We are going to see four different ways to reproduce an orchid cactus from a cutting. These are sections of a stem or leaf that are used to grow a new plant. We can buy them at a nursery, or if we have a plant in our house, we cut a leaf about ten centimeters long.
The best time to cut them is just after flowering. It is important to make the cut below the base of the leaf, carefully, so as not to hurt the nerve that joins it to the stem .
Once we have the cuttings, we must let them dry for five to seven days so that the cut heals. It is from there that the new roots will come from.
Let’s start with the ways to plant it to reproduce the orchid.
1. With coarse river sand
We need a plastic container (for example the base of a bottle) and river sand.
We make some small holes in the base of the container for drainage. We place the sand in a strainer and rinse it under running water, thus removing impurities and moistening it.
We pour the sand into the plastic container and place the orchid leaf. We bury the base of the leaf and arrange the sand to support it. A third of the leaf buried is enough. The leaf will now be ready for roots to grow.
2. Only with water
We need a plastic cup and tap water that we let sit for at least a day so that the chlorine evaporates.
We pour the measure of a couple of fingers of water into the glass, put the leaf in and leave it in a sheltered place. It is important to spray it with water once a day so that the leaf is hydrated.
3. With moistened cotton
We need cotton or a kitchen roll paper, and a container with water.
We immerse the cotton in the water. We take it out and press it between our palms to remove all the excess water. We just need it wet.
We place the scar part of the leaf on the cotton. We fold it in half, and then we fold the sides inward. We put it in a plastic cup without water, just so that it stands upright.
4. In a pot
We need to make a mixture with one third of plant substrate and coconut fiber, one third of river sand, and one third of pearls to aerate pots. We place these ingredients in a container that we can stir so that they mix a little.
In a pot we add a little river sand and add the substrate we made on top. A three-finger measurement will be fine. We make a notch in the center of the earth to insert the leaf. We add another little bit of the substrate until the leaf is buried halfway.
Finally, we place the pot on another container so that the excess water can fall when we water it.
General indications
- We must place the leaf or cutting with its growth direction upward . We can realize this if we look at where the veins of the leaf point.
- The crops must be located in a place that receives light, but not direct light.
- We only have to water the crops when we see that the earth, sand or cotton are dry.
- After approximately two months the leaves will have taken root.
