How to Propagate a Florida Orchid Tree With Cuttings
- 1). Wipe your pruners with some alcohol to clean them of any pathogens that might get passed on to the cutting. Chose a healthy piece of the tree that is on the end of a stem and includes three or more growth nodes, or swellings.
- 2). Remove a 4- to 6-inch section of the stem. Cut just below a growth node or leaf. Pull off the leaves from the bottom 2 inches of the cutting. Dip the cutting into the rooting hormone and shake off any excess.
- 3). Fill a 4-inch pot with a mixture of half peat moss and half sand. This soilless medium helps prevent rot because there are fewer organisms living in these materials. Completely moisten the medium.
- 4). Insert the cut end of the cutting into the peat and sand mix. Bury it 2 inches and press the mixture around it to hold the cutting upright.
- 5). Place the pot in indirect light on a heat mat in an area that is at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Cover the pot with a plastic bag to create a mini greenhouse and conserve moisture.
- 6). Remove the bag once per day for half and hour to give the plant some air circulation. Check the soil moisture and mist the top 2 to 3 inches before putting the bag back on. Do not let the cutting dry out and yet it should not be kept soggy.
- 7). Re-pot the plant when it has gone through its second flush of leaves in potting soil and a larger pot. Harden the plant off by gradually acclimating it to brighter light and cooler temperatures for two or three weeks. Then you can move the pot outdoors to grow it on.
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