subject: Is Orchid Propagation Really As Difficult As They Make It Seem? [print this page] Although there is a common misconception that in order to be successful with orchid propagation you need to have a green house, the truth is that many different people in various parts of the world do it every day without the use of a greenhouse. There are many different kinds of orchids, and nearly all of them can be found in or around the house. The key to making them bloom and stay healthy is knowing what each of them needs to do. You should know about everything from how much water to give them and when to the type of soil each one grows best in and how much sunlight they require. All of these things are crucial when raising orchids and you will ultimately be glad you took the time to learn them.
Typically those who grow orchids outside do so in bark or charcoal chips as well as stones, which is where and how they grow best. By planting them in these, you will allow the water to drain properly. If the water does not drain quickly, then it can stay in the soil and too much will get into the roots, effectively causing them to rot over a short period of time, which is the last thing you want. Using fresh pine bark is certainly another way to make sure that you grow healthy orchids outside your home. Pebbles can also be used because of their ability to help water drain quickly.
As far as propagation of orchids goes, the best way to go about doing this is to divide them properly. The great thing about this approach is that it is very easy, so just about anyone can do it. It produces many plants and keeps them healthy for an extended period of time outside. In order to do this you will have to divide the plants roots, checking to see that each division has its own shoot, at least one of them. You will soon find that each division, if properly cared for, will result in a full-sized plant which will look absolutely stunning when it is in full bloom.
By dividing the roots in an orchid, it helps the original plant to produce a greater number of shoots in a shorter period of time. You will want to make absolutely certain that you are dividing at the point where the plants have exactly three back bulbs, so this process is done correctly. As far as propagating back bulbs goes, you will need to use an older plant to make a brand new one. You will see that a majority of back bulbs do not have any leaves on them and by choosing this method, you will have to wait years before your plant produces full blooms of any kind.
When going about using this method on back bulbs, you will have to remove any and all older growth, commonly referred to as bulbs. This needs to be done at the time of potting or else it will not work properly. Once you have all of the older growth removed, it will all have to be placed properly in order to start taking root.
