Best time to take stem cutting for starting a flask? - Orchid Board

klauts · #1 11-30-2012, 01:02 AM

when would be the best time to take a spike cutting for starting a flask?? the orchid i want to take a clone from is currently in bloom. is it best to take the cutting while its in bloom with active growth or wait until its finished blooming and theres no more growth on the spike? thanks in advance!

Stray59 · #2 11-30-2012, 01:16 AM

Klauts:
I am way over my head here, but from what I understand you are asking about cloning a plant from a bloom stem? I always thought that you had to use meristem or growth tip material from the new growth buds, rather than bloom stalk.
I am really waiting on others to weigh in on this as I need to understand basic cloning also.

Steve

p.s. This question would probably be more suited to be asked in the "Propagation" category; you would probably get more answers there. A moderator may move this thread. Just an FYI !

klauts · #3 11-30-2012, 01:28 AM

sorry i could be wrong i just assumed it would work as long as there were dormant nodes on the stem, seeing as the nodes have the potential to become keiki's normally... and thanks for the tip i'll post there next time!

Stray59 · #4 11-30-2012, 04:41 AM

klauts:
Don't worry I did the same thing last week concerning florescent lights; it is easy to just post without thinking about the category!
As far as the cloning goes, you very well may be right. As some phalaenopsis sprays throw Keikis there has to be growth cells there. I just know that the procedures I have seen use the growth 'corm' that grows deep in the growth tip. I may be way off track - knowing technology you can probably clone from about any part of the plant now. I will be monitoring others input because I am really interested in cloning procedures.
Steve

FairyInTheFlowers · #5 11-30-2012, 08:54 AM

Yes, it is possible to make stem propagations from dormant nodes along a Phalaenopsis inflorescence. The best time that I've heard to do it is right after the first flower on the inflorescence has faded away. Too soon and the inflorescence is too soft and may be damaged by the sterilizing; too late and the nodes may unresponsive. I think its better to stray on the side of too late, as you can probably get success from older inflorescences compared to week old inflorescences that haven't even bloomed.

zxyqu · #6 11-30-2012, 09:28 AM

Cody is correct, but I don't think the timing matters that much. You do need some special chemicals, namely BAP, to help initiate plant growth from a dormant node. And by that I mean a node that has not flowered or branched. Sterilizing is the most difficult part of this process, as you've got to do it well enough to kill everything but the node.