The orchid is bright and beautiful, so many growers are trying to grow orchids at home. But you should know that it is a rather capricious plant and requires special care.
Propagating Orchids from aerial roots is the most productive vegetative way. In many cases, it is customary for them to grow such plant species as cymbidiums, paphiopedilum, and phalaenopsis orchids.
The article describes in detail which roots and air roots are suitable for reproduction, how to carry out the procedure yourself and choose the right time for this, as well as what difficulties you may encounter.
Choosing Roots For Orchid Propagation?
The roots of the plant must be healthy and the more there are, the more successful the reproduction process will be.
For planting, you need to take a strong root or root system, it is this one that has a lot of vitality. The health of the plant is also important. For reproduction, sympodial orchids are suitable, which have a thickened orchid stem with buds.
Can You Propagate Orchids From Aerial Roots?
Propagating Orchids from aerial roots is possible for type of orchid:
- cymbidium;
- cattleya;
- papiopedilum.
Speaking about the reproduction of a flower Spike by this method, we mean its division into two parts. This radical method is used to rejuvenate an old flower.
The orchid can fall to one side and find it difficult to keep upright. To help her, growers cut off the top of the stem with an aerial root.
The cut is made with a sterilized knife and allows to well dried, sprinkled with charcoal, and deposited in another container. The stump that remained at the bottom of the flower should not be thrown away. Soon one or more children will appear next to him, which can be transplanted.
This breeding method is barbaric and not every florist decides to use it. But despite this, in the end, you can get two new specimens, and if there are two or more children from the parent plant, then new plants too.
Important! The trunk of the plant should not be dry. Otherwise, even healthy roots will not help in getting babies.
The planting pot should be suitable for the size of the roots. Do not forget about drainage, it can be created from expanded clay and large pieces of bark. The soil must be filled with fresh, universal will do.
If you have Spots on orchid leaves then don’t be late find out he solution.
Choosing The Right Time For Orchids Reproduction
It is necessary to propagate the flower in the spring. At this time, he wakes up and begins to grow. The plant accumulates nutrients during the winter, so it will easily endure the reproduction process. You cannot plant a flower during the flowering period.
After flowering, the plant needs to be given 14 days of rest, and only after that start reproduction.
Propagating Orchids From Aerial Roots At Home?
To plant a flower, you need to consider that it must be at least 5 years old. In other words, it should have a lot of growth that can be transplanted into different small containers that match the size of the roots.
Important! If you use a young flower for reproduction, then it will most likely fail, in addition, you can destroy the mother.
Choosing The Right Part Of The Rhizome
- To propagate a plant, you need to carefully pull it out of the pot and clean the roots from excess substrate. To do this, you need to shake the flower a little all excess will disappear without difficulty.
- After cleansing, put the roots in warm water at a temperature of + 30 ° C for thirty minutes.
Cut The Roots
- To cut the roots, you need to take a sharp secateurs. Disinfect the instrument before cutting. This is important because the roots are susceptible to different stimuli.
- Next, you should cut the root. It must be remembered that only those with at least 2-3 pseudobulbs should be used. The flower should not be infested with harmful insects. The leaves must be healthy and not damaged by infectious diseases.
Cutting Site Processing
You cannot trim the orchid at its base. It is necessary to leave the hemp about 0.5 cm. The cut should be rubbed with charcoal or brown powder. You can also use antiseptic and bactericidal special industrial powders.
Processing orchid roots after pruning is a must. Otherwise, during the watering process, it may begin to rot.
How To Repot An Orchid With Aerial Roots
The growing medium or soil into which the roots of the orchid will be transplanted is no different from the one in which it used to grow. Here is a guide on Choosing Best Orchid Pots for Phalaenopsis growing and reporting.
Of course, simple land is not suitable for planting. It is best to buy soil from a specialized store that is suitable for orchids.
In order for the flower to grow actively and not be exposed to diseases, the basis of the soil during the transplantation process should be a peat mixture, pine bark and coconut fiber. While potting orchids each pot must be filled with an earthen mixture or potting mix, into which individual roots are then planted.
Planting The Old Flower Back
Part of the old flower with pseudobulbs remains, it is necessary to plant it back. Here, caring for him should be special. Some tips for caring for him:
- Part of the root does not need to be planted like an adult plant.
- The root should be placed in a damp patch of ground.
- The flower must be constantly sprayed.
- The root tips portion may weaken. To reanimate it, you need to take a simple bag and sphagnum moss.
- Put it in a plastic bag and place the root there.
- After the young shoots appear, the root can be planted in its original place.
- Don’t forget about watering.
First Watering
The flower should be sprayed frequently until new roots appear. This will be a signal that it has taken root and began to grow.
A few days after transplanting, you can start watering the orchid as usual. Basically, the flower is watered 1-3 times a week in the summer and 1-2 times a month in the winter.
Difficulties And Problems Propagating Orchids
Many beginner growers of orchids face difficulties and problems for orchids growth.It is important that in the room where the orchid is located, comfortable light and thermal conditions are observed, otherwise, it will die. If the air in the room is cool or too dry, then you need to build a small greenhouse.
Growing Phalaenopsis Orchids under Lights full guide on placement and best light for orchids growth.
In this case, you must follow the rules:
- Do not feed the planted sprout, it must take root.
- If the original part of the flower is often sick, then it is better to refuse reproduction, otherwise it will die.
A novice grower may not be able to plant an orchid the first time. But there is no need to despair. It is better to reconsider the conditions that are created for the offshoot, perhaps one of them was not met.
Propagating Orchids from Aerial Roots and Planting an orchid at home is not as difficult as it might seem to many. Accuracy, and attentiveness is all that is needed for the successful division of the plant.
