how do my orchids make more orchids?

[tim_r95]

So, I have a couple different orchids now and I was just wondering. How do they make more orchids? I know my miltassia and oncidium just grow pseudobulbs that are sorta like individual plants. And the tolumnia looks like it's growing baby plants from nowhere. Lol. But what about my phal and mini phal? Will they just start growing a new plant from the base of the original one? The hawkinsara looks like its growing kinda kinda like the miltassia or oncidium with kinda different shaped psuedobulbs. The other thing I was wondering was how often or how fast do new growths usually take?

[Ray]

You're looking at one way orchids are classified - monopodial (one foot) types like phals, and sympodial, those with multiple growths.

As far as asexual propagation is concerned, monopodials can form offshoots from the original plant, or keikies from inflorescences, and sympodials form larger and larger colonies over time, that can be divided into individual clusters. Don't forget though, that the flowers can be pollinated, and seeds can germinate and form plants via sexual reproduction, too.

And then, if you'll consider our hands in the process, there's cloning, as well.


Ray Barkalow
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[tim_r95]

I'd like to try making seeds eventually, but I'll probably have to work up to that. (I want to try crossing my miltassia with my oncidium) lol. I am still very new to orchids, and from what I have read, it seems like a pretty complicated process. Thats needs a lot of specialized equipment.

[silken]

Originally Posted by tim_r95

I'd like to try making seeds eventually, but I'll probably have to work up to that. (I want to try crossing my miltassia with my oncidium) lol. I am still very new to orchids, and from what I have read, it seems like a pretty complicated process. Thats needs a lot of specialized equipment.

You are correct. You could get into that end of things but you would need to understand flasking and sterilize everything and in most cases wait years before you saw the blooming results of any cross. It is better to just find the likely already made cross and buy it and enjoy it.

It's not to say you couldn't do it tho.

[tim_r95]

Yeah, that's very true. I think It'd be kinda fun to raise it from a seed though. Also. Would the resulting plants be different depending on which plants was the father and which was the mother?

[silken]

They can be different depending which plant carries the seed pot and also every seedling can differ unlike when cloning is done to reproduce. It's just like you and your siblings likely don't look identical. Same thing when they are reproduced from seed. Each plant will have differing amounts of influence from the parents and different vigor in some cases. So you may want to grow them to blooming to choose the best ones to keep. Even a first bloom is not always indicative of how it will bloom when fully mature.

[Cym Ladye]

...and then there is the question of "compatibility". Some genera, just because they are termed orchids, just won't breed together - a little like trying to cross cats and rabbits. They are both generally considered mammals, but that is where it stops as far breeding is concerned.

CL

[tim_r95]

That's true. I think oncidiums should be able to be crossed with miltsssia though.

[PaxTea]

There's no need to invest in your own equipment. If you manage to get seeds, send them off to a flasker.

Plantgasm - The Continuing Phalaenopsis Impregnation Saga

[tim_r95]

Do you know how much it would cost to get it done if it's not one of the ones that's done for free?