If your are looking for a flasking service, please contact us with your needs.

Lets Talk!  If you have a species, interesting hybrid, or only need a hobby flask, I'm sure we can work something out. 

I am always interested in flasking species orchids.  If you want to donate the seed for a free hobby flask or community pot, or if you think I may be interested in the progeny of a hybrid or cross you created, e-mail me.  I may cover the cost of sowing a mother flask, and the first few re-plates.

FLASKING FEES
Each flask we make is $15.00.
We will notify you of the germination, at which time you can decide how many final flasks you require.

GUARANTEE
We can not guarantee the success of the flasking.
You can incur the flasking charge for the seed flask, and the seed may not germinate, or the resulting germination may only produce a few seedlings.

There are pros and cons to both dry and green pod sowing.  And we are happy to do both.

Green pods:
Pros - The seed remains sterile within the pod, resulting in fewer contaminated mother flasks and usually an improved yield. 
Cons - The viability of the embryo's can not be determined, and in some cases result in either low yields, or no germination.

Dry seed:
Pros - offers us the opportunity to inspect and assess the seed, to determine the percentage of viable embryos.  This will help us decide if it is worth the time and money of attempting to sow the seed, or allow us to increase the volume of seed sown per flask to help increase your yield.

Cons - As a result of the pod senescing, the seed became exposed and contaminated.  The chore of now disinfecting the seed introduces two potential problems:

First being, that there will be a higher percentage of embryo mortality, due to the sodium hypochlorate solution, or hydrogen peroxide used to sterilize the seed. 

Second, the likelihood that the flasks become contaminated is increased.  It is a science of minutes, if not seconds.  Soak the seed too long and the embryo dies, too little and you grow mold and other nasties.

MAILING SEED POD
Please wrap in tissue and mail in crush proof box so it will not be damaged in shipping.
If possible it should be shipped via next day air.
Be sure to identify the pod with your name, and the species or cross.

MAILING DRY SEED
Please take a piece of paper and fold it in half from top to bottom.  Then fold it in half again, left to right.  The result should be a square of paper, 1/4 the size if the original sheet.  By pulling open the loose end of the folded paper, you will notice that you have just made a little pocket that looks like a funnel or coffee filter.  Pour your dry seed into the pocket, tapping the paper so that all the seed collects down in the bottom corner.  Then take and fold the pocket in half, top to bottom, taking care to keep the seed in place.  Then fold it left to right.  The resulting packet can then be taped shut and you can label it with the species or cross, and include your name.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE
Stage 1 of flasking takes 2-4 months
Stage 2 of flasking takes 4-6 months
Stage 3 of flasking takes 6-8 months
Total of approximately 18 months

Please contact us with any further questions!