Stem propagation (best time to harvest the spike)

[Metallising]

Dear all,

I'm about to attempt propagate phaleonopsis through stem nodes. The 2 spikes on my phaleonopsis are 6 months old, all flowers have fallen but the spike still green and looking healthy.
What are the chances of succeeding on stem propagation with spikes this old? I have read this method works best when the first flower opens from a new spike. Well, this has been long time ago.
I will try my luck no mater what but would like to get some feedback from someone with a similar experience.

Take care!
Thanks

[campchi]

Give it a try, doesnt hurt to try

[estación seca]

Do you mean cutting off the stem, placing it on medium and attempting to get it to produce plantlets? Or do you mean putting growth hormone paste on the nodes while leaving the stem attached to the plant? Both methods have been used successfully.

[Metallising]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Do you mean cutting off the stem, placing it on medium and attempting to get it to produce plantlets? Or do you mean putting growth hormone paste on the nodes while leaving the stem attached to the plant? Both methods have been used successfully.

The first. In vitro culture.

Some scientific papers I read about node propagation on phaleonopsis specified that the spikes used to take the nodes from were young with the first flowers starting to open. The spikes on my phal are 6 months old but still green. I wanted to know if anyone here has been successful generating protocorns using nodes from spikes this old.

Thanks.

[Ben Belton]

I have seen discussions on this in the past from people who do it often, and no one really agreed when the best time is. You can do it on an old spike, but sometimes contaminants have become more established and the tissue is harder to sterilize. I have done it on 6 months spikes with no problem. Usually I prefer a new spike that has hardened off and has had a bloom on it.

[vjo]

I don't think you would get protocorms using this method, I think they would be kiekis. Could be wrong tho....Jean

[Metallising]

Thanks, that's what I wanted to hear! I was afraid that a 6 months old spike wouldn't regenerate at all, but apparently it does. Concerning the sterilization, it makes sense what you say. I'm thinking to sterilize the nodes sections 20min in a 5% bleach solution, then rinse it in sterile distilled water before flasking to ensure all bleached is removed from the surface.

vjo, this method works, is well documented and tested. Keikis is a completely different story.
With stem propagation method you get protocorns from the nodes which will turn in exact clones of the mother plant. On the other hand, seeds have genetic diversity and plants grown that way might end similar to the mother plant, but never exact clones.

This paper is a reference and a guide for the industry of phal propagation where stem propagation is explained in detail.

http://ecaaser3.ecaa.ntu.edu.tw/weif...D%20LEAVES.pdf