Growing plants from old pseudobulbs

[Toady]

Just wanted to ask if it's at all possible to grow a new plant from old Dendrobium speciosum pseudobulbs with no fresh growth? We discovered that one of my mother's speciosums had some sort of fern growing the same pot and upon taking it out discovered that the roots were wrapped around each other, we had to divide the plant in order to get rid of the fern and its rhizomes but there was one section that is all pseudobulbs, there's quite a few roots but no new growth. I remember reading that someone managed to get what seemed to be a spent hard cane Den to grow and wondering can the same be done for other Den species? I'm going to put it overnight in a bag of spagnum moss so it doesn't dry out but can anyone give me tips on what to do?

Thanks in advance

[Ray]

Many sympodial plants' pseudobulbs carry a number of dormant "eyes" - places where new rhizomes originate.

Given the right conditions, and hoping the plant isn't too old and already on its way out, they might sprout to life.

[PaulB]

I'd go for it. A bit of patience and care and it could surprise you. I think I'd just mount it and sandwich it between some moist spagh then watch and wait.

[Toady]

Thanks for the replies, I've stuck it in a ziplock bag of spag moss along and it hasn't died, I'll post updates if anything happens.

[PaulB]

I wouldn't close it up too much then, air movement is important too.

[pikkumyy]

Hey Toady,
it's fairly easy to grow from backbulbs once you get the hang of it, there is actually a blog dedicated to growing orchids gfrom backbulbs, it's actually called Backbulbs and i know that Blazing August follows it too here's a link: Developing an Orchid Collection with Backbulbs

Originally Posted by Ray

Many sympodial plants' pseudobulbs carry a number of dormant "eyes" - places where new rhizomes originate.

Given the right conditions, and hoping the plant isn't too old and already on its way out, they might sprout to life.

seconded

Originally Posted by PaulB

I wouldn't close it up too much then, air movement is important too.

i'm not the most confident sphag user so i just pot it up normally or place it on a bed of old-mans beard/spanish moss/tillandsia usnoides and that way it keeps it moist, but dries out quicker so that the new growths dont rot (i like to water my orchids a lot ).

have you read some of the threads on the forum about 'sphag and bag'-ing?

[jpyerry]

I will admit that after reading this thread, I became inspired. I read some of the information on the website mentioned about growing orchids from backbulbs. So, with this in mind, today I decided that I would try my hand at it. I divided my Bratonia Shelob 'Tolkien' (I was planning on doing this anyway) and my Bratonia Royal Rober 'Jerry's Pick' orchids and trimmed off a backbulb off of each. I have sphag and bagged them, and I am going to see what happens with them. If I am succesful, next I want to try doing the same with my Rhyncholaelia digbyana and one of my Zygopetalums.

I will let everybody know how it goes.

Justin

[Toady]

Glad I inspired you Justin, got my fingers crossed that you get them to grow, nothing as yet from mine but it's only early days