When a Dendrobium nobile sprouts offshoots, we don't miss this gift. With the right care strategy, the child will transform into an orchid that is just as magnificent as its mother plant. Read here how to properly cut and care for an offshoot.
How do you properly care for a Dendrobium Kindel?
A Dendrobium Kindel should only be separated from the mother plant when it has several aerial roots and at least two leaves. It is then used in fine-grained pine bark substrate or coconut fiber soil, preferably in a transparent growing pot with a hood for optimal growth conditions. Care is similar to adult Dendrobium nobile orchids.
What to do when a child sprouts?
Out of the blue, small roots and leaves sprout from a Dendrobium bulb where we actually expect flowers. Anyone who is surprised by this gift for the first time is right to ask themselves what to do next. How to do it right:
- Leave the child on the bulb until it has several aerial roots and at least 2 leaves
- Until then, care for the mother plants as usual
- In addition, spray the offshoot daily with soft water
There is no rush to separate the child from the mother plant. As long as the stem is still green, the offshoot is supplied with water and nutrients. If the bulb slowly retracts, cut off the bulb with a sharp, disinfected knife. Make the cut about 2 cm below the aerial roots so that a small piece of the parent stem remains on the offshoot.
Potting and caring for Dendrobium Kindel - This is how it works
After separating from the mother orchid, pot up the offspring immediately. For this purpose, fill a small, transparent culture pot with fine-grained pine bark substrate. If the aerial roots are still too small to gain support, use a mix of coconut fiber soil and lava granules.
The care program for a daughter plant does not differ from adult Dendrobium nobile - with one exception. Until a strong system of aerial roots and leaves has developed, put a transparent hood over the growing pot. The warm, humid micro-climate generated in this way simulates the natural rainforest climate so that a child survives this delicate phase unscathed.
Tip
If a Dendrobium nobile sprouts at a young age, this can be an indication of root rot. The mother plant sees its existence threatened and in this way strives for its continued existence. If in doubt, pot up the orchid to check the root ball for waterlogging. Timely repotting into dry pine bark substrate can save mother and daughter plants.
