Surface sterilizing #orchid seeds today

#orchidbreeding #plants #gardening

A deep burgundy red flower with antenna-like petals and sepals, looking like a bug; plant in its plastic pot out of focus in the background.

Side view of flower, spotted coloring more obvious- the spots are so dense as to make the flower’s lip seem mostly even tone. Under the flower, fingers hold a toothpick. An arrow points to a minuscule blip on the end, words claim this is pollen. Another minuscule blip above is labeled as an anther cap.

Restrepia species
In case you were wondering, even a “large” #restrepia flower has impossibly tiny pollinia and anther cap. I’m not sure if I’ve just pollinated this flower, or if I dropped the pollen and merely assaulted the flower. Wish me luck?
#orchids #orchidbreeding #gardening #plantsky

A tiny landscape in a sterile jar - several orchid seedlings growing in nutrient agar. Their furry roots are visible beneath the foliage.

Paph seedlings in vitro. This batch is a multifloral x maudiae type. The foliage on the big beastie in the middle there is shaping up to be exactly what I was looking for.
#orchidbreeding #orchids #paphiopedilum #orchidflasking #invitro

Two 16oz plastic tubs with dark agar medium hosting many young orchid seedlings. Each is a chaotic tangle of roots and leaves.

Phalaenopsis javanica x equestris seedlings, ready to deflask
#orchids #phalaenopsis #orchidbreeding #invitro #orchifflasking