How to split a Brassia?

[denvervet]

I have a gorgeous, healthy Brs longissima X ochroleuca that grows like nobody's business. I would like to split this orchid so that I can give it to a friend who would like to start growing orchids. How do I split this plant? I don't want to upset it. Is the Spring the best time? Your help is very appreciated. Thanks.

[billc]

It's probably best to divide after it's done flowering. Spring time when it's putting out new growth should also be a good time. Depending on how big and dense it is you may have to get a little violent. You want to have at least 3 or 4 p-bulbs in each new division.

Bill

[denvervet]

Thank you Bill, it just got done flowering about 2 weeks ago, this thing flowers all the time though. I can definately make 2-3 new plants out of what I have. I went and got pots and growing medium today at Lowe's.

[denvervet]

Oh, if I cut into it with a sterile knife can I just put cinnamon on the cut? I do not have fungicide and I don't feel like driving to Tim Buck Two again (Arvada, Colordo) to get it. Ha.

[Zoi2]

You can usually just pull the bulbs apart.
I never use cinnamon around the root area but I do spray regular brown Listerine.
Joann

[Oscarman]

One of our long time growers just split up a huge Brassia Eternal Wind 'Summers Dream' at our new member society meeting last month. He just went at it with shears and made lots of 2 and 3 bulb divisions. It was not in flower, but may of the divisions had spikes formed. I was lucky enough to get on and think it will be flowering soon.

Water well to help loosen the media.

[denvervet]

@ Oscarman, did he treat the areas where he split them with sheers with anything?

[Oscarman]

Not at all and neither did I when I got it home with my division. I did however pot it up a day later, so the cut was dry. All is good. Post a pic soon as it is really developing fast.

[WhiteRabbit]

I do carefully put cinnamon on the cut rhizome, don't know if it's necessary, I am careful to not get cinnamon on the roots.

Or, like Dave said, let the cut dry out a day (again, not sure if it's necessary - I have in the past divided without doing anything to the cut area or allowing it to dry, and didn't have problems, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

[denvervet]

Thanks White Rabbit. I decided not to divide the plant. I put it in a larger clay pot and put a new mix which will not dry out so fast here in the the land of no humidity. I used smaller bark, sphagnum, clay balls, charcoal and perlite. Its a large plant and I wish I could figure out how to put a picture on here I would post one. Its beautiful, getting lots of new leaves and its roots were pretty good when I pulled the plant out of the old pot. I did divide a Cym today and made two plants and I made 5 new Dtps. plants by removing keiki's from 2 plants that I bought which I "rescued" over a year ago. Can't wait to see some flowering on those! I am only keeping the Cym because I can't kill orchids, its a battle keeping it going. The plant has some sort of curst on it and I hope to water it with "holy water" which I can get from my RC Church! Ha ha. I could have divided some other orchids but they have not bloomed yet this year and I didn't want to temp fate. I have a Potinara which really has done well since its rescue a year ago, it get red flowers and I will be happy when it finally blooms! I have a Btc. w which had beautiful flourescent orange flowers on it when I acquired it last March, it took it a while to start new growth and some nice roots but it finally has and I am hopeful it will bloom too. We'll see! Thanks as always for your comments.