Hi everyone,
how can you get seedlings (for example cyps or bletilla) into right timing, so that they go dormant when it's turning winter, and start growing new shoots when it's turning into spring again? So that it is possible to deflask seedlings when they are dormant, and let them grow further the next spring, in normal soil.
I grow my seedlings into a special box with lamps inside, so there's is no change of season at all!

Nick

Hi, Nick,

Yours is a common problem. Once you deflask, if you keep the seedlings uniformly cold in the refrigerator, most of the time they will stay dormant as long as you like. This spring I planted out seedlings that had been refrigerated since last September and they germinated as well as those that had been refrigerated since early January. You do have to watch out for breaking of dormancy. If that happens then you will have to take them out earlier. I have had that happen mostly with kentuckiense and formosanum.

Good luck!

Ron Burch

How will the seedlings go into dormancy if they are grown under artificial light, and when there is nog change of season for them?
Isn't it better to let them under the lights untill they are big enough and untill it's resting season in the same time?

Nick

Hi Nick,
Bletilla doesn't care about a cold treatment. When it's exposed to light, it grows. Just keep the plants on fresh medium til spring and plant out when it's warm enough.

Cyps mostly require a cold period to begin growth in the spring. The seedlings are naturally "dormant" in flasks always because you grow Cyps in the dark, always. The first light they ever see is 18 months after the seed was sown!

Some Cyps don't seem to care about a vernalization and they will start to elongate their buds in the jars, in the dark! I had some problems with Cyp flavum elongating their buds early this year. I planted out those that were big enough immediately and some are doing ok.

Theoretically, when you have this problem you are supposed to let them elongate their small buds and leave them in the dark. They should regrow new compact buds for the following spring.

Best,
Ross