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Thread: 1st flasks - are these OK?

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  1. #1

    Default 1st flasks - are these OK?

    I am wondering if these flasks are going to need immediate attention (my present assumption) after shipping. The media in the first is completely soggy, as if it was heated enough to become goopy & soggy with a lot of loose liquid in the bottom of the flask. The second has much larger plants in what appears to be a secondary media. It has also sagged apparently and they are quite disorganized. The third seems to have fared OK, and I can actually see how they intended the flask to be, with a basal pour and then a slant up from there. It looks nice.

    I am really sorry for the crash course request. I have a lot of experience working with plants in sterile culture doing mycorrhizal research, but I wasn't expecting to have to take immediate action with these. Also, doesn't it take a LOT of heat to re-liquidize agar? What percent might this be so I can look it up? I'm thinking at least 60C off the top of my head. I can get better pics with my other camera, but do these look cooked? I might have some Murishige skoog in the lab or could get some in a few days.... or can some of these be put into compots?

    Neofinetia falcata coerulea Dong Chon Hong x self
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    Paraphalaenopsis labukensis 'Baldan' AM/AOS x self
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  2. #2
    Real Name
    Murray
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    Default

    yes they need seeing to right away.They have not been heated ,just shaken about

  3. #3

    Default

    Thanks! That is a relief.

  4. #4
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    Bruce Brown
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    looks like they can be potted up now.

    Cheers,
    BD

  5. #5
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    Default

    The flasks I have gotten always look like they were shaken up. I don't let them sit for long without putting them in compots. Yours look like they are ready too.

  6. #6

    Default

    Thanks everyone for the help. They went into the compots last night - I tried to follow the Paph instructions online and left as much agar intact as possible. They say that it helps establishment, and I figure once I get them hardened off and at <70 humidity there should be no problem with contamination. Currently they are in inverted ziplock tents and I will be removing those gradually. It was not as tidy a process as I would have liked because of how small and jumbled up the Neofinetia was, but hopefull they will be OK. If anyone wants to see I can post pics tonight.

    My seeds came last night too

  7. #7
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    Default

    Ooh, pics would be cool - nowhere near flasking myself, but still fascinating to watch others!

  8. #8
    Real Name
    Richard
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    I'd love a pic too, always wondered how to transfer them little ones.

  9. #9

    Default

    After reading up on several methods I chose this one because of three factors: 1) It is easiest, 2) It is supposed to actually help establishment and help save immatures, & 3) I don't have (and somewhat despise) fungicides around. As far as #1 goes, other than having to actually break two of the flasks, it was as easy as it gets. Far easier than normal transplanting for example. That being said, I probably didn't do that great of a job.

    The tents are off now for ~1 hour or until any signs of wilting. They will come off for 2 hours total tomorrow etc. They are on the floor in a room with a skylight and a large northeastern window (more on that in my next thread) out of all direct light for now.

    Comments (good or bad) are welcome!

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    Psych.
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    Neof. - These seem a bit messed up still, but I didn't want to poke at them anymore because they are very delicate right now.
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  10. #10
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    Richard
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    I think you did a pretty good job mycologist, I wouldn't have done it any better.

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