Getting pseudo-science-y part 2 | SOWING ORCHID SEEDS | first time flasking | sterile technique 101

[@PetalsSepalsandSpines]

The look of absolute pain and doubt when you removed the lid on the second jar 😂 so fun to follow along in your experiments!

[@MattbyNature]

Oh, it was horrible. And it yielded a flask full of orange colonies. Once I have more material to work with I’ll give it another try! 😏

[@JuliesOrchids]

Hi Matt, Thanks for this video. I am laughing watching it. Your commentary in the scrollby footer is awesome. Thanks, I really needed the laugh, and bravo to you for attempt of Aseptic Technique at home. Maybe a "clean" tray under it all with some ETOH soaked paper towels? My heart sank a little when the other side of the seedpod to a header. Hope some germinate.

[@MattbyNature]

Hello! Thanks a lot for watching - so glad I get to entertain you. Yeah, this was a very very very low effort attempt but hey, you can always amp up the attention to detail. For sure, a wooden surface and a bowl of fruit next to your workspace does not necessarily facilitate "clean" work. So it's been three months but nothing other than some fungus (?) is growing haha

[@elen_chris]

Very interesting 🤨 I wish you all the best!!!

[@MattbyNature]

Hahaha! Judgement has been passed! 🤣

[@orchidsbythelake]

Probably should have done voice over rather than talking while germinating… but gotta try! Oh boy you always crack me up! 🤣🤣🤣

[@MattbyNature]

Haha! So glad I could entertain. True, the voiceover would have been more sanitary. I'll definitely try more flasking though.

[@SuperMariela78]

You crack me up. If you see the protocorms in a while, I might be tempted to try it out. Your technique is the simplest I've seen by far. If you're succesful I think it would be great.

[@MattbyNature]

How long do you think I'll have to wait. The second flask is full of some microbial colonies so I guess I should really be a bit more diligent with everything. Then again I don't know if the seed was even viable or if the media is suitable for this cross... For sure gonna try more flasking though!

[@SuperMariela78]

@@MattbyNature well, you’re the expert, gorge! Hehe. I guess it should take less than a year from what I’ve heard but that’s not helpful. Haha. I’m hoping you can tweak it out cause I was thinking about getting a glove box to do it but if you manage to succeed with this procedire after a few tries, I want to try it myself.

[@MattbyNature]

@@SuperMariela78 I’m no expert by any stretch of the imagination! The only thing I know is: failure is not an option haha. I’ll just keep trying until I figure it out - just like at work haha

[@FernandaNascimentoOrchids]

You did it like a pro and it seems you got the right solutions to the limitations with sterilizing and such. Very exciting and fascinating 🤩 Looking for development👌🙌😍

[@MattbyNature]

Thank you so much! I'm approaching it like the rest of my orchids - as little effort as possible 😉 Spoiler alert: one of them is full of some yeast or mold... not sure what it is.

[@FernandaNascimentoOrchids]

@@MattbyNature At least you are growing something in one of the jars 🤣 Fingers crossed some germinate in the other one. I hear they take forever to do it, so there is still hope 🤞🍀

[@MattbyNature]

@@FernandaNascimentoOrchids true. That means the media is at least capable of supporting life. Let’s read - I’ve seen it can take up to a year…

[@lequach75]

Woooow! Thanks for this very detailed and informative demonstration! Your science background really show dr. Matt. I was wondering, why were you not just taking this thing to your sterile workbench ? There you have Bunsenbrenner , gloves , 70 propyl alcohol… 😆and thank you very much for advertising me 😘😘😘 the mother plant finally is putting out a new growth, hopefully I can then show you what your future babies will look like. And the fragrance : it’ll be complex with many layers!!!

[@MattbyNature]

Hahaha. No doctor until (hopefully) later this year… I just try to keep work and private life separate haha. Especially because I work in a BSL2 and I don’t want to take salmonella, influenza or pseudotyped HIV home… hahaha I’m really curious to see the parent plant. So far I’m only growing contaminations… let’s see if the next try is going to be more successful

[@lequach75]

@@MattbyNature ok you’d better be stay safe. I will let you know about the parent plant. It was sold to me as very fragrant you know.

[@MattbyNature]

@@lequach75 Cattleyas are the best

[@AttainableGreen]

Haha, I like how you go…screw sterile technique, I’m at home, it’s not gonna be the same as a lab. First attempts are always a learning experience and it’s all for funsies so why not enjoy the process. 🔥🤣

[@MattbyNature]

Realistically, I could have done a better job but WHATEVER!!!! I have A TON of contamination in the flask where I really ignored everything... Still waiting for anything else to grow. But maybe the seed wasn't viable after all. For sure more trial runs are going to follow.

[@michaelmccarthy4077]

"I don't drink any alcohol, I've never even tried it" Wait. You're German, right? I just don't even know what to say, I didn't know there were teetotalers in Germany. You might consider making a still air box. They can be made on the cheap and are quite effective. Still not as sterile as a flow hood, but not bad. (or just smuggle your orchid supplies in to work and sow them there 😉)

[@MattbyNature]

Genau, ich bin ein Deutscher und obwohl Bier (beziehungsweise Wein in der Region, in der ich lebe) allgegenwärtig ist, habe ich mich nie dazu hingezogen gefühlt. Ich mag auch keine Autos oder Fußball... I do love a nice flow hood. They're just the best. I will definitely try again with the flame, maybe try to suspend the seeds in some dish soap and peroxide before maneuvering them onto the agar. The box is what The Orchid Room used. I think I like the drama of the flame.