Water propagation of back bulbs

[thefish1337]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

Thanks for adding that information Ray. Just asking the following for learning only ----- any chance that those bulbs had no visible dormant eyes to start with? I'm just trying to establish (in the future - or any time) whether or not bulbs with no visible signs of eyes (or just no eyes) - can generate eyes if the bulb can just hang in there for long enough.

It would obviously be great if they can generate new eyes on-demand. Don't know if the botanist people have said something about that yet - about bulbs just generating eyes when needed, and if given a chance. Or from another viewpoint ----- if the bulb has no eyes at all, then does that necessarily mean out of action - permanently.

Wondering the same thing. I have some C. walkeriana backbulbs with all of the eyes seemingly dead. Can I trigger the production of new eyes under the right conditions or with some hormone additives?

[estación seca]

There is one meristem at the base of each leaf or bract on an orchid rhizome. They don't develop any more. If it hasn't popped or been damaged it might grow, but the plant won't form any more.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by estación seca

There is one meristem at the base of each leaf or bract on an orchid rhizome. They don't develop any more. If it hasn't popped or been damaged it might grow, but the plant won't form any more.

Most excellent information ES. This is the exact sort of information that should be put on the front page of every catt growing manual. Thanks for mentioning that information.

[estación seca]

I'll add that you shouldn't give up - the meristems are not visible, and it is not possible to tell with the human eye whether there are any potential growing points (eyes) remaining on a rhizome.

To expand on what I mentioned about there being a meristem at the base of every leaf or bract - look up my thread on Oncidium back bulb propagation. In the second photo you see two sprouts from previously dormant meristems that were at the bases of two leaves now fallen. In most Oncidiums these meristems never do anything. In this case the base of the bulb and rhizome don't appear to have any meristems, but the back bulb is pushing new growth where it can. The plant from which I took these is sending up a flower spike from the meristem at the apex of the pseudobulb, something Oncidiums normally never do.

[MJG]

Nice thread. Y'all are expanding my horizons. ES, the link to the oncidium post with pictures is fascinating.

[SouthPark]

It appears that for catts ------ assume the following:

a) Each bulb has an extra growing point at the base --- in the rhizome region, that may (or may not) be detectable by the human eye.

b) If that extra growing point is somehow destroyed (regardless of how it is destroyed) AND if that bulb becomes separated from the rest of the plant ..... so that we have a single bulb ---- then that plant will no longer be able to grow new bulbs.

c) Assume that a single pseudobulb may have a chance to produce a new growth --- which means that if you give it the best chance to hang on, then any undetectable growing point can have a chance to sprout. This means - don't assume 'game over' - unless experience indicates otherwise (such as rotted base region). But if there's still a lot of green around the base - rhizome region - then ok.

[estación seca]

Look at a Cattleya rhizome. There are circular scars where bracts ("sheaths") were attached. Each of these scars has a meristem just forward of its center. We can't see most of them. Orchids can push new growths from these. Sometimes an eye begins growing and dies very early. It is likely it has made enough new stem growth that there were a few new bracts and meristems formed. The plant may push yet another growth from the tiny new growth that didn't make it.