Replating protocorms

necessary tools

necessary articles of consumption

When do I have to replate my protocorms?

Let the protocorms grow on their media as long as they don't harm themself or till they start to build first roots. The bigger and healthier they are the better they survive replating. We put a very small quantity of seeds in each flask, so we can wait a little bit longer and the protocorms are stronger when we replate them.

Encyclia vespa protocorms ready for replating
Encyclia vespa protocorms ready for replating

Replating technique

The following steps must be done in the sterile area (steam). Open test tubes and their cotton plugs have to stay in the steam till the test tube is closed again.

Put on your gloves, take a test tube (mother flask) and remove the aluminium foil cap. Place the cap close to the pod on a kitchen paper which is soaked with 70% ethanol. Take the forceps out of the 70% ethanol and flame it. Remove the cotton plug with the flamed forceps and place the plug and the forceps on the grill.

remove the cotton plug
removing the cotton plug

Now, pick up a replating flask and remove the protecting aluminium foil in the sterile area (steam).

remove aluminium foil
removing the aluminium foil

Open the flask and place the lid on the grill. The replating flask can be put down on the grill too.

Glas im Halter abstellen
opening the flask in the steam

Next, take the replating tool out of the 70% ethanol and flame it. Before you pick up some protocorms you should dip the tool into the media, on which the protocorms are growing, to cool it. Now, take some protocorms and transfer them into the new flasks.

picking up some protocorms
picking up some protocorms
transferring the protocorms
transferring the protocorms

Now, dip your replating tool into the boilding water to clean it and place the clean tool in 70% ethanol till you need it for your next flask. Close the replating flask and place it on your desk for labeling (later).

closing the flask
closing the flask

With the other replating flasks you can process the same way.


Author: Thomas Ederer