Unusual Cattleya propagation?

[FairyInTheFlowers]

I have read in various post that you can cut a notch in the rhizome between older p'bulbs of Catts and various other orchids with rhizomes in order to stimulate the p'bulb behind the cut to form a new growth. I was wondering if anyone knows the specifics on this procedure. Especially if it can be done multiple times on one plant, and at what time this can be done? I appreciate your on this!

[nenella]

I wish you Luck! I have only tried this once...On my first Cattleya Blc Eagle Eyes 'All Victory' & in the end half the plant died so I'm back to 'scratch' with 8 p/bulbs again & growing!a new one basically once a year....
keep us posted if you do try! I believe I 'sliced' through a bit too much..

Ps: there is a post on the OB about this and apparently usually works..

[Poison Ivy]

Are you talking about back bulb propagation?
I have only had scuess with bulbs that had ative eyes growing at the bottom. Check for those, if there isn't any, I dont think it will grow

[CTB]

There have been a couple of good posts about using cloning gels, do a search and you should come up with them. I saw one just recently on Keiki paste that would work probably the same way I would think. I just ordered some gel to give it a try., on dens.

[dounoharm]

if you have a plant that has multiple psuedobulbs, yes you can slice thru the rhizome and end up with two separate plants....i would not make a division of less than 3 psuedobulbs however.....preferrably 4-5 for a healthy start....you cut thru the rhizome, leaving enuf of the psuedobulbs on each side of the cut, leave it in the pot if desired and divide when each half of the plant shows new growth....i just pop em out of the pot, cut the rhizome where i fig is best, spray physan over the cuts and the knife of course.....and remove all the old dead roots, pot em up tight using a rhizome clip if needed.....and hey presto, two plants....sometimes the old back bulbs take a little longer to make growth, so be patient.....

[CTB]

My orchid class at my local nursery yesterday was on splitting catts. We took a large Catt and cut it into separate plants, four bulbs to a section. Used Cinnamon on the cuts, potted them up (used clips to hold them) and wow 5 more Splash petal "Golden Monkeys"

[SOS]

Everything has been said so this will be somewhat of an echo.

Everything behind the cut must have viable eyes. It has been my experience that making back growths start new growths is best when leaving them in the pot. Either by cutting off the front 3+ growths and leaving the rest as best undisturbed in the pot as possible or, taking a new unused razorblade and slicing through the rhizome where you want and leaving it there. If it doesnt create a back growth, its a little easier to clean up when you have to repot at least.

[orchidsamore]

I think the responses missed the technique mentioned in the original post. It was not about cutting the rhizome into two or more plants but a partial cut leaving both attached.

I have heard this technique before but never bothered to try it.

Partial cuts can be a source of disease entry and I have seen very few plants where the introduction of new grow in the middle of the plant would be a bonus worth the trouble.

One technique I do use is to cut off the pseudo-bulb of leafless back bulbs when I see an active eye at the base. The pseudo-bulb seems to prevent the eye from developing. Since I do not like the look of the leafless pseudo-bulb it is an improvement even if it does not develop.

[SOS]

It is only my summation, but the bulb is a storage mechanism. Cutting that off above the eye surely would affect how much energy is available to help that new growth along and the rest of the plant. Provided it is actually not a growth of little importance of course.

[johnblagg]

well I took a catt that needed repotted and cut the old back bulbs that had no roots off as part of the clean up to repot..... sat this two pb section on the bench and now have two nice eyes growing on it ...

misted it every day during the wait and a occasional soak in a bucket too