Completely understanding the issue of caring for a beautiful and delicate flower, many are wondering how to propagate an orchid at home? It is not as simple as it may seem at once, but it is absolutely possible if you thoroughly study all the subtleties and nuances.
Reproduction of orchids at home
A room orchid is rightly considered to be very capricious in growing and nursing, it requires a lot of attention in the matter of reproduction, which can be carried out in several ways. All methods of reproduction of orchids at home are equally effective if you approach this issue with all responsibility and strictly follow the rules described below.
How to propagate an orchid with cuttings?
Reproduction of orchids by cuttings is the most common method, which is used with equal success for all varieties of this flower. At home, this variant of reproduction is carried out according to the algorithm:
- From the trunk of the orchid, it is necessary to cut off the side cuts, and they will become cuttings.
- We cut fresh cuttings into moist soil - moss, chernozem, sand for these purposes.
- Next, from a plastic bag or a plastic bottle, we construct a small greenhouse, where we put the shank.
- After the stem has roots, they can be safely planted in a constant capacity and cared for as an adult flower.
To the impromptu greenhouse are also made some requirements:
- The plant in it must constantly receive oxygen.
- The soil should remain moderately moist.
- The temperature in the greenhouse must be kept constant within 26-28 ° C.
Reproduction of orchids by peduncle in the home
The reproduction of the orchid by the peduncle is carried out according to the same algorithm as the cuttings. First, cut the flower stem, cut it into segments so that each of them contains 2-3 nodes, and place the hothouse conditions. Cutting the flower stem for planting, you should know one important nuance - the kidneys on it are unequal, the closer the bud is to the base of the plant, the more viable it is.
Propagation of orchids in seeds at home
This option, how to propagate an orchid at home, is the longest and the most demanding, but its plus is that with strict adherence to all rules, the result is guaranteed to be successful. For the process it is necessary to prepare the following:
- glassware, ideally bulbs or other containers with screw caps;
- Knuds medium (special solution);
- pressure cooker.
There is a reproduction of orchids by seeds according to this algorithm:
- Sterilize the cones.
- Using a pressure cooker we sterilize the Knuds solution.
- We pour into the flasks of Knuds's solution and cover with gauze tampons or rubber lids.
- We disinfect the seeds - soak them in a solution of bleach.
- In small portions, we place the seeds in the flasks with the solution, shake well, hold it for 10 minutes.
- Using a pipette, gently remove the seeds in the solution and plant them in the soil.
Seedlings should be in a room with an air temperature of 18-23 ° C with diffuse light, a light day should last 12-14 hours, the conditions should be greenhouse. The germination time for all orchid species is different, it should take at least a week before you see the first sprouts. The orchid grows from seeds for a very long time, and the first flowering will have to wait at least 5-6 years.
How to propagate an orchid from a leaf?
Unfortunately, in the presence of many myths on this topic, the reproduction of orchids by leaf is impossible. Even if you create ideal conditions, use rooting drugs and stimulants , a leaf of a home orchid can not take root. The error was born from the fact that orchids successfully reproduce by root babies, which many call kidneys, but in botany the kidney is also called the stage of leaf formation, hence the confusion.
How to propagate orchid roots?
Reproduction of orchids by roots is also a very common method, and it can rightly be called the most successful one. The procedure is as follows:
- We pull out the orchid from the pot, shake the root system from the substrate.
- Using a good knife or a garden pruner, we divide the root system into three (or two) parts, each of which must have a minimum of three pseudobulbs.
- For the purposes of disinfection and disease prevention, each section is treated with wood ash.
- Each received part of the bush is planted in a separate pot, filled with fresh quality soil.
Until the first full leaves and new rootlets appear, it is absolutely not recommended to water a freshly planted bush of an orchid. If all the rules of planting are observed correctly, the plant will quickly take root and almost immediately give blossoming. It is important to choose the right time for the propagation of the orchid by the bush - the most successful result will be after flowering, during the planned transplant period.