Orchid Growing in a Jar

Glass jars speed up the growth of orchids.

There are several ways to speed up the propagation of orchids. One of the most common methods is growing orchids in a glass jar. It can also help protect the seedlings and decrease the chance of damage that external factors can pose.

Ideal Conditions

Orchids thrive well in a glass jar because the jar mimics a greenhouse effect. To be able to successfully grow orchids in a jar, the use of certain solutions, such as agar, is required. Orchids may be grown using jars both for commercial and personal enjoyment. Growing orchids in a jar requires knowledge on how it should be done.

Things You'll Need

Orchid seeds or seedlings
Glass jar, preferably clear
Funnel
Long tweezers
Planting mixture (alternatives: potting charcoal or orchid bark)
Newspaper or old piece of cloth or towel

Flask Preparation and Agar Solution

Clean the glass jar thoroughly. It's best to sterilize it using hot or boiling water. Use a mild detergent when scraping and cleaning the surface of the jar. Rinse repeatedly until the jar appears clear. Coat the bottom of the jar with sterile agar solution. Pour the solution until it is 1/8 inch to ¼ thick. The jar should not have any agar solution on the sides. Using a funnel will help ensure the agar solution goes straight to the bottom of the jar.

Orchid Transfer and Glass Cover

Transfer the orchid seedlings into the glass jar. It may be more convenient to use long tweezers or chopsticks to properly position the seedlings. The seeds should be well-placed inside the glass jar. They should be completely submerged in agar. Position the jar in a secure, well-lit location. The jar should not be placed where direct sunlight. Cover the opening of the jar with a clear lid. Clear plastic may also be used for cover. Covering the glass jar with a clear lid and other similar products can help encourage greenhouse conditions. The cover should still allow fresh air to circulate. An air-tight lid will not help the orchids grow.

Monitor Development

Wait for the seedling to have long green leaves and furry roots. Once the orchid has reached this stage, carefully wrap the jar in layers of old newspaper or old towel. Break the jar by rapping it onto a table or carefully tapping it with hammer. Remove the orchids and transfer them into pots. The pot should contain a draining medium such as orchid mix or orchid charcoal or bark.

Additional Tips

It is best to disinfect the seedlings before putting them inside the jar. There are several ways to do this: a coffee or homemade filter method, or sucrose and peroxide. The coffee filter method is done using a coffee filter (used in coffee machines). The filter paper is sprayed with water until damp but not soaked. The seeds are then covered with the filter paper and pressed between sheets. The sucrose and peroxide method requires treating the seeds with the solution. This is the most popular method because it is the easiest.

References

• Green Culture: Growing Terrestrial Orchids From Flask
• Affordable Plant Tissue Culture: Orchids

Resources

• Linda's Orchid Pages: Orchid Flower Stem Propagation