I was thinking someday I might try my hand at getting a flask and doing all that deflasking stuff.
Can anyone tell me if there are particular genera that are easier to raise from flask? Or do they all require an extreme amount of care and controlled conditions? I like paphs and phals, and would probably try my hand with a cheap flask first.
Thanks in advance,

My short experiance is only with phrags, and so far I haven't lost any. I have been starting them in my pleurothallid box, which has controlled humidity and good airflow. I've got some Phal fasciata seed germinated at Troys. I'd split the flask with you when they are ready.

I only did it once with paph. maudia hyb. (which is relatively cheap). I followed the directions for deflasking on the Antec web site. their orders are very clear and they have very helpfull photos.
I put the seedlings in a pot with the ordinary mix I use, in my house (don't have a greenhouse), and it came out perfect!
good luck!
amber

All seedlings are pretty vulnerable when removed from the flask. At the Nursery, where I pl.. err Work :) on Saturday mornings, the deflasked plants are crowded on top of a pot (or pots) of live sphag and placed on a warming table to "harden" for a while. When they show good growth they are wiinowed and the healthier seedlings placed in individual pots while the smaller are placed back in the "com" pot to grow some more.

The best success rate I've seen is within the Cat complex. Those little buggers tend to grow like weeds. That may just be our local climate though.

Cheers
Stephan

Phaleanopsis hybrids are incredibly tough and easy to grow from flask. Some of the things I did to my first Phal flasks would have totally killed Paphs. After Phals, Phrags seemed to be fairly easy. Always choose a hybrid. They seem to be less finicky than species.

Thanks for the tips. I have been tempted to pick up a flask every time I go to OFE - they usually have a few lying around on a shelf. The hard part is finding something I want. The only phals they seem to have are harlequins and my wife keeps telling me the splotches look "diseased."
I would order over the internet, but I am worried that they flasks might get jumbled. I read somewhere that this is a bad thing... If anyone has any thoughts or ideas on this, I would love to hear them.
Thanks again,

Howdy Marcus, I agree that phals are probably the easiest, but Antec offers a beginner's special for like $40 they are maudiae type, I had pretty good success when I first started growing. Let us know what you do :)

Similar conversation going on here on this forum:

http://www.slipperorchidforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1576