Simple Management Methods for Chinese Orchids Explained (Part 5)

This asexual propagation method is the basic way to promote the reproduction and growth of Chinese orchids. On each pseudobulb (orchid head), there are five or six growth points (bud eyes), and each growth point can produce a new shoot. In the past,growing orchidspeople, in order to have flowers to appreciate every year, adopted this method of planting, and as a result, after ten or eight years it was still just one large pot, while the pseudobulbs of other plants were left to age and die for nothing. Due to changes in values, for those fixed varieties or those that have already floweredfloweringvarieties, people all adopt the division method to increase their numbers. According to many years of observation, no matter what the variety, division is most suitable in the late dormant period, when new shoots are about to grow. This is because dividing at this time neither harms the orchid plants, and before long new shoots can grow. If the orchid plants are robust, they can be divided into single plants for planting, or two plants can be kept joined together; after the old backbulbs are separated, they can be wrapped in sphagnum moss and planted. As for the growing medium, I feel that pond stone mixed with bark gives a better effect, because both air permeability and moisture retention are combined, and the orchid roots grown are fresh and strong. After division, it is best to wait one day for the wounds to heal before watering. After division, bud forcing should be carried out; Cugen Sheng, Zhiquan and the like are all good, but Lanjun Wang is more economical and practical. Generally, Lanjun Wang can be used at 500 times dilution for watering application, once every 7-10 days, three times in a row. For speed and convenience, one day after division you can also apply Lanjun Wang as a watering treatment to force buds, without watering separately. Excerpted from "OrchidTreasure Book" Macao, China Feng Gangyi