Consider using filtered or distilled water to water your plant to avoid salt buildup from chlorinated tap water. Look for keikis to grow from nodes on the flower stem of your phalaenopsis orchid. Place buds in the 95 % ethanol for 10 seconds to remove the leaves. In Figure B a Cattleya plant with several leads is cut as indicated, producing three divisions and several back bulbs. Every two weeks for the first two months, mist with a water-soluble nitrogen fertilizer or liquid seaweed extract, followed by a light misting of water. Some orchid types periodically sprout baby offshoot plants, known as Keiki, and these can also be used in propagation. Why is my orchid losing leaves, and how can I fix it? For the beginner, vegetative propagation is commonly used to build up one's orchid collection. Cutting propagation method of Hong Kong Orchid tree. Keep the plants in a fairly humid atmos-sphere and the "eyes" will soon develop. Monopodial orchids, however, do well when Keiki propagation or aerial root propagation is used. If the back bulb has an active eye, plant the eye about the potting medium. Usually a V-shaped notch is cut more than half way through the rhizome. This will produce one division and two back bulbs as indicated. When dividing a sympodial orchid, back bulb propagation is also possible. Find vendors of orchid plants, seedlings, supplies, greenhouses, fertilizers, watering equipment, potting mixes, lighting setups and other orchid-related products. It should be thick, healthy, at least 10 inches high, and have a good aerial root system attached. First, it is a perfect way for beginner orchid enthusiasts to grow their plant collection. The night-blooming flowers are white and scented and turn into small edible green fruits with a taste similar to gooseberries. Essentially, it’s the plant’s rhizome that is cut and split up during division propagation. Place it in a tissue culture incubator, or in a place with indirect sunlight that stays around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. In another article, published in the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society in 1988, they also say that propagating orchids only with leaves is possible. Propagation is the process of taking a cutting from a plant, or dividing the plant itself in half, and then planting this new cutting. Phalaenopsis orchids produce all their leaves at the base of the plant. Gardeners commonly use plant propagation for several reasons. The propagation methods of division, back bulb propagation, and stem cutting propagation work well with sympodial orchids. Orchid leaves can tell you everything about the state of your plants. Potting the Keiki Choose a small 4 in (10 cm) pot with a drainage hole. ©2019 American Orchid Society. Before cutting the plant, carefully examine the root structure to determine where to make the cuts. Thank you for the information on your page it has been very helpful and informative. Temperatures in the 70-90 degree range are optimal. Another way of handling back bulbs is to fill six-inch pots with sphagnum moss and place the back bulbs on the live moss. Using seeds is a method of sexual reproduction, in that two different plants will have cross-pollinated to produce a new plant with some characteristics of both of the parent plants. Keiki paste works within a few weeks. Cut a stem on your orchid at least 12 inches long near the base using pruning shears or a sharp knife. You probably know that it's possible to propagate phalaenopsis orchids by planting keikos. I like them so much I wondered if I could make new plants from these roots. Keikis can be used to propagate phalaenopsis orchids. Best Orchid Pots: Beginner’s Buying Guide, How To Water An Orchid – Care Guide & Pictures, How to Repot an Orchid: Step by Step Guide, Orchid Potting Mix – Care Guide & Information, How To Prune An Orchid – Step By Step Guide. Each section should include at least three mature pseudobulbs. Keep the moss damp while the stem sections root. Once it’s replanted, the back bulb can be induced into rooting. 6. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site. 2  When your keiki has developed several leaves and roots approximately 2 to 3 inches in length, you can remove the plantlet from the parent orchid. The bulbs and leaves should be sprayed frequently, but the pot should not be soaked.