How to choose the best time for dividing orchids? Improve the sprouting rate and the rate of strong seedlings

Author: Yinxiang Juzhu

          Fellow orchid growers, we all know that repotting and dividing should be done in spring and autumn, yet no monograph has ever stated a best time, and none of the orchid experts has either.

          As everyone knows, orchids are still mainly propagated by division, and of course everyone does this work in spring and autumn, but have you ever thought about one detail: the sprouting rate and the rate of strong seedlings differ noticeably between these two seasons. What I discuss here refers only to Jiangsu and Zhejiang Cymbidium goeringii and Cymbidium faberi. Have you ever felt that orchid plants introduced in autumn are much better in sprouting rate and rate of strong seedlings than those introduced in spring, and that orchid plants introduced in early to mid-September are even better?

          In my practice over the past few years, I believe repotting and dividing should begin in early to mid-September. The reason is that after the flower buds have formed, the orchid plant has basically matured and has returned to vegetative growth. At this time the new shoots have not yet formed, and it is precisely then that repotting and dividing can stimulate the orchid plant to rapidly form new growth points within one month. At this time the temperature is still adequate, the orchid plant is still growing slowly, and by November the new shoots are already very large. After a winter's dormancy, when spring comes, it would be hard for these shoots not to be strong. On the contrary, if you repot in spring, the orchid plant has just awakened and then suffers the damage of repotting and dividing; it cannot avoid a recovery period of half a month to a month, and the growth points may also suffer accidental damage. One can imagine that such shoots are not as good as those from autumn repotting.

          In addition, growth points from early autumn repotting can emerge as early as February or March, and by the plum rain season they are already half-grown plants. In May and June, secondary shoots will appear again, and by August they are large plants again. So over the past few years of practice, this experience has been verified as quite correct. Today I offer this little tip to everyone, and I think it will be of some help to all fellow orchid growers.

          Remember, the best time for repotting and dividing is mid-September, and everyone need not worry about the effect on the orchid's roots of repotting one month early. In fact, doing so one month early not only has no adverse effect on the orchid plant, but also has many benefits for the coming year's growth. If any of you think there is anything inappropriate, please criticize and correct it, so that we can grow orchids even better tomorrow!