Just regarding the brown spongy plugs that are used by the Maryborough Nursery and sold at Bunnings (Designer Collection). I actually contacted the nursery because they include a date on their tags and I wanted to know what it was. They said it was the week/year that they deflasked it. So if it says 2022 04, that means it was deflasked in the 4th week of 2022. That sponge is a synthetic material which… retains a lot of water and decomposes over time if added to the compost. The deflask date is a guide for to have peace of mind, because if sponge is not old, it is not a death plug. It provides a lot of humidity for the seedling, which is what seedlings need. Taking a seedling out of that environment and potting those roots into another medium when you first get it, will cause those roots to suffer. Not saying that you will lose them, but they will struggle. In the case of a tag that reads 2022, I don’t think they have been in that space long enough to consider that sponge a death plug. So just personally, I would not repot it immediately all other things being equal. Again depending on the date on that tag, Lil’ Bub has maybe only a short time to acclimate from a cozy, high humidity flask, to being shoved into something where now it has to learn to fend for itself and most of the humidity it was used to is gone. I am more likely to let her get used to where she is, monitor her and wait for her to show signs of actively growing again. Just my 2c. Great video too, Matthew. Very informative! 🌿💚🌸
Oh that date intel is VERY interesting! Thanks for the insight! And I agree with a newly deflasked plant needing a lot of care to acclimatize to it's post flask environment - I've failed spectacularly with two flasks!
Regarding cloning, 99.99% of the time, the seedling will be identical to the parent. But, like any cell division process, mutation can occur and you get a clone that ends up different than the parent. A friend of mine purchased an Oncidium Rosy Sunset 'F' clone, fully expecting it would be pink, it has bloomed more orange (that orange which I would call "Tequila Sunrise" because it has red and pink hues). A breeder actually asked her if she would be willing to sell the plant because it is so different in color from the other clones.
It is important to note that some plants in the Oncidium alliance are terrestrial or occasionally terrestrial, hence the more tightly compressed plug. They need less air around the roots than some other types of orchid. But you can care for them in the same way you do with other orchids so long as you don't neglect fertilizing them!
Thank you, I learned so much from your video. I bought an, orchid a few months ago from a hard wear store. I've had it for several months. I reported it but now after several more months, the leaves feel rubbery, and hasn't produced an orchid. The top roots look good, but I'm not happy with how it looks. I saw on, utube a process using chopped garlic and water soaking. I don't know if this will save my orchid or not. I hope you can help me before it's to late. Thank you so very much. And I truly appreciate that you are so willing to share your orchid knowledge with us. Thank you, Mary in NC. 😅
I bought most of my orchids as seedlings when I started collecting because they are cheaper. I figured I wouldn’t feel as bad if they didn’t make it. However it’s definitely an exercise of patience. I have the Marfitch Howard’s Dream and it’s never bloomed for me. I am always trying to figure out what it wants. As I was watching I was thinking about it and then you showed yours! Weird! I hope you have more success with yours.
Ah! Well....if it ever does anything I shall definitely make a video about it! It's quite a mixed up mega mix of parentage and apparently likes the lower end of the 'oncidium alliance' light spectrum. I hope it gets it together for you!
I brought seedlings from Amazon. I ordered 4 and I got 6. I got different kind of cattleya and one dendrobium. They came bare rooted. It came with cattleya and dendrobium papers. Basic care. They are growing leaves but I know it will be a while before I see anything. I potted them in 3 inch pots. So far so good.
Now I know why I’ve lost the few of those small plants I bought at Big W. Big mistake in the first place buying them there but all is making sense now because I did everything wrong. Any wonder they didn’t survive. I’m more interested in buying mature plants now, mind you I’ve managed to kill a couple of them lately too. Thoroughly enjoyed this video and certainly learned a lot. Thanks Mathew, you’re a gem.
Well Matthew, thank God for this video or rather thank you because I didn’t know to remove Bunnings seedlings for $10 from their black potting thingy. Easy to do in 2 instances, but another plant cattleya from a well known EBay seller was practically glued to its black thingy & lost some roots,wasn’t cheap either. In which case just remove them asap regardless!
Thank you Michael for answering some important questions I had about orchid seedlings! I will now exchange fertiliser for a tonic (makes total sense) and bring them indoors for the first 12 mths. Also, repotting info very helpful to a relative novice. Really enjoying your channel. thanks.
Thank you Matthew, your video is very helpful. I have bought a number of seedlings and will certainly wait to pot them up when they get bigger. They are doing well in the Brisbane spring.
Wonderful tutorial Mathew. Really enjoyed it. I have two seedling babies that I purchased last fall. They were pretty much straight out of the bottle! They are Dendrobium New Hope Mini and BlC. Prada Green Deluxe. They both have produced a new growth this summer so I am very happy since I knew nothing when I purchased them. I must say you have helped me not be so nervous about taking care of my orchid family. Happy orchiding!
I am going to try the micro fungal…just found something similar and ordered. I have quite a few seedlings that are not responding to my current love, so I will try something special with a few and wait for the results. Although having watched several of your videos in the subject (okay mentioned) and how your lovelies look- I like! Thank you 🙏 I have a feeling that I will be gifting all of the orchids this coming spring 😂 O grow the majority in a controlled environment so I do not always experience the slow down as someone who does not use “extras”. Always look forward to Friday (Thursday in the US)🌸
Great subject, interesting to see your modus operandi. Loved the remark about the plugs of death, having many seedlings that I purchased in Autumn, time has come to exam those that are left and repot. This could not have been better timed, thank you
Hi Matthew! This video just helps me so much! I just bought two seedlings; paph. fairrieanum and Bc. Keowee 'Mendenhall'. I realize it will be 2+ years before they bloom, but in the meantime, I will now know how to care for them properly. Thank you! Love your channel. 🧚♀🦋
Hi Matthew, just watched this video again and now have a couple of questions. 1) How do epiphytes use micorrhizal fungi? In nature, aren't they a bit far off the ground where the fungi grow? 2) I love the aesthetics of terracotta pots too, but I can't see root progression in them. Please tell me your thoughts. Thank you! I am in the state of Washington, zone 8b@@helloplantlovers
Thanks for watching again! Micorrhizal fungi form symbiotic relationships with plants and the Orchidaceae family is extremely reliant upon Micorrhizal fungi for survival, particularly seed germination. So no matter where they occur in an environment they will have a symbiotic relationship to the Micorrhizal fungi that occurs in that environmental niche whether its a cliff face, forest floor or on a branch. As to terracotta pots - if you want to see your plant's roots you'll need to go with clear plastic. I don't feel the need to see the roots of any plant I grow, orchid or otherwise; you can see if the plant is healthy and thriving which means a good root system, and if not time to investigate which might mean a look at the roots. @@galecunningham1250
Great video 👍 and yes, seedlings are a great way to get rarer and less available orchids. Big downside is waiting for the first bloom which can take over 3 years depending on the species and even more with paphs 🤣 but we are here for the long run 🏃 Have you had a chance to go the the Melbourne orchid Spectacular in Skye last weekend? It was sooo beautiful!
I have bought these orchids but find the little ones die once repotted, but the designer ones are great same price but much larger, I have told my Bunnings store get more in.
Yes - the new suppliers plants are generally more advanced and in better condition. So saying I have had some spectacular successes from from the previous supplier - my Dendrobium loddigesii came from one of those plastic tubes! They did have an odd amount of unusual species seedlings - not so anymore.
I put a dash! And yes, you can put it in any plant. Once you've applied your dash just water it in. You can also use larger volumes as part of soil preparation in garden beds. Good luck!
I have been using the fungi for the orchids since I first heard you talk about it and I already had some for planting in the garden but, I think I've been overdoing it after watching you today. Are there any bad effects from using too much?
