How do I divide a Howeara Lava Burst 'Puanani'?

[Anjohnson]

Hi

I'm new here. I live in northern Victoria, Aus (a couple of hours out of the ski fields, down by the sea). I've got 2 cymbidiums going crazy outside, a crucifix orchid and a recently obtained Phalaenopsis (second attempt at owning and I've got two flower spikes so it's going well).

I also have a Howeara Lava Burst that I've been getting many flowers from for the past 5 years. I want to try dividing it. It's so pretty, I'd love to have another around. It's been chilling in a tea cup (I drilled a drain hole) filled with sphagnum moss and has two what I would call crowns. The spots where the leaves sprout from. How do I divide the plant without losing both? I'm nervous since it was the first orchid I've bought (the others were gifts) and since its flowering so well, I feel like it's a good investment.

Is there a time of year I should do this? We're entering winter so it will get a lot colder soon. It's snowing in the Alps. The orchid lives in my bathroom near a frosted picture window.

Thanks so much for your help.

[DirtyCoconuts]

1- welcome!!
2- let’s see a pic

This plant is very easy divide from my experience. It blooms all the time so saying to wait until it is done flowering is silly lol

What to do it look for the new growths and try to split it as far in between them as possible

If it is only growing on one side (unlikely if you’ve had it five years) is not split it

Use a new, sterile, single use razor blade (shout out to Roberta for all the problems I’ve not had) and then dust the cuts with cinnamon

---------- Post added at 08:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:30 PM ----------

Also, if you unpot it and play with it, you will also probably find weak and old/dying pbulbs...they are an easy place to cut as well

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

Wait until spring to divide, unless you keep your growing area warm enough for the plant to grow all year. Normally the best time to divide is just as the plant begins making new growths and new roots. Howeara is considered an intergeneric Oncidium hybrids. They tend to make new growth soon after finishing a flowering episode.

[Ray]

If it only has two growths, don’t divide it.

Such sympodial plants function better as a colony, sharing resources through the rhizome, than as individuals.

I recommend that all divisions be at least two old growths plus a new one. Bigger is always better in this regard.

[camille1585]

Welcome to Orchidboard!! Could you share a photo of the plant? I'm not sure what you mean by the plant having 2 crowns, and like Ray points out, you really don't want your divisions to have fewer than 3 growths.

As a brand new member, you might not be able to post photos immediately (anti spammer measure, seems to be lifted once you have at least 5 posts). You can reply to a few other threads to get your post count up, or provide a link to an external photo site.

[DirtyCoconuts]

i assumed based on the "5 year" part that this was a significant colony with multiple growing points

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

i assumed based on the "5 year" part that this was a significant colony with multiple growing points

Me too, which is why I'm scratching my head trying to figure what '2 crowns' could possibly be! I would guess that that are new growths appearing in 2 areas? (on an otherwise large plant?)

[DirtyCoconuts]

i guess we will need to wait for pictures to advise further.

[Adi]

Thanks heaps for the advice. The dividing went great. Seems the 2 growing areas were only held together with 2 roots so I cut them and repotted in new sphagnum moss. My only problem is I've lost about 5 leaves suddenly. they're still green on the tip but yellow and weak at the base and they just fell off. Could that just be simple trauma/those leaves losing nutrients from the roots?

I'm hoping it'll bounce back. This time I remembered photos but I'm not allowed to post the url or images. The main plant is still green and has about 5-6 big leaves. Are they quite hardy?

[Carebear2]

hello anne, why are you making a new account for every new answer?
It sounds like a freshly bought plant from the shop. Losing 5 leaves is more than just transplant stress though.