View Single Post
  #1   Report Post  
Old 14-05-2008, 10:22 PM posted to rec.gardens.orchids
Larry Dighera's Avatar
Larry Dighera Larry Dighera is offline
Registered User
 
First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 142
Default What Causes Low Germination Rates?


What causes low germination rates of flasked orchid seed?

Is a low seed germination rate most often due to too little pollen in
contact with the stigmatic surface at pollination time?

I would suspect that different media formulae would produce different
results for a given cross. Has anyone had any experience with this
phenomenon? Any specific media recommendations for reed-stem
Epidendrums?

How big a factor are temperature, day-length and light levels?

Are intergeneric crosses more likely to have low germination rates?

It is a ~10% germination rate of Epidendrum atacazoicum (bifalce)
selfed that prompts my question.

It's a simple question, but I suspect the answer will be complex.