Propagation techniques
 

Among the orchids I brought back from Puerto Rico, last July (see my post "Orchid Hunt - Rio Grande Puerto Rico"), I brought back a four foot dendrobium cane, which had broken off of the tree it was mounted on, at the hotel we were staying at. Honest, I did not break it off. My set up really isn't conducive to large orchids, but I just couldn't leave it lying there in the bushes. Instead, I broke it in half and brought the pieces back with me. I sealed the ends with melted wax, and lay the canes on a porous tile surface that I mist once or twice a day. Starting next week, I will start posting time lapse pictures of the sprouts.

In the meantime, as mentioned in the Orchid Hunt post, one of the orchids I brought back had two different types of seedlings coming out of the old, mossy bark. These seeds had germinated on their own in far less than sterile conditions.

Yesterday I shook out some Angraecum, and Cattleya seeds, over some old, used peat pellets, and some mossy sphagnum moss, both under a little seed greenhouse with a clear top. Let's see what happens.

So here is my question. In reading about plating mediums, flasking, and cloning, coconut water (not milk) keeps coming up. Would appreciate any input as to whether anyone has ever used coconut water, as a supplement for germinations, seedlings, or established plants? What their experience has been with it, and any advice they can share on best ways to use it.

Coconut water can be added to the agar/nutrient solution when flasking. It serves no purpose otherwise.

After 6 weeks, attached are the picutres taken every 2 weeks begining 2 weeks after we returned.

I was very impressed with how fast the new sprouts grow, once they get started.

The last picture, shows the beginning of the root development (circled in red). Circled in blue, are what I assume are the origins of the bloom spikes that will emerge over the next several years.

Can someone comment as to the validity of my last comment. I understand that a dendrobium cane will bloom for 2 to 8 years, and I would think that these spot would be the origin of those blooms, over subsequent years. If so, I find it very impressive that those spots originate this early in the plant's development.

9/8/14 Adding picutres at the 8 week stage. Picture numbers 5, 6, and 7.

You are seeing one old spike. Then it is developing a new keiki (with roots at the base).

Most plants will try to survive from a broken off part (African Violets even from a single leaf). In most orchids, there are multiple nodes, which can develop into either a flower spike, or a keiki. This is especially prevalent in the Dendrobium group.

When my canes become unruly , I cut them off, and cut into 2" pieces and lay them on a bed of spag moss, keeping them moist for about a month they all are sprouting keikis. When the roots are about 1 1/2 long I plant them in individual pots. They bloom much faster than seedlings and you can work with them to make a nice straight orchid

Thanks Carol, I'm currently doing the same thing with some phalaenopsis flower spikes. Just a mad scientist experiment. I also sealed the ends of the Phal spikes, and this broken Dend cane with candle wax, to help retain moisture.

The reason why the orchid seeds were sprouting in "far less that sterile conditions" in the wild was because they had their special rhizoctonia fungus present that helps feed them and that is why we normally can't get orchids seeds to sprout if they are not in nutrient rich agar. If you have a wild collected plant with roots formed in the wild, and you manage to not wash the seeds away when you water, sometimes you can sprout them in the mother plant's pot. (Or so I've read). But good luck with the seeds. I do hope they grow for you. Please let us know how it works out.