Epipactis gigantea seeds available

[mark smyth]

I have a few million seeds of the giant helleborine available. Yes I counted them one by one.

Anybody want some?

[ellen&dan]

Hi Mark, i was wondering how you grow them from seed, as i have tried without results in the past.

[WimB]

Hi Mark,

I would like some but I have the same question as Ellen & Dan. Don't you need to germinate them on agar???

[mark smyth]

I really don't know. Sorry.

[Maggi Young]

It is usually stated that for success with orchid seed one does need the whole agar, flasking set-up.... but  the plants manage well enough in the wild, which is why I believe that it is worth a try, if one has an area where other orchids are  growing, be it in the garden or a container, to broadcast orchid seed in that area and hope for the best!  If other orchids are already growing there, there is at least the chance that the relevant associated fungal properties etc are also present, which are needed for the new seed to grow.
Hope costs nothing, and I am rich in hope!

[mark smyth]

Any other people want some before I scatter the seeds in my garden? Hard rain is due tomorrow for the first time in fours weeks which means the seeds will stick where they land

[Paul T]

Howdy All,

Unfortunately, to germinate most of the terrestrial orchids you need a certain microrhyzza fungus to germinate.  Orchid seed is tiny and dustlike because it has no food reserves at all.... it can't grow without the fungus host to get it started.  Given that most orchids have unique fungus links (i.e different fungus for different genus, and in some cases species within the genus), it becomes hard to germinate orchid seed in the garden unless you already have that particular orchid (and it's fungus) already there.  I would be interested in some seed Mark, as i have an old pot where I purchased Epipactus gigantea a couple of years ago and it died..... so I am hoping that the fungus might still be present in the soil.  Fingers crossed and all that.    If I hadn't had that plant there would have been no point me asking for seed, as the seed would not have the required fungus to germinate in the first place, or most likely not anyway.

I'm writing all this just to explain to people why they have had problems germinating seed themselves.  Yes, if you still have some I wouldn't mind trying a pink Mark.  It will be fine for our quarantine providing it is not still in the pod (which would be regarded as green material).  I'm hoping to try sowing seed of Dactylorhiza as well at some point, near the other Dacts that I have, in the hope of being successful with those as well.  I just have to remember to ask when Dact seed time comes around. 

[mark smyth]

Paul thanks for the input. Send me your address. I'll collect Dactylorhiza seed for you from all my varieties.

[Paul T]

Thanks Mark.  Pm on it's way.

[Maggi Young]

seed arrived, Mark, many thanks.... I am ever hopeful of success!
 

[mark smyth]

Paul and Wim will you send me your addresses again please.

If anyone else contacted me please do so again. Other than Maggi and Toolie I cant remember who I sent seeds to