How to propagate an orchid at home: Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium

There is a misconception that the cultivation of orchids at home is exclusively the task of professional flower growers. But in fact, a beginner can cope with this if he studies specialized literature regarding the peculiarities of growing a chosen culture. Particular attention should be paid to methods of how to propagate an orchid at home. This is due to the presence of a large number of breeding methods, which have their own distinctive features and are not always applicable to specific varieties.

How to propagate an orchid at home?

There are several methods of breeding: children, air bends, seeds, cuttings, dividing an adult bush.

Regardless of which method is chosen, it is recommended to carry out the procedure in the spring. At this time, the beginning of the release of orchids from a state of dormancy is noted, therefore they have the necessary energy reserve for growth.

When reproducing orchids, you should carefully handle the root system - it is very fragile.

And also we must not forget that a successful result awaits only if a healthy flower was used for propagation.

Propagation by stem offspring

The method of planting stem siblings - children, is one of the easiest breeding techniques. In the literature, it is often found as a method of propagation by the flower stalk.

Children are sprouts that are formed from "sleeping" root buds. And also their appearance is noted on the stems and peduncles. The use of sprouts is considered the best option, due to the formation of roots already at the stage of their germination.

Important! You can not cut off the children immediately after they appeared. They need a six-month time interval, which will make it possible to form and develop the required number of root processes.

The readiness of the child for transplantation is simple to determine: she must have a formed root system of 4-5 roots about 5 cm long and at least three leaves.

When the stem shoot is ready, it is carefully cut off. The place of the cut on the mother plant is sprinkled with charcoal or another antiseptic, and the cut process is left for a short period of time in the air. And only after 2-3 hours it is planted in moist soil. A young plant will need careful care before active growth begins.

Bush division

This is another widespread propagation method that applies to all varieties of orchids. The implementation of the division makes it possible to obtain a new instance, which has a high ability to take root in a separate container.

Typically, at home vegetative propagation of a flower by dividing involves a series of steps:

• an adult is removed from the container;
• the soil is removed from the rhizome;
• the root part is cut into two halves that have pseudobulbs - two each;
• processing slices;
• each half is planted in separate dishes.

A divided bush, after planting in pots, requires careful care, in which the main thing is not to fill the flowers. If the procedure is performed correctly, both plants will soon shoot. And if the time is chosen correctly - early spring, then they will quickly recover and begin to grow rapidly.

Cuttings

A more laborious and lengthy method of breeding is the propagation of orchids by cuttings. For a successful procedure, the flower grower must have the necessary plant knowledge and skills. Therefore, beginners should use simple breeding methods.

Both the peduncle and the upper part of the lateral shoot can act as a stalk. And if the procedure is carried out correctly, then both take root well.

In the case of the peduncle, so that the stalk adapts faster, harvesting should be done at the end of flowering of the bush as follows:

1. Cut a peduncle 10-14 cm long with 2-3 sleeping buds.
2. Sprinkle places of cuts on the cuttings and plants with charcoal, which will allow them to dry and avoid infection of the flower.
3. Put the cut flower stalk on moist soil.

In the case of a side shoot, you should:

1. Cut a branch with 2-3 internodes formed on it.
2. To treat the cut with charcoal, in its absence, you can use activated.
3. Leave the stalk in this form for two hours.
4. Like a flower stalk, put on moist soil.

Then the cuttings are placed in a greenhouse, which you can create with your own hands, or purchase. To create a greenhouse of our own production, you need transparent glass, plastic or plastic film, which will be used as a shelter. Under it, it is necessary to ensure a high temperature regime - above 29 ° C and a constant level of humidity. In the first few days, cut cuttings need frequent watering. But to prevent condensation, regular ventilation should be organized. And also once a decade, you can carry out fertilizing with organic and mineral fertilizers.

The optimal duration of the cuttings in the greenhouse is the period until the formation of root processes, the length of which is 3-5 cm. After they can be planted in previously prepared soil.

Propagation by air layering

It is worth emphasizing that the formation of air layers, as well as stem offspring, is not observed in all varieties of orchids. This ability is noted in Dendrobium.

To grow a plant from an air layer, you need a greenhouse and sphagnum moss: a leafless shoot is placed on moistened moss and placed in a greenhouse. If constant humidity and high temperature conditions are maintained in the greenhouse, the awakening of the kidneys will begin in a month. The flower grower will become the owner of a young plant.

After rooting is completed, a new flower should be separated from the mother flower, the shoot should be processed and planted in a pot. The key to successful growth of a young specimen is the observance of proper care - keeping it in a greenhouse for a certain time, maintaining constant humidity, ensuring good lighting and timely fertilizing.

Seed propagation

Orchid cultivation is also possible using the generative method. However, it takes about five years to grow a crop at home from seeds. Such a long time period is necessary for seed germination and the formation of an adult plant. Therefore, this method of reproduction is rarely used.

In addition, the method of obtaining flowers from seeds is quite troublesome:

1. Seeds are poured on moist soil, specially selected for the cultivation of orchids.
2. Greenhouse conditions are created - constantly high levels of humidity and temperature conditions.
3. It is not watering, but spraying the seed with water at room temperature.
4. After germination in the phase of the first leaf, a pick is carried out, which is repeated in the phases of the second and fourth leaves.
5. After the transplantation of young specimens into separate containers.

When deciding to plant orchids in this way, it is worth considering that they will please their first flowering only a few years after the formation of an adult plant. In addition, the method does not guarantee that the new flower will inherit all the characteristics of the variety. Therefore, the option of propagation by seeds is devoid of practical significance.

Features of propagation of orchids: Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium

Every connoisseur of the enchanting beauty of a flower has a desire to have an orchid not in a single copy. If the grower has Phalaenopsis or Dendrobium, then using the vegetative method of breeding, he can quickly get new plants. The bush should be propagated if it is already old. However, with proper care, these representatives of the Orchid family can live very long.

For breeding Phalaenopsis or Dendrobium, only adult plants with a developed root system and five healthy leaves should be used, whose age is at least three years.

It is worth noting that the formation of children does not occur in all varieties of orchids, but these two representatives have this ability. Therefore, among the features it is worth highlighting the possibility of using the simplest method of reproduction - stem offspring.

When breeding these orchids, a number of prerequisites should be met:

1. Sterilize all instruments before use;
2. To treat all sections with an antiseptic, which can be activated charcoal, turmeric and zelenka;
3. Use only warm boiled water and do not fill the rosettes of plants when watering;
4. Reduce humidity when temperature drops;
5. Provide proper care for the young plant, including the application of potassium-phosphorus fertilizers.