How to Grow an Orchid From a Cutting

Dig around the orchid's base, 5 inches out and loosen the dirt around the plant stem; the pseudo-bulbs, which are the bulging, ovular pieces beneath the surface; and rhizome or orchid roots. Grasp the orchid plant's base just above the soil line and pull straight up, removing the orchid from the ground. If the orchid plant is potted, loosen the soil around the pot's interior with the spade, tip the pot to the side and pull the orchid out by the stem.

Brush loose soil from the pseudo-bulbs and rhizome with your hands. If a lot of dirt remains on the plant's base, dip the pseudo-bulbs and the rhizome into a sink of warm water. Pat the pseudo-bulbs and rhizome dry with paper towels.

Moisten a fresh paper towel with rubbing alcohol. Wipe the blade of a sharp knife with the paper towel and allow it to dry completely.

Divide the orchid plant by cutting down through the plant's base between two stems. Make sure that one pseudo-bulb remains attached to each stem, and that you cut straight down through the rhizome leaving some roots of the plant. Each plant section should contain at least three full leaves.

Add potting soil to enough planters accommodating all the plant's separate sections. Plant each piece in a separate pot with the top of the pseudo-bulb resting just beneath the surface of the soil.

Keep the orchid plants in temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit and where daytime temperatures rise to at least 80 F, but shade them from direct sunlight by placing them alongside slatted blinds or next to frosted glass. Keep the soil for the orchids moist at all times.