Top Cutting

[rmt135]

How do you do orchid top cutting without hurting the growth of the orchid (old & new)?

The orchid in question can be a Mokara, Aranda etc.

Thanks in advance

[kmarch]

You have to wait until roots grow on the part you want to cut off, the you just cut below the roots. I dont' see muchpoint indoing this though because you're then left with the bottom part that will not grow because it has no crown. So you start with one plant and end up with one smaller plant. Top cutting isnt' a very good way to propigate monopodials.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Mostly it is for unsightly plants that have gotten too tall, and also lost leaves at the bottom. Some time the bottom portion will start side growth, depending on how vigorous the plant was and how much mass you left on the bottom portion. My personal experience is that taking a top cutting sets both halves back severely, and is not to be done without good reason.

[rmt135]

Thanks for all the advise.

Reason why I am asking this question is because my wife & I had decided to do an orchid garden beside our new house & we want to cover the fence area with orchids. We would like the growth to be quite even - it looks nicer right.

It top cutting is not an option - THAT MEANS I HAVE COME OUT $$$$$$

BIG BIG HOLE IN MY POCKET.

[pikevi]

What is 'top cutting'? I could not find any info on that here or anywhere else.

kmarch: How do you induce root growths?

Cynthia: What would constitute a 'good reason'? And how do you initiate the process of 'top cutting' without roots?

Thanks.

[tom499]

'topping a vanda' is a phrase i sometimes see to describe it.

Old vandas tend to lose their lower leaves, so you end up with a brown woody stem that can be 30cm long, with green leaves further up and roots at the bottom. This can look quite unsightly, and can be delicate.

By topping, you cut off the leaved part of the plant and usually grow the lower part in the hope of a side shoot keikei.

But you need roots to be growing from inbetween the leaves on the upper section if that part is going to survive.

Its not hugely practiced as the risk of losing both parts of what is usually a large mature Vanda is too great.

[pikevi]

Thanks tom499.

Then I assume mostly there would NOT be any roots to begin with. I can see why the risk of losing both is high.

[tom499]

Old Vandas do sometimes produce roots higher up the main stem, I guess as some would say to help support the plant they get very tall. But there wouldnt be many.

I think Vandas are quite an odd shaped plant, if anyone has pictures of large wild ones I would like to see how they keep themselves stable.

[patlee]

I have a large (10-inch pot) Phal . If I move it up to a larger pot, I will not be able to carry it to the sink to water. I was considering "topping" it, but now I might re-consider. It has all sorts of roots above the bare stem (only 4 or 5 inches without any leaves) and looks like an ideal candidate for this type of surgery.
However, this particular plant is my first orchid and I would hate to lose it! Does anyone know if a Phal stands a better chance of surviving this cutting than a vanda?(Think tons of aerial roots) I usually take the plant to the sink to let it drain after I water--what do you do if you cannot get it to the sink?
Any thoughts would be appreciated...

[tom499]

I have never heard of topping a Phal I personally wouldnt recommend it.

Do you have a photo we can see?

[patlee]

Tom, As soon as I can get the camera--my husband is taking Christmas shots and he takes a loooooooong time!

[articuno75]

Originally Posted by patlee

I have a large (10-inch pot) Phal . If I move it up to a larger pot, I will not be able to carry it to the sink to water. I was considering "topping" it, but now I might re-consider. It has all sorts of roots above the bare stem (only 4 or 5 inches without any leaves) and looks like an ideal candidate for this type of surgery.
However, this particular plant is my first orchid and I would hate to lose it! Does anyone know if a Phal stands a better chance of surviving this cutting than a vanda?(Think tons of aerial roots) I usually take the plant to the sink to let it drain after I water--what do you do if you cannot get it to the sink?
Any thoughts would be appreciated...

LOL! Patlee I guess you will have to think bigger and go to the tub instead of the sink. That's what I do with my Inherited Catt, LOL.

[patlee]

Thanks,Articuno. That would work. Don't know why I didn't think of it myself--just getting too set in my ways-- Comes with age, I guess...

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by patlee

...what do you do if you cannot get it to the sink?
Any thoughts would be appreciated...

Water it in the shower or tub.

[tom499]

Or use a hose pipe outside

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

I would never take a top cutting if there would not already be roots on the upper portion. The only place where such a thing may work is in a climate of near 100% humidity all the time. Singapore? Maybe.

I took a top cutting off a Rhychostylus gigantea that had a tall top with roots, and two keikies near the base of good size. From this I got a top cutting that I kept, a keiki of fair size that was separated, and the base was left with the smaller keiki as the new plant using the old roots. It took me about 3 or 4 years for the top cutting to reach mature size. Fortunately, they bloom small, so it was a couple of years until it bloomed again. It has 2 good sized spikes developing on it now. I am about to take a top cutting on my Aerides houlletiana soon, as it has grown quite tall since I moved it to a low light situation, and a recent bout with rust has caused the loss of the lower third of the leaves. In a few days, when I have time, I'll take a picture of the plant to show what I think is a top cutting candidate.

[rmt135]

Dear Patlee,

Can't you bring water to the plant rather than the orchid to the water. Have something below so as to collect the drain water. I wonder if we have 10, 20 & more orchids & have this regime of watering - Ohhhh Good exercise.

Old habit die hard.

Dear Cynthia,

Below is the picture of a few of my orchids. The candidate for top cutting is the orange coloured orchid - I believe it is called Mokara Razzmatazz. The cutting point has 4 roots above & lots of roots below it. I need to certain of this experiment (cutting) because this is the only Razzmatazz that I have.

The two smaller orchids plant (in black pots) were top cut (not by me - in the nursery). Both have produced new roots.

Please advice.

Thanks



BTW Cynthia you are right, the humidity in Singapore is high.

[digitalgate]

someone ask for old vanda, this one i believe is about 3 to 5 years, there is no
limit how high it can grow.This is vanda miss joaquim
[IMG][/IMG]

i would top cutting if you have more roots than mine.Right now i leave it alone
as the base is still good and young shoot is also growing from the bottom of
the orchid. (good excuse for being lazy). This is Vanda Mini palmer

[rmt135]

Dear Digitalgate,

Does the Vanda Miss Joaquim at that age still bloom? From the photo its all green to me.

[pikevi]

Wow, rmt135!

That is like a piece of paradise. All blooming at the same time?

I am rarely envious of anyone but I think I am getting envious of,not only you, but all Singaporeans!!!LOL. Great photo.

And do you have mountains as well? Or are the trees in the background that tall?

And are the broad leaves (partially seen) on the right of the photo from 'bird of paradise" (Strelitzia sp.?)

Thanks.

[patlee]

Rmt135, Sorry I took so long to get back to you--it's too close to Christmas and I still have quite a lot of running around to do. So I have not been spending as much time on the forum as I usually do...

Anyway, I think that for the time being I will try to carry my Phal. to the tub. To put something below it to catch the drainage is not really possible because of its location--packed in with 15 other Phals. The location may be changing to a shelving unit, but that would make a catch-basin even more unlikely. Besides, the dripping water would attract my three cats and I don't really want to do that...

Thanks for the idea,though--I appreciate it so much

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Rmt, if that point of cutting leaves about 3 good leaves on each side of the plant, I think you will not only have a good top cutting, but you might also get a keiki to start on the lower portion. Just be careful not to disturb the lower portion any amount until it starts a new growth. With your humidity and warmth, I am sure the top cutting will do well if you see to it that the existing roots get wetted very regularly.

[rmt135]

Dear Pikevi,

I do not stay near or on a mountain but on a hill side. The green tall tree at the background (centre right of photo) is almost to the top of the hill. Yes the trees are tall.

The broad leaves (partially seen) on the right of the photo is not the 'bird of paradise" (Strelitzia sp.?) but I do have the cousin of the 'bird of paradise' within the ZINGIBERALES FAMILIES i.e. the Heliconias. Attach is the photo of the broad leaves you mentioned.



Thanks

Dear Cynthia,

You mentioned, 'Just be careful not to disturb the lower portion any amount until it starts a new growth.'

Can you be more precise in describing 'any amount' (in red) mentioned above?

Thanks

BTW Sorry for the late reply to both of you. Busy with my work.

[digitalgate]

oh my goodness those Heliconias are beautiful, i have not seen a yellow ones. Next time
when you are pruning , please give me a root cutting.

[PhalPal]

WOW - those are some TALL vandas!!!! Beautiful. I have heard of topping phals, and for the life of me I cannot find it in any of my orchid books to give you a source. I would think a phal with a lot of aerial roots might do well, leaving the bottom portion with the soil roots. I still agree with everyone above; I don't divide ANYTHING. The bigger the better! Why take the chance of hurting a large, lovely plant??
If I can find any information in my books I will get back to this thread and give you the info.

[rmt135]

Thanks PhalPal for your advice.