SubRosa
BS Bulldozer
I was on an orchid growing forum and was asked to explain this method of growing orchids without the need for sterile conditions. Essentially you provide a suitable growing mix for your intended species, then introduce cellulose in the form of cardboard to act as a food source for the fungi that orchids normally form an association with for germination and early development. VERY interestingly, this method has been used in Japan to successfully grow, flower, sow, and repeat through multiple generations of a 100% mycoheterotrophic species of Gastrodia native there.I copied more specific instructions there, and I'm pasting them here:
I can't speak specifically to coral root, but generally speaking you should be able to get germination and early development if you have the proper fungus and create a suitable mix to culture it in. When I make up my mix I do add a handful of soil from the root zones of some local orchid colonies. Fortunately I have an area within a 5 minute walk where I can access at least 5 different species in a relatively small area, and use a handful of each. A more specific set of directions is as follows:
Get a clean piece of cardboard with no ink or tape on it and soak it a week or 2 in rain/distilled water. Then prepare the mix. For Spiranthes and Calopogon I use a 50/50;mix of peat and pool sand, for woodland species I use a mix of approximately equal parts peat, pool sand, and partially decomposed pine needles or oak leaves, since the area I mentioned in a pine/oak woodland. The cardboard can be incorporated in different ways. You could out the seasoned cardboard in a blender with just a touch of water to make a paste, or simply tear it into strips about as wide as your medium is deep and weave the strips vertically on edge through the medium. The medium should be moist but not sopping, then sow the seed. Cover the container or put put it in a zip lock bag. I put the containers outside in a dark place up against the foundation and keep them there until around Christmas. Then they come in and get diffused light 12 hours a day. Germination normally begins withing a month or so with Spiranthes and Calopogon, other species take a bit longer.
I can't speak specifically to coral root, but generally speaking you should be able to get germination and early development if you have the proper fungus and create a suitable mix to culture it in. When I make up my mix I do add a handful of soil from the root zones of some local orchid colonies. Fortunately I have an area within a 5 minute walk where I can access at least 5 different species in a relatively small area, and use a handful of each. A more specific set of directions is as follows:
Get a clean piece of cardboard with no ink or tape on it and soak it a week or 2 in rain/distilled water. Then prepare the mix. For Spiranthes and Calopogon I use a 50/50;mix of peat and pool sand, for woodland species I use a mix of approximately equal parts peat, pool sand, and partially decomposed pine needles or oak leaves, since the area I mentioned in a pine/oak woodland. The cardboard can be incorporated in different ways. You could out the seasoned cardboard in a blender with just a touch of water to make a paste, or simply tear it into strips about as wide as your medium is deep and weave the strips vertically on edge through the medium. The medium should be moist but not sopping, then sow the seed. Cover the container or put put it in a zip lock bag. I put the containers outside in a dark place up against the foundation and keep them there until around Christmas. Then they come in and get diffused light 12 hours a day. Germination normally begins withing a month or so with Spiranthes and Calopogon, other species take a bit longer.
