Clone orchid from stem cuttings - it worked! HOW??

[SouthPark]

karrol - it is certainly interesting in the way they can potentially generate new plants in that way.

It appears that they can do it, which then suggests that the components (cells, structure etc) of the flower spike is able to become part of a vegetative propagation system when provided with adequate humidity - and possibly (or even likely) a source of water through capillary action.

Photosynthesis involving light and CO2 etc - is the food/sugars generation part of it.

One drawback of this cutted flower spike method is - that it is detached from the plant.

So a method that involves keiki paste, which is pretty much readily available these days (or can certainly be acquired) is probably a better option. In that way - the spike at least stays connected to the plant, and gets its water/nutrient supply reliably.

Interestingly - it appears that the reason for increased chances of keiki development from uncut stems - is a system response. Just like how blocked/stuffy noses 'magically' (automatically) can become unblocked if we hold our breathe a long enough time. Only referring to a system response ----- such as if some quantities in the system go down (or up etc) ------- then the cells could start doing something ----- as a response ---- or some process starts up. In this case ------ a regenerative response or process occurs.

[Fishkeeper]

Technically, don't most plant cells have the potential to become an entirely new plant, with the right conditions? That's how cuttings work, and it's how tissue culture works.

Maybe people are trying this because they can't get keiki paste. Or maybe they think it's expensive, and haven't checked.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Fishkeeper

Technically, don't most plant cells have the potential to become an entirely new plant, with the right conditions? That's how cuttings work, and it's how tissue culture works.

Maybe people are trying this because they can't get keiki paste. Or maybe they think it's expensive, and haven't checked.

Regarding orchid regenerating ------ maybe hard to say whether the orchid is able to regenerate if it hasn't got particular required feature at the time.

We read/hear about nodes, eyes etc ----- and obviously these are somehow formed. But maybe what is unclear is - at the moment ------- is whether an orchid that currently has no nodes for new shoot growth etc is able to generate such nodes (or new nodes) for new shoot growth. Maybe biologists out there do know for sure. But I don't know at all right now.

The video only mentions this alternative method - without using keiki paste ------ and that's all they mention I think. I don't think they mention why people don't just use keiki paste instead ------ as it seems to me that there are nice benefits with going with the paste.

And her statement about 90% ----- or we can interpret as 9 out of 10, or even 90 out 100 (approximations only) will be successful. Most likely can't be believed. But then again - maybe not enough people have needed to use that particular method - as keiki paste could be the better option. But ----- in time ----- as more people test out the 'cut' flower spike method, we'll get a better idea on the chance of success on average.

[Mr.Fakename]

Originally Posted by karrolhk

That's amazing! Just putting spent flower stalks will give you a baby orchid! Do you know WHY?

I think Estación seca, James and SouthPark explained it in a way that's easy to grasp.

Meristems are basically the plant equivalent of stem cells, and will react differently according to what happens to the plant.

What triggers the differentiation into one type of cell or the other is a very complicated process, associated with tons of hormones and chemical reactions. Just look for stuff like apical dominance, growth regulators and so on.


If your Phal is sending an inflorescence and is doing fine, these meristem will be used to create the spike, flowers, branches etc.

If the plant undergoes stress and thinks it may die, it'll use meristems to clone itself and get its genes out there as a last resort.

In this case of stem cuttings, the meristems no longer receive the growth inhibitor signals from the plant, so they try to preserve the genome by reproducing.

This whole process is variable and not all plants (Phalaenopsis here) can pull it off. Phal aphrodite or schilleriana can easily, violacea not so much.
Some species, like stuartiana, can even grow new plants from damaged roots.



Here's another source explaining 2 techniques: Orchideenvermehrung Ederer

[estación seca]

Meristem cells can differentiate into any other kind of cell. In some plants new stems or roots may form from leaves or stems. But other plants can't do this. The Zamioculcas house plant, and some of its Araceae relatives, can grow a new plant from any piece of tissue. But almost no palms can be grown from cuttings, because they will not form roots outside the original root zone. Most plant tissue cannot be used to clone new plants.

Even within plant families it's unpredictable. Many cacti can produce roots from the exposed central core vascular tissue in any piece of stem cutting, or from any areole (the fuzzy dot that produces spines, flowers and new stems.) But genus Ferocactus will only produce roots from the original root zone.

In orchids new plants or stems come only from meristems.

[karrolhk]

Originally Posted by Mr.Fakename

This whole process is variable and not all plants (Phalaenopsis here) can pull it off. Phal aphrodite or schilleriana can easily, violacea not so much.
Some species, like stuartiana, can even grow new plants from damaged roots.

Wow, thank you very much for sharing your knowledge. I learnt a lot! I am surprised (again) that not all Phals can clone a keiki from the spike.. like you said, some Phal species can, some don't, right? Those that don't is because they don't have meristems on the spike nodes?

Many thanks also for the link - it's very helpful!

---------- Post added at 06:32 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:28 AM ----------

Originally Posted by estación seca

Meristem cells can differentiate into any other kind of cell. In some plants new stems or roots may form from leaves or stems. But other plants can't do this.
In orchids new plants or stems come only from meristems.

Thank you, estación seca. Do you know that in the case of orchids, do meristem cells only exist in the nodes of the flower spikes and at the base of the stem (hence, basal keiki and stem keiki)? There are no meristem cells in other parts, e.g. orchid leaf, and that's why we cannot clone an orchid from a leaf cutting. Am I correct?