Forceing growth on back bulbs?
 

I don't know if this is the proper forum but thought I would start here. I don't like to keep orchids in anything larger than a 6" pot because of space. I have several with 10 or more growths and need to divide saving 3/4 good bulbs in the lead. Is there a way, a procedure, a paste, or other way of forcing back bulbs to produce growth. I have planted some and have put some in a bucket w/little spag. to see if they sprout. Sometimes they do sometimes they don't. I was trying to find out if anyone know of a procedure to insure the promotion of growth of these back bulbs. :scratchhead: Thanks.

Hey Don, there's a pretty good site that richard from GW runs. He has decent success with backbulb propagation and has documented a few of his projects. Not sure if there is a paste of any sort...some people I know claim that keikipaste can be used but the evidence is spotty at best. Check out Orchid backbulbs hope that helps :)

Hey Don,

No paste can replace good culture. Good cultural conditions will give you the best success. I'd go with the sphag, as you already have, and try to keep things nice and humid but on the dry side. Past that, I know of no "trick" that would guarantee results.

I tried the sphag and bag technique during a few months this summer with Bulbophyllum and Howeara backbulbs. They were showing no sign of activity, then I switched them into live sphagnum : a plastic container half filled with live sphagnum and keeping always half a centimeter of water at the bottom (without fertilizer to keep the sphagnum alive). I keep the backbulbs on top of the sphagnum so they don't touch the water and close the lid to keep maximum humidity. The backbulbs started to grow roots after a month.
It's been 3 months and my bulbo backbulb now has a new psb growing, the Howeara has 3 psb and good roots.
Every 2 weeks I take the backbulbs out and dip them in a very week fertilizer and hormones solution to help roots growing. That way the sphagnum does not get any fertilizer (it would kill it).
On top of that, the sphagnum is growing like crazy, so I trim it and dry it for later when I will need some to repot...

If you have a lot of backbulbs, you can give this technique a try, along with other techniques, you'll see what works the best...

Where do you get live sphagnum from? I've heard of people that have quite a bit of success at reviving bulbs or half dead orchids with live sphagnum. I have no idea what kind of store to look for it!

Camille, if you have any carnivorous plant growers in your neck of the woods, check with them. Live sphag is a staple for growing many of these guys.

Kim

Camille, I was going to say the same thing as Kim, check the garden stores for carnivorous plants.. as well as "carnivorous" forums

substrat - Sphaigne vivante

Another option (less easy...), the one I used to get my initial batch of live sphagnum (now I just collect it from my own container), is to check around wetlands when there is road construction or when they clean the road sides.
I don't say to take the sphagnum in the wild !!!, as bog natural habitat is much threatened in Europe, but very often you can find sphagnum moss removed by workers from the drains along roads in wetlands. This moss is going to dry and die anyway.

Don I've had success with putting the backbulbs in a clay pot with sphag/tree fern and water when the sphag gets dry.

I've also anchored the backbulbs in a clay pot with Prime Agra around the rhizome and just pass the water hose over the pot if the sun is shining. If it isn't shining, I don't give it any water.

I don't put either of these methods in a plastic bag but in a bright but shaded location and try to ignore them.

I've also cut the rhizome where I want to divide the plant, insert a plastic card in between the cut portion. Eventually the backbulbs sprout and then both can be repotted into new pots. I give this method normal care sitting in the area where the plant normally grows.

Good luck - Brooke

I've tried spag before but for some reason hasn't worked so well for me.

Brooke-Thanks. The last one you suggested is the way another has told me to do. Cut, plastic tag where cut is then wait for sprout the re-pot both. I like that idea and will definately try.

My thanks to all who made suggestions. That's what we are all about. Helping one another!

Keep us posted, Don. Good luck!