Water propagation of back bulbs

[estación seca]

This works sometimes. I've done it before. I change the water daily and set it someplace very bright. Let's see what happens.

[SouthPark]

Nice! A fish tank bubbler for stirring the water a bit could be handy too.

This single bulb can also help test to see whether eyes can form!

[MJG]

I've never seen this before and am trying to understand what you're up to here. What kind of orchid? Did you intentionally remove the leaves and roots before you put it in water?

[SouthPark]

MJG ----- it's a cattleya type bulb - possibly with no eyes. The bulb may have just broke off or something during re-potting, shipping etc.

Apparently, ES has set up a bulb like that before ---- and has seen growth from some other bulb(s) --- set up in this way.

There has been talk in the past from growers about cattleya 'eyes' - eg. dormant eyes ------ from which new growth (new leads) can grow from. At the moment, there's possibility (but will some uncertainty) as to whether bulbs or rhizomes can develop new eyes if they can hang on (or hold on) for long enough.

[estación seca]

Yes, it's a Cattleya back bulb I found among a number of bare-root plants. It was just as you see it when I noticed it. If it has any dormant meristems ("eyes") it will probably root and grow. I have done this before. The next time I mix up some KelpMax I will add some to the soaking water overnight.

Changing the water daily is enough to prevent rot. An air stream from an aquarium air pump does work to prevent fouling of rooting water for plant cuttings, but I find the tubing in a tight space in the kitchen cumbersome, and it's too easy for me to knock the whole apparatus off the windowsill. I prefer just to change the water daily.

Plus, this forces me to look at it daily, which is the real secret to orchid growing.

[SouthPark]

True ES! hahaha. Makes sense to not go for air-pump for those situations. I didn't know if the pump would be effective for just keeping the water oxygenated. But the way you do it - changing the water every once in a while sounds very workable. I like this idea of just giving even bulbs a chance. Great!

[estación seca]

Looking at the photo... it's surprising how big that shotglass looks, but how small it feels in the hand and how little tequila it holds.

[SouthPark]

Wow!!!!!! I thought that was water in that glass!!!!!

[Ray]

I have gotten growth from backbulbs in a s/h type setup using horticultural grade (~1/4”) perlite as the medium.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Ray

I have gotten growth from backbulbs in a s/h type setup using horticultural grade (~1/4”) perlite as the medium.

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.