Orchids- when to breed

Graceface · Nov 20, 2018

My female orchids are finally hitting adult, 2 out of 3 have wings now. I have 3 adult males, all about a month mature. I've read different advice for when to breed Orchids, can someone with experience give me advice?

I've read/seen some advice saying you should wait until the female is calling, which can take up to 6 weeks, care sheets say 2 to 4 weeks. My plan was to wait until I see my females calling to pair them, I just have no idea how long that will take or if my males will live to see it. How long can I expect to wait to see this behavior? Will my males still be fertile and alive at that point?

I'm excited to begin this new chapter in raising mantises!

MantisGirl13 · Nov 20, 2018

I have never mated orchids, but I have heard that the two week mark for most mantids works.

- MantisGirl13

ausar318 · Nov 20, 2018

I asked about 5 experienced breeders, and they all told me that it’s much later with orchids. I was told that 2 weeks might work, but it’s much better to wait until week 3 or 4 for the female. Males can be bred a week after adulthood, so not much to worry about there.

So i’d Wait until at least week 3, but longer if you can. I just bred my female, and she is almost 6 weeks as an adult. She would have nothing to do with a male previously. I made another attempt last night, and he hopped right on. The connection was made at 4:30am (yes, I stayed up all night making sure she didn’t eat him

). When I left my apartment at 8:30, he was still connected. So I’d say that it was a success! The male is 4 weeks as an adult.

Youre males should probably live long enough to be bred. As long as you keep them healthy and well-fed, they should live for a while longer. Although I’d try to breed them sooner, rather than later, as they will eventually get too old.

Best of luck to ya!

Graceface · Nov 20, 2018

ausar318 said:
I asked about 5 experienced breeders, and they all told me that it’s much later with orchids. I was told that 2 weeks might work, but it’s much better to wait until week 3 or 4 for the female. Males can be bred a week after adulthood, so not much to worry about there.

So i’d Wait until at least week 3, but longer if you can. I just bred my female, and she is almost 6 weeks as an adult. She would have nothing to do with a male previously. I made another attempt last night, and he hopped right on. The connection was made at 4:30am (yes, I stayed up all night making sure she didn’t eat him ). When I left my apartment at 8:30, he was still connected. So I’d say that it was a success!

Thanks so much for the advice! I've read that waiting longer ensures successful connections and that females will be less likely to eat the males. I was mostly concerned that if I wait too long my males will die, and if I rush my females will eat my males. A real delicate balance

I'd rather wait until im sure she is ready than do it too soon. I will take good care of my 3 guys and hope they hang on for my 3 girls to be ready!