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Old 16-05-2008, 03:57 PM posted to rec.gardens.orchids
K Barrett K Barrett is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Jul 2006
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Default What Causes Low Germination Rates?

"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 15 May 2008 07:23:01 -0700, "K Barrett"
wrote in :

I have no answers. Anyone else?

K Barrett


Thank you for your response.

Does Aaron Hicks still frequent this newsgroup?

It seems to be sort of quiet compared to what it used to be.


{laff} Heck, have you seen the OGD? Its nothing but newsfeed from some guy
in Canada. Used to be a great resource. But, that said, one only gets the
forum one participates in.

I know the old hybridizers used to wipe the stigmatic surface with orange
juice in order to increase germination rates. Something about the acid
increasing 'take'.

I know the more complex the hybrid the lower the germination rate.

I know there's a difference in yeild when crossing a complex hybrid and a
species. But I can't rememebr if you get higher yeild if the species carrys
the pod or the complex does....

As to medium, all I vaguely remember is that some genera require different
nutrients in the medium than others, but not that the medium could somehow
influence the outcome of a cross. It will be interesting to see if Aaron
picks up on this discussion. He does still look in occasionally.

Again, sorry to be of no help.

K Barrett
(OrchidSafari had a series of 3 chats on hybridizing, one of which was
published in the Orchid Digest magazine. Not all links work in the 3rd one,
but you may find something there... who knows?, even a blind squirrel gets a
nut.) http://www.orchidsafari.org/