roots humid while working with them. Oh, the colander is in the sink with the sphag soaking now.

    Yup, it is ready!
    Attached Images Attached Images  

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Buhl Idaho
    Posts
    928

    Default PAY DIRT!!

    Here are the first TWO compot that I put together. I totally forgot to count as I was placing them. I was working as fast as I could. I was not sure how dense to place them. I did not want to under do it and I did not want to crowd them either. Some of the plants were pretty well developed both above and below the crown. One even had a leaf well enough developed that I could easily see the crease down the center of the leaft!!!

    Did I mention there are a LOT of plants? There are at least thirty in each of these dishes.
    Attached Images Attached Images   

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Buhl Idaho
    Posts
    928

    Default What to do with the chaff...

    I did not know what to call it, so chaff will have to do. I was NOT going to give up on them. I could still see decent leaves and roots in there.
    Attached Images Attached Images  

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Buhl Idaho
    Posts
    928

    Default

    Pot the suckers up!!! I used a slightly thinner layer of sphag, placed the plants and then lightly covered them with a layer of sphag dust. I then did a fairly aggressive spray down to wet the dust and to rince it off of the little darlings.

    What do you think? Is there a chance some will make it?

    Oh, and a little vented lid to help keep them a little more humid for a short while, a week or two maybe? Then it is out into the cold, dry world with them,
    Attached Images Attached Images   

  8. #8
    Real Name
    Rebecca Luce
    My Grow Area
    Windowsill
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Cattleya!!
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    1,793
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Wow! I think you did a fantastic job.

    When I was in college, we had an orchid club, and frequently we would deflask the university's lab orchids and put them into compots, and this is exactly the way we did it! I think that increasing humidity for them is important; we always put about 5 of them into "coke bottle" terrariums until they were large enough to survive on their own. Most of them made it, but some didn't- I think it just depends on the strength of the individual plant and how the seed developed. Deflasked orchids/compotting is an amazing feat; you have all these orchid babies to care for! I remember I would visit the greenhouse everyday just to talk to them ;-) Just watch them carefully for any signs of rot, and keep the air moving- I think you've got it down! Excellent job, and good luck!!

    ~Becky

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Buhl Idaho
    Posts
    928

    Default

    I plan on spraying them down with phytan for their first spraying. I forgot to put it in the soak and sphag water.

  10. #10
    My Grow Area
    Windowsill
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Phals, Vandas, Catts, Paphs
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    South West London
    Posts
    1,318
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Wow Steven, you are going to have fun keeping an eye on them. Are you planning on opening a nursery i your future?

Similar Threads

  1. Brassavola (flagellaris x cucullata)
    By lienluu in forum Cattleyas, Vandas, Dendrobiums IN BLOOM
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: August 31st, 2008, 05:54 PM
  2. my Max cucullata
    By pavel in forum Orchids of Other Genera IN BLOOM
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: July 22nd, 2008, 03:54 PM
  3. Maxillaria cucullata
    By Ron-NY in forum Orchids of Other Genera IN BLOOM
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: July 5th, 2008, 10:39 PM
  4. Compotting Brassavola cuculatta
    By admin in forum Orchid Forum Articles
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: May 22nd, 2007, 07:14 PM
  5. Brassavola cucullata
    By prem in forum Photography Archive 1
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: March 18th, 2006, 02:01 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
OrchidTalk --An Orchid Growers Discussion Forum brought to you by River Valley Orchidworks. A World Community where orchid beginners and experts talk about orchids and share tips on their care, cultivation, and propagation.