Resealing Paph flask

[Hugorchids]

Hi everyone, I received today a few paph flasks. one of the flask appears the seedlings are not yet ready for compot. The problem is the flask has been opened and foam peanuts put in there to prevent the agar from jumbling. Is there a way to resealed and sanitize the flask? it has a twist cap on the flask.I rather not bother with the vendor as he is already traveling on the road for a show.

 

[ehanes7612]

nope....you need to compot them out...what are they?

 

[Hugorchids]

got bellatulums, micrantums, rothschilidanums, and tigrinum--notoriously difficult to establish after flasking.

 

[Pete]

what ehanes7612 said is spot on. the flask's media has been exposed to external contaminants and is compromised the moment it is opened.
try some loosely packed long fibered sphagnum moss..

 

[Marc]

I would also compot them as soon as possible. Within a couple of days mould will start growing on the agar if you take no action.

 

[NYEric]

Once exposed to air you can sterilize the plants with extreme radiation. :evil: Of course the loss of the plants and your sterility may be unwanted side effects. You have to plant them out.

 

[eggshells]

Like others said, you have to deflasked it now. Just curious where did you get it from? OI?

 

[Ozpaph]

bite the bullet and get them out - lots of humidity.
I assume the person sending the flasks thought they were ready to deflask otherwise they shouldn't have opened them or delayed the sending.

 

[Stone]

There is no problem with letting the flask sit open for a few days. The plants will be hardened off a little and deflasking will be safter (This assuming there's no agar on the leaves!!!) Any mold which grows is living on the sugar and is not hazardous to the plant. However if too much grows it will stick to the roots so deflask before this happens.

 

[Hugorchids]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, I think I will give it a week before deflasking. Like Stone said, I prefer to harden off a bit before taking them out. I prefer not to say who the vendor is, but probably will be my last order. the first order of plants all had missing roots. I learned to inspect the roots of each purchase no matter what the seller's reputation. besides, I like to use my own mix so it will keep my watering consistent.

 

[Ozpaph]

I think a 'few days' isn't a week. Be careful they don't dehydrate without the lid and no liquid water.

 

[wjs2nd]

1. I would e-mail the vendor pictures of the flasks with no roots. Hopefully something can be figured out.
2. I understand you not wanting to name, names. However, if you've had such bad luck with them your just allowing others to follow in your foot steps (not very fair to everyone but the vendors).
3. You should deflask as soon as possible! You can keep a plastic bag over the seedlings (tenting them) in a compot to keep the humidity up. If the agar hards it could kill all your seedlings.
Good luck.

 

[Stone]

3.

You should deflask as soon as possible! You can keep a plastic bag over the seedlings (tenting them) in a compot to keep the humidity up. If the agar hards it could kill all your seedlings.

I think you would be inviting disaster if you did this. I have never seen the agar dry out or harden after a week. Air is what you need. a seedling could take many days to die from lack of water and a few hours to die from infection. You could always give a little spray with fugicide in boiled water or plain boiled water but I wouldn't.

 

[wjs2nd]

Your right, I should clarify I grow indoors in low humidity. Tent keeps my humidity up without causing issues. The change in my temp causes air to move in and out of the tent (plastic bag). I don't ever seal the bag.

 

[Ozpaph]

3.


I think you would be inviting disaster if you did this. I have never seen the agar dry out or harden after a week. Air is what you need. a seedling could take many days to die from lack of water and a few hours to die from infection. You could always give a little spray with fugicide in boiled water or plain boiled water but I wouldn't.

When I deflask I put the compot in a plastic bag (after irrigating the plants and mix with fungicide and leaving some in the bottom of the bag) and close the top. There is minimal air circulation but the bag is not tight enough to stop gas diffusion. I dont open it for at least 3-4 weeks. They don't rot off, then.

 

[Secundino]

Yes, I think there is now way but deflasking. As normaly you will have bigger and near to protocorm plants you might with the lesser ones try this method:
http://www.orchidboard.com/communit...y-easy-sterilisation-method-my-seedlings.html
I have used this method once for desinfecting after a mould grew, and it worked! The seeds did not grow, but that could be due to other reasons... Anyway, it is a good thread to read!

 

[Ozpaph]

that's an interesting read.

 

[goldenrose]

.......
2. I understand you not wanting to name, names. However, if you've had such bad luck with them your just allowing others to follow in your foot steps (not very fair to everyone but the vendors)....

I agree!
Good Luck, keep us posted!