Glass flask with seedlings ready for planting
Beginning orchid growers are sometimes seriously afraid: how will an orchid from a flask behave, will the seedling be able to effectively adapt at home? Don't be afraid of the flask babies. With a healthy root system they are quite viable. However, it is definitely worth getting acquainted with the basic rules for handling flasks in the first minutes after removal from the vessel.
Most orchid growers practice purchasing plants in flasks - plastic or glass container flasks in which seeds are sown in greenhouses. Planting material under conditions of absolute sterility, they are sown in a special nutrient gel-like substance or moss, sealed hermetically and wait for the seedlings to appear. Through the transparent walls they observe how the plants develop. When the seedlings reach a certain size and age, they are sent by mail to potential customers.
So, the plant in an unusual container, having traveled halfway across the continent, arrived at the house. What to do next?
How to remove an orchid from a flask?
Having carefully examined its contents through the transparent wall of the vessel, you can count more than 20-25 plants. If there are no leaks, mold on the roots and substrate, or the nutrient medium is actually consumed, there is no need to rush to extract small seedlings. Let the plants rest a little from the road, shaking, and stand for several days in a bright and warm place. But seedlings that rest their tops on the “ceiling” of the container, even in the absence of the above factors, must be removed from the transfer container and planted in separate pots.
The wide neck of the flask will allow you to remove the orchids using long tweezers and keep the vessel intact for reuse. If the neck of the flask is narrow, the contents will have to be removed by destroying the container.
Seedlings from a broken flask
It’s easy with a plastic vessel - just carefully cut off the bottom of it, without touching the roots, and take out the seedlings. If there are a lot of plants in the flask, and they are tightly placed inside the vessel, it is better to cut the flask vertically - this will make it easier to free the fragile seedlings from the plastic.
It is more difficult with a glass container; you will have to break it in such a way as not to cut your hands and plants with fragments. The walls of the flasks, as a rule, are not thick and do not require a strong blow. For safety reasons, the vessel is wrapped in newspaper or an old piece of cloth, someone covers it with tape, then they lightly hit it with a small hammer. The plants are carefully removed from the broken container.
The seedling was extracted from the flask: what to do with it next?
The extracted plants are washed in cooled, but still warm, boiled water.
It is very important to thoroughly wash away the remaining gel-like medium in which the babies sprouted. The health of the plant depends on this, because in the used gel or moss bacteria develop that can cause illness in the little ones.
That is why the orchids from the flask are thoroughly cleaned with a painting or cosmetic brush. They are washed once clean water, the second - in a weak, barely pink solution of potassium permanganate, in other words, in potassium permanganate.
In order to prevent fungal infections, many orchid growers immerse flower growers for 15-20 minutes in a solution of fluconazole 150, prepared at the rate of 1 capsule per 1 liter of water, or in a solution of phytosporin at a concentration of 10 drops in 1 liter of water.
After such an intense “bathing”, the babies are laid out on a moisture-absorbing fabric with their roots facing up and left to dry for 4-5 hours.
Drying seedlings after washing from the gel-like medium
How to plant a small orchid taken from a flask?
To seat children, prepare small plastic cups the size of their children in advance. root system, make a sufficient number of holes in them to allow water to drain and air to penetrate to the roots. It is advisable to plant each seedling separately. Even if one specimen gets sick, the rest of the plants will survive.
Many orchid growers consider fine-grained soil to be the optimal substrate for flower growers. pine bark or pine bark with the addition of New Zealand or Chilean sphagnum moss in a ratio of 70%/30%. A little ceramis is added to the mixture to retain moisture; for the same purpose, the surface of the substrate is mulched with moss closer to the edges of the pot. The granulated bark of radiata pine, used both as the main substrate and as a component for self-composed mixtures, has proven itself very well in growing orchiata plants.
The planted seedlings are placed in a large container - a cake box or a spacious plastic container. A layer of expanded clay is laid at the bottom, which must be kept wet to create the necessary air humidity.
Attention! The container in which the pots with seedling orchids are placed should never be covered from above!
Planting seedlings in coconut chips with agroperlite deep in glasses (mini-greenhouse effect)
Caring for flower orchids after planting
The container with the babies is placed in a bright and warm place, illuminated with a lamp, observing the daylight hours.
The first watering is carried out no earlier than 4-5 days, but water is not poured into the substrate, but moisture is sprayed from a spray bottle closer to the edges of the cups. It is easy to determine the need for watering using a graphite rod. If it darkens after immersion in the substrate, it means it’s too early to water.
Around the end of the month, after transplanting the orchids from the flask into separate pots, fertilizers and biostimulants are added to the irrigation water. The little ones respond especially well to Peters® ProfessionaPlantStarter 10+52+10+m.e. and Radifarm from the Italian company Valagro, but they are diluted in a dosage that is half that specified by the manufacturer in the instructions.
Growing an orchid from a flask is not so difficult, the main thing is to properly adapt it in the first days after removing it from the vessel and transplanting it into independent pots, and also provide it with subsequent care in accordance with completely simple rules.
Orchids from flasks (flasks)
Orchids in flasks (flasks), usually hermetically sealed, are suitable for self-growing - this is an inexpensive gift for tourists vacationing in Thailand and Vietnam.
Such option for purchasing exotic orchids allows you to purchase a large number of your favorite flowers at once. And absolutely everyone can test their strength as an amateur gardener, growing a full-fledged plant from a small seedling.
However, you need to remember that a flowering specimen from the contents of this flask (flask) can only be obtained after 4-6 years, depending on the species.
But not all orchids are suitable for growing in a glass flask. If seedlings survive in such hermetic conditions in almost the majority of orchid species, forecasts for growing from sprouts to adult plants in oncidiums, vandas, phalaenopsis, dendro-phalaenopsis, and cattleyas are optimistic.
Hybrids of these orchids will be resilient and capable of growing into an orchid capable of flowering annually.
How to extract orchid seedlings from a glass flask (flask)
In purchased small vessels, most often brought from Asia, which contain a dozen plant seedlings, orchids do not grow for long. Deflacation of plants is necessary - removing orchid seedlings from flasks (flasks, bottles), accustoming the seedlings to the “ordinary” life, planting the orchid on a regular substrate.
All this must be done in stages. Immediately after purchasing the flask with orchid seedlings, without depressurizing the vessel, place it in the correct environment for orchids: warm, humid air, without wind, drafts or hypothermia.
This is necessary in order to relieve stress from the plants. Then, two weeks later, as soon as the growth of orchid seedlings in the glass flask (flask) begins to grow, they should be carefully removed from it.
There are some ways , by which young orchids are removed from their first home. But the least traumatic way for orchids will be not to extract them through a narrow neck, but to a version in which the glass flask is wrapped in several layers of fabric or newspaper and broken with a heavy object.
Another way - pulling out orchid seedlings by adding water inside a glass flask (flask). Also, the plastic vessel can be cut. The most important thing with any method of extracting orchids is to take special care, trying not to damage the fragile orchid seedlings.
Before such a complex procedure, the orchids are prepared to be outside the glass flask (flask). They are kept dry for some time at low temperatures.
Orchid seedlings taken out of a glass flask (flask)
The first thing to do after the orchid seedlings are removed from the glass flask is to free them from excess agar. Then rinse the bunch of sprouts under running water, then place on a paper towel to dry.
Remember that in a glass flask (flask) small orchid seedlings sit on a prototype of the substrate, their root hairs are thin and fragile. It is impossible to preserve seedlings without a sealed flask, so the first task in removing an orchid from a glass flask is to grow roots.
This can be done by placing miniature orchids in a greenhouse on wet moss, previously steamed and disinfected.
A greenhouse can be a transparent vessel covered with glass. This design perfectly supports tropical conditions with high air humidity.
The condensation that forms from wet drops on the walls and glass must be wiped off daily and the greenhouse must be ventilated to prevent the process of decay.
The greenhouse should not be exposed to direct sunlight, otherwise the thin sprouts will quickly cook in a closed, humid system. Good ventilation, diffused light, and moistening the substrate are the basics for keeping orchid seedlings in a greenhouse.
Miniature orchids very quickly acquire real roots, and after a while they leave their temporary home and acquire a new home.
Gradually, orchid seedlings become accustomed to life outside the greenhouse, opening it for some time every day, leaving glass vessel without cover.
An orchid flask is not only a popular souvenir from Thailand and some other Asian countries, but also a way to save money when buying an orchid. Are you thinking about buying an orchid bottle, or do you already have one and don’t know what to do with it? You will find answers to your questions in this article!
Flask or, in other words, a flask, container, vessel, jar. Flasks come in stack and plastic. A prerequisite is transparent walls. 
Flasks are used for breeding orchids. in a natural way. Breeders, having pollinated the orchid and waited for the dusty seeds, plant them in such a flask on a special nutrient medium. This occurs under conditions of absolute sterility. After planting the seeds, the flask is hermetically sealed and placed in a bright and warm place. Thanks to the transparent flask machines, you can observe and control the development process. After waiting until the orchid seedlings reach an acceptable size, the flask is opened and the contents are planted. 
Where to buy flasks with orchids?
Flasks are sold by large orchid breeders and suppliers. If you live near an orchid farm, it will not be difficult for you to buy a bottle of orchids. But what if there are no such farms nearby? Flasks are a specific product; you won’t find them in regular flower shop. You can try your luck in local orchid greenhouses. There are also special forum platforms specializing in collective orders of orchids from abroad, where you can order a flask. 
I was handed a flask - what should I do with it?
Orchid flasks are often brought from Thailand as souvenirs. We ordered an orchid and received such a surprise! Don't worry, we will teach you how to handle them. 
Inspect the flask from all sides. If the contents of the flask are mixed, there is mold on the substrate, the seal is broken, or the nutrient medium is running low, the flask must be immediately opened and the contents discarded. Also plant orchids if their tops rest against the lid of the container and there is nowhere for them to grow. In other cases, let the seedlings grow further by placing the flask in a bright and warm place.
Opening and dispensing the contents of the flask
Opening a glass or plastic bottle with a wide neck is easy. A glass bottle with a narrow neck will need to be broken. Be very careful not to cut yourself or damage the orchid seedlings.
After opening the flask, rinse the contents from the nutrient medium, dry and plant in small pots the size of the root. The substrate for small orchids can be pure moss or pure bark of small and medium fractions or a mixture of bark with the addition of coconut chips and moss. Thai and other Asian suppliers plant orchid seedlings in pure moss, and European ones in pure bark or in a mixture. It all depends on personal preference. 
Caring for orchid seedlings outside the flask
The number of seedlings inside the flask varies from several pieces (3-5) to several dozen. Place the planted orchid seedlings in a bright and warm place. Seedlings are very tender and suffer from a lack of moisture, so they are watered more often than adult orchids. Don't forget about fertilizers, but make the fertilizer solution much weaker than for adult orchids. Light also plays an important role in the growth of orchid babies; compensate for the lack of sun with lighting.
How long will it take for a flask orchid to bloom?
It all depends on the type of orchid and the conditions of detention. Favorable conditions contents will bring you closer to flowering, but don’t expect it too quickly. Phalaenopsis can bloom at 2-3 years of age. Cattleya in 5-7 years, or even more. Paphiopedilum or “Venus’s slipper” will also be in no hurry to please you - at least 5-7, and sometimes 10 years will pass before flowering.
Not everyone is ready to wait that long for flowering. Therefore, if you want to admire flowers, buy an adult orchid that is ready to bloom, or that has already bloomed.
Flasks are of interest to those who want to grow an adult orchid from a seed. Observe the entire process of orchid development and wait for flowering. This is touching and painstaking work, but the fruits are worth it. Don't be afraid to try!
Many of us who have visited Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand, bring them with us as souvenirs in bottles. And it’s really very difficult to resist buying this exotic souvenir, especially when you see an adult nearby flowering plant and imagine that the same miracle can grow in your apartment or garden.
If you have a bottle with an orchid seedling in your hands, and you don’t know where to start or how to approach this bottle, this is for you.
– do not touch or open the bottle for as long as possible. Place it in a bright, warm place, but not in direct sunlight, and check from time to time for mold inside. If there is no mold, then we be patient and wait, let the children grow as big as possible. Remember, the larger the seedling, the greater its chance of survival. Don't let it scare you long term stay of the orchid in the bottle. Believe me, she feels comfortable there.
But now you notice the first signs of mold inside the flask, which means it’s time to remove the plants.
I extract the orchids with a hammer. Don’t be alarmed, it’s not scary, this is the method of rescue recommended by the owners of orchid gardens and parks in Thailand and tested by me from personal experience.
Preparation.
You will need rubber gloves, a large basin, a hammer, tape, clean paper towels, warm running water, and pots (cups) for the young animals.
Freedom or how to properly remove orchid seedlings.
Before you begin, put on rubber gloves as... You will have to deal with broken glass. This is, of course, not 100% protection, but better than nothing.
So, wrap the bottle with tape to prevent the glass from shattering on impact, but not too much. You want to get an orchid? With a sharp, non-sweeping movement, hit the bottle with a hammer, while holding the bottle above your pelvis. Measure your strength, remember the fragile creatures inside. Carefully remove the plants and rinse under running water. It is necessary to wash off ALL the gel from the roots and leaves. The nutrient medium in which the orchid seedlings grew is an ideal environment for the growth of fungi. Leftover gel on the roots can kill your plants when exposed to air. After your shower, leave them to air dry on clean paper towels. Why does it have to be clean? Orchid seedlings have been developing all the time in the sterile conditions of the flask; to adapt to new conditions, microorganisms from the air will be enough for them; do not complicate their life, make the transition from one environment to another as smooth as possible. There is an opinion that after extraction and drying they need to be processed systemic fungicide(for example foundationazole). My personal experience says that if the orchid seedlings look healthy, then it is better to get by with more mild remedy– treat with phytosporin.
Adulthood.
Your little ones are free. Congratulations! Now they need to be placed in pots/cups. Depending on what type of orchid you have in your hands, it will need different conditions content. In this part, I will share with you my positive experience in growing vanda seedlings.
It is most comfortable for children to drink Vanda in small plastic cups that float in water in larger glasses, as in the photo below. - This is a plant that is really sensitive to air humidity. If it is not possible to maintain high air humidity within your apartment, then the “glass in a glass” growing method can help you. Moreover, by covering a large glass with a glass of the same size, the structure easily turns into a greenhouse. I draw your attention to the fact that Vanda grows WITHOUT SUBSTRATE. At all.
The orchid seedlings in the photo “float” in empty cups for more than 3 months, they are not going to die, on the contrary, they grow new leaves and roots. With this method of growing, it is convenient to water and feed them. You just need to take out a glass with a plant, place it on a hard surface, pour just water or water with fertilizer into the glass and leave for 15-20 minutes. Then pour the water out of the glass and DRY the plant. This is a mandatory condition, since water gets on the growing point, and the growing point should not be wet for a long time. In order to dry the plant you do not need to do anything special. It is enough to return the glass to its original position, but do not cover it with the glass on top, but leave it in the open air for a day. After drying, provided there is no moisture at the growing point, the glass can be returned for maintenance. high humidity. I sing/feed my children 2-3 times a week. Usually this is enough for them.
Choose the habitat of the seedlings at your discretion, the main thing is that it is warm and plenty of light. However, direct contact should be avoided sun rays. The tender leaves of children are very easy to burn. Good luck with your experiments!
