Multiplication of Orchids
- Division
➢ Dividing large clumps to smaller clumps after they have reached a good size (10-12 number). Eg. Cattleya, Laelia, Cymbidium, Dendrobium etc.
➢ Division is generally done when flowering is over during April – May.
- Offshoots (‘Keikis’)
➢ Plantlet produced from the stem or pseudo-bulbs are offsets or offshoots. Eg. Dendribium, Epidendrum etc. These offshoots are called ‘Keikis’.
- Cutting
➢ Monopodial orchids are difficult to propagate by offsets and division. Vanda like orchids has single growing tips and does not produce pseudo-bulbs or offsets. In such cases vegetative propagation by cutting and layering is suggested.
➢ The cutting should contain 3-4 nodes.
- Meristem and Shoot culture
➢ This is commercially used for large-scale propagation of various orchids.
- Seeds
➢ Seed germination in orchids may be symbiotic or asymbiotic.
➢ In the symbiotic process, seeds require fungal association for their germination.
➢ Asymbiotic method involves the germination of seeds in an agar medium supplemented with various nutrients.