Question
We purchased an orchid, phalaenopsis, from Borg almost a year ago. It had flowers and lasted for 8 or 9 months. We left the spike and now new leaves have sprouted. How do we propogate this new plant?

Phil


Answer
Hello Phil,

There are several methods to propogate a phalaenopsis, one is fairly easy while the other requires some special equipment.  

The easy way is to get the phalaenopsis plant to make a baby plantlet.  Baby plants sometimes will grow from a node on the flower stem or spike or along side the mother plant.  

The other method is to take the pollen from one flower and place it in another flower, thus impregnating it.  Once pregnant, the flower will collapse and over the next 6 to 8 months, the seed capsule will grow bigger and bigger.  After about 6 to 8 months and before the capsule bursts open, the capsule is removed and usually sent to an orchid lab to have the seeds sown into flasks in a sterile lab environment.  If the seeds appear to be viable, the lab will sow about 50 seeds per flask that contains some nutrients in the bottom, seal the flask and place it where the light and temperature is controlled.  After 3 to 6 months, the now tiny babies may be ready to be taken out and grown in pots.  It will take about another 18 to 24 months before they are mature enough to make flowers.  

Hope this answered your question.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.