Introduction: Orchids are important flower plants used for beautification and for medicinal purposes. Production of potted orchids for the market has a global perspective and great economic importance. Many species of orchids found and grown in India. Propagation methods has prime importance in Orchid Production. Being epiphytic in nature, Orchid has variant climatic and propagation requirement.

Propagation of Orchids: Orchids can be propagated by six major techniques like: Seed Division, Keiki, Aerial Cuttings. In vitro seed germination method in Orchid propagation is used on commercial basis, which require aseptic conditions in laboratory. Other propagation techniques are used in domestic types of orchid propagation.

Seed Propagation Orchid seeds are minute, dust like they are referred as dust seeds. Orchid seeds do not have food reserves to sustain growing seedling. Special techniques are required to sustain its early development. Orchid seedlings need to be naturally or artificially infected by a mycorrhizal fungus, for supplies nutrients to young growing plant until they can produce their own food. Orchid seed after germination, produces undifferentiated mass of cells called a protocorm, which further produces shoots and roots.

In vitro Germination of Orchid by Seed Seed Propagation Capsules of Orchid Dust Seeds of Orchid In vitro Germination of Orchid by Seed

In vitro Seed Germination Orchid seeds are germinated on agar-based medium, which contains nutrients, sugar and minerals to support germination and growth. There are two types of in vitro seed germination: Symbiotic Germination: Used for propagation of temperate terrestrial orchids. Seeds are germinated in association with mycorrhizal fungus. Fungus absorbs complex nutrients from the medium and makes them available to developing protocorm. Asymbiotic Germination: Used for propagation of tropical orchids. Seeds are germinated in absence of its mycorrhizal association. Media used is complex to improve availability of organic and inorganic nutrients the growing plant.

Division Method It is the simplest methods of vegetative propagation. New growth of orchid is separated from the plant in monsoon and replanted. The mother plant is cut and separated in two or more parts so that each one has 2-3 buds and one growing shoot. Separation improves the growth of all individual plants as space availability improves. New shoots flower in the following season. Example: Beallara, Odontoglossum, Cymbidium, Coelogyne and Paphiopedilums (Lady’s Slipper Orchid) Divisions of Orchid

Keikis Method Some varieties of orchids self generate offsprings on their body called as Keikis. Keikis or baby plants are prototypes of mother plants and sprouts from node of the flower. Baby plant should be separated form the mother plant and repotted in another pot when roots are about 2 inches long. Keikis of Orchid

Aerial Cutting of Orchid Aerial Cuttings When placed under stressful conditions, some orchids produce small plants in the place of flower bud. These new true to type off springs are separated and planted in new pots. The full grown new plant should be removed from the mother plant. The aerial cuttings is an easy method of orchid propagation. Dendrobium class of orchids are propagated by Aerial cuttings. Aerial Cutting of Orchid