how can I transplant a Phal' with lots of baby plants?

[Khayael]

I bought this Phal', and it has 5 or 6 babies growing at the base of the mother plant. I was reading that you are supposed to transplant in spring after they have finished blooming. Well it's finished, and it's nearly summer. What should I do?

Also, should I cut the top and trasplant the mother plant, leaving the babies together until they're bigger and have more roots?

Thank you all!

P.S. can someone tell me how to upload pictures? I tried to link one from my FB page but didn't work.

[phytochrome]

I can't help you a bunch without a photo, but don't cut anything! There are tutorials on repotting here. There are lots of brilliant growers to help you too. Be patient...better to do nothing than the wrong thing. Welcome and good luck!

[Brutal_Dreamer]

I bought this Phal', and it has 5 or 6 babies growing at the base of the mother plant. I was reading that you are supposed to transplant in spring after they have finished blooming. Well it's finished, and it's nearly summer. What should I do?

Also, should I cut the top and trasplant the mother plant, leaving the babies together until they're bigger and have more roots?

Post up a photo so we can see what you are describing.

P.S. can someone tell me how to upload pictures? I tried to link one from my FB page but didn't work.

How to post photos on OrchidTalk. Be sure to watch video 3 if you want to do attachments. If you want to link from your facebook page, be sure to follow the directions for using the (mountain photo icon).

Good luck.

Cheers,
BD

[Khayael]

I don't know if it worked...
but here I'm trying again. this is my Phal' with the babies, what should I do?
thanks again!

[Khayael]

the picture is here!!
Now PLEASE! what can I do?

p.s. I didn't know where to get the video number 3! =P
Thanks!!!

I hope the photos help giving you an idea of the situation.
thanks!

[wetfeet101b]

Wow. those babies are not babies anymore.
It looks like they stayed attached to mommy for a long time.

You have two options at this point:
1. Leave the keikis (baby orchids) attached to the mother plant so that they are all still technically just one plant.
This allows them to support each other in terms of nutrient collection and storage.
This also has a potential for a very beautiful display come flowering season as all the plants could bloom at the same time.
You just need to make sure that the plants are not crowding each other or it could result in girdling of the plants.

2. You can remove the larger keikis so that they become their own plant.
Locate the junction between the mother plant and the keiki and use a sharp blade or pruning shears to cut that junction to separate the keiki. Try to minimize damage to the mother plant as much as you can.
Place the separated plant in its own pot, and grow them in similar conditions as the mother plant.

Note: I could not tell from the pictures if the keikis have their own roots already. It would be ideal to remove the keikis only after they have their own roots.

[Khayael]

thanks wetfeet101!!
I'll try to get another pic of the roots. =)

[Khayael]

well, I was looking at my Phal'.
the mother plant is totally out of the pot and the first Keiki has only one root less than a 1/2 inch long. the other keikis seem to be the ones having the smaller keikis!
I don't see the roots of them so probably I have to repot to get to see the keikies have roots or not. the rootball is really thight in this pot anyway!

[joveaurora]

wow awesome! how come i never find a plant like that?!

[Phalcycle]

Those are what some call basal keikie.
They are 'baby plants' but as wetfeet said, they have grown big enough to be individual plants.
Don't cut the mother plant. Cut the individual plants and pot them up individualy in pots. They will have the same charcteristics as the mother plant, meaning that the flowers will look the same