Forcing multiple leads

[ArronOB]

Yes, I wondered about that. I have only once broken a new lead off accidentally and the plant did indeed respond by putting out two new leads.

The good thing about this method is you can do it on a very young plant. The bad things would be pathogen entry and questionable reliability.

I may try it when some of my smallest bag babies get a bit bigger.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by ArronOB

Yes, I wondered about that. I have only once broken a new lead off accidentally and the plant did indeed respond by putting out two new leads.

It will work. If the plant hits a road-block, such as somebody busting off a new growth (or even purposely busting off a new growth along one section of rhizome), then the plant will likely start sprouting in another region. So if we don't want activity along a particular direction --- then keep busting off new growth heading in that direction (but making sure to patch up the wound with some special horticulture sealing paint or something).

Originally Posted by ArronOB

I don’t want plants with only a single lead which rapidly climbs out of the pot.

A lead just means 'activated eye', or new shoot, right? Do you mean that you want to stop the extension of a Cattleya rhizome along one general direction?