Update on my flasking operation

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.

 

Rough guess: 5 to 10%

 

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.

 

"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?

 

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?