Orchids are lovely flowers to grow. Wouldn't it be rewarding if you can produce the same kind from one single parent orchid through orchid propagation. Of course, this is no easy task. And this is the main reason for writing this article, so that I can share whatever knowledge I have in the subject. Now, let us try to put ourselves to proper perspective by knowing the tasks involve in multiplying our favorite orchid species.
I didn't know that there are several ways of propagating my orchids. In the beginning, I only knew one very simple way, which I actually learned from my mother and grandmother. Just as a little backgrounder about myself, my mom and grandma are the real orchid enthusiasts. I must say that mine was more of acquired, through the many years that I have been exposed to their orchid related activities. I will see them spending so much time cutting, re-potting and producing so much of this plant. Anyway, my interest came when I was already married and didn't seem to have much to do with my idle time. That is when I remembered, why not do what my mom used to do and enjoy doing...growing orchids.
So much for nostalgia, going back to the simple way of propagating orchids, I only used division as a method. It is fairly simple; every once in a while, I will check on new roots or new bulbs that will naturally sprout. And then I will cut it or these, depending on the number that I will see, using a sterilized pruning scissors. I also used rubber gloves to make sure that I don't infect my precious baby orchids. And then, I placed these in a new potting mixture and water them generously. Patience is necessary because after planting them, I will wait for the new plant to blossom.
Until later on, I learned that there are other ways of producing more orchids from a single plant. There is what is known among enthusiasts as the back bulb method. Don't get intimidated by the word. Back bulb simply means older stems that have shed off its leaves. In doing this, you just need to cut this off from the original plant and clean it of any dead leaves. Prepare a plastic bag with about 5cm. sphagnum moss and then bury the bulb about ? its depth. It is best to do this in batches, so put several of these stems together and follow the steps stated above. You must seal the bag and place it in a warm area using bright diffused light. You will be surprised that in a matter of 2-3 months a new growth will show off. You then need to put these in a shallow container using a layer of sphagnum moss. You have to wait for several months but make sure you place them in a diffused lighting. After this time, you may now transplant them individually using a potting medium assigned for each.
These are sure ways to help you get started with orchid propagation. Did you learn enough information to prompt you to go out and check your orchids if there are any signs that it is ready to produce new life? Go ahead, enjoy the sunlight and the morning breeze and get one of those lovely plants from your collection and start dividing those new sprouts. It can be a start of a new collection, or perhaps as gifts to a friend whose birthday is just around the corner.
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