Question
QUESTION: Dear Wayne

I made such a terrible mistake. In an attempt to improve my orchid抯 situation I cut its two stems, only to realize after removing them that one of them started budding?Can I rescue this stem and plant it to produce roots? Can I plant the buds (like you can do with some lilies)?

Not growing orchids before I must have ignored their growing cycle, as it was probably ready to give flowers in a month or two. How can I rectify the situation? Is the plant in the pot (that has recently grown a new nice leaf) going to grow new stems? How soon?

Many thanks,
Irene

ANSWER: Irene, with regard to your first question, unfortunately, orchids cannot be produced from stem cuttings or buds in the manner that many houseplants can.

The answer to your second question is related to two factors.  You will note that the stems (ie flower spikes) have nodes (ie joints).  Each joint contains stem cells that can give rise to new flower spikes.  If the flower spike was removed below all of the nodes, you will not be able to obtain flowering from the old flower spikes.  It is possible that your plant could still send up a new flower spike. Whether or not it does so is partly a function of the genes it inherited from its parents.  If it is going to do so will be apparent in a month or so.  If it does not start a new flower spike, then, it can still send up a flower spike as part of its normal flowering cycle.

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QUESTION: Thank you so much for your quick rely!

Is there a chance that those stem cuttings that have buds will flower? Should I keep them in water? in damp soil?
I guess you cannot even use rooting powder to produce roots?

Many thanks again for your quick and efficient help,
Irene

Answer
Irene, there is a possibility that , if the buds are far enough along, they may open up. Try inserting the cut end of the stem into a dilute solution of a clear sugary soda (such as 7-up) for the best chance for this to occur.

Rooting powder can be used on newly formed plantlets at a node on a new flower spike. It is uncommon for these plantlets to form on a flower spike but it has been known to happen and can be induced.