Orchids are one of the daintiest flowers you can grow in your home. From supermarket flowers to exotic varieties, there is an orchid for every level of gardener out there. Whether you’re looking to care for the new orchid you received or you’re a seasoned grower who is looking to multiply with propagation, this guide covers everything you need to help you manage orchid care at home.
If you’ve ever owned an orchid or wanted to, you’ve probably been told these plants are notoriously tricky. Yes, they do require some special care and are truthfully a little bit higher maintenance than other plants, but you will be well-rewarded for your efforts.
Several varieties of orchids, including the popular Phalaenopsis variety, are readily available from nurseries, growers, and home improvement stores where they are sold in their flowering state.
Although the blooms may last for weeks or even months, getting the plant to create new flowers is sometimes a tricky endeavor. For some, they are left with nothing but leaves for months on end! But with the right type of care, lighting, and temperature controls, a healthy orchid will reproduce flowers several times a year.
Orchids are one of the most popular and beautiful flowering houseplants. Their stunning blooms and graceful foliage make them highly desirable for any plant lover While growing orchids from seeds can be quite challenging, propagating orchids from cuttings is an easy and rewarding method In this comprehensive guide, I’ll provide a step-by-step tutorial on how to grow orchids from cuttings with pictures to help illustrate the process.
Why Grow Orchids from Cuttings?
Propagating orchids from cuttings allows you to multiply your plant collection without spending any money, It enables you to create genetically identical clones of parent plants Other benefits include
- Save money instead of buying more orchids
- Preserve hybrids or rare varieties
- Control the size and shape through pruning
- Share plants with friends and family
Growing orchids from cuttings is also faster than growing them from seeds. The cuttings readily form roots and develop into mature, blooming plants much quicker.
Step 1: Gather the Necessary Supplies
To get started, you’ll need to gather a few supplies:
- A healthy “mother” orchid plant
- Sharp, sterile pruning shears or knife
- Rooting hormone (optional)
- Small pots or trays
- Seedling mix or sphagnum moss
- Clear plastic bags
- Labels
The mother plant should be mature, vigorous, and free of disease. Sterilize your cutting tools to prevent transmitting diseases. Rooting hormone contains plant hormones that encourage root growth.
Step 2: Select Appropriate Orchid Cuttings
When choosing cuttings, select thick, firm, green aerial stems that are a minimum of 8 inches long. The stems should have several leaves and established aerial roots. Avoid thin, wilting, discolored, or damaged stems.
Flowers spikes are not suitable for cuttings. Pick aerial stems that do not have flower spikes on them. Mature, vigorous growth produces the best results.
Step 3: Prepare the Cutting
To take the stem cutting, make a straight cut just above a leaf node using your sterile pruning shears. Cut at an angle to maximize the area for root emergence.
Optionally, you can dip the cutting into the rooting hormone powder to encourage rooting. Tap off any excess powder.
Use a sterile knife or shears to trim off any leaves and aerial roots from the lower half of the cutting. This helps prevent moisture loss and potential disease.
Make a second angled cut at the base of the stem. Dip it in rooting hormone as well if desired.
Step 4: Root the Cuttings
Moisten sphagnum moss or seedling mix and fill small pots or trays with it. Place the cuttings horizontally in the mix so the cut ends are partially buried.
Cover the pot or tray with a clear plastic bag to create a humid environment. Place it in bright, indirect light but avoid direct hot sun.
Step 5: Care for the Cuttings
Keep the rooting medium moist but not saturated while the cuttings form roots. Mist occasionally and make sure condensation forms on the plastic bag.
Check for root development in 2-4 months. Gently tug on cuttings to feel resistance from new root growth. Be patient as some orchids root slower than others.
Step 6: Pot Up the Rooted Cuttings
Once the cuttings have an abundant root system, carefully remove them from the rooting mix. Gently wash off any clinging moss or soil.
Pot up the new orchid plants in individual orchid pots using fresh potting mix. Firm the mix gently around the roots and water thoroughly.
Keep the potted cuttings in warm, humid conditions as they establish. Then gradually acclimate them to normal indoor temperatures and humidity.
Tips for Growing Orchids from Cuttings
Follow these tips to improve your chances of success:
- Take cuttings when plants are actively growing in spring and summer
- Keep cuttings humid using plastic tents or terrariums
- Use heat mats or bottom heat to encourage root growth
- Be very patient – orchid cuttings are slow to root
- Avoid overwatering during rooting stage
Learning how to grow orchids from cuttings opens up an easy way to expand your plant collection. With the right propagation techniques, you can clone your favorite orchids for endless enjoyment. Refer to the step-by-step tutorial and helpful pictures in this guide for successfully rooting orchid cuttings.
Lighting Conditions for Orchids
First things first, pick the perfect spot for your orchid to thrive! How much and what type of light the orchid plant receives is the most important aspect of their care.
Very few plants will produce new flowers if kept under insufficient lighting conditions. A healthy flowering orchid in its natural environment receives filtered light for several hours during the day. Protected by other overhead plants, the plants receive bits of sun and bright light that peek through the rainforest throughout the day.
Indoors, an orchid plant bred from a nursery will thrive under very bright light. However, protect the plant from direct sun that might burn the leaves or flowers. Orchids should receive at least 3 – 4 hours of clear light each day.
Fluorescent lighting may be beneficial to flower production but usually is not sufficient enough as the only lighting source. When it comes down to it, you want your orchid to flower more than once, pay attention to how much and what kind of light it is receiving.
The Best Temperature Conditions for Growing Orchids
Not all orchid varieties prefer the same temperature conditions, but the common types that are sold commercially will do well in normal indoor environments. To flower, orchids generally prefer a daytime temperature between 70 -75 degrees and a nighttime temperature of around 60 – 65 degrees.
Plants enjoy being placed near a shower or bathtub where they experience steamy conditions. Good air circulation is paramount to orchid health, and they will thrive if placed near a protected window with warm but not hot ventilation.
Keep a close eye though, if the temperature is too cool, flower production may be stalled. If you’re looking for a sure-fire way to maintain humidity for your orchid, try making a humidity tray.
To water or not to water, that is the question! During the cooler months of the year, most indoor varieties of orchids only require watering once a week. To water, place plants in a sink or tub and give them a good soaking and plenty of time to drain. Underwatering rather than overwatering is a better practice as the roots need a chance to air and will rot with too much water.
During the warmer months, water the plants twice a week and mist with a sprayer during particularly hot days. Fertilizing an orchid plant on a regular basis will help generate flowers. Fertilize plants a minimum of every 3 weeks and preferably every week to boost flower production. Choose a fertilizer specifically manufactured for orchids.
Most orchids prefer being slightly crowded, otherwise, the roots may be susceptible to excessive moisture and rotting. Nurseries carry a variety of orchid potting mixture, many of which have a high bark content that allows the roots to receive air.
The main objective when repotting an orchid plant is to allow for good drainage and air circulation. Repot an orchid or give it some fresh potting mix every two years.
Finding the right environment to allow an orchid to produce new flowers requires a few simple steps. If the light, temperature, and moisture conditions are suitable, a healthy orchid will continue to produce stunning floral displays for many years.
In 2017, I had the pleasure of visiting Floricultura’s location in Salinas, California. Oh my goodness, was it ever impressive! They were in the midst of preparing for their California spring trials, and they were growing orchids left and right.
From small cuttings to fully blooming giants, being in a warehouse full of propagating plants is really a dream come true. I barely have enough room on my windowsills to propagate!
Orchids being so finicky, most people don’t think to propagate them. However, they are so lovely it is worth the patience and effort. I got some great tips from the team at Floricultura during my visit, and I would love to share some of them with you.
There are a few ways you can propagate an orchid at home. I’m going to cover 3 different methods: division, stem cuttings, and offshoots. Different methods will work for different types of orchids, so be sure to fully inspect your orchid beforehand to determine which method may be best.
While stem cuttings are simple to make from an orchid, success isn’t as guaranteed as the other methods of propagation. But I encourage you to try your hand at it, as it’s exactly how California’s Orchid Centre propagates their orchids!
First, identify which stem to cut. Only stems with a keiki can be propagated from a cutting (no leaf cuttings will work). To identify one, it should be thick, healthy, at least 10 inches high, and have a good aerial root system attached. Make sure it’s not a flower spike!
Cut the stem near the base of the orchid and just above a node, or leaf joint. This will allow a new orchid to continue to grow from the trimmed stem.
Next, cut your stem into smaller pieces that contain at least 2 nodes each and aerial roots. I then like to cover the ends with an anti-fungal such as cinnamon or charcoal.
Place the stems horizontally in a tray of damp sphagnum moss. Keep the tray in a clear plastic bag to help contain moisture, and then place it in bright (but not direct) sunlight. Remember to support humidity at all times! After a few months, you should see some new leaves and roots beginning to form.
You will want to use this method once the plant has fully matured and finished flowering. This method is best if an orchid has outgrown its pot and is a few years old. There are a couple different approaches to dividing orchids, using either active or dormant pseudobulbs.
Active pseudobulbs will have leaves and stems and can be divided as long as they have enough roots to sustain their growth. Carefully cut and separate between rhizomes and then replant separately.
Dormant pseudobulbs will have no leaves or stems and will sit “sleeping” in the pot. They can be carefully divided and planted on their own. Eventually, they should start growing and produce a brand new orchid.
This is the easiest way to propagate orchids if you’re lucky enough to have them. These little offshoots are often referred to as a keiki, meaning baby in Hawaiian. They are small plants that will form at the base of the orchid or off of a stem. Only cut keikis once the parent plant has finished flowering.
Water the parent plant before you begin cutting. Then, cut the offshoots beneath the stem and roots of the plant once they have reached a decent size (at least 3 leaves) and have 1 inch roots.
Plant it in sphagnum moss with the roots near the surface. Keep your keiki moist at all times and avoid putting in direct sunlight until established.
If you have a healthy, happy orchid, then you should be able to create more orchids using one of these methods. Or, if you’re happy continuing to baby your one, don’t mess with what is already working!
How to propagate orchids from flower branches faster than ever
FAQ
How do I grow orchids from cuttings?
STEM CUTTINGS.
Allow the cut surfaces to dry and harden for a few hours before potting the cuttings. The nodes that normally produce blooms or keikis will then produce roots. Stem cuttings usually take three to five years to produce flowers. Thunias can be propagated in the same way.
Will orchid stem root in water?
Take your houseplant collection to new heights by growing orchids in water. The plants’ exotic flowers and characterful roots make them the perfect display piece. Widely known as water culture orchids, or hydroponic orchids, these plants can be cultivated by even a novice grower.
Where to cut an orchid for propagation?
Section the flower stalk into smaller section by using a clean razor blade or scalpel cutting between the nodes. Cut the flower stalk into 50 – 100 mm (1/2 – ¾”) sections leaving about 40mm’s (1/2”) below the node and the remainder above the node.
How long does it take for orchid cuttings to root?
Simply use a spray bottle with fresh water and mist the foliage and the top of the new medium. This “shock time” as we call it, helps maintain some humidity in the pot but allows for new roots to start at the base of the plant. This may take anytime between 2-5 weeks depending on your conditions and the time of year.