I just got some new flasks from Green Note Paph. Nursery in Japan. The crosses are all interesting!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/2381821719_fd9beff11f.jpg


Stone Lovely 'R.W. Esteem' x White Queen 'Signus' HCC/AJOS

(Giant Gem x Skip Bartlett 'White Pepper') 'Twilight White' x Stone Lovely 'R.W. Esteem'

Knight's Niveum x Hamana Island 'Azusa' BM/JOGA

Paph.White Princess (niveum x White Queen) 'T-1' x Paph.Giant Gem (Jolly Green Gem x Hamana Egret) 'Giant Ball'


I've been experimenting with different ways of handling seedlings. Unfortunately, my compots have had to be in heated cases. Low on space. One flask I did in very small bark chip, perlite, and charcoal. I realized now, there wasn't enough to hold the moisture in the mix. It dries out too fast and I'm going to lose some seedlings from that. Another flask I planted out seperately in a tray. It was a mix of sphagnum, rocks, charcoal, and small bark. Once again, they seem to dry out quickly, but each compartment is small. So I'm thinking about gently sectioning the flask plants and clumping the compots to hold more moisture in a bigger pot. But they will go outside soon also. Feels a little hit and miss, so do you have any advice from experiences with compots?

* I wish the weather and space was in my favor to create a compot section like I've seen in recent posts.

Thanks!

Lee

Lee, when you take seedlings out of the flask you need to leave them intact, agar included. Set up you pot with mosture retaining but free draining mix. Set the level of the mix in the pot so when you put the intact seedlings in there is just enough space left at the top to cover with the mix. You made need to just use the small bark to retain moisture, soak it well before using. Using a larger pot is not a problem if this will help. I wouldn't put them outside in the elements for atleast 3 months after deflasking, its too quick a change.

the heater is about 2.5 feet under the rack with the compots. I used a decently deep pot. perhaps after the heater isn't necessary or for new compots, add some sphagnum? I'm very hesitant about full sphagnum compots. They seem really tight for roots to grow through and the moisture can be deadly.

Nice looking seedlings!


Hope you can find the right moisture balance. looking forward to seeing them grow.

When you see these bottles in Japan, you know they come from the same flasking company and that company is great at growing paphs. I've gotten two other flasks that were made by that company. Very impressed.

But I'm not sure what constitutes a good paph flask other than healthy leaves and root growth. If the plants are large, could it mean they were in the flask too long? BUT, the lower leaves haven't turned brown, so they aren't lacking nutrition.

One thing for sure, the White Princess x Giant Gem seedlings must come out. There are seedlings in that flask with leaf WIDTH over 2 cm!

Lee, when you take seedlings out of the flask you need to leave them intact, agar included.
This method works the best for me also. It minimizes the risk of damage to roots when plants are small and helps the plants adapt to the new growing conditions.

Wow nice seedlings!