Welcome to OrchidsForum.com. We are a friendly online community for Orchid Growers all over the world. If you haven't joined yet we invite you to register and join our community. Hope to see you on our forums!

Update on my flasking operation

Discussion in 'Growing Areas' started by Marni, Dec 22, 2010.

  1. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    13,732
    Likes Received:
    3,530
    Location:
    Santa Rosa, CA
    It has been a bit less than 13 months since I started doing my own flasking and decided it was time for an update. I've just finished switching from T12 to T5 fluorescent fixtures and am very glad I did. I will be expanding the number of lighted shelves I have soon as I move more material up to the next stages.

    I have gotten my contamination percentage down significantly to an almost acceptable level and am also pleased with the germination I am getting. Still testing flasking media and trying to find out what works with which genera.
    flasking1.jpg flasking2.jpg flasking3.jpg flasking4.jpg
     
  2. Uluwehi

    Uluwehi angraecoids, dendrobiums and more Supporting Member

    Messages:
    1,973
    Likes Received:
    124
    WOW :eek:!! Your set up looks amazing! So expansive and professional :clap:

    These years of dedication in the lab are obviously paying off!
     
  3. Kitty

    Kitty AKA\Debby

    Messages:
    734
    Likes Received:
    16
    Location:
    Napa Calif.
    very impressive Marni, I wish you much success! :clap:
     
  4. Armando

    Armando Hobbyist gone wild

    Messages:
    244
    Likes Received:
    11
    Location:
    NC
    That's pretty amazing
     
  5. Forrest

    Forrest Really Neat

    Messages:
    2,300
    Likes Received:
    27
    Location:
    Northern California
    nice flow hood. :D

    Looking really good Marni. Way to go.
     
  6. mrbreeze

    mrbreeze Anglican Supporting Member

    Messages:
    1,362
    Likes Received:
    35
    Location:
    Oklahoma
    Holy crap! That is very impressive. What percentage of those containers do/will contain Angs? ;)

    Congrats on all your efforts. :clap:
     
  7. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    13,732
    Likes Received:
    3,530
    Location:
    Santa Rosa, CA
    Rough guess: 5 to 10%
     
  8. Karen

    Karen Species nut

    Messages:
    2,559
    Likes Received:
    20
    Location:
    Southern California
    Looks great!
     
  9. Mary Jane

    Mary Jane New Member

    Messages:
    4,342
    Likes Received:
    15
    Location:
    Duluth, Georgia USA
    Wow, nice.
     
  10. xmpraedicta

    xmpraedicta Prairie angraecoid nut Supporting Member

    Messages:
    1,744
    Likes Received:
    588
    Location:
    Saskatoon, SK
    Wow Marni...what an inspiration!
     
  11. Dave

    Dave Active Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    663
    Likes Received:
    170
    Location:
    Northern CA
    That's awesome, Marni! Are you thinking of doing a bit of flask business on the side in addition to your own stuff?
     
  12. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    13,732
    Likes Received:
    3,530
    Location:
    Santa Rosa, CA
    Thanks to all for your encouragement.

    Yes, Dave, I have recently started doing some proprietary flasking for others. I've gotten enough confidence and skill to be comfortable doing work for others now. I don't think I'm set up for species that need really hot conditions since my flask room is more designed for intermediate and cool growers. I have successfully done a fairly wide range of genera since that is what my collection is and am working to find the best media for each.

    If anyone is interested in more information, send me a pm or contact me through my website (below). Eventually I will have a page on my website about the flasking, but I'm working up to that slowly.
     
  13. Reyna

    Reyna Orchid Obsessed Supporting Member

    Messages:
    984
    Likes Received:
    86
    Location:
    Arkansas, USA
    Marni,
    That is quite an impressive set up. Wow! Way to go!
     
  14. Candace

    Candace Kept Woman Supporting Member

    Messages:
    1,151
    Likes Received:
    11
    Location:
    South of Sacramento
    Look at you go!
     
  15. orchidkarma

    orchidkarma Member

    Messages:
    935
    Likes Received:
    49
    Location:
    Gothenburg, Sweden
    It is looking super nice!! I wish I had the time and space... Do you mix your own flasking media or do you buy it premade from someone? Just out of curiosity... how much is "an almost acceptable level of contamination percentage"? I am definitely looking forward to reading about your flasking methods when you get your website updated. Keep us posted!! :)
     
  16. Alexey

    Alexey Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    1,066
    Likes Received:
    289
    Location:
    Vancouver Island, BC
    Marni,
    It looks like you are using regular deli containers for flasking. What is your's sterilizacion "protocol"?
    Thanks
     
  17. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    13,732
    Likes Received:
    3,530
    Location:
    Santa Rosa, CA
    "It looks like you are using regular deli containers for flasking. What is your's sterilizacion "protocol"?"

    They come in sleeves of (I think) 50. I spray the outside of the sleeve with alcohol right before I put it under the hood. They are essentially sterile. Before I figured that out, I dipped each one very quickly in 6% hydrogen peroxide and set them upside down under the hood on paper towels. I dipped the lids and containers both. Since the H2O2 turns to water and oxygen, it doesn't need to be completely dry before filling. I fill under the hood after the media has been sterilized in a pressure cooker.

    Are you flasking too?
     
  18. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    13,732
    Likes Received:
    3,530
    Location:
    Santa Rosa, CA
    Karma, I missed your post so apologize for the delay in responding. I use commercial products, sometimes "as is" but more usually with some additives or diluted. I also have some that I mix from ingredients rather than a premade mix. I spend a quite a bit of time trying to figure out what is performing well or badly on different formulas and why.

    I haven't figured the exact percentage of contamination, but I am probably below 5% on replates. I've had much more trouble with mother flasks. With dry seed I was loosing 40 to 50% until several months ago. I have cut that down so I no longer fear dry seed. Green pod sowing is much less of a problem but isn't always an option.

    How did your flasking class go? Did you get anything to germinate?
     
  19. orchidkarma

    orchidkarma Member

    Messages:
    935
    Likes Received:
    49
    Location:
    Gothenburg, Sweden
    Thanks for your reply Marni! :) I am so impressed with how well you are doing! I hope one day I will have the time to go through the same process of discovery that you have. Perhaps when I retire.... lol... My class was very informative and fun, but I don't think the format (10 people or so moving about in a fairly small space) was very conducive to keeping things sterile - at least not with the methods we were using. A lot of the flasks molded. I think I kept mine a little too cool and a little too humid as well afterward which did not help in that regard. I learned a lot though and I will definitely take on this challenge again sometime in the future when I have more time... too much else goign on right now... :)
     
  20. Alexis

    Alexis New Member

    Messages:
    2,893
    Likes Received:
    21
    Location:
    Redland, Miami FL, USA, Earth
    Wow Marni, what an inspiration! Your setup looks fantastic.