What ways can Oncidium's be propagated?
 

Hey everyone probably a really silly question but i was just wondering if Oncidium orchids can form keiki on there flower stems, and also if they can form basal and root keiki's???

Im really curious to know as much as i can find out about all methods of Oncidium propagation so anything anyone can tell me no matter how small of detail it is i would really really appreciate hearing it.:bowing:bowing:bowing

Best regards,
Kevin Disher
KultureShock

P.s. if it helps any the specific variety of Oncidium's i am working with are:
Oncidium Hwra. Lava Burst 'Little Dragon'
and
Oncidium pusilla

Kultureshock:
I have never seen this behavior in an oncidium, but that means little in the orchid world. The onc's I have tend to bloom and then the spike dies back too quickly to hold a kieki; but, if one formed I believe the spike would support it, but again have never seen or heard of it.
I don't know if you utilized hormone treatments whether you could induce it to do so, and I think it would be dependent on whether there was a relative or cross-species in the lineage, something that was prone to such, because as I say, never seen it or read of such.
They tend to sprout so many side shoots I don't know that their flower spikes have the necessary cells to form such - interesting question?
Steve:)

Thanks for the detailed answer steve, do you know of any other methods for cloning oncidium that dont involve tissue culture? such as root or leaf cuttings?

Edit: i just found a method for cloning oncidiums using bulbs that have lost there leaves :)

They do well propogating from backbulbs which is probably the one you are referring to. They also multiply quite rapidly so you can divide them up to create two or more plants.

Kultureshock:
It is my understanding that tissue culture is possible with all orchids, especially that which is found in the inner 'corm' of the growth tips, which in oncidiums would be located emerging from the basal tissue just above the roots; the leaves just shield the orchid shoot until it is more mature. In the past, cloning was mostly conducted on the growth tip tissue, but now, with various improved approaches, I believe most any cell can be induced to become a clone, generally speaking.
I have no knowledge about leaf culture, such as taking a leak and getting it to sprout. Again, with new tech, there is no telling what is possible, but I have never heard of leaves sprouting.
Again, division is generally used as they need thinning or else they choke each other out. Now, your Kieki paste may induce dormant shoots to emerge, or may induce the formation of additional shoots - it would be interesting to try slathering some on the entire basal ring and see what 'pops up' :hmm

Steve

im aware of that i said i was looking for suggestions other then issue culture lol thanks though. And i was thinking along the same lines with the keiki paste i'll try a couple experiments and let you know how it goes

Please do so!
Steve
:goodluck:

I think your only reliable method of propagation with oncidiums is division, or starting from back bulbs. For division you want no fewer than 3-4 bulbs per section.

No basal keikis on these, since making new growths is their normal way of growing. And I've never ever heard of keikis growing on them. The only odd thing I've seen and heard about is that a nearly mature bulb may sprout a new bulb from the top. But that's very very rare.

Howeara Lava Burst is a very nice one, it's one of my favorites. In good conditions they grow quite fast.

divisions and backbulbs are the most reliable ways to propogate an oncidium or other symbodial orchids.

there is, however, another way that they naturally propagate. its a relatively rare occurrence for the home grower, but we see them from time to time on oncidiums at the nursery where i work. and its when a true keiki grows from the bulbs. usually when they lose their leave. if a keiki forms it's usually right on top of the pseudobulb!

Some Oncs do keiki, (not all). It doesn't happen often, but it does happen.

Propagation by seeds usually provide much higher yields than divisions do. The trade-off is that it takes years to go from seed to blooming sized plant.