Remembering Fred Bergman 1928 – 2011
the seed and calcium hypochlorite solution in the syringe barrel . A needle with a small cotton plug inside the ferrule is then attached to the syringe and the syringe shaken . Block the needle and pull back on the plunger to draw a vacuum on the mixture . Release the plunger and shake the syringe occasionally for the next 20 to 30 minutes . Eject the disinfecting solution and draw and eject sterile water two times . Finally , remove the needle and cotton plug and inject the seed directly into the flask . After sowing , keep your flasks under cool white lights at 85-90 ° F for a year . The seedlings will then be large enough to remove from the flask . My seedlings are planted in 4-inch deep trays filled with a fine bark mix . The key to success after removal from the flask is growing seedlings warm and humid . My flats are suspended over a water bath that provides near 100 % humidity and 90 ° F for the first year . Vigorous crosses bloom in as little as three years after deflasking . Less time would be required in a warmer greenhouse but mine is set for 68 ° F for six hours and 62 ° F the remainder of the day to minimize fuel costs . After your cross blooms , you may want to register it . Registering a cross is easy . Forms are available for downloading from the American Orchid Society website or from the Royal Horticultural Society . The most practical way to pay the registration fee is by credit card — the RHS accepts several cards . To register , both parents must either be registered or a species . Check to make sure the name you selected has not been used and the cross has not been registered . You can check using the current volume of Sander ’ s List of Registered Hybrids , one of the available computer programs , or check the RHS site here : apps . rhs . org . uk / horticulturaldatabase / orchidregister / orchidregister . asp . Click on the “ Parentage search ” tab and fill in the seed and pollen parent information . If all is clear , complete the form ( available at rhs . org . uk / Plants / Plant-science / Plant-registrationforms / orchidform ) and mail it to the International Orchid Registrar . The full address for submission is on the back of the registration page .
For additional seed sowing information I recommend three books . Orchid from Seed by P . A . Thompson is a good basic book . Or , if possible , obtain a copy of the PhytoTechnology Laboratories Catalogue that contains an excellent set of directions in the appendix . You will also receive a listing of most items needed for sowing seed . The third book is Asymbiotic Technique of Orchid Seed Germination by Aaron J . Hicks . Aaron covers almost everything that has ever been written on seed sowing .
Remembering Fred Bergman 1928 – 2011
Fred Bergman , 82 , died August 28 , 2011 in Kansas City . By profession , Fred was a chemist at the Midwest Research Institute , but his great passion in life was orchids . For nearly 60 years , Fred was an avid orchid grower and hybridizer , registering 257 crosses , primarily Phalaenopsis . In his later years , he was increasingly active in hybridizing working on reds , miniature harlequins , and what he called “ true miniatures ,” plants with small blooms and branched spikes . He registered 60 Phal crosses in 2009 . Fred ’ s great sense of humor is reflected in his hybrid names : Fred ’ s Folly , Fred ’ s Charmer , Fred ’ s Adventure , and Fred ’ s Hohum being only a few of his witty registrations .
Fred was an early member of the Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City ( OSGKC ) which was formed in 1949 . When the AOS hosted its first World Orchid Conference in St . Louis in 1954 , Fred and his wife , Pat Bergman , then a young honeymoon couple , were one of 600 registrants .
An Honored Lifetime Member of OSGKC , Fred received the Orchidist of the Year Award several times . He was wellknown for his scientific approach to growing orchids , and shared his knowledge with society members as chair of the monthly beginners ’ group meetings .
Fred wrote many articles for publication , including the AOS Orchids magazine , the International Phalaenopsis Alliance ’ s magazine Phalaenopsis , Orchid Digest and Phalaenopsis Fancier . His article , “ Sowing Orchid Seeds , An Easy Approach to New Rewards ,” ( Orchids magazine , July 2006 ) has inspired many orchid growers to try hybridizing for the first time .
Fred is survived by his wife of 56 years , Pat , three children , Laura Bergman , Cindy Phipps and John Bergman , three
Fred J . Bergman grandchildren and his sister , Gayle Bergman .
9401 East 103rd Street • Kansas City , MO 64134-2206 USA 10 Fourth Quarter , Vol . 21 ( 2 ) 2011 - Phalaenopsis
Photo : 2008 The Kansas City Star