How do I propagate my orchid

Orchids are real eye-catchers! They have an enchanting look that brings almost any home to life. We would happily fill the whole house with these gorgeous houseplants, because with the right care you can enjoy their colourful flowers for years.

But did you know you can even propagate an orchid? It is not an easy job and success is never guaranteed, but it is certainly not impossible and absolutely worth a try!

Propagating an orchid: patience is key!

Propagating an orchid is a small art in itself. There are several ways to multiply an orchid and the process differs from species to species.

One important difference is whether you are working with or without a keiki. You may well be thinking: "A keiki, what on earth is that?" No worries, we are happy to explain.

What is a keiki?

A keiki is really the baby orchid, a cutting. It is a small plant that grows from a dormant eye on the mother plant. Not all orchids develop keikis, so for those you need a different way of propagating.

A dormant eye on an orchid is a kind of resting point on the plant, usually at the base of the stem or at a node. It is a small bump that looks like a bud that cannot open. This dormant eye is not active, but it can wake up when the plant is given the right conditions.

Propagating with a keiki

Orchids such as the Phalaenopsis and Vanda are known for developing keikis. Sometimes the flower bud of the orchid does not flower and grows into a new little plant (the keiki) instead. You can encourage a keiki to develop by waking up a dormant eye on the orchid.

Using tweezers, you can very carefully remove the thin membrane over the dormant eye. The tip left behind is the keiki, which will go on to develop into a new orchid. Always use clean hands and clean tools, so you do not damage or infect the plant.

It usually takes between 7 and 9 months for a keiki to grow big enough to be separated from the mother plant. So you really will need some patience! Only once the keiki has roots of its own of about 6 cm can you carefully cut it off. Cut the keiki a couple of centimetres below the eye and dab cinnamon on the wounds left on the mother plant. This helps them heal faster and prevents infection.

Put the keiki in a pot with a mix of coconut fibre and bark, and you will see the new little plant slowly develop. The longer the keiki stays on the mother orchid, the stronger it becomes. That improves its chances of survival considerably!

Propagating without a keiki

There are also orchids that never develop keikis. These orchids, such as the Cattleya, Bulbophyllum and Dendrobium, grow in a different way. They develop rhizomes: thickened stems that grow horizontally below the surface and come up to produce new plants.

Patience is a virtue

Whether you propagate with or without a keiki, the most important ingredient is patience. Orchids do not grow quickly and propagating them can take months. But with the right care and attention you will be rewarded in the end with a beautiful new plant to enjoy.

So while propagating an orchid is not a simple process, it can be hugely rewarding. Stay patient, keep everything clean and give your new little plants the time they need to develop. Who knows, you may soon have several gorgeous orchids in your home!