Dactylorhiza seeds

[mark smyth]

This is probably a stoopid question but what do Dactylorhiza seeds look like. In my pods there is only dust. Is this them?

[ranunculus]

That is as good as it gets Mark - just scatter the 'dust' where you want them (especially over cushions and mats) and you will be amazed where they germinate.  I have them in pots, troughs, scree and beds.

[Carlo]

Cliff is dead on. The dust you see IS the seed. Orchid seed has little or no "food" for the germinating embryo. The bulk of more familiar seed is made up of nutrition to span the time from germination until photosynthesis begins in the emerging cotyledon(s). This lack of food in orchid seeds is why most need an association with a mycorrhizal fungus in order to begin growing. This is provided under laboratory conditions for most orchids cultivated. Fortunately, Dactylorhiza seed associates with a fungus that is present in many areas naturally and some germination can be expected without the necessity of kitchen-table "science."

[Lesley Cox]

That is as good as it gets Mark - just scatter the 'dust' where you want them (especially over cushions and mats) and you will be amazed where they germinate.  I have them in pots, troughs, scree and beds.

And in the cracks in a concrete path!

[mark smyth]

Would anyone like some? They are all open pollinated

[Slug Killer]

Hi Mark

What Dactylorhiza are they? I've got plenty of Dact praetermissa seed if anyone wants some as I grow lots of them in the garden which have produced masses of seed this year.

For anyone reading this that does not know what this seed (orchid seed) looks like, pictures below are what has been collected from about five flowers with plenty have seed pods on.

[David Shaw]

Does anyone grow Dactylorhiza from seed sown in pots. Marsh orchids are in danger of becoming a beautiful weed in our garden but other D's don't self seed. Is there any point in mixing seed compost with garden soil to try and get some mycorrhiza in the compost.
I suppose that I could always try this experiment myself!

[ranunculus]

I have two large circular planters (24 inches diameter) into which I transplanted a large number of tiny dactylorhiza seedlings over the years.  As an experiment I have also sown a number of species (from seed exchanges, from friends, from my own plants and from the wild) directly onto the surface grit of these pots and now possess a couple of orchid 'mini-gardens'.
The initial compost was made up of the contents of a number of spent pots; some soil that the orchid seedlings were growing in and a tiny amount of garden soil.
Hope this helps?