Orchid trauma surgery

[Orchidcraze01]

I just accidentally dropped my Dendrobium chrysotoxum and and broke off two of the new pbulb tips! Very angry at myself Anyone ever tried to re-attach a broken piece and have it live? I figured this could, in theory, work if you get it attached well. I superglued the outside of the broken pieces and put it back in the axil. If surgeons can do this with fingers, I believe I have a chance with an orchid pbulb tip! Just graduated from med school btw

[Mandy2705]

Pls share on the progress of the surgery bc I would love to know if it's possible I know I have been in the same situation many times

[Orchidcraze01]

Originally Posted by Mandy2705

Pls share on the progress of the surgery bc I would love to know if it's possible I know I have been in the same situation many times

Will do Mandy!

[turock]

One time I broke a spike on a phalaenopsis, one that was supporting a developing seed pod. I used Scotch tape to join the two parts of the spike back together, and the pod made it to full maturity!

Not quite the same scenario, but it seems like there could be hope. Maybe you can look into grafting techniques, like the ones bonsai artists use to create fuller root systems, etc. I think the key will be to encourage a perfect joining of the broken segments without letting them heal over so that liquid can flow between the parts.

If you're gonna lose the broken portion anyway, no harm in experimenting!


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[estación seca]

First, forgive yourself, and figure out how to prevent it from happening again.

Surgeons reattach fingers by sewing together the veins, arteries, nerves, and then tendons, in that order. They need to use an operating microscope. Then they fixate the bones. Unless you managed to reorient all the tiny vascular channels all the way around your pieces, your chances of success are minimal. Plus, there are probably fungal or bacterial spores now inside the plant on the cut surfaces.

Prevention and great care around the plants is what works. Gardening with lots of very spiny plants teaches one to move slowly and carefully.

[desertanimal]

Plant grafting is a long established practice that doesn't require most of the steps you indicated, nor does a great deal of soft tissue grafting in humans. What the OP has done seems worth a shot, and s/he will know in short order if it has odds of success. Congrats on the M.D.!

[desertanimal]

Edit: Plant grafting doesn't require any of the careful steps you indicated.

[bil]

Originally Posted by desertanimal

Edit: Plant grafting doesn't require any of the careful steps you indicated.

Hell no. I have grafted orange trees and even had a couple of successes!

No precision there, you just lift the bark and slide them in. As long as enough of the sapwood touches, you are OK.

[Orchidcraze01]

Originally Posted by desertanimal

Plant grafting is a long established practice that doesn't require most of the steps you indicated, nor does a great deal of soft tissue grafting in humans. What the OP has done seems worth a shot, and s/he will know in short order if it has odds of success. Congrats on the M.D.!

Thanks! And yes. I figured the same as far as the grafting.

[estación seca]

Citrus are dicots. Their vascular tissue is a continuous cylinder just beneath the surface. To graft , the vascular cylinder of the stock and scion must be aligned in at least one point.

Orchids are monocots. Their vascular tissue is in small strands scattered throughout the stem. It is not possible to align the vascular strands blindly. We can't graft monocots.