Increasing Leads

[brsucculents]

Is there anything you can do to naturally increase the bud development beside good culture (i.e. water, fertelizer, sun)? I've been removing the sheath from around the buds so they get light. Do you think that is effective? I'm sure keiki paste would work but I'm looking for naturally. I assume a high Nitrogen fertilizer increases stem size but does it promote multiply growths too? Is it all hormones and genetics?

[isurus79]

Honestly, the best way to increase leads is to cut off a lead as it starts to grow. Your plant will respond with 2 or more new leads if it's healthy.

Increasing buds (ie. flowers) is solely done with good culture. FYI- Increasing leads is very different than increasing buds. I think you mean to increase leads though?

[brsucculents]

That is good information Steve! Actually I forgot about that. In the past, I've wonder if you could partially cut a rhizome in several places and get multiply leads and get a more impressive specimen plant for AOS judging. I believe having multiply plants in a single pot is not legal. But is a sliced up rhizome?
I'm just a novice but a bud is a "tightly packed unexpanded initial stage of a new organ (stem, flower, root)".

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by brsucculents

I believe having multiply plants in a single pot is not legal. But is a sliced up rhizome?

If I remember correctly, slicing the rhizome is illegal for AOS judging.

[tucker85]

You're asking several questions here. Opening the sheath around the buds to let light in, probably doesn't do anything at all. If the sheath is very dry and brittle I sometimes open them because the buds have a hard time breaking through. If the sheath is green I leave it alone and the buds break out on their own.

I believe that producing multiple leads depends on the DNA of the plant. Some orchids readily produce multiple leads while others will continue along with one lead. Sometimes when one of my leads breaks off, the orchid will respond by starting two new leads. But just as often, the orchid will only produce one lead and you haven't gained anything.

I think your best bet is to give the plant the best culture you can. That means optimum light, water and fertilizer. Also don't divide your plants. Allow them to grow large. Larger plants will produce more leads and more buds.

[brsucculents]

Originally Posted by isurus79

If I remember correctly, slicing the rhizome is illegal for AOS judging.

Is using growth hormones illegal? Of course how would anyone know.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by brsucculents

Is using growth hormones illegal? Of course how would anyone know.

I'm not sure on that one, though I haven't ever heard of any orchids failing drug tests.

[james mickelso]

The physiology of Lead production is when the plant has enough reserves of energy, like nice fat pbulbs, it will produce multiple leads from that pbulb. Give the plant good culture and it will produce multiple leads all by itself. Usually this means an orchid that has 5 or 6 well grown pbulbs.

[My Green Pets]

Lol now we've got orchids on steroids to worry about? (Hmm...kind of would like to see that...)

[cbuchman]

In my limited experience, KLN, seaweed and similar fertilizers can promote multiple leads. They do so by encouraging good root growth. So in the end it all comes down to the amount of growth the plant can sustain. Healthier plant = more growth