back bulbs off divided cymbidium to propagate? - Orchid Board

irrka · #1 03-08-2022, 07:29 PM

Hi! So I just divided my cymbidium for the first time and popped off some old bulbs. I have seen somewhere claims you can plop them into a pot and they will propagate? Is this true even if there are no roots attached? because i've got some sphagnum laying around.....

Anyone have experience with this?

Roberta · #2 03-08-2022, 08:43 PM

Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't... Another approach is to put them in a paper bag, put in a dark place, and ignore for a few months. But don't forget them... I tried this once., found them a year later having totally forgotten them, they had sprouted but without being potted up and watered, they eventually shriveled. It's fun to try, but unless it is a really special plant, a lot of trouble for something that, if it does sprout and survive, will be quite a few years to blooming. The way Cyms grow, you'll multiply your plant a lot more easily just by making divisions (remembering that your divisions need to have at least 3-5 pseudobulbs to have enough energy to grow well. Leafless but firm back bulbs count toward that total.)

Cym Ladye · #3 03-08-2022, 09:01 PM

Seal a cleaned BB upright in a Ziplok quart plastic bag with a large handful of your moistened mix and a label. Place in a cool, shady location and wait. Germinating BBs can be a lot of fun and rewarding in obtaining plants to share. There are many ways to do this, some more successful than others.

estación seca · #4 03-08-2022, 10:46 PM

Years ago I went to a sale at Santa Barbara Orchid Estate. Along with everything else they had a huge box of unlabeled back bulbs at 5/$5.

Roberta · #5 03-08-2022, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by estación seca

Years ago I went to a sale at Santa Barbara Orchid Estate. Along with everything else they had a huge box of unlabeled back bulbs at 5/$5.

Did you buy any? If so, did any of them grow up for you?

estación seca · #6 03-09-2022, 12:45 AM

It was approximately 1999. I bought ten. Not one sprouted. That certainly may have been my fault.

Ray · #7 03-09-2022, 09:15 AM

Some 30 years ago or more, there was an article in the AOS bulletin about nestling the bases of the back bulbs in a tray of moist perlite. 2” depth of perlite, 1” depth of water, nestle the bulbs in no more than about 1/2”. I tried it and it worked quite well.

That’s where I got the idea that led to semi-hydroponics.

rbarata · #8 03-09-2022, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray

Some 30 years ago or more, there was an article in the AOS bulletin about nestling the bases of the back bulbs in a tray of moist perlite. 2” depth of perlite, 1” depth of water, nestle the bulbs in no more than about 1/2”. I tried it and it worked quite well.

That’s where I got the idea that led to semi-hydroponics.

That's what I do with all back bulbs, Cymbs or not. But I use pots and bark. The key is keep the medium around the bulb base always moist.
My sucess rate is around 80 to 90%.

irrka · #9 03-11-2022, 02:01 PM

[QUOTE=Ray;981858]Some 30 years ago or more, there was an article in the AOS bulletin about nestling the bases of the back bulbs in a tray of moist perlite. 2” depth of perlite, 1” depth of water, nestle the bulbs in no more than about 1/2”. I tried it and it worked quite well.

That’s where I got the idea that led to semi-hydroponics.[/QUOTE
Nice!!! I will try that!!!!