Example of outflasking: Angraecum elephantinum

Most of Angraecum which are sold in EUrope, as in the US, as the result of different crosses between others  Angraecum (didieri, elephantinum, rutenbergianum...). The result is that today these A.elephantinum have round and pure white flowers, distinct of the native A.elephantinum.

 

In 2011 I was Lucky to obtain seeds from an old form of A.elephantinum.
I sown them in our lab, with good results, because I wanted this "old form" to become more popular.

 

Here is an example of an outflasking of some seedlings of this species.

 

In this flasks, the seedlings are big enough to be outflasked. Leaves and roots are big enough.

 

 

 

Jere they are, with roots still in the media.

 

 



In order to clean the roots of any tracks of media, which could rot roots if everything is not eliminated,  you just have to dip them a few minutes into  tepid water and then, by means of the fingers, to clean a seedling after the other one.

 

 

These seedlings grew up in a sterile environment until their exit, they are rather sensitive, it is thus necessary to lose the least possible.

Best is to treat them with an antifungal, as for example the azoxystrobine

This product is a chemical, thus to manipulate with precaution.

 

 

After this small treatment, I give them another bath, strengthening this time

I let them some hours in water with Rhizotonic (stimulating for roots), Superthrive (hormones and vitamins) and a little fertilizer.

 

 

 

After a few hours I take out seedlings and I put some in pots, and mount some others on a piece of bark of cork, or of Douglas...and now they are ready to go in my greenhouse

 

 

 

Here are two seedlings which are two and half years old...nearly blooming size!!