DEFLASKING: For Beginners

Orchid Doctor Propagation

by Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler)

Originally published in The Orchid Doctor in 1980 and 1988

Posted by Sys Admin almost 8 years ago.

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Acclimatize the flask for a few days in the immediate growing area preferably shaded and with an even temperature, not less than 60 dF (15 dC) for cool growing plants, avoid extremes, preferably adapt a small hotbed; remove plants very carefully and breaking the flask may be unavoidable; soak seedlings for 10 minutes in a fungicide such as Benlate, arrange them by size and save all for planting in green sphagnum moss which had previously been washed, cleaned, wrung dry, chopped to 1/2 inch lengths; place some leafy dead fern frond in the bottom of the seedling tray before filling it with the moss, for beneficial fungus; plant in rows against strips of moss. OR81-86
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Deflasking Comments
DEFLASKING: Cymbidium Seedlings Flask is first broken open, seedlings are placed in warm water and agar washed off the roots; they are graded by size, planted in fresh, healthy sphagnum., moss and covered with plastic. AU80-221 0
DEFLASKING: Cymbidum Seedlings Remove from flask, wash carefully, plant in sterilized sand at the rate of 25 per community pot of about 6 in.; place where no hose splashing can reach them, with a little bottom heat not less than 54 dF (12 dC), give 750 foot-candles light as long as possible each day. AU81-19 0
DEFLASKING: Foolproof Method Soak seedling bark in very warm water for two hours, remove seedlings from flask and place in warm water to remove all agar from roots; grade them by size, pot each one gently and do not pack the bark; place in an area under a Sylvania GroLux wide spectrum tube at 70 dF at night in 70% relative humidity or more with air circulation; mist well for 60 days then move them closer to the lights and start giving dilute 30-10-10 fertilizer. F80-159 ; How-to-do it notes, see NZ87-180 0
DEFLASKING: Professional Procedures Use fine fir bark, use lukewarm water, plant firmly but not deeply, avoid strong light, not over 1500 foot-candles and a night temperature of not below 65 dF with humidity not below 75% and provide good air circulation; if plastic bags are used to cover them, open each day for fresh air and remove the bags when the seedlings are established; never let the bark dry out so mist at least oace a day; in four to six weeks root action should begin and a nitrogen fertilizer at 1/4 strength should be applied; overdoses of fungicide are damaging. OA81-187 0

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