Cutting dendrobiums and replanting

[buffalo]

I have a dendro for a few years it currently in flower, been flowering since october and sending out a new flower spikes now. I plan to repot when the flowers die off. This plant is fairly big (too big for the window its in) I like to cut it back and root the cuttings. whats the best way of doing it. I have done it before simple by sticking them back into the pot, surprisingly they grew. Whats the better way?

[Orchid126]

How many canes does the dendro have? Division is better than cuttings. A cutting would take years to get big enough to bloom. If the plant has six or eight canes or more, division would be better. A three cane division might bloom in a couple of years. A four cane or more division might bloom perhaps next season.

[Pampered]

Hi buffalo,
If the dendro is really that big, I agree with Orchid126 that you should multiply the plant. Use a clean sharp cutter to divide it into a group of three or four canes. Be gentle to the roots so that you wouldn't wait for years for the next blooms to come. In Thailand we widely use soaked red lime powder to seal the divided part right after we cut the plant. Then we leave it to dry for one day approx. I guess that's for protecting the wound from fungus attack. I'm not sure what you guys have been using in the States. Anything chemical? :P Good luck!

[buffalo]

I went and counted; it has 14 canes and a few small one.
I think i wil divide it when the flowers start to die off. I'm pretty sure it likely to be cramped with roots in the pot.

[Donald]

Divide your plant it will be happier.