how about babies?

I am new with orchids, I only have a few. I was just wondering how do they make new ones or do you take cuttings?Karen

Brim

Propagation methods depend on the orchid. There are innumerable orchids in the world, many live in specialised environments and have evolved their own unique ways of passing on their genes to the next generation.

Orchid propagation isn't always easy, you need to find the best method for each orchid or you might end up losing them.

The majority of the shop bought orchids are propagated by micro-propagation in laboratories. Meristem cuttings are taken and tissue grown in flasks of agar based nutrients. The resulting plants are often called clones and it's one of the fastest and reliable methods of getting large numbers of named orchids to flowering size and out to the shops.

Some orchids like the Cymbidium can be propagated by division. You do need to be especially careful to not break the brittle roots. Some produce tubers and can be divided, others produce rhizomes and again they too can be divided quite easily. There are some that don't tolerate division and those that do tolerate it, shouldn't be over propagated, they will often sulk or die.

Some like Haemaria (syn. Ludisia) - Jewel Orchids, can be propagated by normal stem cuttings. They may even root in water (not advisable but possible).

Seed raised plants are also grown in laboratory flasks in the main. Orchids from seed is a long and very involved process. The seedlings then need to be weaned onto potting media, it takes a lot of time and effort.

Some orchids are viviparous (live bearing), the babies are called keikis and grow quite happily on the parent plant until they are ready to fall off, some growers cut them off when they are ready.

Here's a Cane Dendrobium keiki, you can see the root development quite well.

Thanks for the info