Seed Culture and Meristem Culture

Producing hybrids of tried and untried combinations and raising the seedling in flasks by the asymbiotic method have become almost a household art with orchid lovers all over the world . Due to the absence of endosperm tissue , orchid seeds require specialised techniques for germination under cultural conditions. A great deal of information is now available on this subject as a result of researches done independently by orchid physiologists as well as by the orchid nurseries over several years. This fund of knowledge has been made the best use in standardising techniques to suit the requirements of the various genera of orchids. Now in Western countries all a person has to do is to buy the required materials, all of which are available readymade in the market , and simply follow the instructions.

The process of hybridising and raising of seedlings involves various successive steps which should be followed with meticulous care in order to obtain the best results; pollination , collection and storing of seeds , preparation of the culture medium , flasking of seeds , reflasking where necessary , removal of seedlings to community pots and later to individual pots .