Cutting the rhizome before dividing?

[silken]

Does anyone do this on a plant they don't really intend to divide or re-pot anytime soon, just to get more centre growths and bloom spikes?? When I see people with so many blooms I wonder if this is sometimes done. I have some that get new growths in more than one place but many often just travel along the rhizome and only grow a new pseudo bulb on the latest new growth, so how else do you ever get multiple growths and blooms?

[ALToronto]

Originally Posted by silken

Does anyone do this on a plant they don't really intend to divide or re-pot anytime soon, just to get more centre growths and bloom spikes?? When I see people with so many blooms I wonder if this is sometimes done. I have some that get new growths in more than one place but many often just travel along the rhizome and only grow a new pseudo bulb on the latest new growth, so how else do you ever get multiple growths and blooms?

Yes, it is done, and it is illegal for judging. So some sneaky growers will unpot the plant, cut the rhizome with a razor blade from the underside almost all the way through, but leave the top (exposed) portion of the rhizome intact. The plant (usually a cattleya) will still grow new leads, but the cut will be invisible. Without unpotting, the judges have no way of determining the cheat, so such plants do get awarded.

[silken]

Originally Posted by ALToronto

Yes, it is done, and it is illegal for judging. So some sneaky growers will unpot the plant, cut the rhizome with a razor blade from the underside almost all the way through, but leave the top (exposed) portion of the rhizome intact. The plant (usually a cattleya) will still grow new leads, but the cut will be invisible. Without unpotting, the judges have no way of determining the cheat, so such plants do get awarded.

Wow! I wondered, but had no idea it was illegal as far as AOS judging. I just want more blooms

I wonder how much it is actually done when you see these small plants just loaded with blooms.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by katrina

I have a Newfoundland...so very large nail clippers...and my clippers wouldn't fit around some of the rhizomes I've divided over the past several years. No way! Nope...some have required much larger tools. Sharp wood chisels (or large flat head screw drivers) w/a big hammer and some good upper body strength are required. Seriously.

It depends on the plant. This works quite well for me on the Cattleya types that I have - easy work. On a really big rhizome, maybe it would be more difficult. I could see a chisel being necessary on some of those. I have tried the razor blade / sharp knife approach and that has not worked well for me.

[katrina]

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

I have tried the razor blade / sharp knife approach and that has not worked well for me.

Razor blade/utility knife doesn't cut it for me either. [HA-pun intended] but I have had good luck w/a large, sharp knife on some that weren't too big. I find the serrated knives to be most effective.

[silken]

Originally Posted by katrina

Razor blade/utility knife doesn't cut it for me either. [HA-pun intended] but I have had good luck w/a large, sharp knife on some that weren't too big. I find the serrated knives to be most effective.

I use a sharp serrated knife too. Works pretty good.

[Harris E.]

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to update the post to follow up on my experiment. I made cuts in the rhizomes of three cattleya hybrids - partial cuts in two plants and complete in one. For simplicity's sake I'm going to post separate replies to this thread for each plant. First was Cattleya Jungle Eyes. I made two partial cuts through the rhizome - about 3/4 of the way through - with a small razor blade on June 10th. There were already two leads emerging from the front section at the time. Since then a new lead has emerged from the middle section, and the back section fell off entirely. I guess I cut a little more than 3/4 of the way through - woops! Pictures below...

[Harris E.]

Second was Cattleya Aloha Case x Cattleya Bright Angel. Two complete cuts through the rhizome on June 27th. I made the cuts shortly after the new lead from the front started to develop. The middle section through a new lead but the back is still dormant. Pictures below...

[Harris E.]

Third was Cattleya Mae Hawkins ‘Newberry’. Three partial (3/4) rhizome cuts on June 10th. The newest lead was already several inches tall when I made the cuts. None of the back sections have thrown new leads yet. This plant was also in the worst condition of the three plants I tried so maybe that figures into it? Pictures below...

[bil]

I was under the impression that cutting them into too small pieces mant they would be a long time in reflowering? Only it looks as tho some of those sections you have made only have 2 pbulbs?