How to cultivate old pseudobulbs? Detailed method explained

Old pseudobulb cultivation method

Best timing: March-April (some say November is best)

Steps: 1. Soak and disinfect for 20 minutes according to the ratio of commercially available disinfectant; it must not be too long. Wash clean and air dry, or sun-dry in the morning sun for 3 hours, then soak for 2 hours in vitality boosters such as Yilanjun, then air dry and pot.

2. Potting medium and pot. Use a small tall plastic pot. The potting medium is divided into two layers. For 70% of the pot, use a small amount of peat soil 5% or rice husk charcoal or perlite 5% + Chinese fir sawdust 10% + light wood particles 80%. After placing the pseudobulb on top, cover 2/3 of the pseudobulb with clean river sand, and water with the vitality water used for soaking earlier. Leave some space at the pot surface, about 5 cm, which helps retain moisture for future new shoots.

3. Cover the pot opening with plastic wrap and poke a few holes for ventilation.

4. When the temperature is below 20 degrees, provide 6-8 hours of light per day; when above 25 degrees, provide 2-4 hours of light per day. It is best that the temperature inside the pot does not exceed 35 degrees. Water with root-promoting products such as Cugen Sheng once every 10-20 days, but do not use bud-forcing chemicals containing amino acids, as that easily causes the pseudobulb to rot.

5. After buds sprout, gradually increase light. After leaves unfold, spray a very dilute foliar fertilizer once every 10 days. For those with multiple buds, generally when the new shoots grow to 5-8 cm and have 2-3 roots, they can be cut and transplanted. (The old pseudobulb can continue to sprout and be used until it shrivels.) Cultivate them according to the care method for tissue-culture seedlings. Within 7 days after planting, spray water once in the morning and once in the evening. After they survive, return to routine management.