Orchid propagation is accomplished by various techniques used to multiply your orchid plants. Orchids are among the most popular houseplants because of their delicate and stunning beauty. There are two unique procedures of orchid propagation; first, asexually by vegetative propagation and another sexually by seed or generative propagation.
Generative Propagation
Generative propagation such as copying the plants from seeds or from tissue cuttings, are certainly reserved just for the professional orchid nurseries with access to lab type conditions since they require completely sterile and clean environment. Vegetative propagation on the other hand, can be used to multiply orchid plants using different techniques like branch, back bulbs and cuttings by the majority of the rest of us. Fortunately, these asexual orchid propagating techniques can be completed in a house environment by a novice orchid grower.
Techniques
Division usually occurs during repotting in the early spring as the buds start to swell. It’s the most widely used at-home method of orchid propagation. Division means dividing the mother plant root ball into two or more smaller segment and transplanting each to begin a new plant in individual pots with a suitable potting mix that enhances growth. This method will create new flowering orchids by another season particularly if the growing conditions are best for good health and boosting productivity.
Cutting techniques vary based upon the orchid types. For the epiphtic orchids, cut the upper part of this plant and for terrestrial orchid plants that the older back bulbs have to be removed by cutting the stalks of the tiny plants rather than the flower buds. Then, relocate the cuttings for the two kinds of orchids to an proper pot and packed with new planting mixture to keep the main system lightly but firmly in place.
Back Bulbs
Back Bulbs are pseudo bulbs which have bloomed or that don’t have any blossoms or leaves but have the capacity to develop new orchid plants. Once the old back bulbs expansion was removed from the mother plant, then reposition them in individual pots ensuring very good growing conditions in order to boost root development. The new plants will grow and look like the parent plant. However, orchid plants propagated with this method usually takes more or less 3 years to attain their flowering stage.
Keiki
Keiki is a technique widely used for Phalaenopsis orchids. It’s accomplished by cutting the roots that are established and part of the stem of their mother orchid plant in which the infant plants are attached and then replanting the cuttings in new pots.
Conclusion
There are lots of various ways to make fresh orchids from older orchid plants after all in is their nature to replicate. Some orchid propagating techniques can be carried out by common orchid growers while some are overly technical and can only be carried out by specialist orchid nurseries in a lab type of environment. The 4 standard techniques mentioned above for distributing orchids, however, can be mastered with patience, wisdom and practice. Indeed, the DIY orchid grower who’s been at it for awhile and the person who is just starting out can disperse and replicate unique kinds of orchids to decorate their house or garden themselves, thereby not only improving their orchid collection but also saving or even earning some cash in the procedure.
