Himantoglossum robertianum from seeds - growing medium?

[Corrado & Rina]

Dear all,

Among the many seeds I received in the seed exchange there are those of Himantoglossum robertianum. I am truly excited. What protocol do you use for germination? What medium?

Regards

Corrado

[Neil]

I sow on Malmgren modified medium,
for 1 litre

sucrose 8g
Agar   6 g
MgSO4   75 mg
Ca3((PO4)2   75 mg
KH2PO4   75mg
amino acid 1ml
pineapple juice 25 ml
activated carbon   0.5g
grated swede  20ml
pH 5.6-5.8

The biggest problem I have is when I have to deflask them, and that is when i lose the majority of them, only getting if 5% survival rate at  this point.  I am still trying to find the best way of doing this.

[Anthony Darby]

Does it have to be Swede, or will any Scandinavian do?

[Corrado & Rina]

I sow on Malmgren modified medium,
for 1 litre

sucrose 8g
Agar   6 g
MgSO4   75 mg
Ca3((PO4)2   75 mg
KH2PO4   75mg
amino acid 1ml
pineapple juice 25 ml
activated carbon   0.5g
grated swede  20ml
pH 5.6-5.8

The biggest problem I have is when I have to deflask them, and that is when i lose the majority of them, only getting if 5% survival rate at  this point.  I am still trying to find the best way of doing this.

Do you give the seeds a cool period in the fridge before sowing in the medium?

Were you able to understand what is killing the other 95% of seedling?

Best,

Corrado

[Neil]

Regarding cool period, I store my seeds in the fridge. 

Its not the seedlings, its when the tuber is deflasked it starts to dessicate ,  I have tried potting up when the tuber starts its new growth, waiting a bit longer until it starts to produce the following seasons tuber.  Removing it from the flask once the old leaves have died back and keeping it in an airtight zip bag.  But they all end up with the same result.

[Corrado & Rina]

Regarding cool period, I store my seeds in the fridge. 

Its not the seedlings, its when the tuber is deflasked it starts to dessicate ,  I have tried potting up when the tuber starts its new growth, waiting a bit longer until it starts to produce the following seasons tuber.  Removing it from the flask once the old leaves have died back and keeping it in an airtight zip bag.  But they all end up with the same result.

Does the first re flasking from the sowing medium to the growing medium go well?

Best,

Corrado

[Neil]

No issue with re plating the protocorms, and I have kept them in jars for 3 years, these were in 1 litre jars as they were fully grown, but as soon as they are taken out, that is when I have the issues of them dying.