How to propagate Phalaenopsis orchids? You'll master the fastest propagation method after just one look
As everyone knows, Phalaenopsis orchids have delicate, beautiful forms and auspicious flower meanings, yet they count among the more difficult plants to care for in the floral world. Many people know that Phalaenopsis is not an annual plant, but few can properly master the technique for making it bloom again. Let's take a look below.
Generally speaking, buying a Phalaenopsis orchid at a flower market costs at least 30-odd yuan, and an expensive one costs over 100 yuan. After the flowers bloom and enter the withering stage, how do we propagate it so it blooms again? First, take the entire orchid out of its pot, whether the flowers have finished blooming or the roots have rotted. Then cut the flower stem about one centimeter from the stem. Next, strip away all the old sphagnum moss attached to the Phalaenopsis. If some old sphagnum moss cannot be gently peeled off during the process, just soak it in water a bit longer, then trim away all the rotten roots and hollow roots cleanly. If there are no rotten roots, be sure to soak it in a disinfectant solution (diluted at a ratio of 1:1000), soaking for about 45 minutes is ideal.
After completing all the above steps, before placing it on a shallow dish, first rinse the disinfectant solution off the Phalaenopsis plant with water, then let it dry in the shade for about five or six hours or overnight, until the roots feel completely dry to the touch. Finally, before repotting, buy some new dry sphagnum moss (soak the sphagnum moss for about five minutes before use). When wrapping the new sphagnum moss, you must wrap it tightly, not loosely. Try to use the sphagnum moss to prop up the roots, and after wrapping, tuck the roots back into the original transparent pot the Phalaenopsis was grown in. When topping off, also add an appropriate amount of sphagnum moss to fill the pot.
After all the above steps are completed, do not water for the first 10 to 20 days. Once the pot surface is dry, simply mist the sphagnum moss with a spray bottle. Never water it thoroughly or fertilize. At the same time, you also need to keep giving the Phalaenopsis plant light, avoiding leaving it in a shady spot for too long. Finally, once the Phalaenopsis grows new roots, you can resume normal watering.