A flask is like the glass flasks you used in chemistry classes,
providing a sterile environment for orchid seeds growing in a nutrient
medium similar to a bacterial culture plate. When the plantlets are large
enough, they have to be "deflasked" into compots, or pots holding a
community of small seedlings.
The term "orchid cutting" would likely refer to a division of a rhizome
with at least 2 or 3 pseudobulbs and their roots, usually the back end of a
mature plant whose rhizome is growing forward. When planted and tended well,
it should wake up and put forward new growths, which might bloom in a year
or two.
Tom
Walnut Creek, CA, USA
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From: "Shell91"
Organization: SBC http://yahoo.sbc.com
Newsgroups: rec.gardens.orchids
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 2003 21:20:51 GMT
Subject: 2 Questions

1. Can someone explain to me exactly what flasks are?

2. If one buys an orchid "cutting" I am assuming it would have to be
rooted? And would take several years to bloom?

Shell