Ok, let's reinvigorate this little discussion. First, history. I'm no stranger to making paph and phrag crosses, I've probably done 50 or so, and I've managed to get germination through to blooming on maybe 20 grexes. Flasked them myself... But that was mainly back in my more energetic youth. Yes, I'm not that old. But I had more energy than sense in graduate school. Then I ran out of space (well, see rule 1, but not enough space to keep hybridizing).

So, in honor of the new greenhouse, I've started crossing again in earnest. Oddly, this year I can't get anything to take. It could be that I'm trying to breed with triploids (does anybody know a good chromosome counting service?). But I don't think so. Out of 5 different phrag crosses (some repeated three or four times as new flowers mature), 3 failed immediately. Within a day, or at most two, each time. No biggie, that happens. Two (really nice crosses) set a capsule, which hung on for 3 or four weeks and then just dried up. No seed. What is up with that?

I've made three or four maudiae paph type crosses as well. Which are normally obscenely fertile. Again, I get capsule formation, and then in two or three months the capsules dry up and there is no seed.

Anyway. This seems a bit excessive to be coincidence, but maybe it is. For the phrags I'm using fresh flowers, and the paphs aren't all that old (a few weeks, at most). My humidity is excellent. I do crack the pouches off of flowers before I pollinate, pretty routinely since I don't have much manual dexterity anymore (long story). I probably didn't do that before, but I know lots of people who do and it seems to work. At least on paphs.

Seems I had the golden touch before, I think almost everything I pollinated gave me seed. Not all of that was viable, but at least I got seed... But I'm batting 0.000 so far this year. It could be that I was reproducing crosses that had been done before, and hence had a better chance of succeeding. Or maybe I was just lucky. But the luck is gone. It is starting to get frustrating...

Any thoughts?

well littlefrog there is an easy solution.... give all your paphs to me! :lol:

well littlefrog there is an easy solution.... give all your paphs to me! :lol:

Just the good ones, I presume? *grin*

My first thought was "environment." Are you in a different place or growing in different conditions than before? Anything volatile leaking? Offgassing of new materials? Although I'd expect something like that to blast buds, too. Hmmmm.... What's different?......

This is your first season in the greenhouse, right? Think that could have something to do with it (in other words, I, like Mark, wonder about environmental variables that have changed.)

This is your first season in the greenhouse, right? Think that could have something to do with it (in other words, I, like Mark, wonder about environmental variables that have changed.)

Yes, that makes sense. Ground is supposedly a good source of ethylene (I don't remember why), but I haven't noticed any change in flower life. If I have, it has been for the better. So I'm not convinced that it could be ethylene. No paint or other fumes. Vented heaters. I certainly have more light than I used to, which I'm pretty sure the plants appreciate. Bigger temperature swings. Most of the plants that I'm using for breeding are my stud plants that I have had for years under lights. Perhaps they haven't adjusted as well to the greenhouse as I thought. Although they have been out there for almost a year now.

I am using well water instead of RO water. I think the phrags are noticing that, although they are still growing ok. Perhaps when I get my rainwater tanks installed (and filled) that will make a change.

I would start with more of the basic stuff, like temps and light levels. When I was having lots of problems with phrags it turned out to be mostly humidity, which you say is good now.

You mentioned in the last post your light levels are up compared to the old days, and bigger temp swings. You might try some shading for a while and see what happens.

Make sure your temperature is regulated. Temps that flash to 90'F to 100'F will cause capsules to abort.

Make sure your temperature is regulated. Temps that flash to 90'F to 100'F will cause capsules to abort.

Maybe I'll have to take my breeding plants back into the basement then. I don't know how I'm going to avoid that kind of temperature. Especially when it is 95 degrees outside... Shade and ventilation can only do too much.

I like this hypothesis though.

That's interesting Steve, and makes sense for what I've seen. I've had some capsules mature must faster than normal, and at different times on the same plant. Namely lowii and philippinense. These are on the sunny side of my greenhouse, and are prone to "hot flashes" depending on the time of year.

I wouldn't say they aborted because they produced viable seed (that germinated too), but I couldn't say if the yeild would have been higher if they went longer.

Rob,

I had trouble my first year in the greenhouse. May be due to change of enviornment. I have made about 100 crosses in the past 3 years. I find that about 7 days in flower works the best for me for both the flower and the pollen. The pollen should be checked also. If it looks black or dried out - forget about it! Flowers that don't take due to the stamen being too slippery is usually due to being a first time bloomer. And last of all, the high heat we have had this year also prevents them from taking.

Hope it helps.