I love dividing my orchids!

[David]

I must say I really like dividing my orchids! I can give them away to my friends or do experiments with them such as potting them into different potting mediums and see which ones perform better.

Try this one:

Pot one orchid in a bark mix and the division of the orchid in a sphagnum moss mix.

Compare several months later and see which one is growing better!
Then you'll know what your magic mix is to use for the rest of your orchids.

[twirly]

Most orchids need to be repotted once every two years. The bark or moss that the orchids are grown in gradually deteriorates. If repotting is not done, the bark or moss become decomposed and packed. Under these conditions, roots are not properly aerated, drainage becomes blocked so there is too much standing moisture, and the plant eventually dies from asphyxiation and the root rottens. Ideally, orchids should be repotted immediately after flowering.

[twirly]

1 pair of clippers
1 large bucket
1 blowtorch
Pots
Bamboo Stakes
Orchid Ties

Take your chance and see what happens...good luck

[orchidaddict789]

Different orchids may require different types of mixes. I find seedling phals to enjoy sphagnum moss, older phals in larger pieces of bark, oncidiums in a finer mix, etc. It is a kind of experiment, I guess. But one rule is that sphag dries out slower than bark, so think about your watering habits.

It's best to repot when new growths start their first signs of new roots (little green bumps). This lets the orchid grow the maximum amount of new roots (from the new growth). Usually in spring.

[PennieNH]

I am still very new with orchids. I am wondering if it is possible to buy a bulb when you split? I still do not want to invest too much money until I am sure of the care, etc. involved. Most of my experience is with succulents, african violets, bamboo, etc., etc. The store that I buy my supplies, etc. from should have the correct mixture for me to plant it in too. Please let me know if you would consider sell/trade.

Thanks

[Tawny]

Originally Posted by pennie.waldron@snhmc.org

I am still very new with orchids. I am wondering if it is possible to buy a bulb when you split? I still do not want to invest too much money until I am sure of the care, etc. involved. Most of my experience is with succulents, african violets, bamboo, etc., etc. The store that I buy my supplies, etc. from should have the correct mixture for me to plant it in too. Please let me know if you would consider sell/trade.

Thanks

I LOVE succulents too! I am also into AV, Orchids Episcia and other types of plants.
I have many types of orchids here and would be more then happy to trade of one my babies for yours
I have a wide variety of colors!
If you are new to orchids..>I would suggest starting with a Catteleya since they are the easiest to grow
My email address is tawny30@bellsouth.net if you wish to discuss this further.
Oh and they are not bulbs hun Orchids grow from seeds.

[phillipinmissouri]

It is possible to raise a nice plant from bulbs,I have done this with an oncidium panda,a shrry baby hybrid with a sweet but slightly diff smell than sharry.I start with a three liter pop bottle,Yes a pop bottle. Sterilize your bottle with a spoonful of bleach in a quart or gallon of COLD water,either measure works good.swish it good and rinse with COLD water,it is important to use cold water as when you mix hot and bleach you get hydrochloric acid.,Or a clear pasty container from the baker works good also,you know a clam shell style. these clams work great for starting dend cuttings laying flat. cut the pop bottle close to the bottom so as to make a pot of the bottom but leave it attached with a small (hinge).Drill or worry a small hole in the bottom of each foot of the bottle.
I used pimice and bark with charcoal and a little peat for moisture retention.
trim the dead roots and leaves(if any) from your bulbs,I am not sure about anti fungal dust as I have never had any problems with them.
Use only bulbs that are healthy with no signs of rot,disease or pests.you might try rinsing them with a light solution of bleach water to clean them(I have done this)use maybe a 1/4 teaspoon for a gallon of cold,also rinse lightly with cool water.
It seems to work best with two bulbs of good size that are attached,If any small bulbe exist leave then attached as I have had them grow but frequently start to rot and endanger the whole bottle.
Put the bulbs with just the Bottom 1/2 inch in the medium,water lightly with luke warm rain or distiled water so not to build up minerals and any where from a month to a few months you might see a small bud on either side of the bulb,usually each bulb will bud. As to when to pot them?I am unsure as yet,any thing you might suggest would be appreciated.
phil

[Tess]

twirly,
What the heck is the blow tourch for?

[lydia]

You sound like my biology teacher

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Phil first, then Tess:

Phil, I would not bother to sterilize a pop bottle if it is only rinsed out after use. The contents were quite sterile when you openned the bottle, but then, I suppose you will need to sterilize your scissors you cut the bottle with, if one is not planning to sterilize the finished pot. Now, all sources say the bleach must be mixed at 10%. A 1/4 tsp, even a tablespoon in a gallon won't sterilize anything for virus, and a soak time is usually called for.

Tess, the torch is to sterilize the cutting tool you use to cut into an orchid. You need to heat the tool short of glowing, but extremely hot, and this will be hard on the tool. If you use 10% bleach, soak the tool for a good 20 minutes, and make sure the tool is clean first, as dried sap will not be penetrated in 20 minutes. My preference is a saturated solution of trisodium phosphate from the hardware store, and not one of the substitutes. Don't let the the sales man try to switch you to something else, it must be exactly trisodium phosphate. Soak you tool in this 20 minutes, and you can store tools in this. TSP is a mild paint remover, so a very long soak WILL penetrate sap. Bleach solution should be made up fresh every day, but trisodium phosohate is good as long as there are crystals at the bottm of the container of liquid. Cynthia, Prescptt, AZ