When to cut Rodrigueziopsis eleuterosepala stolon/runner?

[tropterrarium]

I have a Rodrigueziopsis eleuterosepala. It has a long (8") runner-stolon (or whatever one calls that) with a pseudobulb with several 2" roots on it. The stolon looks healthy-vital, so wonder whether to cut it and use the new pseudobulb as a division, or whether to leave it on.
Second, if I cut it, would you attach it close to the parent plant with about five pseudobulbs, or would you start a new specimen on a new piece of cork?

[Ray]

Left attached, each individual will help sustain all of the others in the "colony".

If you would like to establish a second, why not mount it on another piece of bark without detaching it. Onces it is established and beginning to form additional growths, then you can separate the two.

[tropterrarium]

Thanks Ray. Interesting alternative. Is it correct that leaving the daughter specimen on will not suppress growth in the mother colony due to apical dominance?
Does the minimum of 3 pseudobulb rule also apply to daughter colonies along stolons? Or should it rather be treated like a keiki? (I've separated successfully small keikis off Lockhartia lunifera (only about 1.5 inches long!) and on Cadetia taylori (only 4 mini bulblets).

[Ray]

I was speaking generally, as I am not familiar with the specifics of the species, however, most-, if not all sympodial plants have dormant "eyes" that can begin to grow if the plant has no other alternatives.

I would definitely treat it under the "3-growths rule", and not as a keiki, as it is not a keiki at all.

[tropterrarium]

Thanks for the further clarifications, Ray. R. e. is an uncommon species, apparently. Searched OB and not a single hit! So I understand that your indications are more general. I posted it in the Onchidium alliance section, as the genus belongs into that group; found that through some googling. The overall growth habit with the long process is comparable to Onchidium spp., so I guess the same general guidelines apply. As I don't have much experience with Onchidium-type plants, I need some help here. Thanks again! If you know of some good books or web resources, I'll be most interested in any pointers.

I currently have the species in a warm terrarium (60-85F, 70-80%RH). My longer-term plan is to use divisions from some of my terrarium plants to make a multispecies bark plate to go into my new greenhouse. Got several large pieces of bark (1-2 square feet each). I wonder how difficult it will be to keep the daughter of R. e. from attaching roots to other spots in the terrarium, while I wait for it to produce some additional growths. We'll see.