Spring 2024

In Spring 2024, 466 students across 9 schools in Maryland and Washington D.C., conducted a growth experiment with 288 Tuberous Grass Pink Orchids (Calopogon tuberosus) using two types of fungi and two types of soil. 

There were two predictions: 1) survivorship and growth will be greater for orchids grown in soil type 2 with versus those grown in soil type 2 without fungi, and 2) orchids grown with fungi will grow larger than orchids in the control group (without fungi). We present the survivorship data here.  

On average, more orchids survived in soil type 2 than soil type 1, and soil 2 without fungus had the most surviving orchids. 

Figure 1. On average, more orchids survived in soil type 2 compared to soil type 1 (A), and more orchids survival in soil type 2 without fungus (B) in comparision to the other four treatments. The horizontal axes show soil types (A) and treatment (B). The vertical axes show the average number of orchids that were alive at the last measurement of the experiment. Averages were calculated using measurements from all of the schools involved in the project.

On average, fungus strain 1498 had more surviving orchids at the end of the experiment compared to fungus strain 1320. 

Figure 2. On average, more orchids survived that grew up with Fungus type 1320 than Fungus type 1498. The horizontal axis is the Fungus type. The vertical axis is the average number of orchids that were alive at the last measurement of the experiment. Averages were calculated using measurements from all of the schools involved in the project.

However, the differences we found between treatments were very small! We need more data to confirm if these patterns are real or if we found this patterns by chance.

We also had an unexpected finding: Most classrooms (5/9) had significant mold growth in their pots that could have interfered with orchid survival and growth. This could have been due to our use of soil that unexpectedly had fertilizer in it or due to not enough sterilization of the soil (heating up the soil to kill anything in it). As a result, we have updated the protocol to include a third round of sterilization 24 hours before planting and to use a different type of peat.

2020 - 2021

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project team modified the protocols to allow for virtual data collection using ImageJ and Google forms. 

Unfortunately, the modified protocols did not work as intended, and the project went on hiatus during a funding gap (2022-2023). Fall 2019

Germination Experiment

In small number of classrooms, we piloted a germination experiment using three types of media (sphagnum, wood, and rich ) and three fungus treatments (Fungus 1488, 558, and No Fungus). 

We found that counting germinated seeds was difficult in the petri dishes, and the research team concluded the protocol needs to be modified to be more feasible.

Seedling Experiment

Students and teachers in 12 classrooms in Maryland and Florida worked with SERC scientists to continue the growth experiments started in 2018 to continue studying the effect of fertilizer and fungus on orchid survival. We conducted growth experiments with species native to their state: Turberous Grass Pink (Calopogon tuberosus) in Maryland classrooms and Oncidium in Florida classrooms.

Fall 2019

Germination Experiment

In small number of classrooms, we piloted a germination experiment using three types of media (sphagnum, wood, and rich ) and three fungus treatments (Fungus 1488, 558, and No Fungus). 

We found that counting germinated seeds was difficult in the petri dishes, and the research team conclude the protocol needs to be modified to be more feasible.

Seedling Experiment

Additionally, 12 classrooms in Maryland and Florida continued the growth experiments started in 2018 to understand the effect of fertilizer and fungus on orchid survival. Students and teachers conducted growth experiments with species native to their state: Grass Pink Orchids (Calopogon tuberosus) in Maryland classrooms and Flordia Oncidium (Oncidium ensatum) in Florida classrooms. 

Fall and Spring 2018

Students and teachers from 7 schools in Washington DC, Maryland, and Florida studied multiple species of native orchids using seedling and germination experiments.

Based on their work, we learned the following an changed our orchid growing protocols:

• We can grow fungus on cotton balls really well.
• Growing orchids in the right type of soil mixture is tricky. We need multiple rounds of experimentation to figure it out. 
• Orchids are sensitive to how much and what type of fertilizer is in the soil mixture.
• Fertilizer helps the fungus grow, which can overtake the orchid. 
• We cannot successfully grow the Downy Rattlesnake (Goodyera pubescens), but we can grow the Tuberous Grass Pink (Calopogon tuberosus) in classrooms.

All data is available upon request. Please email Classroom Cultivation Program Manager, Shatiyana Dunn (DunnS@si.edu).