Propagating Orchids

Because of the realization that

orchids could be successfully cultivated
outside of their natural habitat, they have
grown in popularity immensely. They
represent one of the most admired plant
families grown and now are the most valu-
able floriculture crop produced in the United
States and many other countries. Their
exotic aura and broad spectrum of appear-
ances and varieties, with more than 25,000
species in the orchid family and 148,460
registered hybrids,1 attract commercial and
hobby growers alike. Unfortunately, some
orchids are among the most difficult plants
to propagate. This problem inhibited produc-
tion for years until methods for successful
mass production were developed. The ability
to successfully propagate orchids on a large
scale has contributed greatly to conserving
germplasm for future generations.
erik runkle DIVISION This is perhaps the sim-
plest method of propagation, as the rela-
1 tively straightforward procedure requires
little to no special training or equipment.
The process involves splitting an existing
plant into two or more parts so that each
new section contains at least one new shoot
or vegetative bud. Those that are new to
growing orchids may be a bit apprehensive
about cutting their valuable plants into
pieces; however, the division process not
only multiplies plant numbers, but can also
promote more vigorous shoot growth. The
new propagules are clones that are geneti-
cally identical to the parent plant and will
thus exhibit the same characteristics given
the same cultural and environmental con-
ditions. As with other asexual propagation
techniques, viruses and usually other pests
are transferred with the new propagules.
Propagation by division should be done
just before or just as the plant’s growth
period begins. This helps ensure that each
charles marden fitch

new division will have ample time to be-

come established so flowering will occur
the following year. Sympodial orchids that
possess pseudobulbs, such as cattleyas or
cymbidiums, can be divided easily. The
2 first step is to determine where to make
the separation. The standard recommenda-
[1]  New, mature and old pseudobulbs (back- [2]  Bare-root cattleyas, purchased locally at tion is to leave a minimum of two or three
bulbs) of a Degarmoara. Plants propagat- a plant sale or greenhouse or through the pseudobulbs per division. Otherwise, the
ed by division should contain at least two mail, offer an economical way to increase
1
or three mature or old pseudobulbs. a collection. As of July 5, 2011.

486  Orchids  AUGUST  2011    www.AOS.org

 Multiplying and Sharing Helps Conserve Species and Hybrids
by gina deyoung, brad rowe and erik runkle
charles marden fitch

new plants may not have enough stored [3] Keikis (plantlets) offer an easy way to
energy to flower the following season and multiply some orchids. Here, a Renan-
may even take a few years before they are thopsis Shalimar (Dana × Phal. Zada)
able to support flowers. plantlet with roots established in a moss-
Division involves severing the rhizome filled plastic pot is ready to remove and
joining the pseudobulbs that are to be pot alone.
separated into groups. The separation of
[4] Mature pseudobulbs (or canes) of den-
pseudobulbs can be done by hand, some-
drobiums are placed on sphagnum moss
times requiring a fair amount of strength,
or with a sterilized knife or razor blade. and intermittently misted, allowing for
The leading pseudobulb in each group new vegetative shoots to develop.
should have a “live eye” (dormant bud), so
that growth can continue. If the eye on the sion, some growers recommend cutting
leading pseudobulb is not viable, then that the rhizome without repotting the sections
pseudobulb must be removed, as must each immediately. They are allowed to sit until
subsequent pseudobulb until the leading the dormant eyes begin to break and new
one has a viable live eye. If no pseudobulb growth begins, at which point the plant
on the section has a live eye, the section will is separated and the divisions repotted.
erik runkle

likely not develop new shoots and should Alternatively, the sections could be im-
thus be discarded. Although division and mediately potted. Although it is not usually
repotting can take place in the same ses- recommended to divide plants into groups 4

www.AOS.org    AUGUST  2011  Orchids  487

of less than two or three pseudobulbs, if growing plant and may possess dormant in three to four months. then they should be
the goal is to achieve as many new plants eyes that can be forced into active growth. potted in a coarser medium and by the fol-
as possible, each pseudobulb with a live Propagating orchids by backbulbs involves lowing spring can be planted in pots large
eye can be severed and repotted separately. severing the pseudobulbs from the par- enough for two years of growth, at which
even a leafless pseudobulb can be planted ent plant. this process can potentially be time they should be near flowering.
if the bud is viable. stressful for the parent plant, so generally OffshOOTs some orchids, such
orchids without pseudobulbs can at least two backbulbs and a growing shoot as phalaenopsis, dendrobiums and vandas,
also be propagated vegetatively through are desirable. utilizing backbulbs is an ef- can produce offshoots or plantlets at the
division, although at times by different fective way to increase plant numbers, but nodes along the stem. once mature, these
methods. sympodial orchids without pseu- the resultant plants can take several years offshoots, called “keikis,” can be separated
dobulbs, such as paphiopedilums, can also to flower from a single backbulb. from the parent plant and potted similarly to
be divided by cutting the rhizome, with the Detached backbulbs can then be plant- backbulbs. With care they will develop into
same considerations being taken to keep a ed in pots or communal trays containing a adult plants. in some orchids, such as pha-
live eye on each section. well-drained and porous medium, such as laenopsis, old flower stalks can sometimes
BAckBUlBs as a pseudobulb ages, one that contains moderate- to fine-grade be induced to produce keikis when cut from
it loses its leaves and becomes dormant and composted Douglas fir bark. the base of the the parent plant and placed in a moist, warm,
new pseudobulbs develop. the old pseu- pseudobulb should be planted taking care to dark environment. this can be accomplished
dobulb is known as a backbulb. although ensure that the eyes are above the soil level. by cutting the flower spike just above one of
not actively growing, backbulbs possess if kept in a humid environment out of direct the nodes after the plant has flowered. a new
energy reserves that can be utilized by the sun, shoots and roots should start growing shoot will develop in roughly six months and
can then be removed by severing the stem
1 or 2 inches (2.5 or 5 cm) below the node.
Keikis can also develop in phalaenopsis if
an emerging inflorescence is exposed to
a prolonged period of high temperatures
(above 85 f [29 c]). in this situation, the
reproductive inflorescence reverts to veg-
etative growth and a new plantlet forms at a
node of the inflorescence.
TissUe  cUlTUre Meristem cul-
ture, a type of micropropagation by tissue
Learning More culture, is the standard method for mass
propagation of the most popular orchids.
arditti, J. and r. ernst. 1993. Micro- the ever-popular phalaenopsis, for exam-
propagation of Orchids. John Wiley ple, are normally propagated through tissue
& sons, inc., new York. culture, because vegetative propagation of
Black, P. 1980. The Complete Book of these orchids is slow, variable and difficult.
Orchid Growing. times Books, new Micropropagation allows for fast multipli-
York. cation of plants and meristem culture has
chen, W. and h. chen. 2007. Orchid the added benefit of producing virus-free
Biotechnology. World scientific, plants because the lack of vascular tissue
hackensack. in the meristem tissue prevents spread of
christenson, e.a. 2001. Phalaenopsis: viruses to those cells. however, due to the
A Monograph. timber Press. totipotency of plant cells, virtually any
fitch, c.M. 1981. All About Orchids. plant tissue can be used for micropropaga-
Doubleday & company, inc., Garden
tion. shoot tips and meristems are perhaps
city, new Jersey.
the easiest to use because of their unique
hawkes, a.D. 1961. Orchids: Their
qualities and undifferentiated cells, and are
Botany and Culture. harper & Broth-
therefore used most frequently.
ers Publishers, new York.
to begin propagation through this
Park, s., h. Murthy and K. Paek. 2002.
method, the plant must be removed from
rapid propagation of Phalaenopsis
the potting medium and cleaned thoroughly
from floral stalk-derived leaves. In
to remove contaminants. next, the selected
Vitro Cellular Development Biology
– Plant 38(2):168–172.
portion of tissue is removed. care must be
ramsay, M. and P. seaton. 2005. Grow-
taken to avoid damaging the young tissues.
ing Orchids from Seed. royal Bo- the excised tissue is then placed in the
tanic Gardens, Kew, richmond. appropriate growing medium, normally an
agar-based mixture, and sealed into a sterile
Orchid seeds or tissue can be cultured  container. this procedure requires a sterile
by a laboratory and propagated to  environment to avoid contamination and
erik rUNkle

provide a large number of plants.  thus, a laminar-flow bench (fume hood) is

almost always used. introduction of viruses
or bacteria will make the entire process a

488  Orchids  AUGUsT  2011    www.AOS.Org

failure; viruses and bacteria must not be germination. Growth in aseptic conditions
propagated along with the desired orchid allows seeds to germinate without exposure
tissues. Because of the absolute need for to the fungus, making in vitro seed propa-
sterile conditions, propagating by tissue gation immeasurably easier than open-air
culture is nearly impossible for the home propagation. Like tissue culture, germina-
enthusiast. Also, due to the small size of the tion of seeds is much better suited for a
resultant plants, it can take tissue-cultured laboratory than the home or greenhouse.
orchids up to five years to flower. Therefore, instead of germinating seed
As with any form of asexual propa- yourself, consider contacting a laboratory
gation, the resultant plants are normally to see if it would be willing to germinate
genetically identical clones of the parent your collected seed and grow them as seed-
plant. However, the tissue-culture process lings, and at what price. When the seed has
increases the likelihood of mutations, germinated and the plants have grown to a
especially when hormones are used to ac- certain size, the laboratory will ship flasks
celerate the process. Growers must take to you with plantlets.
this into account when propagating orchids. Although propagation of orchids by
To create genetic variation without sexual seed can be difficult and expensive for
erik runkle

reproduction, accelerated cell division can the nonprofessional grower, one benefit is
be used, although the results will be rather the variation in seedlings from the genetic
5
unpredictable and uncontrolled. There may recombination that occurs through pollina-
be many mutations, or there may be none at tion. Although mutation does occasionally
[5] Developing seed capsules on a phalae-
all, and the results may not be seen until the occur through tissue culture or in an indi-
nopsis hybrid.
plants flower. vidual flower, the most variation comes
SEED Flowers that are pollinated, about through hybridization, which can only
tion. In a laboratory setting, a fume hood
either by hand or by insect, can develop be done through sexual reproduction and
can be used; in the absence of that, covers
seed capsules. The time from pollination therefore pollination. Not all new plants have
can be made to reduce air movement. Main-
until seed is mature is usually several desirable characteristics, but some do, mak-
taining sterile conditions is vital; sterilizing
months. If seed is collected, it should be ing the process exciting and worthwhile.
the work surface and tools and avoiding
harvested either just before or at the time Since the development of practical
air turbulence are two crucial parts of this
of its release from the capsule. Seeds of orchid propagation techniques, especially
effort. Seed can then be sterilized through
orchids are extremely small and there may meristem tissue culture, the popularity of
exposure to a disinfectant and introduced to
be up to a million seeds per capsule. Plac- growing orchids has increased significantly.
the containers. Several methods of steriliza-
ing a bag around a maturing seed capsule Although some orchids are difficult for
tion and application of seed to the media are
can prevent loss of seed if the capsule novices to propagate, division, backbulbs
available; the best choice depends on the
ripens and releases the seed before the and offshoots offer successful methods for
situation. Germination time depends on the the home orchid enthusiast.
anticipated time. When the capsules are type of orchid, with epiphyte seeds typically
ready, they should be removed from the germinating long before terrestrial seeds.
plant using a sterilized cutting instrument. Gina DeYoung is an undergraduate stu-
The requisite environment for germina- dent majoring in landscape architecture at
If the capsules have already begun to split, tion differs as well; tropical epiphyte seeds
seeds can be collected by gently tapping Michigan State University with an interest in
should be placed in light, whereas terrestrial orchids. This article is based on the original
the capsule over a piece of paper or foil; if orchid seeds germinate best in darkness.
the capsules are still whole, they will have draft of a paper she wrote for her plant propa-
An alternative method of seed propaga- gation class (e-mail deyoung54@msu.edu).
to be cut into several pieces lengthwise to tion is green-pod culture, or embryo culture. Brad Rowe, PhD, is a professor of
remove the seeds. In this method, seed capsules must be har- landscape horticulture in the Department of
Seeds can either be sown immediately vested before the seed reaches full maturity. Horticulture at Michigan State University.
after harvesting or stored until a more con- Utilizing this method makes it possible He teaches plant propagation and conducts
venient time. If seed is to be stored, it must to produce plants more quickly because research on green roof systems. A212 Plant
be dried. This can be done using several the seed does not need time to reach full and Soil Sciences Building, Michigan State
methods, ranging from combinations of maturity and there is no need to overcome University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
chemical compounds to oven-dried rice. months of seed dormancy and vernalization (e-mail rowed@msu.edu).
Storage in a Mason jar with a rubber seal requirements. As a rule of thumb, seeds in Erik Runkle, PhD, is an associate pro-
provides a more-than-sufficient seal to capsules are collected before they dehisce fessor of floriculture in the Department of
protect the seeds from contamination and and tissue culture techniques must be used Horticulture at Michigan State University.
moisture, although the seals should be as described above. His research focuses on the environmental
replaced about every 10 years to avoid Germinating the seeds in vitro allows physiology of ornamental herbaceous
deterioration. These dried seeds, when re- the grower to circumvent the constraints plants. One of his areas of research is to
frigerated, remain viable for years, as long that hinder natural germination and growth determine how environmental parameters
as moisture is not introduced. of seeds, most of which require a specific (light and temperature) and exogenous
Before sowing the seeds, preparation type of fungus to germinate and grow. Be- plant hormones control growth and flower-
of medium, choice and preparation of cause the minute seeds lack an endosperm, ing of orchids. A240-C Plant and Soil Sci-
container, and several other steps must be in their natural environment they must rely ences Building, Michigan State University,
taken. The sowing process should be done on a symbiotic relationship with mycorrhi- East Lansing, Michigan 48824. (e-mail
under sterile conditions to avoid contamina- zal fungi in order to provide nutrients for runkleer@msu.edu).

www.AOS.org    AUGUST  2011  Orchids  489