How to Care for Leafless Canes

Leaf drop is a common problem with orchids both for beginners and experienced orchid growers. Eventually, leaf drop may get so bad, you have a large section of the orchid cane without any leaves at all. While a leafless cane makes for an unattractive orchid, the good news is with a little care you can use the cane to produce more orchids.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pruning shears
• Sphagnum moss
• 4-inch pots

1. Cut off the cane with a pair of sharp scissors or pruning shears. You'll want a clean cut, so be sure the scissors or shears you use will cut nicely through the orchid cane.

2. Divide the cane into smaller sections. Cut the cane into 3-inch pieces, making sure at least one leaf node is included with each piece.

3. Dampen some sphagnum moss. Fill enough 4-inch pots with the moss so you have one pot for each section of orchid cane.

4. Lay the cane cuttings on the sphagnum moss. Because the moss was pre-moistened, there is no need to water the cuttings immediately. However, continue to monitor them and add water as the sphagnum moss dries out.

5. Place the pots in a warm area. The leafless cane cuttings will also require filtered light. Direct sunlight is too harsh.

6. Wait about three weeks. After three weeks you should start to see new plants emerging from the canes. Continue to water these new plants as you did the canes.

7. Remove the new plants after about two months. If more than one orchid sprouted in a pot, place each new plant into its own pot. Care for the new plants as mature orchids at this time.

Tips & Warnings

• To trap in moisture, you can place a clear plastic bag over the pots with the leafless canes. This keeps the sphagnum moss moist for longer periods of time. Remove the bag when plants emerge.