S/O: How do you divide a Vanda?

[peeweelovesbooks]

As a spinoff of my previous vanda thread, how does one go about in dividing a vanda? Do you just cut it off at some random place? Is there a special treatment given to each portion upon division? Thanks in advance for your advice.

[dgenovese1]

Hi Peewee,

First off, I would recommend waiting until spring time to divide a Vanda. Doing so at this time of year...even though they are continual growers...could shock it more severely than is necessary. Waiting until spring, when the plants are returning to vigorous growth, ensures a healthier and more robustly growing division.

Having said that, here are the rules of thumb that I go by:

• When separating a keiki from a mother plant, make sure that it has at least 3 or 4 of its own roots...and these should be healthy, 3 to 5 inch roots.
• When cutting up a large and gangly single stem plant, a similar rule applies...make sure that each piece has 3 of its own roots...and these should be healthy, 3 to 5 inch roots.
• After cutting, each exposed end should be treated with an anti-fungal paste or preparation. I usually use a Diathane -M45 watery paste, brushed on with a small artist’s brush.

[breeindy]

or spray with a fungicide.

[jags]

Hello,
Here is the tip growers usually use for vegetative propagation of a monopodial terete, semi terete and strap leaved vandas.
Please note the plant has to be in active growth. The plant also has to be having a good health of roots both aerial and secondary and tertiary root system so that the food supply is not discontinued.

First you make a small incision cut of the plant from the top ( known as top cuts ) . Apply a fungicide and a growth promoter to this incision. Leave for 15 days or so until the wound heals partially. This way you allow the plant to take the shock slowly and allow root system to become independent from the mother. The top cut should have a clean growing at least 3-4 aerial roots that are growing opposite the leaf axils. All dormant roots should become active growth.
Secondly complete the cut and add growing media preferably dry media like wood shavings etc at the bottom. Take care not too much moisture in media. As Vandas like air movement and are epiphytes in nature.

Use a good dose of organic growth fertilisers and organic fungicidal sprays. There are many now for orchids. A good supply of amino's in natural form will boost. Use a good dose of Humic acid to promote lateral root growth activity.
Please note this is for top cuts procedure. If you have plants that have already keikeis then the game is different. Not all vandas grow keikeis and some hybrids flower faster from top cuts.. which almost is a rule. Normally top cuts are 8-12 inches in height and mother plants are almost 2 times in that size and again it is a matter of the type of parent vanda.
Hope this helps. If you need more info update.

[peeweelovesbooks]

Can I post a pic of the vanda I want to divide? That way you all can tell me where exactly I should think about cutting it. Thank you for all the information.

[dgenovese1]

Not a problem Peewee, although I would still recommend waiting until Spring to divide it.

[peeweelovesbooks]

Originally Posted by dgenovese1

Not a problem Peewee, although I would still recommend waiting until Spring to divide it.

No problem : You are the expert. The thing is that it divided into a "V" form and both sides at this point are about the same size, and one side of the "v" is developing another offshoot (I don't know what I should call it). It's very heavy and it took me and my housekeeper to be able to clean it up and hang it. So, I'm afraid it will break or something. The roots are almost to the floor.

But, I'll certainly wait until spring and divide it, if that is best for the plant.

[dgenovese1]

Hi Peewee,

I can picture the plant you are describing...I've had ones like this myself. Plus I had an opportunity to go to Baldan's before their sale started, and saw the huge Vandas they were selling. Wow!

In any event, it sounds like the one side is growing another keiki...yeah! As for the roots, after you water the plant and the roots are green and pliable, you can always bring them up and weave them together so that they don't hang so low. Some people also cut their Vanda roots back, but only in the spring, for the same reasons I suggested you wait to divide it. In other parts of the world spring is kind of relative because these guys are almost always in active growth, but here the are winters are cool enough to really slow things down, so we wait until it gets hot again. What you can do in the meantime is to tie the two pieces of the V shaped plant up to one another, so that tension is not pulling them apart. This is what I did with mine when I had the same issue.

I hope that this si helpful to you.

[peeweelovesbooks]

Originally Posted by dgenovese1

Hi Peewee,

I can picture the plant you are describing...I've had ones like this myself. Plus I had an opportunity to go to Baldan's before their sale started, and saw the huge Vandas they were selling. Wow!

In any event, it sounds like the one side is growing another keiki...yeah! As for the roots, after you water the plant and the roots are green and pliable, you can always bring them up and weave them together so that they don't hang so low. Some people also cut their Vanda roots back, but only in the spring, for the same reasons I suggested you wait to divide it. In other parts of the world spring is kind of relative because these guys are almost always in active growth, but here the are winters are cool enough to really slow things down, so we wait until it gets hot again. What you can do in the meantime is to tie the two pieces of the V shaped plant up to one another, so that tension is not pulling them apart. This is what I did with mine when I had the same issue.

I hope that this si helpful to you.

Oh, you've been more than helpful! Thanks so much for your comments. I will save this thread and divide the plant in the Spring. I'll be sure to post pictures!

[peeweelovesbooks]

Here's the picture I promised:

Image of Vanda - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting