Orchids are beautiful flowers, they are becoming more popular among gardeners. In most cases, people buy a finished plant in a pot. Until recently, it was believed that it was almost impossible to get a beautiful flower from seeds. But technology does not stand still, so with a great desire this process can be carried out, although it is quite laborious and takes a lot of time. It is worth giving an answer to the question of how to grow an orchid from seeds and get a beautiful plant.
Features of growing orchids from seeds
Despite the fact that growing orchids from seeds is a rather complicated process, but with proper preparation it is quite possible to achieve positive results.
Orchid from seeds is difficult, but possible
Preparing planting material
The main success factor when planting orchids is planting material. If desired, seeds can be purchased. Many amateur gardeners prefer to independently prepare planting material.
- Two flowering plants are needed. Pollen is carefully collected from the stamens of one. Using a brush and transfer to another.
- After some time, it will be noticeable that the pollinated culture began to fade. This is normal, but the flower should not fall.
- If everything went well, after a couple of weeks, the formation of the seed box will begin.
Each pod contains more than a million seeds - they are incredibly small in the culture, it is almost impossible to consider how orchid seeds look. Therefore, in most cases, seeds are still purchased from suppliers from China.
Orchid seeds have some more features that make them difficult to germinate and use. First of all, they lack the nutrient layer, which is necessary for better development of the embryo. The future sprout does not have the ability to extract nutrients directly from the ground. For the same reason, the Chinese orchid is keenly reacting to any negative changes. Therefore, growing from seeds is a complex process that requires strict adherence to all conditions.
Orchid seeds are very small. Sometimes it's hard to make out
Required Inventory
To germinate the seeds you will need special glass flasks. It is allowed to use dishes for chemical reagents with a volume of 200-300 ml and a narrow neck. You can also use glass jars with hermetically screwed caps. On the covers, several holes with a diameter of a couple of mm are made and tightly plugged with cotton wool. Also, germination will require litmus papers, disposable syringes, hydrogen peroxide 2%. Ordinary pots and a container for germinating seeds are completely unsuitable, you should not even try to use them.
Substrate selection
Neither ordinary soil nor special soil for orchids is suitable for cultivation. Some people try to germinate seeds in the moss, however, this material is quite difficult to keep in a sterile state. It is better to choose a special nutrient mixture, which includes several components:
- "Agar-agar" is a light powder with a natural composition, which after reaction with water turns into a jelly-like mass. It will take 10-15 g.
- Distilled water - approximately 200 ml.
- Glucose and fructose - 10 g of each substance.
- Potassium carbonate solution.
- Orthophosphoric acid.
The last two substances are used to determine the acidity of the substrate. They can be replaced by litmus papers. The optimum acidity is 4.8-5.2 pH. Preparing the mixture is quite simple according to the recipe:
- Agar agar is diluted in a glass of plain water. Leave for a couple of hours.
- Fructose and glucose are poured into boiling distilled water. Stir in one direction.
- Heated until the mixture becomes uniform and jelly-like.
After preparing the soil, you can start sowing seeds.
After a while, small shoots appear
The scheme of growing at home
Before planting orchid seeds, a number of preliminary steps should be taken. First of all, sterilize all instruments, utensils and soil. Carry out the procedure for half an hour in the oven. After that, the substrate is placed in the prepared containers, closed tightly with lids. When applying soil, you need to be careful and make sure that it does not fall on the walls of the can. Otherwise, harmful bacteria may appear.
Sterilization of cans is carried out twice with a daily frequency. Seeds are purified in a solution of bleach (10 g per 100 ml of distilled water). Planting material is left in it for 15 minutes. The jar is periodically shaken.
Sowing
Sowing seeds is much easier compared to the preparatory process. It is important to observe sterility. With proper planting, germination of seeds is possible after a week and a half, but in some cases this can happen only after six months.
Sowing is carried out according to the algorithm:
- A grid or any device on which a jar of soil is mounted is fixed over a container of boiling water. The lid is left nearby.
- Seeds are carefully removed from the solution using sterile tools, distributed on the ground, but do not touch it. The procedure is carried out as quickly as possible.
- The containers are gently rocked for a more even distribution of seeds, closed with lids and cleaned in a suitable place.
This completes the planting of orchids. Now it is important to properly care for the seedlings.
Sowing care
After sowing, it is important to carefully monitor the condition of the substrate and seeds. After some time, they will begin to emerge and the formation of small green balls will be noticeable. Then small hairs will appear on them. Next, small leaves are formed. The root system in young plants appears last. In a closed container, seedlings remain for about a year.
Additional Information! At the same time, it is not recommended to open the jars so as not to disturb the sterile environment.
After some time, the seedlings are carefully removed from the mixture by means of forceps. Roots are washed carefully.
You can get the "kids" in another way. A small amount of distilled water is poured into the container, slightly shaken. In this case, the substrate becomes softer and more liquid. After that, the contents are carefully poured into another container and plants are removed from it.
Sprouts may appear even after six months
Planting Sprouts in a Pot
For planting small plants it is better to use transparent plastic cups. They are filled with a specially prepared substrate:
- 1 part of crushed bark of coniferous trees, sphagnum moss and fern rhizomes;
- 10 tablets of crushed activated carbon.
Drainage is placed at the bottom of the cups, then soil is poured. Then they carefully plant small orchids in them. At first, sprouts do not need watering. They are slightly sprayed to maintain the necessary soil moisture.
In this state, the plant needs to be grown for six months, after which it can be planted in a permanent place.
In a year, matured plants will appear in the container
Important! It is necessary to monitor the condition of small plants, not to waterlog them, in order to avoid decay of the roots, which are rather fragile in orchids.
Flowering of a crop planted with seeds, in most cases, occurs only for 4-5 years. To grow an orchid from the seeds of a house is quite difficult, but quite possible. If desired and following all the rules, you can get new plants that will soon please you with beautiful flowers. It is important to remember that culture is capricious at a young age, requires proper care, quality watering and lighting.
