Unique Keiki or just aerial roots?

[TopCat]

I have not seen a keiki grow like this one. I am not sure if I will destroy the PB if I take the keiki off.
This is a backbulb division from a Wilsonara Kolibri and is (?) two yrs old.
Anyone have any observations?

[Brutal_Dreamer]

That is strange. Good look with it. I am not sure if you should remove it or not. I agree that it could cause problems for the original P-bulb.

Cheers,
BD

[JoeW]

Is the rest of the plant happy? Are you looking at a 'bail-out'?

[Gin]

to what Joe said . Gin

[Ron-NY]

I would try to just twist it off the p-bulb and plant it

[Becky15349]

I have had keiki's grow from the tops of pbulbs...as long as when you remove the keiki, the roots can stay intact on the keiki...that's the most important thing. Don't remove the keiki unless you can safely remove its roots with it. Right now, it looks like the roots are closer to the old pbulb than the keiki, so that could make removal dangerous.

[TopCat]

Thanks to all for your observations, it does help to hear other opinions.
I think, come spring, I will mount the whole thing on a piece of cork and cover both sets of roots with spagnum without any separation, and maybe pray a little too.

I'm not sure what a "bail-out" is, but this is all that is left of the Wilsonara Kolibri and I do want to keep it around a bit longer.

Happy and Prosperous New Year to everyone.

[pavel]

If that is all that's left of the Kolibri, then I would not worry about any damage done to the old pb upon removal of the keiki. When the time comes, I'd cut just below the keiki's roots, pb be darned. (Make sure to treat the cut stump still attached to the keiki with a rooting hormone containing a fungicide.)

In the meantime, I don't think I would wait until spring to start the mounting procedure, if that is your intent. (Topcat, pardon me if this is info you're already aware of, but do keep in mind that mounted plants generally require MUCH more frequent watering -- as much as a couple of times a day depending on the plant & the conditions you happen to be growing under. For example, this time of year is hard on the mounted plants in my apt -- humidity is presently under 30%. For that reason almost all my mounties are minis in a terr -- and even my terr dries out surprisingly fast. If you live in a humid area like Florida or the tropics, you'll have a completely different experience.)

Do you have the mount materials handy? If so, you could take the mount, place it against the old pb and keiki (put a pad of sphag moss between the keiki and mount). Mist the keiki's roots heavily and give them a couple minutes to absorb water and become more pliable. Use twist ties to secure the keiki & some of its roots to the mount. Additionally, the old pb or a stake (inserted into the media next to the mount) could also be tied to the mount. Make sure the moss pad stays lightly moist and the keiki's roots will hopefully grow into the pad and attach to the mount.