Urgent Phalaenopsis keiki mangement advice please

[Delila]

I have a keiki on a highly valued Phal. The mother plant is in serious trouble - due, unfortunately, to use of root-inhibiting keiki paste in the first place. I used it too soon after re-potting her. So this keiki matters!

It has no roots yet, but the spike is dying back. Today the dead part of the spike has reached within 1/4" of the base of the keiki. What should I do?

For the past 9 days I've had the base of the keiki wrapped in moist live Sphagnum moss, with a bag around the whole lot. It's been happy enough with that, but it's not long enough to have grown roots.

Given the rapidly encroaching dead spike, should I cut the keiki off the plant? Or will the dying spike simply stop at the live keiki, fall off, and leave the keiki to continue growing?

Thanks

[ksriramkumar]

Posting a picture would help. If the keiki has 3-4 inches of root is when it should be detached and potted.

[Carolla]

I don't know about the dying spike, I'm sure others will have good ideas for you there. What I can suggest is using a seaweed extract type rooting supplement on both the mother and the keiki. I have had great results with Kelp Max, others use Super Thrive and similar products.

I sure hope you can stop the loss of the mother and save the keiki, that would be awesome. I suspect that you'll be able to save the baby, I just don't know enough to help you with that. Good luck!

[Delila]

I've been using seaweed and live sphag - both great root promoters - but possibly too late.

My main question is about how dangerous that encroaching dead spike is for the keiki. Will it stop there? Or will it keep dying and take the keiki with it?

I took a photo...

[chingjervis]

In my experience, it will continue down and harm the keiki.

I suggest you cut the spike that is rotting near the keiki, put some cinnamon powder or physan 20 on the open wound. And hope for the best.if the rotting did not progress. it will give some more time for the keiki to produce roots. But dont keep your hopes too high. Because the rotting almost reach the keiki.

[zainal abidin]

Dont keep him too wet allow the plant dry in between watering.