Party_Gecko Posted September 30, 2017 Report Share Posted September 30, 2017 I have a pollinated orchid producing seed pods when I harvest the seeds how do I germinate them without agar jelly (is that what it’s called??) anyway please help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manders Posted September 30, 2017 Report Share Posted September 30, 2017 With extreme difficulty... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsty Posted September 30, 2017 Report Share Posted September 30, 2017 (edited) Hi Gecko, It needs a bit more research, but I remember reading that orchid seeds germinate with the aid of a fungus. Then either the seedling consumes the fungus, or the fungus consumes the seedling. I also read that if you do not have all the techni-kit to germinate and grow them, you can try to scatter the seeds on the roots of the parents because there there could be conditions for germination and growth. I tried it once with a x Laeliocattleya - no success on that occasion /~8 Edited September 30, 2017 by Karsty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Party_Gecko Posted October 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2017 Ah I see... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tropicbreeze Posted October 4, 2017 Report Share Posted October 4, 2017 Yes, it is very difficult. The problem with orchid seeds is that they're so small they generally don't have an endosperm (or only a limited one) to feed the seedling. When the correct fungus grows into a seed it provides the sugars/nutrients that allow a plant to develop. The wrong fungus (and/or bacteria) will kill the seedling. When it done in agar it's under sterile conditions and the agar is loaded up with nutrients. Ideally no fungus or bacteria gets in. Sprinkling seeds around the base of parent plants can sometimes be successful as it's more likely there'll be the right fungus around. In nature orchids produce millions of seed, very few get to being mature plants. I have a several orchids that produce seed prolifically but there's no where near the number of plants around compared to the seeds produced. They're native here so the right fungi are here too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Party_Gecko Posted October 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2017 Nice I guess I will sprinkle the seeds of one seed pod around the roots and I will send the other one to a website where you send orchid seed and they germinate it for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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