Orchid Keiki - looking for advice

[Astorite]

Hi. The attached photo is of a new little plant that I'd like some advice on... the plant is about 2 inches long now, and some of the roots are up to 5 inches long. Some of the roots are embedded in the stalk this grew from. Any advice on how I 'harvest' this little plant so that I can put him in his own little pot? Thanks in advance...

[Brutal_Dreamer]

He is not ready just yet. That is called a keiki. To remove it, simply grasp it close to the 'mother' plant and give it a little twist. If the dendrobium cane is an older cane that I would normally remove when repotting, I also like to take a sterile knife or blade and cut about an inch above the keiki and an inch below the keiki and leave the keiki attached to the old cane. The cane is then buried in the bark when potting up the keiki and helps support the new plant. Eventually, it will rot away. (Oh, and remember to take pruning seal to the ends of the cane to keep infection and other stuff out!)

Cheers,
BD

[Astorite]

Thanks very much... you say he's not ready just yet... how do I tell when he is ready? Thanks again!

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Thanks very much... you say he's not ready just yet... how do I tell when he is ready? Thanks again!

Let me be a little more clear, Kelly. I would not remove him just yet since he is so small. Others here may advise you to go ahead and remove the keiki. I would let the keiki develop some leaves and more roots. JMHO though.

Cheers,
BD

[Astorite]

Ah, OK. Thanks very much!

[navyderek]

Let me be a little more clear, Kelly. I would not remove him just yet since he is so small. Others here may advise you to go ahead and remove the keiki. I would let the keiki develop some leaves and more roots. JMHO though.

I heartily agree with that humble opinion. I haven't removed a ton of Dendrobium keikis, but the longer I waited on mine the faster the newbies recovered. The larger he is and the more roots he has the more vigorously he will grow and the greater chance he will live through the shock of a new potting medium and learning to get his own nutrients and water....

If it were me, I'd wait until you have at least two mature leaves on the keiki, and the roots have developed green tips, showing they are in an active growth cycle.