What should I pay attention to when dividing the monkey orchid?

Selection of division time

It is best to divide the monkey orchid in early spring after the soil thaws, which is from February to March.

Take the mother plant out of the pot, shake off excess soil, separate the tangled roots as much as possible, and use a sharp knife to split it into two or more plants. Each plant should have a considerable root system, and its leaves should be properly trimmed to facilitate survival.

Disinfection of pots

Soak the divided small plants in 1500 times diluted Benomyl for five minutes, take them out and let them dry, then they can be potted. You can also use Benomyl to irrigate the roots immediately after potting.

Management after division

After dividing and potting, irrigate the roots or water thoroughly once. Because its root system has been severely damaged and its ability to absorb water is extremely weak, it takes about 3 to 4 weeks to recover and sprout new roots. Therefore, watering should be restrained within 3 to 4 weeks after division to avoid root rot. However, the transpiration of its leaves is not affected. In order to maintain the water balance of the leaves, the leaves need to be sprayed 1 to 3 times a day (spray more when the temperature is high, spray less or not at all when the temperature is low). Do not fertilize during this period. After division, you should also pay attention to the strong sunlight. It is best to place it in a shade shed for maintenance.

Transplantation of Monkey-faced Orchid after division

When potting the seedlings, first put a 2 to 2 cm thick coarse-grained substrate or expanded clay at the bottom of the pot as a water filter layer, and sprinkle a layer of fully decomposed organic fertilizer on it as base fertilizer, about 1 to 2 cm thick. Cover it with another layer of substrate, about 1 to 2 cm thick, and then put the plants in to separate the fertilizer from the roots to avoid root burn.

The selection of substrate for planting the divisions of the monkey-faced dragon orchid in pots

You can choose one of the following: peat + perlite + expanded clay = 2 parts + 2 parts + 1 part; peat + slag + expanded clay = 2 parts + 2 parts + 1 part; sawdust + vermiculite + medium-coarse river sand = 2 parts + 2 parts + 1 part. After potting, water it thoroughly and place it in a slightly shaded environment for a week.

When transplanting seedlings, first dig a planting hole and sprinkle a layer of organic fertilizer at the bottom of the planting hole as base fertilizer (basal fertilizer), about 4 to 6 cm thick, then cover with a layer of soil and place the seedlings in to separate the fertilizer from the roots to avoid root burn.