vanda propagation without pain!

[kiwimacniwi]

Hello everyone! I'm kiwimacniwi and this is probably my first post(or second, I forgot). And I'm a very young orchid enthusiast(don't try to guess my age).

Today what I would like to discuss about how to propagate vanda orchids without toping or cutting them and rapping them in foam. I want to know a fast, nice, easy and (not too bloody for the orchid) to propagate vanda orchids, they really are my favorite and I have 4 vandas in my house, a ascocentrum mounting with about 5 plants with long roots. I want to propagate them with too mush risk for the plant. (I don't have any keiki paste.) I hope there's something like vanda flower stalk propagation or something that makes the mother plant grow keikis without hurting the plant or the use of any artifitial(sorry if I spelled it wrong) chemicals.

Thanks-kiwimacniwi

[Gage]

Hi there and welcome! There is no fast way to propagate vandaceous orchids. Your options are waiting for the plant(s) to grow big enough and then topping, keiki paste and waiting for keikis to grow and then removing keikis, selfing and flasking and so on (4-5 year wait, but you end up with hundreds of Vandas), and meristem cloning (same wait time as selfing, minus seed pod development time, but it does require some cutting at the mother plant). Conclusion: selfing is the least "bloody" but takes the longest, topping is the quickest but most "bloody", and keiki removal is somewhere in between. I recommend keiki paste. I have read of different recipes for homemade keiki paste, but haven't heard any testimonies of their results. I am about to try some superthrive mixed into lanolin (waxy goop used for skin care, etc) on the stems of a couple of my Vandas, and I will post my results. Good luck!

[kiwimacniwi]

Thanks alot, I never thought of it before!

[BradGC]

If I was going to top my vanda (its very leggy and planted in a pot) do I put keike paste on the top of the stalk that has been cut to try get a new growth?