In addition to shopping in the store, there is another way to decorate your flower garden with such an expensive plant as an orchid - reproduction. Photos of some options for obtaining another orchid from the already available will help you apply the theory in practice.
There are several ways of reproduction of orchids. In general, they are divided into two large groups - generative (seed) and vegetative (part of the plant) ways. Generative - the most difficult to implement at home. The vegetative way can be represented by the reproduction of meristem (division of the rhizome, the deposition of the bulb) or the separation of the appeared stepsons (children). To find out how the orchid breeds, which you have, first you need to decide what kind of orchid you have . Sympodial orchids - Cattleya (different hybrid forms), dendrobiums (including hybrids with phalaenopsis - dendrobium-phalaenopsis) can be obtained by dividing the rhizome or planting bulb. Likasts and orchids of the odontocidium group (oncidium, miltonia, cumbria, odontoglossum, degamoires, beallars), as well as precious orchids , also multiply . Orchids of the monopodial group (Phalaenopsis, Vandy, Ascocents, Shenorhis and Asconopsis) can not be multiplied by dividing the rhizome, since they simply do not exist. They are obtained either by seeds or stepsons. First, we consider the simplest methods of vegetative propagation.
Reproduction by meristem
By dividing the rhizome as an orchid multiplies, the photo shows clearly. Having cut with a sharp knife the rhizome of Cattleya, it is necessary to let slices dry. Then, having processed open "wounds" with charcoal, you can plant a shared cattleya bush on different pots. It is necessary to plant orchids (any) so that that part of the stem (in Cattleya - this is rhizome, in phalaenopsis it is the cervix, in odontocids - this is the bottom of the bulb), from which the roots go, was not buried in the ground. Otherwise, you can easily miss the moment when the decay of this important part of the plant begins. In order to separate the Cattleya bush or the lycasty, it is necessary that each half has at least 3-4 bulbs. Otherwise, bloom will have to wait a long time.
With the help of jigging stepsons as an orchid breeds, is represented in this picture. Basically, this way - pasynkovaniem - multiply Phalaenopsis. Babies can appear not only on peduncles, but also form on the neck - both near the roots and between the leaves. Of course, in the second case, only the stepchild who has appeared at the very roots can be planted and has already taken root. Otherwise, you will destroy the mother plant. The most difficult thing in applying this method of reproduction is to make phalaenopsis go into bed (give babies). Usually, phalaenopsis begins to give babies from the stem (cervix), if they die a growth point, located in the middle of the plant. To make phalaenopsis give the baby on the peduncle it is possible as follows:
- Phosphorus-potassium components and feed only with nitrogen fertilizers;
- Spread the living buds on the peduncle with cytokinin paste. The child can be greased with rootstock or heteroauxin for the fastest formation of roots. When the roots of a newborn plant reach 5-6 cm, the stepson along with a piece of peduncle should be cut and carefully planted in a small transparent pot. Plastic cups for 200 or 500 ml for this perfectly suited.
Some phalaenopsis perfectly patronize themselves - without applying the above measures. Others can not be forced to "give birth" to children, putting every possible effort into it. If you happen to have such a "difficult copy", try a generative method of reproduction by seeds.
Reproduction by seeds
How does the orchid propagate with seeds? The answer is simple: at home it is very difficult. The most important thing in this process is sterility. If you are a scrupulous person or a doctor who is used to observe sterility, you can try. With this method, the seeds of orchids (representing the smallest powder) are placed on a sterile nutrient medium, the main components of which are water, agar-agar and trace elements. Seeds of plants before planting on the nutrient medium must also be sterilized. And the process of planting should take place under sterile conditions - it can be done over steam so that the smallest microorganisms that are in the air do not get into the flasks together with the seeds, where the newborn orchids will peck and grow. Keep vessels with seedlings necessary when lighting 12-14 hours a day - respectively, should be lighted by lamps. A year after sowing, small plants are transferred to a non-sterile medium, still providing them with greenhouse conditions. Bloom orchids grown from seeds, after about 4-5 years.