subject: How to Propagate Orchids - Let Me Count the Ways [print this page] When a gardener is asked about plant propagation the conversation turns to planting seeds or taking a cutting or even division of a plant. This is the same conversation when propagation of orchids is talked about. These same techniques are applied when we look at orchids. We will work backward in talking about the proliferation methods of orchids.
Division: This is taking a mature plant and deconstructing it into many smaller plants. This procedure should take place when the established orchid is ready to be repotted. This should take place on a routine basis. This repotting is a positive thing for the plant and will provide you with "babies". Routine is every two-three years, and when the plant is observed to be coming out of the pot. The best orchid to handle this way is a sympodial. A common orchid of this type is a cattleyea. When starting this process clean the work surface completely. The cleaner the better, use a mild bleach solution to sanitize the surfaces. When un-potting the plant it can be noticed the roots will be a tangled mess. Proceed with caution and separate the plant apart into many little plants. You may find yourself with numerous plants. I would guess at least four or five good sized healthy separates. Place each "baby" into a separate pot and replant. The pot should be sized to the size of orchid replant. The pots will likely be smaller in size and this is correct. However, I recommend not reusing any of the old potting medium. Use fresh presoaked medium for best results to propagate orchids.
Cuttings: Orchids are one of the simplest plants to propagate form a cutting. We know that the two types of orchids are epiphytic and terrestrial. Each will be handled differently. A word of caution, please have all of the tools found and ready to work when starting this kind of procedure. Clean and sterilize all of the tools you will use. This is critical for you don't want to, by mistake, spread a disease from one plant to another. Some folks will use cinnamon around the cut to act as a natural bactericide and I think this is a good practice. If the orchid propagation you are working with is an epiphytic, the plant will be spreading out aerial roots around the stem. The plants should be cut at the stem below the roots and place the cutting in a small pot and cover roots with planting medium which will hold the cutting in place in the pot. If the plant is a terrestrial the cutting procedure is different. After un-potting the plant, inspect and look for a place you can cut on the plant and get one of the pseudoblubs and some healthy roots. With roots pointing down into the pot fill in with potting medium and fill until the roots are covered and the pseudoblub or pseudoblubs are on-top of potting medium. This should take care of your cuttings.
Seeds: This is a technique best suited for the professionals in a laboratory conditions. The size of orchid seed would be equal to dust. To handle these requires much specialized equipment and sterile conditions. It could be done and the discussion would take many pages to accomplish the task. Leave it to the pros. Happy Growing
