Monday, 20 February 2012
Tomatoes growing fast
It appears that nearly all varieties have grown their first true leaves under lights in just 14 days.
Orchid seed sowing part 2
Rather than describe each adventure I have made a simple spreadsheet to explain technique. Where applicable I will post a more detailed description. If you have a question post it in the comments or email it to me and I will try to update the post with the information.
a
a
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| Eulophia seeds |
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| Gas Fumigation in ziplock bag |
Orchid media status
1 week has past since media was prepared and so far there has been no sign of contamination. I do highly doubt that there will be no contamination at some point. Once some contamination has been identified though, I hope to try some decontamination tests.
Seed sowing part 1
Today sowed seeds for Trias nasuta. This seed was gathered in Mar. 2011 and stored in folded wax paper. I apologize for lack of photos. However I have been doing this solo so it's difficult to photograph and do what needs done. I will try to work out a way to get some photos, even if that means just videoing the process.
Now for the process: Seeds were laid out onto a piece of copy paper that had been folded to create a crease. The seeds were then funneled into the syringe with the plunger removed. Seeds were disinfected 2 different ways. First the majority of the seeds were treated in a syringe filled 1part bleach to 9 parts water for ten minutes. A small hole was drilled in the rubber cap and a small piece of coffee filter was inserted. This was then shaken for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes the solution was expelled out and pressure cooked distilled water was drawn up. This was shaken slightly then allowed to rest for 2 minutes. The distilled rinse was repeated 3 times whereupon on the 3rd expulsion 2 ml of seed water mixed was left in the syringe. The cap was then removed and 1ml of seed + water was dispensed into 1 poly container of cornstarch media, 1 poly container of p723. Then one baby food jar (pre-sterilized with 50% bleach solution) had 1 sterilized coffee filter soaked in OSP1 baby food media placed in the bottom. 1ml of water was then drawn into the syringe gentle swirled then dispensed into the baby food jar. The plunger was then removed and dabbed onto the soaked coffee filter to remove any additional seed not dispensed. Cap then screwed on tight and everything was sprayed with bleach water prior to removing from the glove box.
Seed that failed to fall into the syringe or still left on the wax paper was brushed into 1 soda bottle with p658 (in open air not in glove box) then medical grade cotton balls were soaked in 100% bleach and placed on the top of the bottle opening and cap then place on top. Cotton removed in glove box and cap screwed tight.
Now for the process: Seeds were laid out onto a piece of copy paper that had been folded to create a crease. The seeds were then funneled into the syringe with the plunger removed. Seeds were disinfected 2 different ways. First the majority of the seeds were treated in a syringe filled 1part bleach to 9 parts water for ten minutes. A small hole was drilled in the rubber cap and a small piece of coffee filter was inserted. This was then shaken for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes the solution was expelled out and pressure cooked distilled water was drawn up. This was shaken slightly then allowed to rest for 2 minutes. The distilled rinse was repeated 3 times whereupon on the 3rd expulsion 2 ml of seed water mixed was left in the syringe. The cap was then removed and 1ml of seed + water was dispensed into 1 poly container of cornstarch media, 1 poly container of p723. Then one baby food jar (pre-sterilized with 50% bleach solution) had 1 sterilized coffee filter soaked in OSP1 baby food media placed in the bottom. 1ml of water was then drawn into the syringe gentle swirled then dispensed into the baby food jar. The plunger was then removed and dabbed onto the soaked coffee filter to remove any additional seed not dispensed. Cap then screwed on tight and everything was sprayed with bleach water prior to removing from the glove box.
Seed that failed to fall into the syringe or still left on the wax paper was brushed into 1 soda bottle with p658 (in open air not in glove box) then medical grade cotton balls were soaked in 100% bleach and placed on the top of the bottle opening and cap then place on top. Cotton removed in glove box and cap screwed tight.
Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Orchid Media Preparation cont'd
A little delayed but on 2/12/1012 flasks were made using a modified OSP1 media:
2 level tsp sucrose
1/2 level tsp plant pro 20-20-20
138ml banana baby food (no added sugar version)
mixed with enougth distilled water to equal 1L then pour into two mason jars and pressure cooked. Also pressure cooked 10 coffee filters (to be used in sterile jars for seed flasking) and also a 1 qt container of perlite was pressure cooked for replating later.
Flasks were also made using a modified cornstarch method by CD Moulton:
1/4 cup of cornstarch
1 tbsp + 1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp plant pro 20-20-20
1 L humidifer water
This was dispensed into 3 mason jars which was pressure cooked as well as 1 polypro container that was pressure cooked as well. Also 3 polypropolyene containers were cooked in the microwave for 4:30 mins. then place in a bag sprayed with bleach to cool.
20 Flasks were produced of P658 as well:
5 vented polypropylene
5 unvented polypropylene
1 unvented mason jar
2 vented mason jars
1 tall recycled food jar with metal lid - vented
3 vented plastic soda bottles
3 unvented soda bottles
- I experienced more melting this time with the soda bottles when dispensing the boiling media. I found that the bottoms are more reistant to the boiling so the bottles standing up have less deformitiy. Next time will have to try to fill standing then rotate to the side as it cools.
Also I have noticed that all of the polypropolene containers have a large amount of condesation in them where the mason, and food jars have nearly none. Perhaps I do not vent the poly containers enough. Time will tell if this becomes a problem in the future.
2 level tsp sucrose
1/2 level tsp plant pro 20-20-20
138ml banana baby food (no added sugar version)
mixed with enougth distilled water to equal 1L then pour into two mason jars and pressure cooked. Also pressure cooked 10 coffee filters (to be used in sterile jars for seed flasking) and also a 1 qt container of perlite was pressure cooked for replating later.
Flasks were also made using a modified cornstarch method by CD Moulton:
1/4 cup of cornstarch
1 tbsp + 1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp plant pro 20-20-20
1 L humidifer water
This was dispensed into 3 mason jars which was pressure cooked as well as 1 polypro container that was pressure cooked as well. Also 3 polypropolyene containers were cooked in the microwave for 4:30 mins. then place in a bag sprayed with bleach to cool.
20 Flasks were produced of P658 as well:
5 vented polypropylene
5 unvented polypropylene
1 unvented mason jar
2 vented mason jars
1 tall recycled food jar with metal lid - vented
3 vented plastic soda bottles
3 unvented soda bottles
- I experienced more melting this time with the soda bottles when dispensing the boiling media. I found that the bottoms are more reistant to the boiling so the bottles standing up have less deformitiy. Next time will have to try to fill standing then rotate to the side as it cools.
Also I have noticed that all of the polypropolene containers have a large amount of condesation in them where the mason, and food jars have nearly none. Perhaps I do not vent the poly containers enough. Time will tell if this becomes a problem in the future.
Sunday, 12 February 2012
Orchid Media Preparation
Today I embarked on the first phase of my orchid propagation trials. I started with p723 from Phytotech labs and prepared media in 4 types of vessels: Soda Bottles, Mason Jars, Recycled glass food jars, and polypropylene deli containers (will update with photos later.
For the soda bottles, I cleaned each with soap and water then used a 50% bleach solution for 10 mins to sterilize. Each bottle was then dumped and shook upside down. Caps were put on til the media was put in. These bottles were filled first while the media was just about at the boiling stage. The heat made the bottles without vents shrivel as they cooled so I put all into a bag sprayed with 50% bleach solution and caps were unscrewed to allow pressure to normalize. This may prove to be a big mistake. I probably could have left the vented ones alone, but I put those in the sterile bag as well.
The mason jars and recycled food jars were put into the pressure cooker with 1 additional polypropylene container as well. These were pressure cooked for 30 mins at 15lbs pressure.
The polypropylene containers were microwaved for 4.5 mins at 1.5 min bursts, then placed into a sterilized bag treated the same as the soda bottles. Each time more containers were added to the bag the bleach solution was sprayed again.
For the soda bottles, I cleaned each with soap and water then used a 50% bleach solution for 10 mins to sterilize. Each bottle was then dumped and shook upside down. Caps were put on til the media was put in. These bottles were filled first while the media was just about at the boiling stage. The heat made the bottles without vents shrivel as they cooled so I put all into a bag sprayed with 50% bleach solution and caps were unscrewed to allow pressure to normalize. This may prove to be a big mistake. I probably could have left the vented ones alone, but I put those in the sterile bag as well.
The mason jars and recycled food jars were put into the pressure cooker with 1 additional polypropylene container as well. These were pressure cooked for 30 mins at 15lbs pressure.
The polypropylene containers were microwaved for 4.5 mins at 1.5 min bursts, then placed into a sterilized bag treated the same as the soda bottles. Each time more containers were added to the bag the bleach solution was sprayed again.
Saturday, 11 February 2012
Orchids finally potted correctly
It's taken almost 6 months but the orchids brought with me have finally been potted up they way they should have from the beginning. Hopefully I won't lose any more. Also I transitioned some of the plants over to Semi-hydroponic.
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