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Odontoglossums Orchids
By Susan Richardson on February 19, 2009 |
Total Viewed: 372 |
| Post by : Nataliya Piterova |
| Category: House |
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A number of the reed-type epidendrums also readily produce adventitious growth from along the older stems and at the ends of the extending flower spikes. Leave these until they have grown a good root system, which they do extremely quickly, then carefully remove them from the main stem by cutting them off with a pruning knife. Pot them up and grow them on in the usual way.
Phalaenopsis occasionally produce keikis or adventitious growths from the old flowering stems. This is frequently seen with the species Phalaenopsis lueddemanniana and related species or hybrids. If you want to encourage new growth in this way, you can treat the flowering stems with keiki paste - a growth hormone enhancement that is available from some specialist nurseries or orchid sundry firms. First remove the small green bract that protects each node along the stem, then apply the paste.
Paphiopedilums and Phragmipediums Sympodial orchids that do not produce pseudobulbs, mainly the paphiopedilums and phragmipediums, can be propagated from a back portion of growth, which is removed at repotting time in the same way as the old pseudobulbs are removed. This should only be attempted when a plant is large enough and is carrying in excess of four strong growths, otherwise it will reduce the strength of the main plant. Most of the phragmipediums are robust growers that are more easily propagated than many of the hybrid paphiopedilums, which can be slow growing, with the older growths dying before there is an opportunity to build up a very large plant.
The spare eyes that do not grow at this time remain in a dormant state for as long as the pseudobulb lives, and they can be encouraged to grow by propagation. Each pseudobulb remains on the plant for a few years until it loses its foliage and becomes a "back bulb".
You can cut through the rhizome with a sharp pruning knife to separate one or two of the oldest pseudobulbs, then leave them undisturbed until the following spring. By this time, these back bulbs should be showing a new growth, and when the plant is repotted, they can be potted up on their own and grown on in the usual way. Alternatively, this is also a good way of getting a Cattleya to make extra growths, if you want to build up a specimen-size plant.
The majority of sympodial orchids with pseudobulbs can be propagated in this way, but there are exceptions, such as orchids from the Odontoglossum alliance. It is always worth potting up any spare back bulbs and growing them on to flowering, although this can take a few years.
When a back bulb does not grow, it may be too old, and any spare eyes are dead. An old back bulb that gets started into growth sometimes shrivels and dies before the new growth has got very far, and unless it has made its own roots, it is unlikely to survive.
Alternatively, you can take stem cuttings from orchids such as dendrobiums and thunias by laying stem lengths on their sides in a seed tray. A new plant will emerge from the node in a few months. Again, this is a longterm procedure and is only worth doing if you want a number of young plants identical to the main plant. |
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You can find out more on growing orchids and orchid gardening tipsby doing research on the internet. |
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