Cut the keiki about 3–5 cm from the flower stem and plant it in the same pot. The roots should point downwards and be lightly covered with soil. The cut part of the flower stem should also be buried in the soil. You can bend it into the ground like an anchor.
Once the keiki has grown, it can be separated from the mother plant, with special care.
How to propagate orchids using cuttings
To cut the plant’s stem and take cuttings, we need a waterproof tray that is about 8 centimeters deep. Fill it with well-moistened sand or peat moss.
- Use a sharp knife to cut a stem about 30 centimeters long from the mother plant. Divide it into 7-centimeter sections, making sure each cutting has a dormant bud.
- Place moss or sand in the container and moisten it. Place the cuttings in the container, cover with plastic wrap and store at 15°C, away from direct sunlight.
- After a few weeks, you can increase the temperature to around 24–30 degrees. Remember to spray the tray with water to keep it constantly moist, but don’t overdo it.
- Once shoots and roots have developed, cut the seedling back with a sharp knife.
- Buy several small pots to plant your new seedlings in. Preferably plant them in a mixture of bark, volcanic soil, and well-moistened Spanish moss.
- Plant the orchid with the shoots pointing upwards.
- Newly propagated orchids with cuttings should be placed in a bright location, but not exposed to sunlight.
- Water regularly, but do not overdo it to prevent the plant from rotting.
- Keep the plant in a humid environment, away from direct heat sources.
