Psychopsis Kahili keiki

[catttan]

My experience with Pschopsis is that keikis are produced from the flower spikes when there is problem with the root system. I think it's the plant's attempt at survival, but I have never seen this happen with Trchocentrum (mule-eared oncidiums). Of course this is very common with phals. I have noticed that dendrobiums esp those with pendulous canes produce keikis from the nodes where the flowers emerge eg, anosmum and fredericksianum and in nature this would help them to establish new colonies a litle distance away from the mother plant. I have observed that Den crumenatum regularly produce keikis on the old flower spikes and these keikis grow roots and attach themselves to the branches within their 'reach' away from the mother plants. This is solely my opinion and not based upon any scientific fact.

[Dorsetman]

I wonder, Yew Sung, if you have ever seen keikis on a plant in the wild ? I never have, but then my experiences in the jungles only add up to a few days here and there, whereas I imagine, living where you do, you must have been there far more often than I have.

[catttan]

I winder, Yew Sung, if you have ever seen keikis on a plant in the wild ? I never have, but then my experiences in the jungles only add up to a few days here and there, whereas I imagine, living where you do, you must have been there far more often than I have.

Not many Geoff. The most often seen are the keikis on Den crumenatum, Den linguella; Aerides odorata, Rhyncostylis retusa, Trichoglottis fasciata, Papilionanthe(Vanda) hookeriana and other vandaceous types; and on broken stems of Arundina graminifolia.

[Dorsetman]

Thank you for that Yew Sung - my knowledge expands !
I suppose that taking a keiki from a plant and leaving the original in situ is one way of increasing an orchid collection without denuding the wild !

[catttan]

I suppose that taking a keiki from a plant and leaving the original in situ is one way of increasing an orchid collection without denuding the wild !

Yes, that's what serious hobbyists do. Many years ago, I made a mistake of showing (or showing off) to a commercial grower the location where there were Rhyncostylis retusa and Den secundum growing. A short while later he came with his Volkswagon Kombo van and paid some locals to collect the plants and filled the van to the top and took them back to his nursery in the city. Needless to say that was the last time I revealed orchid locations to the commercial growers.