Propagation Of Orchids

Propagation

Sometimes flasks are bottles of various kinds, and these have to be broken before the seedlings can be extracted. The simplest way is to wrap the bottle in a towel and hit it with a hammer, using just enough force to break the glass but not enough to squash the seedlings inside. Then, wearing gloves, open the towel, pick off the pieces of broken glass and treat the seedlings as before.

We now 'have seedlings, often with long tangled roots, lying on a piece of absorbent paper. At thiS point they can be sprayed with a dilute solution of a fungicide/bactericide such as Physan. This is not essential, but it helps to protect the still vulnerable seedlings from infection. The young roots that have grown into the agar never (or hardly ever) turn into adult roots; these grow later from the base of the stem. So the young roots should be trimmed with sterile scissors as otherwise they l'ot easily, forming a focus for infection, and may also interfere with the growth of the adult roots. Trim the roots down to 2-3 cm (1 in) in length, removing any that are very thin or that coil up under the plant.

Community pots

Often the seedlings will be mixed in size and they should be sorted out into more or less matching groups. Plant as many seedlings from each group as possible into one pot because they grow better close together in the early stages. This is known as a community pot.

Now the seedlings must be hardened off before they go into the greenhouse to gradually get them used to the change in climate. A propagator is useful here; they are available in a vanety of sizes and most have vents in the lid that can be closed to start with, then opened gradually. Failing that, the community pot can be put into a polythene bag which is sealed at first and then gradually opened to let in air. Results are likely to be much better if seedlings are deflasked in spring or summer, when they grow on quickly.

Seedlings can be left in the community pots for quite a long time. It is usually obvious when they need to be moved on. Either they start to climb out of the pots, with roots waving in the air and finding their way into other pots, or else they stop growing and need the boost that repotting often gives. When they come out of the community pots, they can either be mounted on a bark slab or potted individually. With luck, you will not have to wait too long to see them flower.

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