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creating-breeding ownorchid


Question
Thanks. I do not think i could do that.And it`s one more question. How to do orchid stem propagation. Is it possible to get pictured answer. Many Thanks. Dalia
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Dear Wayne King,
Could you tell me please step-by-step how to create-breed new orchid or where i can get information about that. Many Thanks. Dalia
-----Answer-----
Let me give you an idea of what is involved and, then, if you still want to pursue it, I can find some references for you.

There are several steps to creating your own orchid hybrid.  The first part involves learning the sexual parts of an orchid and how to use that knowlwdge to prodcue a seed pod. Then, you will need to learn what the seed pod maturation times are depending upon the orchid.  Thirdly, you will need to order a special growth powder from a chemical supply house and these are specific to the differnt types of orchids.  Fourthly, you need to be familiar with sterile technique.  This involves sterilizing bottles, preparing the culture medium on which the seeds are to be sown, and, then, introducing the seeds into the sterile bottles and capping them without introducing any contaminants that might be in the air.  Should you succeed in all of these steps, you will still need to transfer the resulting seedlings to yet another medium for growth and to do it in a sterile transfer box.

In the old days before the intrduction of sterile technique, hybrids were produced by sowing the seeds under nonsterile conditions.  In order to germinate, it was learned that a specific fungus needed to be present to enter the seed and cause it to germinate,  This techinque was rarely successful.  These days, there are orchid growth media that, when mixed with water, provide all of the essential hormones, vitamins, and minerals to promote germination and growth.

If you learn and practice all of these steps and produce viable seedlings, these are potted out of the germination bottles into community flasks.  Usually, the death rate is high in these flats because the seedlings are very succeptible to fungus rots and other diseases.

While I don't want to discourage you, the production and germination of orchid seeds is unlike any other type of seed.  Each seed is microscopic in size and you may be dealing with thousands of seeds at a time.

Hope this gives you an overview that can help you decide whether or not to undertake this interest.  It would be helpful if you have had any coursework or experience in microbiology and sterile techniques used in that science.

Answer
With regard to your followup question, the process is even more complex as the stem needs to be broken down into individual cells and those propogated in special ntrient solutions.  The process is also called mericloning.

As an alternative low tech way to vegetatively propogate orchids (especially phalaenopsis orchids), you could induce plantlets to grow on the green flower spikes by placing node paste (a special hormonal paste designed to induce tissue growth) at an exposed node or two of the old green flower spike and placing the plant in darkness for a couple of weeks.  Sometimes just placing the plant in darkness will induce plantlet growth.  You could check at your local garden center for a product called rootone which is a powder with growth inducing properties (mix it into petroleum jelly so it will stick to the exposed node) or try a serch for sources of "node paste".  

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