Orchids are without a doubt among the most stunning flowers in the plant kingdom.
These flowers are linked with a great level of status, and the fact that they can be produced indoors has made them a popular choice for many people around the world.
Affiliate Disclosure
Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, we earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
But how do you go about growing orchids successfully?
Orchids can be grown in a variety of methods, but in this article, we’ll discuss how to successfully grow orchids from cuttings.
Understanding the basics of orchid plants
Orchids demand a lot of attention and must be grown in certain conditions. The blooms will probably die if their requirements are not met.
Yeah, you’re dealing with very snobbish flowers who won’t accept just any gardener as their companion.
Orchids demand the crème-de-la-crème of gardening from you. And we love that here.
Orchids are one of the world’s most diverse plant families. There are around 30,000 species and 20,000 hybrids of orchids.
The orchid family, often known as Orchidaceae, is divided into three groups: epiphytic, lithophytic, and terrestrial orchids. Orchid species can thrive in a variety of climatic settings. But here’s the catch: if you want to grow orchids indoors successfully, you’ll need to mimic the plants’ natural growing conditions.
Do all orchid species grow from cuttings?
Orchids do not grow from cuts in the great majority of cases, with the exception of orchids belonging to the Dendrobium genus. This genus of orchids produces flowers in a single blossom on short spikes.
When compared to other orchid species, Dendrobium orchids generate nearly twice as many blossoms.
The nodules on the plant’s stem are where the flowers grow. The blooms fade quickly in comparison to other species, leaving only small spikes on the stem. You must trim these spikes using scissors or a blade of your choice.
Because the spikes are prone to infection, you should disinfect the blade regularly to prevent infection from spreading to other parts of the orchid.
How to Grow Orchids from Cuttings?
Stem cuttings and Keiki cuttings are the two types of cuttings that can be used to generate orchids. Each cutting is cultivated in a distinct way, and we’ll go over each of them.
Stem Cuttings
The ideal time to cut the stem is after the flowers fade. At this point in time, the orchid gets back into a vegetative phase which is essential for reproducing new orchids. The following is a step-by-step guide in “explain like I’m 5” style to getting started in growing orchids from cuttings.
🌱 1) Cut the stems
Cut the stems of the orchids with a sharp and sterilized blade. It should preferably be 1 foot in length. Divide it into 3 or 4 portions, making sure that each stem cutting contains at least 3 nodules.
🌱 2) Prepare the rooting tray
There are no roots on the clipped stems. As a result, you should build a rooting tray that will give the best circumstances for rapid root formation. Sphagnum moss, barks, pebbles, or sand will be required.
Before you start, clean the grow medium and immerse it in water to make sure it’s completely saturated. Place the growing medium on the rooting tray once it’s ready. It’s important to know that in order to allow excess water to escape, the tray should be semi-permeable.
When everything is ready, the stem cuttings should be placed in a shallow tray.
Once the cuttings have been planted, the area should be covered with loose plastic polythene to retain the desired humidity. For a few days, keep the tray in a dark, warm location.
🌱 3) Potting
After a few days, you should start to see some shoots emerging from the stem. The clipping should be placed in a grow container. These are some of the best grow pots:
- Net pots: Net pots are made of wire mesh, which allows the roots to breathe. If the pot becomes infected, you can hang it in direct sunlight to reduce the risk of root deterioration or rot.
- Wooden pots: If you’re going to use wooden pots, be sure they’re rot-resistant. Before you add any potting mixture, you should line the pot with sheet moss.
- Clear plastic pots:These are the greatest pots for checking on the roots’ growth and allowing more sunlight to reach the roots.
Prepare the potting mixture as directed, then place the cuttings in it. All orchids, regardless of species, should be planted with their shoots facing sideways or upwards.
Keiki cuttings
Keiki are orchid plantlets that grow on the stem or just above the root base. If you aren’t planning on growing a new orchid, you should prune the Keiki.
If you want to grow orchids from Keiki cuttings, however, you should wait until the roots are an inch long and the leaves start to form.
Make sure you water your orchid well the day before you cut the Keiki for transplanting. When cutting, you should use a sharp blade that has been disinfected by dipping it in alcohol.
Replant the Keiki in a potting mixture of fine orchid barks after cutting the stem beneath the roots.
How to Take Care Of Orchids Grown from Cuttings?
Cutting is only half of mastering how to cultivate orchids. Thought it was over, huh? Orchids require special attention, and bellow you’ll find some essential tips on how to cultivate orchids from cuttings successfully.
How to master watering your orchid cuttings
If you give the orchid too much water, it will rot, and if you give it too little, it will die. When it comes to watering orchids, you must strike the right balance.
You should water them once or twice a week at the most. It is suggested that you use a clear plastic pot to keep track of the roots’ growth.
It was only recently scientifically demonstrated that you can grow orchids in hydroponics; this is a huge and astounding accomplishment.
How to provide ideal humidity for your dear orchids
Orchids thrive in humid environments. If the area in which you plan to grow your orchid isn’t humid enough, you should invest in a humidifier.
Depending on the orchid species, humidity levels should be kept between 50 and 75 percent.
The right amount of sunlight for orchids
Orchids are a naturally dark green color with yellow undertones. If your orchids are dark green with no yellow spots, this indicates that you are not providing enough sunshine to the plant.
Too much sunlight, on the other hand, causes orchids to turn yellow or brownish.
Photo by xp3rt5