Check Out
View Cart
My Account

Special Events/Weddings

 About Us
Orchid Care Information

Search:

Growing Flask Orchids

We want your experience with orchids to be a happy one with many beautiful flowers in your future. This brief explanation will cover the basics; but, as with most things, it can be made as complicated as one's imagination will allow. We'll keep it simple.

Some history about your flask of orchids:

For about the first two years of an orchid's life it is grown in vitro, which means in an environment that is sterile. It is one process of plant propagation that's created in a tissue culture laboratory. Orchid seeds have no stored carbohydrates. The lab technicians supply the media to initiate germination and growth. The media is made of a gelling agent, fertilizer salts, sugar and water. Occasionally there are some other ingredients such as charcoal, coconut water and banana. The seeds (very small and look like dust particles) are put onto the media and will germinate in less than one year. Once they have germinated the pronto corns (very small green dots) will be put into another flask and thinned out a bit. After about six months, when they have formed the beginnings of leaves and roots, they will be moved to another flask and thinned again to about 40 plants per flask. They will grow in this flask for about six months to a year before they are ready to be planted out. The flask which you have purchased is now in this stage.

Planting out your flask:

If the plants have an extensive root system and are all wound together, it will be best to carefully cut out the back end of the flask and remove the plants together intact. The media can then be gently removed in a bowl of water or under the faucet. Wash all the media off of the roots. Gradually untangle and separate each plant onto a moist clean paper towel. Be careful not to damage the roots.

Now that you have the plants out of the flask, you will need a suitable pot for them. A 2” plastic pot will do fine and are easy to come by. Mix one part of ground peat moss with one part of number two perlite (number two is about 1/8 inch). These ingredients can be purchased in most garden shops. Moisten the mixture with clean water until fluffy and damp. Then holding the plant in the pot, gradually fill the peat mixture around the roots, do not place mixture above the base of leaves. Fill the pot 2/3 full with the mixture and softly press media. Do not pack it down.

Another planting method is to use an all sphagnum moss media (moss must be new and unused). Soak moss with clean water, then squeeze out excess water before using to pot with. Surround roots with moist moss and tuck into pot. Do not over pack pot with moss; the roots NEED air circulation. Keep the moss moist but not soggy.

The newly transplanted orchids should be kept in an area with diffused light, good air circulation and about 40 to 60 percent relative humidity.

Now that the plants are potted up, you may want to use a general purpose fungicide (a root and foliar fungicide) every couple of weeks after planting for the first few months. This fungicide can be purchased at any garden shop. You do not necessarily need to use the fungicide as this is just a preventive measure. If you do decide to use it; follow the directions on the container for making the solution and keep it in a separate container for use. Once this is done, water your plant first then put about ½ Tbsp of the fungicide solution in each pot.

The watering frequency will depend on the warmth and dryness of your location. Water only when the media starts to dry out; this is when the media starts to lighten in color and weight. Liquid fertilizing may be started three weeks after planting, and may be continually given once a week. Use a general purpose liquid fertilizer at half the recommended rate.

You could have flowers, depending on your growing location and expertise, in three to four years. Happy growing and may your life be blessed with many lovely and fragrant blossoms.



Our Promise

Akatsuka Orchid Gardens has been in business for over 30 years.  Located in Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii, we started in 1974 as a small family orchid business and today we are still running our company with the same family values.  We continue to do our best to provide quality service to all of our customers.  Our promise is to provide high quality orchids straight from our greenhouses to arrive just in time to display the blooming flower.  We strive to bring you the best in freshness and quality of orchids.  With all our Cattleya orchids being grown on site in our 11 greenhouses, it doesn’t get closer to the source than that.  All of our floral shipments are guaranteed to be delivered through FedEx 2-day delivery.  With each orchid order, we carefully pack plants according to current shipping area weather conditions as to ensure your sensitive orchid plant arrives in mint condition.  If the orchid or cut flower does not arrive as promised, contact us within 7 days of arrival and we will be sure to remedy the problem. 

Our Showroom

We have a large variety of orchids in our showroom located in Volcano, Hawaii.  As soon as you step in the door, you can see the orchid varieties that are on display that include dendrobiums, oncidiums, paphiopedilums, phaelanopsis, vanda, and our in house specialty, cattleyas.  Beyond the orchids, we also carry anthuriums, bromeliads and tropical cut flower arrangements.  All the orchids on display can be packed for shipment to anywhere in the US Mainland.  Some restrictions or additional fees due to agricultural regulations may apply to Alaska and Arizona.  Remember to come to visit our showroom when visiting the Big Island of Hawaii. 

Tropical Flower Arrangements

As always we are constantly coming up with new floral arrangement ideas.  We carry a variety of tropical cut flower arrangements to choose from.  This provides a great way to share the orchids and tropical flowers of Hawaii with the rest of the nation.  Many of our cut flower arrangements start off with a selection of anthuriums and also include sprays of dendrobiums or oncidiums.  We also feature cut flower arrangements with heliconia and bird of paradise as well.  As we continue to provide the best quality in cut tropical flowers to all our customers, we will continue to add new floral arrangements. 

Weddings

Many people also search to bring a unique flair to their wedding.  Many of our tropical floral arrangements, orchid plants and cut flowers can also be used in weddings.  Cut orchid blooms are perfect to use in a bride’s bouquet or a single cattleya as a groom’s boutonniere.  We can provide florals for weddings in Hawaii but can also arrange to have flowers sent to Washington, California, or anywhere in the US.  What a unique way to bring a touch of Hawaii to your wedding by using orchids and tropical flowers that are not available everywhere.  For all wedding flower inquiries please contact us at 1-888-967-6669.

Gifts & Holiday

An orchid plant or cut flower arrangement is the perfect gift for that special someone in your life.  Whether you are celebrating a graduation, birth, or to show you care, an orchid plant is a gift that will last forever.  During those times in life where you want to give something that is out of the ordinary or to remember your visit to Hawaii, a tropical arrangement or orchid plant will bring back fond memories.  During the holidays an orchid plant or tropical floral arrangement would be the perfect host gift for holiday parties.  Our orchids are also wonderful to just place around the house to add a tropical feel when the weather is cold outside.  No matter what occasion, send the gift of fresh, high quality orchid plants and cut flower arrangements to your loved ones to show that you care.