Ramet propagation and pseudobulb culture of orchids

Orchids generally refer to orchids of ornamental value, usually divided into two categories: Chinese orchids and foreign orchids. Chinese orchid is a traditional precious flower in China, with beautiful leaves, elegant color and delicate fragrance. It is known as "the gentleman in the flower" and is deeply loved by people. With the opening to the outside world and the development of flower industry in China, epiphytic orchids native to tropical and subtropical forests, such as Phalaenopsis, Cartland, Oncidium and Dendrobium, have been gradually accepted and loved by the Chinese people. However, with the "predatory" development, orchid resources have been greatly damaged. Among the plants protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered species of Wild Fauna and Flora, Orchidaceae accounts for more than 90%. Therefore, it is necessary to study the breeding methods of orchids in order to protect resources and maintain the sustainable development of flowers.

I. the method of separate plant breeding

Split propagation, also known as sub-basin, will grow too dense a plate of orchids into 2 plates to several plates. The method of ramet propagation is widely used in the cultivation of orchids, especially when the planting quantity is small or a small amount of cultivation in the family. Ramet propagation is suitable for orchids with pseudobulbs and tufts, such as Chinese orchid, Paphiopedilum, Oncidium, Dendrobium and Cartland. This method is relatively simple, easy to grasp, does not damage orchid seedlings, usually does not affect flowering, and can ensure the inherent characteristics of varieties, will not cause variation, but the reproduction coefficient is low. Taking Chinese orchid as an example, the specific methods of ramet propagation are introduced below.

Chinese orchid refers to a small number of geophytic orchids of the genus Orchidaceae, which are perennial and pseudo-bulbous, with 1 or 2 new buds growing from the new pseudo-bulb base every year, and the growth is completed at the end of the growing season, and then pseudobulbs are formed at the base. Usually for orchids planted in pots for more than 2-3 years, the orchid seedlings in the pot are too dense, which affects the growth. At this time, 1 pot orchid seedlings can be divided into 2 to several clumps, and each clump can be potted separately into new plants, the specific process is as follows.

1. Suitable season: generally speaking, as long as it is not the exuberant growing season of orchids, ramets can be carried out, but the more suitable season is the dormant period of orchids, that is, before the new buds are unearthed from March to April and after the orchids stop growing from September to October. Different kinds of orchids should be treated differently. The species of flowering in early spring, such as Cymbidium, Chunlan, Cold Orchid, Cymbidium, etc., should be divided into pots when the growth potential is relatively weakened after flowering, so as not to affect the viewing of flowers, or before the flower buds protrude during the dormant period, and be very careful not to damage the flower buds. The species of flowering in summer and autumn, such as Jianlan, are best divided in early spring. Orchids need more water from May to August in the exuberant growing season, and excessive drying during ramification is disadvantageous to plant growth, and new buds and roots are very young and inconvenient to operate, and they will be bruised if they are not careful.

2. Preparatory work

(1) Seedling preparation: in order to facilitate operation, the basin soil can be properly dried before ramet, so that the root system is whitened, resulting in inobvious withering, so that the crisp and short fleshy root becomes soft, ramet and potted plants can reduce root injury, but do not be too dry.

(2) preparation of potted materials and tools: it is necessary to prepare culture soil (first grading), broken tiles, broken bricks, coarse sand, copper window screen, plastic window screen, orchid basin (cleaning, soaking) and scissors, etc.

3. Ramet

(1) selection of orchid seedlings: orchids for reproduction should grow well and free from diseases and insect pests. Jian orchid can be divided into one basin every 2-3 years. Cymbidium can only split when it has 8-9 tube leaves (pseudobulbs), while spring orchid can be a little less. Different regions have different habits, such as Sichuan Province likes to use large pots, potted dozens of leaves, growth and flowering are very luxuriant. If the ramet is too frequent, the root is hurt too much, the management is not good, the recovery is slow, the new bud is not big, the flower bud is blocked or flowering is abnormal.

(2) ramet method: when dividing the basin, first use the five fingers of the left hand close to the basin surface to reach into the orchid seedling, hold the basin soil vigorously, turn the basin upside down with the right hand, and gently knock around the basin to make the basin detach from the basin soil. Then grasp the hole at the bottom of the basin with your right hand to separate the basin from the soil. Then put the orchid seedlings and basin soil flat, can not make the soil suddenly split, so as not to cause the orchid root system to break. Carefully gently pat the soil loosen, gradually shake off the old basin soil, so that the basin soil and seedlings separate. Be careful to grasp the false bulbs without buds, do not hurt the buds and leaves, cut off the withered yellow leaves, the rotten bracts on the false bulbs, and the rotten and dry old roots. However, the leaves on the pseudobulbs with new buds should be retained as far as possible, otherwise the new buds grow slowly and small. False bulbs whose leaves have completely fallen off should also be cut off. Finally, the larger clump of plants that have been cleaned are selected to find out the wide distance between the two pseudobulbs and where they are easy to be loosened when shaking with their hands, cut open with a sharp shear, and the wound is smeared with carbon powder and sulfur powder to prevent the wound from rotting. There should be new buds on the two parts of the false bulb, each of which can develop into new plants separately. After cutting, each part should have at least 3 false bulbs, too few are harmful to the growth of new buds and are not easy to blossom.

4. Pot planting method

(1) selection of orchid seedlings and preparation of pots: several clumps of orchid seedlings should be selected according to the size of the pot before pot planting, and a handful of seedlings should be assembled into a basin. When splicing seedlings, pay attention to make the part with new buds facing the edge of the pot, and leave a growth space of 2 to 3 years when planting.

(2) specific operation: first of all, find a perforated orchid basin, in order to prevent insects, spread a layer of nylon net, copper gauze net. Drainage hole cover broken basin piece, clam shell several pieces. Secondly, lay the drainage layer, such as broken basin pieces, broken bricks, furnace ash (diameter 013~1cm), the thickness of the drainage layer is the depth of the basin. Then add culture soil, you can first add to half of the depth of the basin, and then use your hands to compact the basin soil, the soil in the center of the basin is slightly higher than around. Finally, take the assembled seedlings as the center of the basin, gradually add the culture soil, and gently lift the orchid seedlings upward according to the depth of the seedlings, in order to straighten out the roots of the orchid in the basin, and at the same time fill the soil and press the pores between the roots. It is covered with a layer of gravel, ceramsite and Selaginella, which is watered through and placed in a cool place to slow the seedlings. The ramification methods of Paphiopedilum, Oncidium, Cartland and Chinese Orchid are similar.

2. Pseudobulb culture method

1. Direct planting method: Chinese orchid and tiger orchid usually have two buds in the lower part of each pseudobulb (there are hidden buds in the upper part), usually only one germinates every year, and the other is dormant. These rootless and leafless pseudo-bulbs were stripped of the upper leaf sheath, washed with clean water, and planted in a small flowerpot with moss to moisturize and keep warm. Each old bulb can grow 1 or 2 new leaves, and then take root at the base of the new bud. Careful culture can become a new plant. This method is widely used in precious orchid varieties and magnolia varieties. Sometimes the roots and leaves of the old plant are deliberately cut off and most of the false bulbs are planted in large flowerpots or wooden boxes to promote their sprouting, accelerate reproduction or promote their leaf change.

2. Cutting propagation: Dendrobium can choose false bulbs that grow and enrich without flowering and cut off from the rhizosphere for cutting. Every 2-3 segments, upright cuttings are cut on a small cutter made of peat and moss, half exposed, placed in a semi-shady, humid and warm environment, and when the moss surface dries, spray a little water to keep the moss moist. After 1-2 months, when the new buds came out and had 2-3 small roots, they were planted in the new pot and became new plants. I will publish orchid knowledge and pictures every day, take you in-depth understanding of orchids, teach you to easily raise orchids, you can always ask me or leave a message below if you don't understand orchids. If my knowledge brings you help, I hope you can help me or forward it to help more people!