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Cattleya capsule advice

Discussion in 'Orchid Culture' started by Dave, Aug 6, 2010.

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  1. Aug 6, 2010 #1
    Dave

    Dave Active Member Supporting Member

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    Hello all,
    This is my first time trying to grow a capsule. This capsule is the result of a pollination in mid-April. Today I noticed that is had split and the end was yellow. Should I just toss this, or is it salvageable?

    I was planning on sending it off to a laboratory. Another capsule from a mid-March pollination is still green and looks great. TIA.
    capsule.jpg
     
  2. Aug 6, 2010 #2
    Kitty

    Kitty AKA\Debby

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    after more than a year of a green seed pod on my cym. dayanum it also burst. My friend Tom Perlite ( the great hybridizer from S.F. CA) said if the seed poufs in the air its no good, but if it falls its good, pods burst all the time. Tap the remaining seed on to paper and fold it, no plastic. There was a great story a few years ago at POE where Jon Leathers of Hawk Hill orchids in Pacifica had a pod burst and fell onto the old mossy wood beanch below, he was still able to salvage seed to flask but the seed on the bench grew and flowered 2 years before those in flask, the pod was from a Dracula :)
     
  3. Aug 6, 2010 #3
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    If there is still seed in the capsule that can be collected, it should be good. If you haven't already done so, hold paper (a coffee filter is perfect) under the pod while you cut the stem with a sterile blade. I put a filter paper in a net basket and clip the stem of the pod on to the edge of the basket so that as the pod dries the seed falls into the paper, cover with another filter so it doesn't blow or have something drop into it, put it in a dry place and then wait until the pod dries and all of the loose seed has spilled. Don't scrape the seed out.

    Tell whoever is going to flask it that it split in the greenhouse so they are aware that there may be heavy contamination and can disinfect the seed accordingly.
     
  4. Aug 7, 2010 #4
    pacome

    pacome Active Member

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    If I may add a comment about that seedpod, 4 months maturation for a cattleya is quite unusually fast, there is a high chance that your seeds are empty/no embryos. the second pod being at least 1 month older and still green, is probably much better.
    Laurent
     
  5. Aug 21, 2010 #5
    Doc Elly

    Doc Elly Member

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    I agree with Pacome. The black color on the flower end of the capsule looks as if it started to rot and aborted. If you have a second healthy cap, I'd get rid of this one and wait for the one that's more likely to have viable seed. Keep a close eye on it. Sometimes the caps split while they're still green, usually from the bottom where you can't see it happening.