Dormant eyes on cymbidium for keiki paste

[Mercurianmad]

I’ve got a cymbidium with a flower spike that’s in its way out, and then another healthy flower spike in full bloom. I want to try this keiki paste on this plant to get another plant. Where are the dormant eyes on cymbidiums and how do I use this keiki paste on them.
? It’s pretty straight forward for phals and other monopodial orchids, but sympodial? I don’t know where to start. Thanks!

[Ray]

I don't think you need to bother with keiki paste.

The "eyes" on any pseudobulbs are points at the base where a rhizome may originate. When you separate it from the rest of the plant, they'll be pretty much on the same level as the break/cut.

Get yourself a plastic food container and put about 2" (or so) of perlite into it. Add water so that it fills the bottom inch. Nestle the base of the "back bulb" about 1/2" into the moist perlite. Keep the liquid topped up. In a few weeks, a new growth should emerge.

[Mercurianmad]

Thank you! Do you have any tips on how to safely remove that back bulb? I’ve never divided a plant and I’m pretty sure that extra spike in the picture is attached to the plants base.

---------- Post added at 11:01 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:00 AM ----------

When I say spike, I mean the pointy node in the picture of h the orchid, at the base of the pseudobulb

[Ray]

I think that particular plant is too small to divide. All of the growths work together as a "colony", sharing resources, so are far more robust if kept together. My standard minimum is 2 or 3 old growths plus a new one emerging.

When it gets bigger than that, while repotting, the older pseudobulbs - usually lacking leaves - can be easily snapped off while repotting.

[rbarata]

Ray is right! Your plant is too small. Wait that it grows a little more (at least more 3 or 4 years, if your culture is adequate).