Removing keiki on dendrobium orchid

[Nan]

Hi Guys,

I was given 3 dendrobium keikis by a senior orchid grower few months ago. Unfortunately, due to my ignorance at that time I almost killed them by packing in moss on top of the pots, the little plants were actually very nicely planted by him using charcoal, brick and coco husk chips. Dont know what I was thinking...

Anyway, later I repotted them using similar potting material as the original has become stale due to the moss accumulating water and getting soggy. The plants recovered and one of them bloomed and one had 2 little keikis as a result of the stress I put them through.

So, what I want to know from senior members is whether I should remove this keiki now. The plant itself is pretty small still but is throwing up a new cane and has new root growth in the pot.

Thanks in advance!
Nandini

[zainal abidin]

Hi Nandini, there are 2 options here:
1-You can cut from the mother plant and used similar potting medium.
2-Preferably you wait another one or 2 months let the cane getting more stronger than separate it. Zain

[Nan]

Thanks Zainal! I think I will wait few weeks before removing the keiki.

[zainal abidin]

Thanks Zainal! I think I will wait few weeks before removing the keiki.

Welcome,Nandini.Good Luck.

[kiwiorchids]

some advice: when you seperate it, dont pot it. as the roots are aerial, they wont like being covered. the way to do it is to have a thin layer of medium in the bottom of the pot. just sit the keikei ontop of this and leave in a 50/50 shaded position with a bit of moisture around the base of the pot. the roots will soon find their way into the medium, becoming functioning "potted" roots. when this happens, feel free to cover with more medium thus potting it.

[Nan]

KiwiOrchids, thanks for the great tip!

[kiwiorchids]

no problem nandini, just keep it moist in the pot. perhaps on a greenhouse floor if youve got one?