Orchids are beautiful and exotic flowers that can add a touch of elegance to any home or garden. While orchids may seem delicate, they are surprisingly easy to propagate or “multiply” at home. Multiplying your orchids allows you to grow new plants from a mother plant, creating an expanding collection for free. With a few simple techniques, you can learn how to multiply orchids in no time.
Why Multiply Orchids?
There are several great reasons to multiply your orchid collection:
- Save money – Multiplying orchids yourself is much less expensive than buying new plants.
- Expand your collection – Starting with just one or two orchid plants, you can propagate into dozens of new plants over time.
- Create new hybrids – By pollinating two different orchid varieties, you can create unique new hybrids.
- Gift plants to others – Having lots of baby orchid plants allows you to share the joy with friends and family!
Propagating orchids through dividing, backbulb culture, and keikis are easy and rewarding skills to learn. Keep reading to find out how!
Dividing Orchids
One of the easiest ways to multiply your orchid population is by dividing existing plants. Many types of orchids naturally produce offshoots called “keikis” on long aerial roots. These offshoots can be divided or cut off from the mother plant and potted up independently.
Dividing orchids should be done during the repotting process. Gently remove the plant from its pot and inspect the root system. Look for keikis growing off of larger roots. Use a sterile cutting tool to cut the keiki away, retaining as many roots as possible. Repot the parent plant in fresh media in one pot, and pot up the divided keiki in another container.
Some signs your orchid may be ready for dividing include:
- Overcrowded roots in the pot
- 3 or more mature keiki offshoots visible
- Decline in flowering due to overcrowding
Dividing orchids requires patience as the new plants establish their root systems after separating, but within a year you can have multiple new blooming plants for the price of one!
Dividing Orchid Keikis Step-By-Step
- Remove orchid from pot and inspect roots for keikis
- Sterilize a sharp cutting tool with alcohol to prevent disease transmission
- Cut or twist keiki from the mother root – try to retain some roots
- Pot up mother plant in suitable orchid media, water well
- Pot up keiki in orchid media, keep humid and shaded
- Resume normal watering and light exposure as keiki grows roots
Backbulb Culture
Some orchids produce swollen bulbous structures called backbulbs on their rhizomes. These backbulbs store water and energy for the plant. They can be used to easily propagate more orchid plants.
Backbulb culture involves carefully cutting off the backbulbs from an orchid’s rhizome. Each backbulb will then grow into a new plant. This method works well for multiplying orchid genera like Cattleya, Dendrobium, Oncidium, and Phalaenopsis that readily develop plump pseudobulbs or backbulbs along their rhizomes.
Here are some tips for propagating orchids through backbulb culture:
- Use a sterile tool to detach backbulbs – leave a small rhizome section attached if possible
- Allow cut backbulb to dry or callus over for 1-2 days before planting
- Pot backbulbs in orchid growing media suitable for the species
- Keep new plants humid, shaded and well-watered until established
- Repot annually as the new plant matures and produces roots and leaves
With this method, 5-10 new backbulbs can be cut and potted up each repotting session. Take care not to damage the mother plant by removing too many backbulbs at once.
Backbulb Propagation Step-By-Step
- Select plump, mature backbulbs from the orchid rhizome
- Sterilize cutting tool and detach backbulbs with a clean cut
- Allow 1-2 days for cuts to callus over
- Pot backbulbs upright in small pots, water sparingly at first
- Keep humid and shaded until new leaves and roots emerge
- Transition to normal light and watering as growth matures
Keiki Culture
Many orchids naturally produce baby plantlets called keikis on long aerial roots or flower spikes. These keikis can simply be cut off and potted up to yield completely new, genetically identical orchid plants.
Some orchid genera, like Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium, readily produce keikis while others rarely do. But keikis can be induced to grow by applying keiki paste or orchid cloning powder to emerging roots or spikes.
Keiki paste contains plant hormones like cytokinins that signal the orchid tissue to initiate new vegetative growth. To propagate orchids from keikis:
- Apply keiki cloning paste to emerging roots or spikes using a toothpick
- Maintain high humidity around the area
- Within 2-6 weeks, small keikis should begin forming
- Allow keikis to grow until they have 3-4 leaves and roots
- Use sterile tool to detach and repot keiki
With this method, each orchid flower spike can yield multiple new baby orchid plants! Implement keiki culture to exponentially increase the number of plants in your collection.
Keiki Propagation Step-By-Step
- Obtain keiki cloning paste or powder
- Apply small amount to emerging orchid spikes or roots
- Mist area regularly to maintain humidity
- Watch for keiki formation in 2-6 weeks
- Allow keikis to mature on spike until roots form
- Use sterile blade to detach and repot mature keikis
Which Method Is Best?
The best method for multiplying your orchids will depend on the specific genus, growth habit, and availability of backbulbs, keikis, or dividing options. Here is a comparison of the three methods:
Method | Difficulty | Speed | Yield | Best For |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dividing | Easy | Slow | 3-5 plants | Overcrowded plants, plentiful keikis |
Backbulbs | Intermediate | Moderate | 5-15 plants | Cattleya, Dendrobium, Oncidium |
Keikis | Intermediate | Fast | 10-30+ plants | Phalaenopsis, Dendrobium, prolific keiki producers |
As shown in the table, dividing takes the longest but is the easiest method. Backbulb and keiki culture yield faster results and higher propagation numbers, but require more skill. Combine different techniques each repotting cycle to maximize the expansion of your orchid collection!
Orchid Propagation Tips
Follow these top tips for multiplying your orchids successfully:
- Use sterile tools – Clean all cutting tools with alcohol to prevent spreading diseases between plants.
- Timing – Divide orchids just before the growing season when they are actively growing roots and leaves.
- Patience! – It may take 6-12+ months for newly divided plants to re-establish and bloom again.
- Aerial roots – Look for emerging aerial roots to apply keiki paste or powder to.
- Humidity – Maintain very high humidity around developing keikis and backbulbs.
- Reduce repotting stress – Minimize root disturbance when dividing or repotting.
- Fertilize – Use a balanced orchid fertilizer to nourish actively growing plants.
- Ideal timing – Propagate orchids in the spring after blooming completes.
Common Problems
When multiplying orchids, watch out for these potential problems:
Slow Growth
If new plants are slow to establish roots, leaves, or show minimal new growth, increase humidity levels, fertilize more frequently, and ensure optimal lighting conditions. Proper potting media that retains moisture but also drains well is key.
Root or Stem Rot
Overwatering can cause deadly root and stem rot. Allow potting mix to dry out moderately between waterings. Disinfect cutting tools to prevent bacteria or fungi from entering wounds.
Bloom Drop
Some orchids will drop flowers or fail to bloom the first season after dividing or propagating. This is a temporary stress response. Proper care will lead to re-blooming the following year.
Keiki Death
Highly humid conditions required for keiki development can also harbor fungal or bacterial infections. Provide plenty of airflow and use sterile practices when applying keiki paste.
Conclusion
From dividing to backbulb culture to keikis, there are many fun ways to multiply your orchid collection at home. Take advantage of the natural growth habits of different orchid genera to yield the highest propagation success.
With a little patience and proper care, you can turn one cherished orchid plant into a diverse collection with your own unique hybrids to enjoy for years to come. Happy propagating!