Propagating Orchis mascula from tubers?

[orchid360]

I've thought it would be cool to grow a bunch of Orchis mascula and eventually make some tubers into salep.
But I don't want to undertake starting from seeds.

I’ve read Orchis mascula has two tubers, is it possible to divide them and get two plants, or does the plant need both?

Thanks for any light you can shed on the subject.

[Bulbopedilum]

From what I know, the plant needs both tubers, so if you divide them, one will die and the other will either rot or die.

If I remember correctly, one of the tubers is for storing energy for the plant to grow in the current season (this is the one which will die) and the other is grown by the plant after it has sprouted and will serve as the plant's next food reserve. After the growing season ends, the old tuber will die and there will only be one tuber.

But, the newer tuber can also grow new tubers which will separate, which makes propagating them easy, and is how tuberous orchids are usually propagated.

However, not all tuberous orchids use the "twin tuber" system. Some, like Nervilia, have a single tuber that can grow more tubers.

[orchid360]

So although the plant has 2 main tubers, the new tuber may have additional tubers on it that can grow into new plants?

[lazzaret]

right, il its life cycle, this species, as all european species, have 2 tubers but there is an old tuber and a new tuber just in "one "moment of this cycle. When the new tuber is appearing, the old tuber is dying. So, it's not extra tuber.

on dactylorhiza species (easy species), if you cul the new one when the old one is nor dead, you "can" multiply the orchid by this way but it's risky and not all orchid support that. About mascula, i don't know if it's possible.