Phalaenopsis keiki???

[devasha]

Today I discovered keiki's, and am I glad that I did. Miss Ruby one of my Phals has one.......I think? I have taken some pictures to show. My photography skills are not the best, but I hope that you all will be able to see what I see.

I just re-potted her this week. So I am not really sure if removing it now is a good idea?!? But it looks to me that even though both are spiking, they are competing for resources. When removed what would be the best media to put her baby in? And how do I remove it? Do I take all the new growth around it?



Front view




Back view


Any help with this would be greatly appreciated!

[orchidlady]

I personally don't remove basal keikis unless there is a good reason and the keiki has a good root system on its own. Removal can be tricky and result in damage to the mother plant or keiki. They are not really competing for resources since they are part of the same plant and both are photosynthesizing. If you leave basal keikis you can then get a nicer display with multiple spikes on a specimen plant.

Susan

[catttan]

Very good advice from Susan.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

I agree with Yew and Susan. Your plant appears very healthy. Nice growing.

Cheers,
BD

[devasha]

Thanks for the advice, she will be quite the beauty when she blooms.

But I do have just a quick question, just for clarification. Are there different types of keikis? Susan refers to this one as a "basal keiki" which I assume means attached to the core of the plant?

[cindiras]

The other type of Keiki tends to grow from a node on the spike. Those are easier to remove once roots have grown to a couple of inches in length with gentle twisting.

[Spiker]

I have two basel keikis on one Phal and am wondering if the size of the parent plant should be a concern. It is fairly small I would think. Being new at this I am just not sure if I should be feeding more of less (could I be over feeding?). What causes these to happen?

The keikis are at the end of the sticks I have place for show and tell here.

When I recieved this plant from my sister I thought I was just rescueing one plant, it has only one root and it is not the best. What do I do to keep it all alive. I have heard of soaking the whole plant, leaves and all, in fertilizer for a half hour to stimulate root growth, any one else hear of this?



I also have one on the spike of another phal which does not consern me as much. I have heard of this type before and am ready for it. Giving birth is so wonderful....



I am builting a small green house of pvc pipe and a grow light covered with clear plastic. The back is open for air flow and there is a pan underneath for humidity. Have I covered all the bases?

[espranch]

What great pics. of BOTH types of keiki's...a round of applause for Nancy! Thanks much...Betty :-)

[remo]

Hi, Nancy!
For me one of the hardest things to do is...nothing! Wait, wait & wait some more and see what actually happens. Sometimes a keiki will develop as a result of stresses to the parent plant and is nature's last ditch effort at survival. They can also form as a result of chemical or hormonal influences which trigger the plant. A keiki from the node on the spike should eventually form it's own roots and then can safely be removed. Basal keikis, from the main stem of the plant, I never remove. They are simply too tricky for me and I worry about fungus, infections, etc. That's just me...Good luck with it (or is it them...)Remo!