How to propagate monkey orchid

sowing

Monkey orchid can self-pollinate, but the seeds are easy to scatter and should be harvested in batches at the right time. Because monkey orchid seeds are small, they are usually sown in autumn in greenhouse cultivation, using flat trays or plug trays for seedling cultivation. The seeds do not need to be covered with soil and should be exposed to sufficient light after sowing. Seedlings will generally emerge in about 25 days.

Do not water too frequently during the seedling stage, just keep the substrate moist. At the same time, spray fungicide once a week. Transplant once when 2-3 true leaves grow. Plant in a flowerpot when the seedling height is more than 10 cm. The sown seedlings can bloom in 1-2 years. Seedlings have poor resistance and once they have too much water, they are easily infected with diseases and their stems and roots rot.

Division

Division is generally carried out in early spring before new buds sprout. First, take the mother plant out of the pot, remove excess substrate, separate the tangled roots as much as possible, and use a sharp knife to cut it open from the base of the stem. Each new plant should be kept as two or more plants with a certain root system, and use a brush dipped in sulfur powder or carbendazim powder to apply to the wound to prevent infection by bacteria. After division, the new plants will bloom in the same year.

Aseptic reproduction

The best results are achieved by sterile sowing just before the capsule matures. The sowing culture medium can be 1/2MS + 10% coconut juice or banana juice 50g/L + milk protein 2g/L + sucrose 20-30g/L + agar 8g/L. Light green swollen embryos can be seen 15 days after sowing. When the protocorms with a diameter of about 2 mm are formed in 50-60 days, they can be transferred to MS + BA1mg/L culture medium and grow into seedlings with 2-3 leaves after 50-60 days. Then transfer to rooting medium and take out of the bottle for cultivation when it grows into a complete plant in about 60 days.

Of course, this method is not suitable for the average orchid lover.