Orchid seedlings out of the stem or panicle called Keiki. Keiki in Hawaiian language is defined as orchid seedlings from plants tribe. Keiki can grow from the base of the stem or trunk segment and the segment of the flower stalk. Keiki orchids have roots that can be propagated vegetatively.

In phalaenopsis orchids, Keiki can grow from one flower panicle node. While on dendrobium orchids, Keiki usually grow along Pseudobulb, this is caused by the accumulation of growth hormone which is naturally derived or Keiki Pasta applications.
Keiki Paste is a hormone Sitikinin that stimulates the growth of seedlings in the flower stems or panicles orchid Phalaenopsis or Dendrobium orchid Pseudobulb. Keiki paste also contains Auxines to stimulate root growth.

Keiki or orchid seedlings can be planted if it has enough roots to the leaves between 3 and 5 for the type of Phalaenopsis (monopodial) or above 3 Bulb for Dendrobium (sympodial).

Keiki are planting;

1. Provide Pot and growing media.
2. Keiki Cut with a sharp knife or scissors.
3. At the time of planting using stand / stick to prop up the Keiki.
4. Do not hoard Keiki roots with growing media, let the roots are above the planting medium.

Subsequent treatments, the same as caring for orchids in general, water and fertilize regularly.

Read more >>

If in one pot clump of Orchid collections we have many, means it's time we reduce clumps. It is very important for the rejuvenation and an opportunity to multiply plants. Cutting activities, separate clumps of orchids is usually done in sympodial orchids. Ex: Dendrobium, Oncidium, Cattleya, etc.. How to cut / orchid plants reproduce vegetatively This is a very fun and entertainment for fans of orchids.

Noteworthy in the cut orchid plants is to make the cuts / pieces as small as possible. Scars / cuts frequent infections and decay. Close the scar with the anti-infective, eg, iodine (betadine) could also use a fungicide (smeared). Try orchids are separated more than 3 pseudobulb (in one family). When clumps of orchids in potting soil (usually root will stick in the pot), soak a few minutes in the water, drag and drop the root from the pot. Rinse the roots.

Planting orchids with the position of young plants (pseudobulb) facing the center of the pot. This way to facilitate pseudobulb grow. (Read: Planting Keiki) pseudobulb base Usually there are 2-4 new buds.

Read more >>

As we all know, that the plant is known as biological agents CO2 absorber very effective. Through a complex process of photosynthesis, CO2 is absorbed from the atmosphere is converted to carbohydrates with the aid of sunlight energy. The result of photosynthesis and then spread throughout the plant to backfilled in a network or used directly to produce energy through respiration. Therefore, by measuring the number of elements of C (carbon) in plant biomass, it can be predicted much CO2 in the atmosphere is absorbed by a species of plant.

In this world there are various types of plants. One of them are Epiphytic plants. Epiphytic plants are non-parasitic plants that use other plants as a place to grow during the life cycle. Or in other words, epiphytic plants grow only ride in a way attached to the trunk or branches of trees or other vegetation. Kress (1986) and Nieder et al (2001) mentions that the vascular plant species that live as epiphytes mostly found in tropical forests. Whereas in tropical, epiphytic plants represent 25 percent of all vascular plant species, and Orchid (Orchidaceae) is the main group of epiphytic plants (Dressler, 1993).

Bulbophyllum is one genus in the Orchid families(Orchidaceae), which has more than 1200 species in the world. Almost all members of this genus live as epiphytes plants. Marga This includes having enough growth rate relatively fast compared to other Epiphytic Orchids. This type of growth that simpodial and often creeping along the surface of the media make this plant more quickly cover the surface of the media compared with monopodial epiphytic orchids such as Phalaenopsis, Vanda, Malleola, Cleisostoma etc.

Some of the benefits of Epiphytic plants as carbon sinks when compared with other terrestrial plants including: plant epiphytes are generally tolerant of light intensity under the canopy of host trees; epiphytic plants are very efficient to fill the space tree trunk surface thereby increasing the absorption of CO2 is higher when compared with the surface of tree trunks that are not overgrown with epiphytic plants; generally epiphytic plants have evolved to adapt to limited sources of water and nutrients around the growth as well as plants that can efficiently utilize the moisture from the water flow in the trunk of trees when it rains for the growth of epiphytic orchids. Due to the absence of epiphytic plants, moisture in the skin surface and shaft fractures trees will just evaporate and go away because the process of evapotranspiration. Therefore, with the advantages of epiphytic plants in utilizing the space as well as the limitations of growth factors that exist, it is important to know the extent of epiphytic orchids potential to increase carbon absorption capacity.

The observation of several kinds of orchids Bulbophyllum showed that Epiphytic Orchids has enough potential that effective and efficient as CO2 absorbent agent to maximize the space to grow on the surface of tree bark. In general, leaf surface area produced by the orchid Bulbophyllum much broader than the broad field of growing orchids themselves. In the field grew by 100 cm ? leaf surface area can be generated between 234.36 up to 532 cm ?. Thus, the presence of epiphytic orchids on bark surface will add to the field of chlorophyll that can perform photosynthesis, so that automatically will also improve the absorption of CO2 in tree bark surface area. While the biomass produced by growth in epiphytic orchid show that orchid Bulbophyllum can also act as effective carbon storage and efficient. It is shown from the mean dry weights ranging from 1 to 10 g per 100 cm ? surface area of the field grow. Bulb parents on the orchid Bulbophyllum presisten generally remain attached to the skin and tree / growing medium, although the leaves have fallen, because this old bulb to function as reserve food and water for the growth of young shoots next. Therefore, the carbon is in the old bulb networks will survive as the carbon stored over the old bulb has not fallen on the ground and decomposes.

Kind used in this observation include Bulbophyllum lepidum (Blume) JJSm., Bulbophyllum membranaceum Teijsm. and Binn., Bulbophyllum odoratum (Blume) Lindl., Bulbophyllum purpurascens Teijsm. and Binn., Bulbophyllum inunctum JJSm., and Bulbophyllum vaginatum (Lindl.) Rchb.f.

Seeing the potential of  orchids Bulbophyllum as Epiphytes plants that can produce the leaf surface area large enough and produce biomass through photosynthesis, although with limited growth factor on the surface of the bark, such as limited water supply, lack of nutrients, and light intensity shaded, then the orchid is proven as an agent absorbing CO2 and carbon storage is an effective and efficient. Therefore, the surface of tree bark is covered with epiphytic orchids like Bulbophyllum, will have a field of more optimal absorption of CO2 compared with the skin surface of the tree trunk is not covered by epiphytic plants.

Therefore, let's start planting trees stems beside our house with various types of Epiphytic Orchids of the genus Bulbophyllum. In addition to adding aesthetic value because of the beautiful flowers, will also increase carbon absorption field along the surface of the rod is covered with orchids. Although the contribution of carbon sequestration is low, but if everyone can do it, then its contribution will also be significant.

Reference:

http://blog.sivitas.lipi.go.id/blog.cgi?

Dressler, Robert L., 1993. Phylogeny and Classification of the Orchid Family. Melbourne. Cambridge University Press.

Kress, WJ, 1986. The Systematic Distribution of Vascular epiphytes. Selbyana 9: 2-22.

Nieder, Jurgen., Juliana Prosperi, Georges Michaloud., 2001. Epiphytes and Their Contribution to Canopy Diversity. Plant Ecology 153: 51-63. Netherlands. Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Read more >>

Growing medium disinfected with hot water vapor for free plants from pests and diseases that can be transmitted through the growing medium. To avoid transmission of the virus, sanitation efforts should be made include cutting tools sterilization. After being washed clean cutting tools are heated in an oven at a temperature of 149  C for 1 hour.

Controlling mechanically done when insect pests are found in limited numbers. For example, in the morning and afternoon elephant beetle can be clamped with fingers and turned off. Similarly, shell infestation on the leaves of orchids can be driven with a nail, but it must be done carefully and then turned off. Large or small snails which can easily be arrested at night and destroyed. By cleaning trash and weeds, the snails do not have the opportunity to nest and hide.

Mechanical control is also done on the plants showing symptoms of disease, namely by cutting and destroy affected plant parts.

A good plant maintenance can improve the health of plants, so plants can grow more fertile. Watering, fertilization and the addition or replacement of growth media can increase plant growth. Indirectly ongoing maintenance to monitor the state of crops from pest attack early.

Watering was done when necessary and made, the morning so the afternoon was quite dry. Keep plants from attack or the presence of insects can be carriers of disease or handling. The air in the planting should be maintained so as not too humid, so the disease is not easy to develop.

Plants new or known to suffer from the disease was isolated for 2-3 months, until it is known that plants really healthy. Plants to be cultivated should also come from the parent who has known disease-free.

To control the pest of Orchids to choose the right kind of pesticide in accordance with plant pests to be controlled. Pesticide formulations can be liquid (emulsion), flour (dust) paste or granules with concentrations and doses appropriate use. As a precaution, pots or other containers, tools such as knives and scissors cuttings, preferably every time you use these tools, disinfected with formalin 2% or other disinfectants.

Pest control can also be done using Bio:

Predatory mites: Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias Heniot and Typhodiromus sp. (Phytoseiidae)
Aphids Predator: beetle koksi (Coccinelidae), Syrpidae flies, and spiders Lycosa sp.
Mealybug predators: Scymnus apiciflavus.
Predatory snail Achatina fulica: Gonaxis sp., Euglandina sp., Lamprophorus sp., And Aeromonas liquefacicus.
Thrips parasitoids: Family Eulophidae
Aphids parasitoids: Aphidius sp. and Encarsia sp.
Leafminer parasitoid Gonophora xanthomela: Achrysocharis promecothecae (Eulophidae).
Use of agents antagonistic Trichoderma sp., Gliocladium sp. and Pseudomonas fluorescens to wilt disease Fusarium sp. and Ralstonia (Pseudomonas) solanacearum.

Read more >>

The specialty lies in the appearance of Orchid plants during consumption, so the effort to maintain the quality appearance may be the main objective during post-production. To implement such an effort is necessary to understand the various factors that can affect the quality of post-production of orchid plants. Factors affecting the quality of post-production of orchids as cut flowers is the rate of aging rate, temperature, water and food supplies, ethylene and mechanical damage and disease. Meanwhile, affecting among other potted orchid cultivars, growth stage, light, medium, fertilizer, temperature and duration of transport.


Orchids as cut flowers

During this orchid flowers are harvested after a 75% -80% interest has bloomed especially in the orchid Dendrobium sp. Sometimes on certain types of orchids, such as Cattleya sp., Flowers harvested 3 to 4 days after bloom, because of the interest cut will fail to bloom prematurely. When harvesting need to be considered transmission of viral diseases from one tree to another. We recommend cutting tools should be sterilized before use again in the next tree.

Cut flowers Cymbidium sp. and Paphiopedilum sp. can survive for 3 weeks at a temperature of 33-35 F (10 C) and 6 to 7 weeks when kept in a tree. Type of Cymbidium sp., Cattleya sp., Vanda sp., Paphiopedilum sp. and Phalaenopsis sp. generally can last up to 2 weeks if stored at a temperature of 5-7 C, whereas Dendrobium sp. pieces simply stored at a temperature of 10-13 C.

Cut orchid flowers are sensitive to drought. Water that is lost after the flowers are harvested must be balanced with the soaking solution containing water and other necessary compounds. Using various chemical preservative dissolved in water is recommended to extend the freshness of cut flowers.

Try to keep cut orchid flowers from the source / site of gas leak, smoke, fruit ripening and collection of flowers that have been damaged and withered. Room for post-harvest handling (sorting / grading and packaging) should be well ventilated. Sensitivity to ethylene gas can be reduced by giving cold temperatures, either after harvest or after delivery. Cut flowers must be removed from the container  and placed in a cold room with a temperature suitable for orchids.

Cut orchid flowers are sensitive to disease, not just because  somewhat fragile, but also the presence of a nutritious liquid honey is very good for the growth of pathogens. Damage caused by this disease can be avoided with good hygiene management in the greenhouse or in the garden, temperature control, and minimize the occurrence of condensation on cut flowers.


Beautiful Flowering Orchid Plants in pots

Various morphological characters, such as flower color, flower number and flowering time have been used to evaluate new cultivates flower industry. Such criteria are important factors in creating new cultivates. In the future criteria for tolerance to conditions of carriage, interior light levels are low, ethylene and cooling should also be included in the assessment.

Growth stage (age), a beautiful flowering orchid pot plant at the time the market is the main factor affecting the appearance of these plants indoors. It should be noted that the proper stage for marketing depends on the time required to obtain plants. Generally, plants with many flowers bloom more difficult in the transport, is more sensitive to ethylene and more easily damaged than plants that are transported in the Stadia are still buds or flowers are blooming flower percentage is still low.

The temperature needs to be reduced during the last cycle of 2-3 weeks to strengthen and enhance flower color carbohydrate content of plants, which can lead to resistance to keep. All the beautiful flowering potted plants will be more resistant at lower temperatures and the range is highly dependent on the type of plant. Furthermore, flowering plants are placed at a temperature of 27 C or higher, generally have more faded flower color, stem / stalk taller, the leaves quickly turn yellow and fall off.

Easy Media structured crumb soaked again by the consumer or the stylist is very important space to produce the optimum performance of the beautiful flowering plants in the room. A number of polymer gel can be used to retain moisture and prevent media from drying indoor plants. Irrigation using a wetting agent at the time of marketing allows for easy re-wetting media.

Ratio N: K is recommended 1: 1 to 3 weeks before flowering, changed to 0.5: 1. Ratio of ammonia poisoning is to prevent problems and increase shelf life.

Beautiful flowering potted orchid plants are sensitive to ethylene. Symptoms are loss of leaves, buds and abortion flowers / buds. One effective way to reduce sensitivity to ethylene,  by lowering the temperature during transport. Another method that is used commercially is by spraying the leaves using a compound antagonistic to ethylene, which can suppress the production of ethylene in flower, and reduce the bad influence of ethylene.

Lack of watering a beautiful flowering plants and let it wilt will reduce the life demonstration. Instead the excess water will cause damage to the roots, so the plants easily damaged. Better irrigated crops every day or every two days, depending on the level of light, temperature and humidity, as well as size and growth media. Watering made ??to the media without wetting the flowers and leaves.

Optimum light required by each plant must be maintained to produce plants that have the better appearance, the maximum number of flowers, leaves forming a perfect, beautiful flower color, plant height and adequate. Generally, a beautiful flowering potted plants will establish the maximum amount with interest in beautiful colors on high-lighted room conditions, although direct sunlight be avoided.

Read more >>

Selection of a good planting medium


Orchid plants can be planted around the house and yard or garden that is under a shade tree or with a given para net or the like by setting a certain light intensity or on open land. Therefore, Orchid plants have high economical potential, for certain species can be planted in the Greenhouse. In addition to protecting plants from natural disturbance, also will reduce the intensity of pest attack.

A good growing medium must meet certain requirements, that is not quickly decay, not a source of disease, have good aeration, capable of binding water and nutrients well, easily obtained in the desired amount and the relatively cheap price. Until now there is no media that meets all the requirements for growing Orchids.

For the growth of Orchid plants, medium acidity (pH) is good ranging from 5-6. Growing medium is essential for optimal growth and flower production, so there needs to be an attempt to find a suitable growing medium. The growth medium used are: moss, ferns, wood shaving, woods chips, coconut fiber, charcoal, and pine bark.

Broken bricks have been use as basic medium Orchids pot, because it can absorb more water when compared with the broken tiles. Media broken bricks use as the bottom of the pot, because it has the capability of good drainage and aeration.

Moss containing 2-3% N elements has long been used for medium to grow Orchids. Media Moss has good water binding capacity, and have good aeration and drainage as well.

Ferns suitable for Orchid Media, because it has a binding power of water, good aeration and drainage, decay slowly and contain nutrients necessary for growing Orchids.

Coconut fiber easily become weak and perishable, so it can be a source of disease, but the power to save water is very good and contain the nutrients required and easily available and cheap price. In using coconut fiber as a growing medium, should be selected coconut fibers that are old.

Coconut fibers growing media, ferns and moss is a good growing medium for plant growth of Phalaenopsis sp.. But when the ferns and moss growing on the forest is taken on an ongoing basis to be used as growing medium, it is feared the balance of the ecosystem will be disrupted.

The used of new media (re-potting) can be done because of Orchid plants is pots (containers) is too dense or more buds and medium long been destroyed, causing the acidic medium, could be a source of disease.

Maintenance Of Orchids


Orchid plants a actively growing, require more water than is already flowering. The frequency and number of water spray is given to the Orchid plants depends on the kind of small and large plant size and environmental conditions of planting. An example is a plant of Vanda sp., Arachnis sp., and Aranthera sp., namely Monopodial Orchid type who grew up under direct sunlight, so the need watering more than twice a day, especially during the dry season.

Like other plants, Orchids always need food to sustain life. Orchid plant nutrient needs will be similar to other plants., Orchids only require a long time to show symptoms of deficiency, binding very slow growth of Orchids. To the cultivation of Orchids, their habitats are not quite able to provide the elements needed by plants usually given both organic and inorganic fertilizers. Which is commonly used fertilizer compound fertilizer containing the macro and micro elements.

The quality and quantity of the fertilizer to adjust the balance of vegetative and generative plant growth. At the vegetative growth phase for plants that are still small ratio of 30: 10: 10 NPK fertilizer is, the vegetative growth phase for a medium- sized plant of NPK ratio is 10: 10: 10. While the generative growth phase which is to stimulate flowering, NPK fertilizer ratio 10 : 30: 30.

If the fertilizer into the pot, the only fertilizer that dissolves in water and direct contact with the root tip to be taken by the Orchid plants and the remainder will remain in the pot. Fertilizing in the afternoon showed a good response to growth in Dendrobium sp..

Read more >>

Propagation of Orchid plants are generally done through two ways, with Conventional method and In Vitro Culture.

Conventional Method

Vegetative Propagation by stems separation, Like Dendrobium sp., Oncidium sp., Cattleya sp., and Cymbidium sp., cutting out new shoots from the stems and the plant out of the roots and stems of flowers. Such as Phalaenopsis sp., which than planted into the media fern fiber, mos coconut, charcoal, wood shavings, with a mixture of broken tile or bricks.
In vegetative tissues of growing a vegetative, such as roots, leaves, stems or buds on artificial media in the form of liquid or solid aseptically. With this method can be expected that propagation can be done quickly and amounted to much of the plants. But Conventional Vegetative propagation is not practical nor beneficial to plant cut flowers, because the number of seedlings obtained by these methods are very limited.

Generative Propagation by seed, Orchids seed are very small and had no endosperm ( Foot reserves ), so that germination in nature is very difficult. To generate flowers in large quantities and uniform plant is needed in large quantities as well. Therefore, increased production of flowers on the Orchid plants can only be achived with an efficient plant propagation business.
Generative, seed plants results obtained through generative crosses of these seeds are Heterozigous. So that the seeds produced have no steady and diverse nature. In this way to get the same plants with its parent is difficult, because Hybridization Orchids has grown so vast. However, in this way, will be obtained new varieties.

Propagation In vitro Culture

The method of In vitro Culture is one way that have been widely used in the vegetative propagation of Orchid Clones. In Vitro Culture method of growing a vegetative tissue ( such as: roots, leaves, stems, buds ) and generative tissues ( such as: ovule, embryo and seed ) on artficial media in the form of liquid aseptically ( free miroorganisms ).

Read more >>

Getting a new Orchids varieties with Hybridization

Hybridization is intended to obtain new varieties with color and shapes, flower crown compact and thick texture that can be long lasting as cut lowers, number of many flowers, and no flowers are killed early due to genetic abnormalities and high flower production. Therefore to obtain the desire results, you should the guidelines need to be controlled.

Guidelines to conduct hybridization Orchids

Hybridization should be performed on the morning after watering, selected flowers are still fresh. Chosen a strong flowers, not wilt or not fall rapidly. Knowing the properties of bolt orchid plants to be hybridization, in order to give the expected result, such as the nature of domination that would look a appear on derivatives such as: color, shape and others. Flowers are not attacked by pests, especially in pollen and stigma.
Each get a new variety is good, should be registered at the " Royal Horticultural Society " in London, by filling out the registration form Orchid hybrids with several other requirements.

The step Undertaken in conducting Pollination are as follows:
1. Provide a sheet of white paper and small stick or toothpick are clean.
2. Cap pollinia contained in the open end of the column, which will be seen in it pollinia yellow.
3. The tip of a stick/ toothpick soaked with a liquid that is in a white hole or with a little water.
4. Pollinia taken with caution, hold the white paper as a vessel under the flowers to avoid when pollinia fall on time taken.
5. Pollinia that inserted into the stigma.
6. Label tied to the bud stalk ( pedicel ) of flowers which contain notes about the date of pollination and flower name.
7. A few days later that has been pollinated flowers will wilt. If pollination is successful, and when no pest, then the ovaries will continue to develop into fruit. Orchid is a ripe fruit after 3 months to 6 months or more. Fruit is ripe when they open with characterized the change in fruit color from green to yellowish green.

In choosing an Orchid seed would be planted in the bottle should be noted as follows:
1. Seed whitish in color and empty is a bad seed.
2. The good seed is full or rounded yellow or brown

Read more >>