SEED CULTIVATION
Growing native orchids from seed is not straightforward. In nature they would require a symbiotic fungus to start the growing process. The fungus provides sugars to the orchid while germination and initial growth takes place.
Very often the fungus is quite specific, so unless the fungus is present germination will not take place.
For Bewdley Orchids, there are two methods of doing this. If we know which fungus is required we can grow it and introduce the seed, although this is a very tricky job.
The second method, and the one we prefer, is to provide all of the essential nutrients to the seeds so that they can germinate and prosper under sterile conditions until they have produced green leaves and can manufacture their essential nutrients themselves.
The seeds are grown in sealed jars on a sterile medium, which is why we work in a sterile laboratory environment.
Very often the fungus is quite specific, so unless the fungus is present germination will not take place.
For Bewdley Orchids, there are two methods of doing this. If we know which fungus is required we can grow it and introduce the seed, although this is a very tricky job.
The second method, and the one we prefer, is to provide all of the essential nutrients to the seeds so that they can germinate and prosper under sterile conditions until they have produced green leaves and can manufacture their essential nutrients themselves.
The seeds are grown in sealed jars on a sterile medium, which is why we work in a sterile laboratory environment.
As you can see, orchid seeds are small and fragile. These are seeds of the Common Spotted Orchid, but all orchid seeds are about the same size.
These are also seeds of the Common Spotted, but with a grape seed for size comparison to give you a better idea of just how small these seeds are.
When the seeds start to germinate they send out these hairs to absorb the nutrients they require. It can take several weeks or months for the seeds to germinate; some species are easier than others.
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After several weeks the bottom of the flask will look like this, with hairy protocorms scattered about, each one still developing and not looking anything like a plant yet.
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After several months the young plants are transplanted into fresh nutrients and given more space. They are now exposed to daylight so that they start producing the green pigment, chlorophyll.
After several weeks on the new nutrient medium in light, the seedlings are now recognisable as plants. They can be taken out and planted in compost in pots when they have substantial root growth.
Our growth rooms can become quite congested with these plants, and labelling is essential. Although it is possible to identify some species from the seed, it is not always accurate. Our racks are divided by species, fully labelled and colour coded so that a glance tells us which species is on which shelf.
Orchid seedlings in the growth room.
Orchid seedlings growing in the growth room. The plants on the bottom shelf are in the dark as they have not yet germinated. The later ones are sufficiently advanced to have been subcultured. Once they have started to grow they can be exposed to light so that they produce chlorophyll and become independent plants that no longer require an external source of sugar. In contrast to most tropical orchids, our native species will only germinate in the dark, a condition that hinders germination of some tropical species.