Question:
I have recently been learning about propagating orchid via flasks but I have mould in some of the flasks.
There is mould in the flask with orchid seeds and also in the flask with Diuris tricolour in bulbs. The bulbs are almost ready for deflasking.
What can I do?
Answer:
With a home laboratory, no matter how careful one is, mould can still contaminate the jars of agar. If mould occurs when the orchids are still in seed, then the whole jar needs to be discarded. The seeds will not survive.
With the Diuris flask, as they are almost ready for deflasking, pot them out straight away. This needs to be done within 10 days of the mould appearing. The weather (March, 2017, South Australia) is still a little too warm but if left in the flask, the plants will die. Potting them out may give them a chance of survival.
When deflasking, it is important to rinse all the agar off the bulbs before potting on as normal. Once potted, it could help to cover the pot with a cut down clear drink bottle with the lid removed. This will allow some air to circulate. Keep the pot in a shady spot.
Will it survive in the pot? Hopefully it might but at least the plants have a better chance of survival then if left in the flask where it would surely die.
NOSSA 