Generally there are two ways to propagate your orchids: through plant division or with plant cuttings.
1. Plant division - the quickest way to propagate orchids
You can speed up the propagation process somewhat by dividing orchids like cattleyas. Rule(s) of thumb:
· The larger the divisions, the better - at least 3-4 growths.
· The largest divisions with the most pseudo bulbs will grow the fastest to blooming plants.
Simple steps to a typical plant division
· Start by sharpening and sterilizing your knife or pruners. This will reduce the possibility of spreading disease and helps to maintain the strength of the divisions.
· As you cut off any dead or unhealthy leaves, look for the best place to divide the plant; often you will find a natural division point in your orchid; this is great place to cut the root system
· After dividing plant, clean off old medium, dead roots and old leaf sheaths around the bulbs. Try to leave as many roots as possible. The more healthy roots you leave the better.
· Choose a pot that will allow about 2 year's worth of growth and add a layer of appropriate potting mix for your particular orchid in the bottom of the pot. Place orchid in pot and add more mixture around the root system.
· Either tamp the mixture or stake the plant to help it quickly establish itself in its new home and add a name plate with the date you divided the plant for a handy reminder to when you may need to divide it again.
2. Cuttings of back bulbs, "top offs" canes, and "babies"- the easiest ways to propagate orchids
· If you have an orchid like cymbidiums that have back bulbs (older stems that have lost their leaves), you can cut them off the main plant. After you've cleaned them of medium and any dead plant material, bury several together in a plastic bag containing 2" or 5cm of sphagnum moss up to a depth of about the bottom ¼ of the bulb. Seal the bag and place it in warm area (approximately 75Ës F or 24ËsC) with bright diffused light.
In 2-3 months new growth should become evident. When the leaves of these new plants are a few inches or centimeters long, place them all in a shallow container with a layer of sphagnum moss as you did in the bag. Again, allow them to grow for several months in diffused light. At that point you can then transplant each to its own individual pot.
· Many orchids grow tall and have extending roots from the stem. Cut the "top off" several inches of the plant that has roots and place in medium-filled pot. The bottom portion of the original plant generally will produce baby plants that can be cut off and planted as described above for the phaleanopsis.
· For orchids that have canes or long stems, you should cut up the canes into pieces (each containing at least two sections of cane where leaves used to be attached). Take these pieces and half-bury them horizontally in shallow dish filled with sphagnum moss. Cover the dish and let stand in warm area with dappled or diffused light. In a few months small plants will have sprouted. They can now be placed in individual pots.
· Orchids like phaleanopsis produce babies along a long, slim stem. After these develop several mid-sized roots of their own, cut them off the stem and place in each in their individual medium-filled pot.
The one way not to attempt to propagate orchids...
...Propagating orchids from seeds. If you're not a professional orchid grower, leave propagating orchids from seeds to the professionals. (Even they continually got it wrong up until about 85 years ago.) Instead purchase year-old small plants and start from there. If you're patient and fortunate, they'll reward you with blooms in a few years.
Patianna is a successful entrepreneur with a passion for orchids. An orchid enthusiast for much of her adult life, Patianna has provided guidance in growing and caring for orchids to novice and experienced orchid enthusiasts alike.
Learn how you can erase the mythological barriers that would hold you back from growing and enjoying orchids in your home or garden because you may think caring for these beautiful plants is too difficult. Her comment to this myth: "Nonsense. They're as easy to grow and care for as they are to admire and enjoy!"
