Airlayering to save keiki and mother?

[Paul Mc]

Does anyone know (or tried) the chinese method of airlayering to produce roots on a phal keiki and/or to save the mother plant from dying when all the roots are dead?

I posted earlier about how to save my mother plant and the keiki that has no roots yet (which is starting to bloom BTW) and someone suggested taking a cotton ball with water to the base of the keiki several times a day. That got me thinking about airlayering which is basically the same, except you wet some moss and then squeeze the excess out, mound it up around the base of the plant (they suggest cutting it slightly to make it want to produce roots there, but I'm not sure about that point) and then sealing it up in plastic so it's practically airtight.

Apparently, this method has been tried and true on hundreds of plants for the chinese. I just don't know if or how it would work with orchids, especially a dying one and it's no-root keiki.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

How's this different from sphag and bag? It sounds similar.

I'm thinking that the principle of using high humidity to induce root production on Phals with heavily damaged roots is what is being employed.

[Paul Mc]

I thought it sounded similar to the sphag and bag method, but I'm not really sure about the cutting a small wound on the base of the plant part. What are your thoughts on this? Is the cutting portion done in the sphag and bag method or not?

I'm going to do the airlayering method today to see what happens. I've never done sphag and bag or airlayering before so this should be an interesting experience!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Without pics to see how the procedure is done properly, I can't recommend doing a cut anywhere on the plant.

That's a potential invitation for microbes to attack.

[Paul Mc]

Exactly what I was thinking as well. It didn't sound like the best option to me. Thank you once again! You're information as always is greatly appreciated!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

You're welcome.

[florafan]

I am new to orchids and therefore do not know anything about air layering for orchids. However, air layering is done with other houseplants, mostly done with those with canes (e.g. dieffenbachia). To do so, one makes a slanting slit in the stem/cane, prop it open a little with a toothpick. pack the area with sphagnum moss and wrap the area with plastic wrap. When you see roots growing through the moss, you cut and pot up the cane with the new roots.

[Sienna]

This is such an interesting question! You have got me thinking, I have some dens that lost all there leaves after getting to hot in my greenhouse and I am giving them lots of TLC to try and bring them back. Many have started to produce kiki's that are very small, you have inspired me, I'm going to try airlayering them to encourage root growth!

I say, give it a go!

As for the cutting issue, I know this is to encourage root growth at that point, now Im no expert, but I think the kiki 'should' already produce roots, so hopefully the moisture from the moss will be enough to get the roots growing?

Thanks for the great thought. Id love to hear how you go!