goofys sowing efforts with terrestrial orchids and B1 fungus

[goofy]

hello friends,
in recent years I made several efforts to germinate different terrestrial orchids with the „famous“ B1 fungus. The agar is simply made from 3g oatsflakes and 6g Agar per liter tap- or RO water. I found no difference. For the “transplantig medium” I add 2g charcoal, because some species only make tubers in a “dark medium”, and a little bit of “woodfibre”(Toresa). Because it lasts longer than the oats to nourish the fungus.

All species, which I germinated, are stored in the dark in  first season, then they go into the fridge for 3 months. According to the sowing time, it is best to start the second season “on soil” in spring if possible, they are in the “right cycle” then.

As one can see, the different species grow with “different speed”. Some are really fast in 2-3 months to go “dormant”. Some make a little elongated shoot before.

My growing mix for the second season is from 45% Seramis/45% Perlite ( plus 10% Toresa.)

Here are some pics to show, what I could manage:

Fungus B1 on oats agar, initial piece in the middle and overgrown surface.


Dactylorhiza sambucina (2m)


Neotinea maculata (2m)


Herminium monorchis (2m)


Orchis coriophora (2m)


Orchis morio (6m in second season on agar)


Spiranthes sinensis var australis (3m)


Spiranthes sinensis var australis single plant 1y, grown already on soil


Pterostylis curta (3m on agar)


Orchis sancta 10cm CP,  second year/first year on soil.


growing box with jars  under red/blue LED lights.


have fun and just try it, its easy, you dont need a cleanbench.

cheers

[Neil]

You succeeded with Neotinea maculata on B1 then I had no luck with mine symbiotically.  I still cannot get the protocorms to produce shoots,  it has now been three years since they germinated. 

 Did you get any results with N lactea seeds I sent you?

[goofy]

hello Neil,
tks for your question.....

unfortunately no germination so far from the N. lactea

one jar in the fridge after sowing,
the other jar "as usual" (18 Celsius)


the N. maculata germinated well, but they are 2 months only.
so must wait what will happen next months ,
whether they will make shoots.

cheers

[Karaba]

All these posts about orchid germination in non-sterile condition give a lot of perspectives 

I have just a question about B1 : In another post about cardboard , Winwen said that "B1 does NOT germinate and support Orchis" and other orchid's genus. can you confirm that you succeed in germinating Orchis with B1 ?

[goofy]

All these posts about orchid germination in non-sterile condition give a lot of perspectives 

I have just a question about B1 : In another post about cardboard , Winwen said that "B1 does NOT germinate and support Orchis" and other orchid's genus. can you confirm that you succeed in germinating Orchis with B1 ?

hey,
just ask winwen about his "taxonomy"
but there is no general answer on your question

I germinated "Orchis" morio/caucasica/sancta/syriaca and others,
see my pic with O. morio, if  he calls them "Anacamptis", OK

but if you think B1 will germinate Anacamptis (Orchis) pyramidalis, you are wrong.
And there may be some/many "Orchis" which will NOT germinate on B1..........
I had no other seeds. AND I am not a taxonomist

So I germinated some Pterostylis from Australia, (melagramma, curta, nutans, baptistii)
but failed with several other "Pterostylis".
I germinated Neotinea (Orchis) maculata, but failed with N. lactea.
and I tried several other Dactylorhizas , which did not germinate B1.
AND I could not germinate Platanthera bifolia and chlorantha
WHO KNOWS..........

so just TRY, and you will SEE 
ITS NOT RISKY.............

cheers

[Neil]

Dieter

Regarding Platanthera, I find that they germinate much better using seed from a green capsule on B1

[goofy]

tks Neil,

interesting idea.
will try in summer


 

[winwen]

All these posts about orchid germination in non-sterile condition give a lot of perspectives 

I have just a question about B1 : In another post about cardboard , Winwen said that "B1 does NOT germinate and support Orchis" and other orchid's genus. can you confirm that you succeed in germinating Orchis with B1 ?

Karaba,
some of the Orchis changed to Anacamptis after recent DNA-Analysis (O. morio, O. coriophora, ...). Exactly these new Anacamptis germinate well with the B1 while Orchis usually don't. Funny, that the old Anacamptis (pyramidalis) also doesn't germinate with the B1. Our B1 usually is a good Dactylorhiza-germinator. Platanthera bifolia can be germinated with the B1, while chlorantha doesn't seem to respond well. This was also tried by some other growers with the same result.

BTW: Well done, Dieter! Your environment looks very sophisticated and professional. Do you use LEDs for Illumination?

[Karaba]

Dieter and Winwen, thanks for your answer. I'm really a newbie and my english is poor so I failed asking explanation in a good way. Fortunately, you two give me very useful answers.
I knew about the change of taxonomy but did not think that it would have such a consequence on germination. Those Anacamptis have been named Orchis during such a long time !
@Dieter : I'll try, I'll try after I collect some orchid's pods. Maybe not in flasks with B1, maybe only with the cardboard method for the first attempts, but I'll try 

[naoki]

Very nice.  Is Hardy Orchid Society the primary source of B1?  I have contacted them before, but I didn't get any response at all.  I think that it is unlikely that they can ship it to the US, though.

[Maggi Young]

Very nice.  Is Hardy Orchid Society the primary source of B1?  I have contacted them before, but I didn't get any response at all.  I think that it is unlikely that they can ship it to the US, though.

I thoughtthat "B1" was Vitamin B1 - Thiamin (Thiamine) ?

[goofy]

hey friends,

@Maggi, you are right, B1 is a Vitamin
but it is also the "brandname" of an orchidgerminating FUNGUS :-)

@Karaba
wish you luck , you may be lucky to find fungus, which will germinate also "true"  Orchis

@winwen,
yes all the light bulbs and fluorescent tubes in my house are substituted with LED........

@Neil
I checked  the "lactea" from the fridge under the microscope and found several thick swollen protocorms this morning

wait and see.

cheers
 

[orchidsworld]

Interesting... I really have to try symbiotically sowing...

Can you tell me more about how to proceed, medium used, light, temperature... all what could be helpfull

[Kevin]

Hi all,

I'm only starting out with this myself but what about trying the other strains of fungus whch are available? B1 is good, but I've found A36 quicker at germinating D.romana than B1. I've yet to try out the Q414 strain on anything.

I'd be interested to hear if anyone has tried out either of these on other orchids.
I'd also like to know if there is a fungal starin for Ophrys too?

Regards,
Kevin

[goofy]

hello Kevin,
what came out from your several sowing efforts?

any positiv results from the D. romana,
nice tiny tuibers yet?

whats with the Q414?
I had some tryings, but no resutlts,

but also had a fungus for Ophrys,
unfortunately also no results.

cheers