What are the propagation methods for the monkey-face orchid (Dracula simia)?
Propagation by seed
The monkey-face orchid can self-pollinate, but its seeds scatter easily, so they should be collected in time. The seeds of the monkey-face orchid are tiny and can be raised in flat trays without covering with soil; they need plenty of sunlight and generally sprout in about one month. Seedlings do not need frequent watering; keeping the medium moist is enough. When the seedlings reach more than 10 cm in height, they can be grown in flower pots, but be sure not to overwater.
Propagation by division
Division is generally carried out in early spring when new shoots sprout. First take the mother plant out, separate the tangled root system as much as possible, and cut it apart from the base with a small knife. Each new division should carry a certain amount of roots. You can also apply carbendazim powder to the wounds to prevent bacterial infection.
How to grow the monkey-face orchid: cultivation methods for the monkey-face orchid
The monkey-face orchid mainly grows in the cloud forests of southeastern Ecuador and Peru, and is also cultivated artificially. Because it has a monkey-like face, it is vividly called the "monkey-face orchid." This flower can bloom in any season, and the scent it gives off is similar to that of ripe oranges. It has two strange features, namely two long spines and two long sepals. So how do you grow the monkey-face orchid? Below is an introduction to the cultivation methods for the monkey-face orchid!
Growth habits of the monkey-face orchid
The monkey-face orchid requires a cool growing environment, fears intense heat, is difficult to get through the summer, and is also not tolerant of frost and cold. 10-25°C is the suitable cultivation temperature. In the warmer regions of the south, it can be placed outdoors in semi-shade or cultivated in plastic greenhouses all year round. In the Yangtze River basin or regions to the north, it should be cultivated in intermediate-temperature or high-temperature greenhouses. In late autumn, winter, and early spring, when temperatures are not very high, give it direct sunlight to help the plant form flower buds, bloom, and set seed. If encountering high-temperature weather or in summer, humidity should be increased and shade nets used to lower the temperature. When the temperature is below 10°C, keep it warm and increase the temperature.
Propagation methods for the monkey-face orchid
1. Division: Division of the monkey-face orchid is generally carried out in early spring before new shoots sprout. First take the mother plant out of the flower pot, remove excess medium, separate the tangled root system as much as possible, and cut it open from the stem base with a sharp knife. Each new division should keep two or more plants and carry a certain amount of roots, and use a brush dipped in sulfur powder or carbendazim powder to apply to the wounds to prevent wound infection by pathogens. After division, the new plants can bloom in the same year.
2. Sowing: The monkey-face orchid can self-pollinate, but its seeds scatter easily and should be harvested in batches at the right time. Because monkey-face orchid seeds are tiny, greenhouse cultivation is usually sown in autumn, raised in flat trays or plug trays, and the seeds do not need to be covered with soil. After sowing, they should receive sufficient light and generally emerge in about 25 days. During the seedling stage, do not water too frequently; keeping the medium moist is enough. At the same time, spray a fungicide once a week. When 2-3 true leaves have grown, transplant once. When the seedlings are more than 10 cm tall, plant them in flower pots. Seed-grown plants can bloom in 1-2 years.
Cultivation methods for the monkey-face orchid
1. Medium: The monkey-face orchid prefers a slightly acidic medium, requires loose, breathable, well-drained material that can keep the roots moist without waterlogging. Generally, orchid cultivation medium can be used. When potting small seedlings, first place 2-3 cm of coarse-grained medium or clay pebbles at the bottom of the pot as a drainage layer, sprinkle some Osmocote controlled-release fertilizer on top as base fertilizer, applying 2-3 grams per pot, and cover with a layer of medium about 1-2 cm thick, then place the plant in, so as to separate the fertilizer from the roots and avoid burning the roots.
2. Water: The native environment of the monkey-face orchid is relatively dry, and long periods of rainy and cloudy days make it susceptible to pathogen infection. Therefore, during the growing period, relative humidity should preferably be kept between 50-75%. When the temperature is around 20°C, maintaining the indoor natural environment is enough. When the summer temperature reaches above 25°C, carry out artificial humidification, generally using fans and wet curtains or a high-pressure misting system, but avoid spraying water on the leaves. When humidity is too high, increase ventilation, otherwise pests and diseases are likely to occur. The water needed by the monkey-face orchid generally depends on the medium used. If using sphagnum moss, water less; when the medium is 70% dry, water promptly.
3. Fertilizer: The monkey-face orchid needs relatively little fertilizer. Generally, the fertilizer concentration is a 3000-fold solution. During the growing season from May to October, fertilize once every two weeks. It is advisable to use liquid fertilizer to water the root zone and spray the leaf surfaces. During the growing period, the monkey-face orchid mainly uses nitrogen fertilizer and balanced fertilizer, commonly N:P:K=30:10:10 or 20:20:20 mixed fertilizer. During the flowering period, N:P:K=10:30:10 mixed fertilizer is commonly used. Fertilize preferably in the evening, and then water once with clear water early the next morning. At the same time, during the flower bud stage, spray the leaves once a week with orchid-specific flowering fertilizer, Huabao No. 3, monopotassium phosphate, and other phosphorus-potassium fertilizers to make the flower spikes thicker and the flowers more brilliant.
Propagation methods for the monkey-face orchid: how to propagate the monkey-face orchid
Besides its monkey face, the monkey-face orchid has two other strange features, namely two long spines and two long sepals. Its unique appearance has brought it considerable popularity. Below, we share the propagation methods for the monkey-face orchid. How is the monkey-face orchid propagated? Let's take a look.
Propagation methods for the monkey-face orchid
Seedling propagation of the monkey-face orchid can use methods such as division, sowing, sterile sowing, and tissue culture.
Propagation by division
The monkey-face orchid is a perennial epiphytic orchid. After 1-2 years of cultivation, when the plants are dense and clustered, division propagation can be carried out. Division is generally carried out in early spring before new shoots sprout. First take the mother plant out of the flower pot, remove excess medium, separate the tangled root system as much as possible, and cut it open from the stem base with a sharp knife. Each new division should keep two or more plants and carry a certain amount of roots, and use a brush dipped in sulfur powder or carbendazim powder to apply to the wounds to prevent wound infection by pathogens. After division, the new plants can bloom in the same year.[3]
Propagation by seed
The monkey-face orchid can self-pollinate, but its seeds scatter easily and should be harvested in batches at the right time. Because monkey-face orchid seeds are tiny, greenhouse cultivation is usually sown in autumn, raised in flat trays or plug trays, and the seeds do not need to be covered with soil. After sowing, they should receive sufficient light and generally emerge in about 25 days. During the seedling stage, do not water too frequently; keeping the medium moist is enough. At the same time, spray a fungicide once a week. When 2-3 true leaves have grown, transplant once. When the seedlings are more than 10 cm tall, plant them in flower pots. Seed-grown plants can bloom in 1-2 years. Seedlings have relatively poor resistance, and once there is too much water, they are prone to disease, causing the stems and roots to rot.
Sterile sowing
Sterile sowing is most effective just before the capsule matures. The sowing medium can use 1/2MS + 10% coconut water or banana juice 50 g/L + lactalbumin 2 g/L + sucrose 20-30 g/L + agar 8 g/L. About 15 days after sowing, light green swollen embryos can be seen. At 50-60 days, when protocorms about 2 mm in diameter form, they can be transferred to MS + BA 1 mg/L medium. After 50-60 days, they grow into small seedlings with 2-3 leaves. Then transfer to rooting medium, and after about 60 days, when complete plants have formed, take them out of the bottles for cultivation. When test-tube plantlets are taken out of the bottles, plant them in sterilized sphagnum moss or a mixed medium of peat soil and perlite, with a survival rate of more than 85%. After 3-5 months of planting, they can be potted and transplanted, and 1-2 years after potting they can bloom.[3]
Tissue culture
Select the young shoot stem tips of robustly growing plants as explants. The induction medium is generally MS + 6-BA 1.0-2.0 mg/L + IBA 0.5-1.0 mg/L + activated charcoal 1.0-3.0 g/L. The proliferation medium is generally MS + 6-BA 0.5-1.0 mg/L + IBA 0.1-0.5 mg/L + activated charcoal 1.0-3.0 g/L. The differentiation medium is generally 1/2MS + 6-BA 1.0-1.5 mg/L + NAA 0.5-1.0 mg/L. The rooting and seedling-strengthening medium is 1/2MS + 6-BA 0.5-1.0 mg/L + IBA 0.1-0.5 mg/L.
When the roots of the tissue-cultured plantlets in the bottles are about 2-4 cm long, place the culture bottles in a warm shed for hardening. After 3-7 days, take out the rooted plantlets, wash off the medium, and soak in 0.1% potassium permanganate solution for 5 minutes. The planting medium uses a 1:1 mixture of bark and peat, soaked in water and sterilized with a broad-spectrum fungicide, and the plantlets are planted in seedling trays. During transplanting, relative humidity is controlled at 50%-70%, and transplanting is carried out in a greenhouse or shed with light intensity no greater than 10000 lx. After transplanting, spray a fungicide once, keep the temperature at 18°C-25°C, and after new roots grow out, carry out routine management.
How does the monkey-face orchid propagate? After reading the propagation methods for the monkey-face orchid carefully compiled by the editor, you should all know how to propagate it. Friends who like it should get planting right away.