Angraecum distichum - success in rooting clippings?

[Jazmyne]

I have a small specimen I picked up at the Oregon Orchid Society show back in late April. One stem/vine of leaves wasn't looking so hot, but the other stem/vine looked fine and there was a third one sprouting with about five leaves. All the leaves looked desiccated - the guy I bought it from said he purposefully didn't water is plants a lot because he didn't want them to outgrow his space...but I digress. Since I brought it home, I've had new leaves sprouting two of the stems, a new root and what looks to be a fourth stem sprouting at the base.

I've been considering clipping the stressed stem and seeing if I could get the healthy tip of it to take root. I'm more concerned about the mother plant - I don't want to kill it with the an experiment.

Anyone have any experience with this little one? I've read the older posts but there isn't much info on them.

Pic #1 taken on 4/23
Pic #2 taken on 6/23
Pic #3 taken today


Thanks in advance.

[Ray]

No pruning! That is a relatively small plant, and anything that is green is contributing to the well-being of the entire thing.

I'd suggest that you repot it into fresh medium. That current stuff looks too soppy and suffocating.

[Jazmyne]

Originally Posted by Ray

No pruning! That is a relatively small plant, and anything that is green is contributing to the well-being of the entire thing.

I'd suggest that you repot it into fresh medium. That current stuff looks too soppy and suffocating.

Hi Ray,
Thank you. The pictures look better than the actual plant. The longest stem in the back of the photo has a bit more yellow than in the photo. It still looks pretty healthy and is growing a new leaf at the tip tho.

This little lady is potted in sphagnum. I know its not ideal, but I've been hesitant to repot because I've read that this species doesn't react kindly to disturbed roots. Thought maybe pruning and trying to root a clipping would be a safer bet. I'll repot this weekend.

What is your opinion on rooting hormone? I have lots of experience using it in cloning various other plants, but I've been reluctant to use it on my orchids. I've read about Keiki paste, but I'm not trying to produce keikis. I'm just wanting to keep the roots I have healthy while the plant establishes itself after repotting. (I've been using SuperThrive in my fertilizing routine with excellent results for the past few months.)

Thanks in advance.
Jazmyne

[JFeathersmith]

I got one of these last fall (at an Oregon Orchid Society meeting) and killed most of its roots within about a month. Not sure if I let it get too dry, or I overwatered it, or alternated between the two options. And the leaves were getting more and more shriveled, so I thought I was going to lose the plant.

Got some advice from one of the older members of the group and I put it into a plastic bag with some damp sphagnum and it eventually started growing new roots from various places along the stem, and put out some new root growth from one of the surviving roots (which is high up on one stem). I'd take it out of the bag occasionally and let the whole thing soak in water for a while, too.

A couple weeks ago I decided the new roots were getting long enough that I maybe ought to mount it, so I've gotten that started, only to learn recently that the mount I put it on (redwood bark, got at an orchid meeting) is one that, apparently, plants don't like to attach to. gah. So I'm going to need to find a new piece of wood . . . I've been keeping it in a large jar to keep humidity up while it's still growing a new root system. I don't trust myself to figure out how to water it properly in a pot.

[estación seca]

Anything this tiny is not going to tolerate drying out for more than a few hours, unless it comes from very dry areas.

[MattWoelfsen]

You have made great progress from April to June and now in August. I think this plant likes the culture you give it.

You are right in that this plant does not like its roots disturbed. I use New Zealand Sphagnum Moss to grow my distichum. It lasts a little longer but costs a little bit more.

If you mount this plant, tree fern or cork seems to work well. You will need to water it more often than if you grow this in a pot.

Good job growing your plant!

[Jazmyne]

Repotted into new medium on August 19 and that did not go well. Wish I would've just left it alone.
When I pulled it out of the sphagnum moss it was originally potted in, there was just a long, dead stalk and that was keeping the plant staked in its tiny pot. I repotted into the same pot with fine orchid bark and just couldn't get it to stay still. Within two weeks, its beautiful plump, green root was dead. There were still two tiny roots growing and, feeling a little panicked, I moved it to a jar with some Spanish moss. That's been going well and the tiny roots are growing longer.
Today I mounted it so it's not sitting on the bottom of a glass jar in standing water. Put it back in its regular spot.
Feeling pretty positive about it now. Hoping I can take it out of the jar in a few months and put it on my daily soak routine with the rest of my mounted plants!

[estación seca]

The plant was badly dessicated when you got it, and the long stem in the first photo already looks dead. I saw this thread on my phone earlier and did not realize this. Now I see it on my desktop. Here is the advice I would have given had I seen the photo better:

Unless your plant makes more roots, and quickly, it is a goner. You must do what you can to encourage rooting.

Angraecums can make roots anywhere along the stem. Tiny plants make roots when their stems are close to moist substrate, and are not likely to make roots from a section of stem hanging in the air. You need to try and get the plant to make roots anywhere it can.

I would remount it so the entire length of the plant is pressed against a thin pad of barely damp sphagnum moss on the mount, and it is not hanging in the air. I wouldn't use Spanish moss. It doesn't retain water the way barely-moist sphagnum does.

I would use twine attach a very thin layer of sphagnum all along the branch. Tie off that twine. You could use dental floss, fishing line, cotton thread, or anything you can work with.

Then use another piece of twine to gently but firmly attach the entire length of plant to the moss. Do your best to ensure the stem and existing roots are touching the moss, and the plant is firmly attached, so it doesn't move. Don't think of the appearance; attach it so as much of the stem is in contact with the moss as possible. Put it in your jar terrarium to keep humidity high, minimizing evaporative loss through the leaves.

The plant can't take up water except through the roots. The roots it has should be gently moistened each day, but the rest of the sphagnum only needs to stay barely moist, not wet.

Subdued light is better than strong light for plants with few roots.

I personally would treat the plant weekly with a dip in a KelpMax solution, which encourages rooting.

Good luck!

[Hawaiian Sunshine]

This is how I am growing cuttings from my mother plant of Angraecum distichum. It's similar to the steps described above by estacion seca except I use coconut fiber instead of New Zealand sphagnum moss. Sphagnum moss should work just as well. The plants are hung outside in a shady area and watered 1-2 times per day. I posted a picture of the mother plant on a separate thread.

Angraecum distichum by Mel Waki, on Flickr

[estación seca]

Wow, Mel, your rooting cuttings are more beautiful than most people's plants!