"alpickrel" wrote in message
...
On Dec 8, 11:40 am, "K Barrett" wrote:
That pod ripening page says Haraella retrocalla ripens in 170-180 days.
Sorry it doesn't say anything about the
Psygmorchis.http://members.iinet.net.au/~barryg/SPECIES.htm

K Barrett

"alpickrel" wrote in message

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Haraella retrocalla
Psygmorchis pusilla

A man I know with these two orchids in his Dart Frog vivarium has put
seed capsules on them. Ordinarily I would tell people not to worry
about a capsule ripening within 8 weeks of pollination. "Don't worry
about signs of ripening for 8 to 10 weeks after pollination: That's
like the minimum time required and most are longer." Somehow the
small size of these two plants makes me want to second guess this
assumption and as usual the internet is mum on orchid capsule ripening
data.

I wrote to Troy Meyers to see if he had any specific data to share on
these two species or any general comments about tiny orchid species
and their capsule ripening times, but I thought I might also toss the
question into the cyberwind and see what blew back....- Hide quoted
text -

- Show quoted text -

Oh, that site did not come up when I seached. Thank you.

Casting no aspersions on anyone's knowledge base: Troy Meyers did
respond to my email and, of course, his observation on H. retrocalla
capsule times are three times as long. WIth capsule times one should
never expect the answers to be in the same ballpark. The site says
the 170 to 180 days are for green pod sewings and I assume Troy meant
time to dehiscence.

I looked in my series of orchid biology books (arditti) and couldn't find
anything for the Psygmorchis.

In my extremely, laughably, limited experience ( I've set about 9 pods grand
total - none of which produced seed) ripening times were way longer than I
expected. I wondered if the season might have something to do with this.
The pods (capsules) I've set have all been catt alliance hybrids or
brassavolas, and have over wintered before maturing (dehiscing). Granted I
keep the GH pretty cold (55F about min in winter - last night it got to
52F). I can't imagine that there's be much growing going on over winter,
especially at these temps. But one can only set a pod when the flower is
open and if that means the pod sits over winter then there you are.

K