'ARTHUR CHADWICK Q: .... if I can extract seed to propagate more plants...
Answer: Extracting seeds is only possible if there is a seed pod on the plant. Otherwise, the orchid would at least have to be in bloom so that it could be pollinated (and be strong enough to generate seeds over the next six to nine months -- no small task). ... the seed is just the beginning. A modern laboratory would be required with sterilized beakers filled with agar for germination. A competent technician would have to carefully sprinkle the seeds, then provide 16-hour lighted days in a special heated room for a year. [some people do it at home with a variable degree of success...] Then the technician would transplant the healthiest plantlets into community pots, which 20 siblings would share for another year in a warm seedling greenhouse. Three years into the project, the babies finally graduate into tiny individual pots. If this whole project seems too daunting, perhaps starting fresh with a new healthy orchid might be the answer. ************* Q: ... a Dendrobium Thongchai Gold that suddenly started losing leaves... Answer: This... yellow flowered hybrid, though not deciduous, may not necessarily be in trouble. It is common for evergreen-type Dendrobiums to drop some leaves from time to time. The key... is to notice where the leaves fall from -- older or newer canes, upper or lower leaves. Generally speaking, there is no concern unless the foliage is struggling at the top of the most recent cane. Low humidity, a common occurrence at this time of year, can stress almost any orchid. Insufficient light is another possibility because Hawaiian Lei orchids require considerably more sunlight... indoor grow lights may not provide enough foot-candles for Dens... lack of water can contribute to the problem since most Dens are potted in bark chips, which dry out faster than other media such as sphagnum moss. Correction of any or all of these factors can remedy the situation and prevent further leaf loss. If the top leaves of the new cane are fading, the new growth may be rotting off. This disease may spread within the rhizome to the other canes, which is potentially life-threatening. There are times when intervention is required. Cutting off the new growth below the rot line or stripping the remaining leaves to allow air to dry out the festering area may seem extreme but can be the difference between a temporary setback and fatality. ***************** Q: ... a slipper orchid recently that was in bud. The flower lasted a month then just fell off... Answer: Lady slippers are notorious for not giving notice when their flowers are finished. All the more reason to purchase lady slippers in bud to get the maximum duration out of them" URL : http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/entertainment.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-01-26-0007.html ************* Regards, VB _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
