Orchids are undoubtedly among the most beautiful and popular flowers. If you thought getting them to bloom every year was the best you could aspire to, you probably haven't tried propagating them yet and seeing how the smaller specimens grow.
There are different methods for propagating orchids, and almost all of them, if done correctly, allow us to reproduce our favorite plants almost perpetually.
Orchids can be propagated by cuttings from a mother plant or a keiki. Below we explain how to do it.
if you like that there is also a very good informative article How To Propagate Orchids
A keiki is a seedling that grows on the stem of an orchid and gives us a great opportunity to propagate it. The new plant is an exact replica of the parent plant, as it is produced by asexual reproduction (without pollinators). The keiki are born in a natural way, but it is also possible to help the plant to generate them, and below we will explain how.
How to make a keiki from an orchid
When the orchid has finished flowering, we need to cut the flower stalk just above the collar of the plant. We lightly peel the “knot” area, being very careful. This way it will stay in contact with the air and a keiki could be born.
How to plant a keiki
When the keiki roots have reached a length of 4-5 centimeters, they can be replanted. Plant the keikis in the same pot as the parent plant so they can both have the same growing conditions and humidity.
Cut the keiki about 3-5 from the stem of the flower and plant it in the same pot. The roots should be pointing downwards and lightly covered with soil. The piece of flower stalk we cut will also need to be buried. It can be folded into the ground as if it were an anchor.
Once grown, the keiki can be separated from the parent plant, with great care.
How to propagate orchids with cuttings
To cut the stem of the plant and remove the cuttings, we need a waterproof container about 8 centimeters deep. Fill it with sand or sphagnum, both well moistened.
Cut a stem about 30 centimeters from the parent plant, using a sharp knife. Divide it into several 7 centimeter sections, making sure that each cutting has a dormant bud.
Put the moss or sand in the tray and moisten. Place the cuttings in the tray, then cover with plastic and store in a place at 15°C, away from direct sunlight.
After a few weeks, you can increase the temperature to around 24-30 degrees, remembering to spray the tray with water to keep it constantly moist, but not overdoing it.
Once shoots and roots have formed, cut back the cutting with a sharp knife.
Get some small pots in which to plant the new seedlings. The ideal is to plant them in a mixture of bark, volcanic soil and well-moistened Spagnum moss.
Plant the orchid with the shoots up.
Place the new orchids spawned from the tiller in a bright place that is not exposed to the sun.
Water regularly, but do not overdo it to prevent the plant from rotting.
Comments
Post a Comment