Propagation of Phaius tankervillae/Nun's Orchid

[Uechi]

It is my understanding that the Nun's Orchid can be propagated from stem cuttings. What I am looking for is some specific information/a procedure or method. I know that the cuttings are suppose to be put on damp spagnum moss or sand but I have no details. Do you use Rootone or some other rooting hormone? Is the spagnum slightly damp or soaking wet? What is the intensity of the light required? Can the orchid be propagated under grow lights etc. I would appreciate some inputs from the more experienced members. Thanks

[kmarch]

Could you possibly be thinking of cane cuttings? Some Dendrobiums are propigated by laying segments of cut cane on damp sphagnum moss.

[flowerchild]

I have one and I just split it with an equal number of growths. My aunt now has one and so do I, both have flowered this year and have new growths coming.

[Uechi]

Thanks for the response, but I am not talking about Dendrobiums. Phaius can be propagated from the flower spike after the flowers drop. You must insure that there is growth node on each cutting. What I am missing are the specifics on temp, light, moisture and use of a rooting hormone? Regards

[Vivienne]

I'm curious as to where you heard/read that you can propagate from the flower spike. You can propagate Phaius by dividing (a cutting) a multiple growth plant (where each growth has at least one root), but I've never heard of new growth off a cutting on the inflorescence.

[kazjak]

Just did a search Vivienne and this is what I came up with... Seems Uechi is right! Send me some!

Phaius Culture

[Vivienne]

Thanks Greg! I was looking for Phaius propagation and not finding anything. This is rather exciting. I'll bet Sandra will think so as well!!! I have never heard of this before, so wanted a reference. And guess what... my Phaius is just about to finish blooming. Gotta give this a try for sure!

Thanks again Greg. Uechi - I hope you weren't offended... it was the reference I was after. Hey, maybe we can start another project for those with Phaius finishing their blooming cycle???

[Hummer344]

It seems that the site mentioned above answers most of the questions for Uechi. One thing I dissagree about is the using Orthene as a first strike method of controling critters. Would much rather use non poisonous methods frist. I have thrips in my roses but I put out yellow sticky traps and it seems to cut them down significantly. If they really get out of control I go to comercial spray. I don't see why the yellow sticky stuff wouldn't work in orchids. You would just have to cut down the piece to fit your area.

[Uechi]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I have one flower left on the stalk and when it goes I'm going to try and make some baby Tankervillae. Should be fun. I done propagation with African Violets and this seems just as easy. My only hope is that the damp spagnum moss won't encourage fungus. I think I'll try half on spagnum and half on sand and see what happens. Regards.

[Vivienne]

I'm going to try it with my Phaius Dan Rosenburg 'Tropical Ice'. Maybe we can trade them when they get bigger.

[Uechi]

Sounds Good Vivienne. I have a small Mishense or Mihense not sure of the spelling from India. It has not bloomed yet, but I'm hoping the flowers are great. Dan Rosenburg is a beautiful terrestrial Phauis. I would love to have one. Regards.

[palito]

I'll try it too with a Gastrophaius Pololei Sunset which is in bloom now.

[Vivienne]

Great - the more the merrier!

Now to figure out where to cut. Can you make more than 1 cutting? How much of the stalk do we put in the moss?

[sandra]

You bet right Vivienne, thanks for thinking of me and thank you too Greg for that link. I'm quite surprised to read about the light conditions because everything I've found on them says, shady, low light until this linked article.

I'm not understanding quite how the instructions read for propagation of the stem unless it's saying to just cut above the node....or are you supposed to cut at some sort of angle?

Whoever does this first, will you please take a pic and post it?

[Uechi]

Glad for all the questions. I have the same on Temp, moisture and light levels. As far as the cutting of the stalk goes I also don't know. I would assume that as long as the cutting has a node it will be good. I personally think a diagonal cut would be better than a straight cut because you would have more surface area for growth, but you know what they say about " I assume". Hopefully I won't be an ass.

[PhalPal]

I was so happy to see this post. I have been researching outdoor terrestrial orchids for my backyard. I have a Sobralia that is doing very well in light filtered through a palm tree; however, it was quite nerve racking putting an orchid in the ground.

The above Phauis link is great; I have had trouble finding any that were this useful. Vivienne are yours potted in your atrium or do you truly have one in the ground??

Does anyone out there have any growing in the ground in So Cal????

[pitik101]

phalpal...other types of terrestial orchids you can try in So Cal are Arundina gramanifolia and Spathoglottis. Spat have a couple of species available a lot more being described by the taxonomist..they come is a good range of colors as well, esp the hybrids

[kmarch]

Well how about that....I had no idea you could do that with a Phaius. That's one of the things I like about orchids, always something new around the corner.

[flowerchild]

My Phaius has just finished blooming so I will try to propagate it too!!! We will see what happens eh?

[Vivienne]

Connie (PhalPhal) - my Phaius is in a pot in the atrium.

[Vivienne]

My Phaius is down to one bloom so any day now it will be time to do the cutting. Perhaps even today. Has anyone else done their cutting??

[sandra]

Vivienne, I was going to post this exact question yesterday but completely forgot to. I'm waiting for someone else to go first.

[Vivienne]

LOL Sandra - chicken!! just joking.

Well Colorado weather being what it is... looks like another snowed out track meet today. So, if we do cancel today's meet and I don't have to work, then I will be doing my cutting.

One problem though... I do not have Rootone. Have Superthrive so might have to soak the sphag in that beforehand.

[sandra]

Superthrive is just as good, I think. That's what I've got to use as well so it better be!

[Vivienne]

Okay, I don't have a clue what I'm doing, so I've attempted my Phaius from cutting in 4 different ways.

1 - cut of node where the dormant growth "eye" is covered with a triangular sheath
2 - cut of node where the dormant growth "eye" is covered with a triangular sheath removed
3 - cutting where old bloom was - laid on top of sphag
4 - cutting where old bloom was - loosely wrapped in sphag

Hope all that made sense. All are in sphag which I soaked in worm tea and Superthrive inside 2" pots. These are in a humidity dome alongside my recently deflasked runts.
And now we wait to see if it works or not.

[PhalPal]

Vivienne I think that is very exciting! It's a great idea to try it four different ways (pretend like you did it on purpose and know what you are doing) to see what will work and what absolutely will not. Please keep us posted and good luck!

[Vivienne]

LOL - I'm hoping that at least ONE of the ways works. Fingers crossed!!!

[sandra]

Vivienne, this is great. I hate choices when I have no clue what I'm doing to begin with so tell me, which of these 4 cuttings was the right way?

And taken from the link that kazjak provided, what does this mean? "propagated by cutting the flowering stem, into several pieces, above a stem internode, the dormant growth "eye" is covered with a triangular sheath"...Where is 'above the stem internode'? Each piece cut with the eye and sheath on each piece? How much down from the eye? You're not supposed to put each piece into the sphag, but lay it on the sphag.? I'm scared.....

[Vivienne]

Sandra - exactly.

I don't know how to do it either. I just interpreted the quote in different ways hoping that one of my interpretations is correct.

[Caliope]

What was the result of your cuttings? Did you have success?

I have a phaius rescue (don't know what kind) it is just starting to have new growth at the bottom. I'm not sure what to expect. Shouldn't I be seeing signs of spikes at this time?

Lori

[patticake]

Neither Sandra or Vivienne have been on in a long time. Sandra won't be back...I hope that Vivienne will. I would sure love to hear how it went, too.

[CulpableCaptive]

Originally Posted by Uechi

It is my understanding that the Nun's Orchid can be propagated from stem cuttings. What I am looking for is some specific information/a procedure or method. I know that the cuttings are suppose to be put on damp spagnum moss or sand but I have no details. Do you use Rootone or some other rooting hormone? Is the spagnum slightly damp or soaking wet? What is the intensity of the light required? Can the orchid be propagated under grow lights etc. I would appreciate some inputs from the more experienced members. Thanks

I do not have any idea where I got this information from but since I have Phaius and Phaiuscalanthe Orchids - I found this in one of my files. I do not take credit for it.

PROPAGATION
Phaius can be vegetatively propagated by cutting the spent flower stem into several pieces, above a stem internode. The dormant growth, or "eye", is covered with a triangular sheath - carefully remove the sheath, to not disturb or damage the dormant "eye". Cut, with a hot knife or shears, through the flower stem after the last flower has fallen. Dust the cuts with Rootone® and place the cut stem pieces on damp sphagnum moss in diffused light. Pot the plantlets after the roots are several inches long.

I hope it helps..............

[Caliope]

I've been watching my phaius and the new growth is continuing but still no signs of spikes or flowers. From all the culture sheets I have read it should be blooming by this time. I'm keeping it moist and I've been fertilizing it regularly. I may try withholding some of the water for a few weeks while the temperatures climb and see if this will stimulate some spiking.

I inherited this plant last summer and at that time all the old growth had been trimmed so I don't know what to expect.

Is there anyone out there who has had success with them and can offer me some encouragement or advice?

[berkeleysgr8]

Vivienne, what happened with this experiment?

[lmartiny]

I read this somewhere here on geeks and tried it last year but I cut mine into segments. They turned brown and died shortly. This year I thought about it, but never cut off the spent spike and it browned eventually. Mine are in the ground. They spread. I've considered digging up a piece and potting to see if it would look better and do well. But they seem pretty content in the ground. I may put my Joan Hart in the ground. I don't think it could get any worse. (It is maybe dying)
I dug up a piece of the Tank and sent it to a fellow geek. Diana in S Fl I think. I don't know how it fared.

[berkeleysgr8]

I will have to look into more "ground orchids" next year. I bought Bletilla and Spathoglottis this year. No flowers yet. *frown* I love the idea of having easy to grow orchids outside!