Splitting orchids?

[zjohzjoh]

say there is 12 oncidiums in one pot, and i spilt them down to 3 - 4 piece mini’s. my question is, (i’ve heard) dont water the split pieces for 2-3 weeks, so the cut scar can heal. is this true?

[articuno75]

I don't know about the 2-3 weeks part. That sounds a little too long of a drying out period for me. (Actually, a lot. ) You can divide the plant and where the cuts are, sprinkle the areas with cinnamon. This will caurtarize and seal the areas as well as protect it from infection. Let it set for a few hours to dry the area of cut, then you can repot.

A couple weeks of drying to me would just over dehydrate the plant and divisions.

[Tarad]

Ooo gee wiz I been choppin , cinnamoning and just ploppin them right back in to a pot. Didnt think to dry them out first thanks for that tip Jenny! Tara

[jerrymeola]

Open cuts can be an entry for disease. Commercially we divide and let them dry for as long as it takes to get time to pot them. A minimum of 1 week but 2-3 is common when we are busy. It is much too time consuming to treat the cuts and we let nature do it.

I have found cuttings months later when I misplaced them. I have some that are about 6 months now and I wish they would just die and I could stop ignoring them.

Orchids live bare rooted to trees so leaving them bare rooted on a table is nothing different. If they are getting watered they will survive.

Drying for a week or three is time for the cuts to cauterize. We water heavily right after cutting them and then let them dry. Oncidium and Cattleya can go several weeks without water.

[zjohzjoh]

perfect!!! i love the cinnamon idea. never heard that one.

[lmartiny]

Jerry, how could you wish they would die????

[kmarch]

On those rare occasions when I have divided an orchid, I refrained form watering for one week then resumed normal watering habits but this was only for those orchids that can dry out a bit, not for those who need to stay moist (Paphs and Phals et. al.)