Basal Keiki? what do I do?

[KarateChicky]

So I have recited 11 orchids and most are doing well. 2 I worry about but I'll keep trying. I may post those later.
My question today is. .. it's this a keiki? What's up with this little leaf? The phalaenopsis orchid is blooming and I didn't want to disturb it. But that poor little guy is half buried. What should I do? Thanks!


---------- Post Merged at 10:08 AM ----------

That should have said rescued... not recited...

[78Terp]

Let it grow. Once it develops it's own roots you can decide to separate them. But you may find it is too invasive to separate and they're fine staying together.

[PaphMadMan]

I'd get that stake out of the little guy's way, but other than that just sit back and watch it grow. It will poke its head out above the media eventually. In a couple years you'll have a two-crown plant that blooms like crazy, or the next time you repot you can look at liberating it for a life of its own.

[raybark]

Basal keikies are usually not separable from the mother plant, because they often share the same root system, and even if they don't, the amount of shared tissue is so great, it's had to separate them without doing a great deal of damage.

[Catt Mandu]

I would pull the stake and pieces of bark away from the basal keiki, give it room to grow. You will need to leave it attached to the main plant for at least several years; the plant will essentially have 2 crowns, but may eventually have the new and old sections separate naturally. Don't try to force them apart before they separate naturally or one (or both) sections of the plant could be significantly harmed, or possibly die. As PMM said, you will have a 2-crown plant that blooms really well for you.

[chingjervis]

Like evryone is saying, pull the stake and move out of its way, and move some pieces of bark away.

[Carolla]

I'm glad for the question and the answers, I have a Phal with a basal keiki and now I know to let it grow and not force them apart. Can't wait to see how it does! The parent is a rescue that is doing ok, but not fabulously. The keiki looks really good with two leaves. At worst I should have a plant that survives, at best a great specimen! I'm thinking about going to our local High School and learning how to make pots for my plants... lol

[KarateChicky]

Thank you all. I have removed the stake and done of the media.... I'm afraid to revive any more bark.... here's how it looks now.... this leaf is in such an odd position I'm afraid it will rot... I'm also starting to wonder if it's just the first leaf of the plant that is twisted in a weird way and not a keiki. What do you guys think?


---------- Post Merged at 10:33 AM ----------

Holy typos. Some media. Remove bark.

[phalspital]

Looks like that keiki is coming from so near the roots that it is almost upside-down. As long as you guard against rot, it should eventually right itself and start growing upright. I leave them on. (I have several--some produced by keiki paste, some spontaneous.) You should look forward to a double plant that blooms twice as beautifully!

[KarateChicky]

Thanks everyone! I'm such a noob... I hope this orchid continues to thrive. You guys are all awesome.