flasks & compots
the
flasks & compots
what you'll need:
| This flask contains between 25-50 seedlings which are ready to be moved into a community pot. Here's how. |
click on photo to see a close-up
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| It's a good idea to always work on a firm. stable surface when potting orchids. Wrap the flask in several layers of newspaper. Wear heavy cotton or leather work gloves for added protection. | A sharp rap with a hammer or pair of heavy lineman's pliers should easily break the bottle. Extreme caution should be used when breaking the flask and handling the seedlings. Be careful of the broken glass ! | Unwrap
the bottle and carefully move large pieces of broken glass to one side. Grab the clump
of seedlings and gently shake loose any glass fragments and loose
agar. Do not attempt to pick glass or agar off at this time. |
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| You may prefer to wear latex or rubber gloves for the remainder of this technique. Immerse the seedlings in the tub of water and gently agitate to remove any remaining debris. A few drops of Physan or RD-20 may be added to the water but don't add too much. | Here you see some dead leaves that can be removed. Usually they will easily pull off, use sterile shears if necessary. As you agitate the seedlings they will begin to separate into individual plants. Discard any plants that are extremely small or unhealthy. | The plantlets are now all separated and loosely grouped by size on a sheet of paper. We have partially filled a four-inch plastic pot with a fine seedling mix made up of peat moss, fine fir bark and perlite and will begin potting the seedlings. |
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| The soft potting media makes it easy to push the seedlings into the center of the pot. Add more media as necessary but don't cover any green parts of the plants. The actual number of seedlings that will comfortably fit in a compot depends on their size. | Add a nametag and you are ready to start on the next compot. Continue this procedure until all of the flasklings are potted. | Some growers prefer to leave the seedlings to dry overnight before potting them. If you choose to do this, you may spray them once with a broad spectrum fungicide such as Captan. Be sure to keep a nametag with the seedlings. |
 Another method of preparing compots involves using a water bath to firmly plant the seedlings. |
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| Fill a shallow tub with water to a level just below the rim of the pots you will be using. Place the pot with potting media into the tub - if the media begins floating up push it back down or lower the level of the water. Using a pencil, gently push similar size seedlings into the media until the pot is comfortably filled. | When you lift the pot out of the water the suction will pull the seedlings down into the media. Some growers use this method exclusively. You need to decide for yourself which technique works best for you. | ||
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An alternate method of deflasking involves leaving the agar on. Click here
for that demonstration.
After a year or so in their community pot the seedlings may be big enough to move into their own individual pots. Click here for a demonstration on how to do that. |
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