got some orchid bark today, and it is currently soaking.
the root segments are separate from the plant. some of the roots were rotting from the middle, so i was left with a healthy root base and healthy root tip.
ok, ill throw em out then.
i think what you are talking about in a lab is micropropagation, or in vitro tissue culture. thats when they take a tiny piece of plant, sterilize it, and place it in a solution of growth hormones, nutrients, sugars, amino-acids, etc. since the energy source is provided, as is the growth hormones, you could use any part of the plant in theory. they also do it with seeds (to induce much faster growth). the main issue is sterilizing the tissue without killing it.
thanks for all your help.