First phrag flask-kovachii update

[cnycharles]

It’s been two years since I bit the bullet and bought a flask of kovachii from Chuck Acker. There was govt stimulus money burning a hole in my pocket and was bored with quarantine life so said ‘why not?’

Here’s link to my initial compotting thread here
https://www.slippertalk.com/threads/first-phrag-flask.51086/
It’s been two years and much to my surprise only one seedling died and they look great! I still had them in the compot with the high domes, but the leaves had pushed the domes off the base so they were getting air underneath. I was leery of doing something more, since my previous attempts at potting and growing wasabi in modified hydroponic system failed, due to inattention and life distraction. It’s likely I would’ve needed to remove them even sooner, as after a year the growth had stalled/yellowing from too high light and exhaustion of the organic slow release fertilizer. Adjusting light position and reapplying the fertilizer corrected the situation and they continued growing and looking happy. I periodically used inocucor, kelp max and rays quantum probiotic, and almost always RO water at the base, sometimes poured through the top, usually keeping reservoir at 1/2 to 1”. Occasionally reservoir emptying.

 

[cnycharles]

Above pics just prior to removing two seedlings for donation to cnyos June auction. The leaves lifted the domes off, busting out and saying ‘get me outta here!’

I credit the great growth to Chuck Acker’s excellent breeding and flasking, and the probiotics and rooting assistants also had dramatic impact. I’ve also used them on veggie seedlings at work and very healthy plants. I mixed up some and dipped these before sending some to cnyos; I still have to pot up into larger pots though the domes are off and leaves stretching forth!

Any suggestions for potting up, media and culture greatly appreciated!

 

[Theodoreorchidking]

Congratulations!!! It is amazing how slowly they grow: me looking at the seedlings like are you going to bloom anytime soon lol. I use small orchiata 50%, pumis 45%, oister shells 5% and some small gordans gow cubes rock wool. I'm not sure if this is the best mix and I'm by no means an expert. I unpoted it and it is growing new roots so im not sure. It would be interested to do an experiment and do multiple mixes and report back to tell what you found out. Good luck

 

[NYEric]

Nice. Orchids Limited was using Grodan cubes, course perlite, and oyster shell. Save one for me.

 

[Ozpaph]

they look great

 

[Djthomp28]

Looking good. You are clearly doing an amazing job with these!

This post is making me want to try a flask again. For now I will sit on my hands... and wallet.

 

[Theodoreorchidking]

It’s been two years since I bit the bullet and bought a flask of kovachii from Chuck Acker. There was govt stimulus money burning a hole in my pocket and was bored with quarantine life so said ‘why not?’

Here’s link to my initial compotting thread here
https://www.slippertalk.com/threads/first-phrag-flask.51086/
It’s been two years and much to my surprise only one seedling died and they look great! I still had them in the compot with the high domes, but the leaves had pushed the domes off the base so they were getting air underneath. I was leery of doing something more, since my previous attempts at potting and growing wasabi in modified hydroponic system failed, due to inattention and life distraction. It’s likely I would’ve needed to remove them even sooner, as after a year the growth had stalled/yellowing from too high light and exhaustion of the organic slow release fertilizer. Adjusting light position and reapplying the fertilizer corrected the situation and they continued growing and looking happy. I periodically used inocucor, kelp max and rays quantum probiotic, and almost always RO water at the base, sometimes poured through the top, usually keeping reservoir at 1/2 to 1”. Occasionally reservoir emptying.

How are these doing

 

[cnycharles]

Not long after my last post, I gave 3 to the Syracuse orchid club for their auction. I ended up neglecting them, mostly not giving fertilizer, and they lost a lot of leaves. Last month I finally repotted and have them in a little ebb/flood setup, but still need to set up a shelf unit enclosed with mist and a little fan. I used ray’s suggestion of 2/3 Leca and 1/3 little rockwool cubes. Things slipped in recent times, odd health things, rents jumping and family things, lots of distraction in the world . Hopefully they reset and improve! One thing I’ve discovered is they don’t mind sitting in water for a long time. They stayed in my bedroom during summer where I have air conditioning so it never got too hot. I should check up north and see how the auctioned ones are doing
I heard maybe here, someone commenting that their plant liked it sopping wet; from what I saw with these, that follows. Also, from the strength of these, if anyone had a thought to buy flasks from Chuck Acker, I would definitely go for it; they were very high quality