Growing Phalaenopsis from seeds belongs to a professional who has the necessary tools. However, it is relatively easy to grow a young plant from a cutting, at least compared to sowing.
How do I successfully grow Phalaenopsis offshoots?
To grow Phalaenopsis offshoots successfully, you should leave them on the mother stem until they form roots, keep them moist, avoid mold formation and plant them in crushed orchid substrate. Avoid direct watering, spray instead.
Where can I get suitable cuttings?
Ideally, with good care, your Phalaenopsis will produce a small offshoot independently after flowering. This kindle usually grows on a sleeping eye of the withered stem. It should stay there for a while.
If you want to stimulate rooting, then tie a small piece of peat moss (bot. Sphagnum) to the stem under the offshoot. This alternately moist moss stores around thirty times its own weight in water, so the child is optimally supplied with moisture.
When do I have to repot the young plant?
As long as the old flower stalk of the Phalaenopsis is still green and has water, the child stays on the mother plant. If the stem becomes dry, then it's time to repot. However, since the small roots are very sensitive, you should chop up substrate that is too coarse.
How to care for a mini orchid?
A small orchid is very delicate. It absolutely needs a well-chosen location where it is bright and warm, but there is neither direct sunlight nor dry heating air. When watering, the delicate roots of the small plant could be damaged or even rot, so the Phalaenopsis should not be watered for the time being.
Be sure to avoid an unnecessary change of location in the first few weeks or months. The temperature should be around 20 °C, but at night it can be up to three degrees cooler. Also avoid waterlogging and drafts.
The most important things in brief:
- Offshoots (Kindel) often grow independently
- Formation of offshoots can be supported
- Keep cuttings moist
- protect against mold formation
- plant only after roots have formed
- Crush the coarse substrate a little
- don't water, spray instead
Tip
Under no circumstances use normal potting soil, your mini orchid will die in it.
