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Flasking Thread

Discussion in 'Orchid Culture' started by orchidmom, Jan 11, 2009.

  1. Jan 11, 2009 #1
    orchidmom

    orchidmom full time lab rat

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    Is there a separate discussion for flasking related information? I sometimes have some flasking anomalies which might be of interest to others if discussed here.

    Barbara
     
  2. Jan 11, 2009 #2
    Dale

    Dale New Member

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    It's good to see you here, Barbara. This sub-forum, Orchid Culture, would probably be fine.
     
  3. Jan 11, 2009 #3
    Kyle

    Kyle Member

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    Hi Barbara,

    Welcome. Good to see another flasker here.

    I have a flasking question maybe you can answer: What media and pH do you use for phrag replates? I have dificultiest getting my phrag seedlings to grow good roots in flask. Phals, paphs and others, no problems, but phrags very poor. This of course cause problems establishing them out of flask.

    I have used various redipes based on P6668 with minimal success. Germination is no problem on a reduce strenght P6668 based media at pH 5.5. I am about to try a new replate media to me, Western 3. I like phrags and do some hobby hybridizing, so I would like to produce some better flasks.

    Kyle
     
  4. Jan 11, 2009 #4
    Tom_in_PA

    Tom_in_PA I am not an addict

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    I look forward to flasking questions as I am going to try my hand at home flasking. I just got myself a pressure cooker the other week so I just need to setup an area to house the flasks and I should be all set.

    I look forward to learning and I am sure I will be posting questions of my own once I start ;)
     
  5. Jan 11, 2009 #5
    orchidmom

    orchidmom full time lab rat

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    Greetings to the Forum

    Hey Dale, thanks for the invite. :) Nice to receive one of those now and then. I am quite pleased.

    Hi Kyle. Is this the same Kyle who spent some time in Peru a few years back? If so, I saw some of your photos of the trip. I nearly wept when I saw orchid flowers as big as your hand. Wow. :eek:

    Tom, you are not an addict, I see. Neither am I. My husband does not believe me. This lab thing has him all twitterpated. Wait until he hears I need to expand and will have to build again. :bang:

    About the phrag media. I have tried most of the media from phytotech but what works best for me is the media from TQPL in the UK. Tell Alan Barbara sent you. It is quite expensive to bring it over due to the exchange rate but it is worth it in terms of growth rate both above and below the surface. Be advised he sells it in 10L aliquots with suggestions on how to handle this large of a quantity.

    Many thanks for the warm welcome here. I see this is a young forum and I hope to be a knowledgeable contributor. To whom do I express my appreciation for setting it up? I know it takes a lot of time and effort to put something like this together and keep it running. Kudos to you, whoever you are. :clap:

    As Always,

    Barbara
     
  6. Jan 13, 2009 #6
    Lika[Sweden]

    Lika[Sweden] Svenska

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    Tried with flasking a while back. Found this photo on the hard drive. non-orchidists just don't understand.

    afarm4.static.flickr.com_3477_3194266735_34022a580d_b.jpg

    Linda
     
  7. Jan 13, 2009 #7
    Clark

    Clark Gator Member

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    Tom, I have done some green pod flasking with a bit of success. My second bloomer is named Miltassia Gator Duncan for grins. I went down to the local stores and found the biggest soft plastic storage bin I could find. Cut a square out of the side so I could get my hands inside. Turned it over and used the lid as a tray to collect whatever. Bought a HEPA filter (it blows into the chamber) and cut a hole for it in the top, using silicone to glue it in place.

    Set it up on the counter of the small bathroom. Start up the filter, wipe everything associated with the box down with dilute bleach, and spray lots of Lysol into the air do not operate the exhaust vent). I let this run on for an hour and then repeat. After soaking the green pod in a dilute bleach solution I'm ready to flask.

    Let me know if you want to know more and look forward to my Ren. monachia by Ascoc. miniatum cross now growing in 4 inch wood baskets.
     
  8. Jan 13, 2009 #8
    Kyle

    Kyle Member

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    Hi Barbara, yes, I'm the same Kyle. You must be the Barbara who is doing flasking for Chuck now. Glad he has finally found someone dependable.

    I have emailed back and forth with Alan a few years ago. I never bought from him becasue the smallest he offers is 10 liters. Thats a lot for me to use in a reasonable amount of time, especially back then. Now, I might be able to use it in a year, so I will revisit them. I bought flask from Peruflora a couple of years ago and they used Alans stuff at one time. Not sure if the flasks I got were replated onto TQPL stuff, but they weren't to good (no roots). Do you add anything to thier media like banana or coconut?

    Thanks!
    Kyle
     
  9. Jan 13, 2009 #9
    orchidmom

    orchidmom full time lab rat

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    Kyle,

    Were the flasks from Peruflora Pk crosses? If so, I've heard that they are sensitive to certain agars. I know of a substitute that supposedly works better, but I have no Pk material to test it on.

    The media from TQPL seems perfect the way it is. I have done both paphs and phrags on other media alongside this and see a dramatic diff in growth rate, vigor, and overall robustness. I'm sold on the TQPL media.

    Looking for more space...

    Barbara
     
  10. Apr 3, 2017 #10
    Phoenixfyrs

    Phoenixfyrs New Member

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    Because this was already here ... When I first joined I easily found many flasking recipes in one place on this forum. I wasn't ready to try any of them yet. Now that I'm ready and have agar I can't find a thing. Link anyone?