Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => Ian Young's Bulb Log - Feedback Forum => Topic started by: gote on July 06, 2009, 10:30:19 AM
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Re Dactylorhizas (and other orchids)
Orchid seed needs to be supplied with nutrients in order to germinate since the seed contains none. This can be done by germinating on agar with suitable admixtures; something that requires some laboratory facilities - even if primitive. In nature they germinate in symbiosis with fungi that supply the nutrients. Mature plants may have got rid of the fungus but it should be in the soil where seedlings appear. You can try to grow these fungi on decaying organic matter and sow orchid seed on them. There is a fair chance that the seed will develop into a protocorm that after vernalisation will grow into a seedling.
I have some data on how to do it more in detail somewhere but I am in the summer place sending this from a laptop. There is rainy and windy outside otherwise I would not be doing this now. If you want more info you will have to pester me privately.
Göte
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Göte most soils contain fungus unless they are treated with fungicides. As is shown in earlier logs the seeds may develop in pots where they are undisturbed for longer times with the fungi that are present there naturally and that is without any other orchids have been growing there before to get the fungus started.
It would be interesting to hear about Your ways of growing the seeds on decaying organic matter. I have only heard of pleiones done this semi in vitro way before. This would be a more controlled way than just putting them in a pot / container and hope they will grow.
Kind regards
Joakim
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Göte most soils contain fungus unless they are treated with fungicides. As is shown in earlier logs the seeds may develop in pots where they are undisturbed for longer times with the fungi that are present there naturally and that is without any other orchids have been growing there before to get the fungus started.
It would be interesting to hear about Your ways of growing the seeds on decaying organic matter. I have only heard of pleiones done this semi in vitro way before. This would be a more controlled way than just putting them in a pot / container and hope they will grow.
Kind regards
Joakim
Yes there are fungi everywhere but not all kinds of fungus work. If they did, orchid seed would be sprouting as weeds everywhere considering the number of seed they set.
I do not do it myself, I have been in correspondence with a gentleman in Berlin who does. I can dig out his description but it will take a few daYS SINCE i AM NOT AT HOME NOW.
gÖTE
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Thanks for that Göte it would be interesting. It sounds worth waiting for. :)
I think there is a need to have them undisturbed during the time as well and not with to big competition and that also keeps the orchids from being all over the place.
All the best
Joakim
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I do not do it myself, I have been in correspondence with a gentleman in Berlin who does. I can dig out his description but it will take a few daYS SINCE i AM NOT AT HOME NOW.
gÖTE
[/quote
I am not tying to shout.I just hit the caps lock without noticing :-[
Cheers
Göte
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Ian and Maggi ... I don't know if either of you have been informed of this link but it may be of interest to both of you for different reasons?
Please feel free to cancel this post if you already know of this page.
http://transatlanticplantsman.typepad.com/transatlantic_plantsman/alpines_and_rock_plants/
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Thanks, Cliff.... I did know about this.....see the comments link ... http://transatlanticplantsman.typepad.com/transatlantic_plantsman/2009/04/alpines-and-bulbs-but-not-blogs.html#comments
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Graham Rice is Graham Rice OK but how DARE he say a word against our Bulb Log. The number of Forum members and lurkers says clearly that the way the Bulb Log is set up works very well for us.
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Who is Graham Rice please??
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This link will reveal all, David.
http://grahamrice.com/about/index.html
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No competition - Bulb Log 100% ;D B.....log 50/50% :-\
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This link will reveal all, David.
http://grahamrice.com/about/index.html
Many thanks Cliff, I vaguely knew the name but couldn't relate it.
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I know him best as the other half of the Strangman Hellebore book but obviously there's more to him than that.
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I see no error in having a different opinion on the format than what is the one used in the logs.
He did give the logs good publicity (maybe not needed) but would prefer a different format blogs.
There are advantages with both I would say and I am happy with the choice that has been made here.
Maggi's responses where excellent so here is a case of lets "agree to disagree"
All the best
Joakim