Protocomb

[Bob in Albany N.Y.]

I just can't get this threw my head. The title should read protocorms. Sorry about that.

This is something new to me. I unflasked 3 flasks of phals. from Big Leaf Orchids and all of them had 30 seedlings or more. This one had 30 and then these protocombs. I just laid them on top of some sphagnum moss and put them in my grow box where the humidity is usually around 92%. I figure, what do I have to lose. If all of them grew, which they won't I'd get another 20 seedlings. According from our friend in Africa (Gary) my biggest problem will be rot. I figured what the heck, give it a chance as it is only a 2 1/2 inch pot. Does anyone think any of them will survive?

 

[TyroneGenade]

Maybe this will be of some help: http://www.orchideenvermehrung.at/cgi-local/framebreaker/reload.pl?english/seed germination/bark/

 

[abax]

As you said Bob...what have you got to lose and it'll be fun watching what
happens. Phals. are amazing plants and one has to try hard to kill them.

 

[ALToronto]

I had a few protocorms as well in my two phal flasks. I deflasked 5 months ago, and most did not survive. I don't have such high humidity, so they dried up. The ones that are still alive are not growing, but not dying either. It's pretty cold here for phal seedlings, temps get down to 17 deg at night, so even the strong growers have slowed down. I plan to have heated shelves set up by the end of the month, so I hope they will pick up.

 

[Eric Muehlbauer]

Angela, I have no problem killing phals! They went from being the easiest orchid to grow and bloom when I started 30+ years ago, to plants I can't even keep alive now. Haven't had a live phal in over a year.

 

[NYEric]

Interesting. Thanks for all the info. Good Luck Bob.

 

[abax]

Eric M., are you sacrificing them to the orchid goddess so your Paphs. and
Phrags. thrive??!!! For shame...

 

[goldenrose]

Angela, I have no problem killing phals! They went from being the easiest orchid to grow and bloom when I started 30+ years ago, to plants I can't even keep alive now. Haven't had a live phal in over a year.

You're not alone Eric! I was figuring my night time lows of 50-55 was not to their liking, I'm hoping the warm grow room in my basement will be!

 

[eteson]

Sometimes I deflask plants about that size when the flask is contaminated.
I would say that my success rate in such case is about 20-30% but I trend to neglect the small seedlings so is not that bad . The Phals are much easier than other orchids so I think those would survive. Keep them with high humidity but keep the sphagnum in the dry side to avoid rot. Good luck!

 

[Trithor]

Run Forest, run!

 

[bigleaf]

Hi Bob -
Unless you can replate these, it's a waste of resources (time and moss) to keep them. A few customers who know how to do flasking had success to replate these. These are ones that turn a flask into multiple flasks.
I kept protocoms around for a long time in a humid greenhouse. Early on I just throw these in a compot and forget about them. I knew they stay green for a long time. But lately I just throw them away when I deflask.
Our situation is different. If you have time and want to experiment, you could see what/how fast they grow. But if an average 3 inch leaf span seedling would take 1-2 years to bloom, I cannot imagine adding 2 years to less than perfect environment (compared to replate).
Peter

 

[NYEric]

It''s not like the plants (protocorms) are going anywhere!

 

[Trithor]

It''s not like the plants (protocorms) are going anywhere!

:rollhappy:
Don't let them discourage you! You have got to give it a go, even if the chances are slim. I am looking forward to a thread in a few years which shows the results of a 'protocomb' flowering. This is like a 'Hobbit adventure', an epic quest!

 

[Bob in Albany N.Y.]

Peter, normally I would have tossed these too, however they came from
F1317 Phal (Yungho Princess Gelb 'HF' X Dragon Tree Eagle 'DT#1' AM/AOS. In my grow box I had just enough room to add that small pot so really am not giving up anything to give it the old college try. I thought with the 90 to 92% humidity most of the time and the 70 to 75 degree day temp. I might have a chance. I don't have too much hope, but I'm going to try, after all there is no really extra work to it. The box is so humid, it's been 5 weeks and things still don't need watering. The water almost seems like it is recirculating, yet the moss isn't soaking and I see nothing but good things with this new method, but only time will tell.

 

[cnycharles]

Just a note (I should start another thread) that there is a common greenhouse fungicide which has been found by a private perennial plant researcher to encourage root growth and strengthen transplants, while also acting as a fungicide (it's main design purpose). This might be great for orchid transplanting. The chemical's name is 'pageant'. It doesn't work the same for all plants, but he said it was likely to be overall more effective than rooting hormones used for unrooted herbaceous/perennial cuttings. Someone who has lots of flasks and wants to experiment should check it out and see if it works for some orchids


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