Stem Propagation - Zygopetalum

[orchidsarefun]

has anyone tried this ? is it theoretically possible ? Thanks

[orchidsarefun]

well I joined this group

LISTSERV 15.0 - PLANT-TC List at LISTS.UMN.EDU

and got an answer that zygos can be stem propagated.
There is a lot of other data available. However, caveat emptor. If you join this group you will receive a lot of e-mails from (mainly) academics asking the group for scientific-type advice.

I have ordered a culture kit from

Kitchen Culture Education Technologies, Inc.

and I will be trying to stem propagate. ( as well as seed propagate in the near future )

Both of these resources I found on this Board and thanks for that. I think that it was postings from 2008.
It would be useful to "sticky" these resources.

[PaphMadMan]

Just a suggestion... If your interest is propagating the plant it would probably be easier and faster to use a hormone treatment to induce keikis on spikes still attached to the plant, or at the apex of psuedobulbs, rather than try stem props. Whatever you try, give us a report on your progress down the line.

[orchidsarefun]

I may do so. Can you recommend a brand available locally ? I am bidding on an e-bay item currently but its overseas sourced. Amazon is not much help either.
However - a question on using keiki paste. I remember reading that paste should only be applied before the node has "decided" to be a flower. If applied too late you don't get a keiki, you get a flower developing. Is this a correct interpretation ?
I also want to get experience in stem propagation so I will still do the zygo dry run.
Thanks for the input.

[Zoi2]

Sounds like a cool experiment and can't wait to see your results.
Joann

[stefpix]

Do Zygopetalums make keikis? would they need keiki paste? I am not sure all orchids make keikis from flower stems.

stem propagation seems interesting. wonder if it is easier than flasking seeds.

[zxyqu]

Why would you even need to stem prop a Zygo (that is if you can at all)? Just make a division or a backbulb and pot it up. These aren't single growth entities like vandas and phals.

[Paul Mc]

I agree, they have back bulbs, though I'm no expert at propagation.

[orchidsarefun]

well I could also argue that it would be more convenient just to go out and buy a couple more, they are not that expensive........
I am going to do this 1) because I find it fascinating 2) as a practice dry run for phals 3) because I want to test out what I have read about phal propagation. One example - if you use a needle to prick holes in the node, you supposedly get numerous growths, instead of one and finally 4 ) because I can
My zygo hybridisation pollination effort appears to have been successful ( only know for sure after about 200 days !) so that is also something I am going to pursue. And the hybrid I used has no registered progeny according to Orchidwiz.
Even if none of the above pans out, I still am going to enjoy the journey.

[zxyqu]

I'm no disagreeing with the above. However, I would argue that if you're going to experiment with keiki paste and stem props with Phals, why not buy yourself a cheapo orchid, and go for it, than risk a Zygo spike that wont rebloom if you kill the spike. I'm still not sure you can stem prop a Zygo, but I've been wrong before