Orchid Propagation - An Easy Introduction

Some methods of propagating orchids are fairly easily accomplished in your own home with due care and attention. However other methods are really only suitable for the commercial laboratory growers such as propagation from seed and tissue culture as both of these require extremely sterile environments to germinate and grow successfully. The methods more easily employed in the home are outlined here.

Division

This is probably the easiest of the propagation methods and involves dividing your orchid plant into 2 or more sections depending on size. Cymbidium orchids respond well to this method.

• Remove your orchid plant from its pot with a sharp blade that has been sterilized and cut through the rhizome and root ball. Each section should have at least 3 pseudo bulbs.Use sulphur powder to dust each cut to prevent infection.
• Place each division in a separate pot. You might initially need to provide some initial support by loosely tying your plant section to a stake.

Back Bulbs

Back bulbs are small leafless bulbs which are often found behind the pseudo bulbs. So long as these look healthy and are not shrivelled, with patience these can often be encourage to grow roots. Choose back bulbs that have a small bud formed near the base.

• Fill a pot with a sphagnum moss and course sand mix into which you can grow several back bulbs ( a community pot)
• Place each bulb into the sphagnum mix up to the bud.
• Put your pot into a clear plastic bag or propagator.
• Place in a spot that is out of sunlight and warm

Keiki

Keiki are small plantlets that are produced on the stems of older orchids, typically of the Dendrobrium, Oncidium and Phalaenopsis species. These plantlets can be safely removed from the parent once the roots have developed and are at least 1" (2.5cm) long.

• Plant the keiki into a pot that has been filled with a fine bark mix. spreading the roots out. Though don't plant too deep.
• Water the plantlets and place the pot into a propagator or plastic bag until established.
• Come next season re-pot the plant into your usual orchid mix.

Stem Cuttings

Some orchids such as the Dendrobrium can be propagated from stem cuttings.

• Take a leafless stem and cutting it just above a node. Each stem if long enough can be used to take several cuttings, but each cut section should contain a minimum of 2 nodes.
• Dust the end of each cut with sulphur powder.
• Fill a plant/seed tray with a sphagnum moss.sand mix and gently push the cut sections into it.
• Moisten the surface of the moss sand mix
• Put the tray into a propagator or plastic bag and keep in a warm position in light shade.

Shoots and roots should begin to form in a couple of months at which stage they can be potted on into individual pots in fine bark compost.

Different methods of propagation will suit different species of orchid of which an indication is given above however you should investigate further which method is appropriate for your orchid plant.

Jonathan Lawes is an orchid expert. For more great tips on orchid propagation [http://www.orchidgardenanswers.com/orchid-propagation], visit [http://www.orchidgardenanswers.com].

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