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Re: Germination requirements of Bletilla striata


> It appears that this orchid is only reliably propagated from seed in agar
> and sterile conditions..

This method will give you flowering plants in the shortest time.

> Seems the orchid seeds have virtually no "food" in them to feed the
> developing embryo and, in the wild, rely on mycorhizal fungi found in the
> soil where they originate (China).

> Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
> mtalt@clark.net

Mycorhizal fungi are of benefit to germinating orchid seeds but they 
are not absolutely nessesary.

I used the following method to grow several hundred B striata 
seedlings to flowering:
Chopped sphagnum moss was sterilized by pouring boiling water over it and 
then bringing it back to the boil, then allowed to cool, and drain, then 
packed  softly into a pot. Fresh Bletilla seed was then sprinkled on 
the surface of the moss. The pot was then placed on a saucer in a 
window which received direct sunlight for most of the day. Watering 
was by capillary action from the saucer which was always kept topped 
up. The temperature would have been normal room temp. around 20-25C
The seed turned green after about a week and after about 12 weeks had 
small single leaves but no roots. At this stage the seedlings were 
transplanted to a fresh pots of moss prepared as above and were allowed 
to grow to the end of the season. The following spring the resulting 
small tubers were planted in trays of potting mix and placed outside 
for the entire growing period. From there they were planted out and 
began flowering 3-4 years from sowwing, which is remarkably quick 
compared to most other orchids.
Growing Bletilla using laboratory methods would probably cut a year 
off the time to flowering.

Just a point- Seed should be from a freshly split pod or one about to 
split and should be sown immediately to get really good germination. I 
found that seed which had been stored only for a few weeks in the 
refrigerator gave dramatically reduced germination.


> > Daryl & Julie wrote:
> > > 
> > > Anyone know what the germination requirements are for Bletilla striata,
> > > the hardy ground orchid?

> > > Thanks,
> > > Julie Finn



Michael Wilton * Waikanae * New Zealand 
 mw@home.net.nz
"Mike in the Begonia House" Wellington Botanic Garden
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