New Growth, Help!

[mleep13]

Hello,
I've had my phal orchid for over a year and it's just recently started new growth after being dormant for close to 6 months. After the buds stopped growing I cropped the stalk, as I was instructed to do on many other websites. I think I should have cropped it down closer to the base but instead left a stalk about 1 ft. high. Now I've got leaves growing at the top of the stalk with what looks like roots growing at the base of those new leaves. Should I trim the new growth and plant it? Should I then crop the stalk down closer to the plant base?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Michelle

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Hi Michelle,

What you have is a keiki (A baby plant produced asexually by an orchid.) After the roots develop a bit, you can then separate it from the 'mother' plant and you will have an exact replica of your original plant.

Once the keiki is removed, you should cut the old spike down to about one inch above the mother plant. This should then dry out and let your plant put some energy back into growing a new leaf or two.



Cheers,
BD

[Becky15349]

Have fun with your keiki! I think they're great; its like your plant is trying to make copies of itself for you!!

[JUDIUK]

I agree! I love free plants! Let the roots growto 2-3 inches and then I cut it off with a stem so it anchors it into the bark firmly, Judi

[Pete]

keikis like that are actually usually a sign of something a little out of wack,(when its not the typical habit of that type of plant), whether it be culturally or genetically. also, many times dendrobium and phalaenopsis keikis will never flower (well) if removed from the mother plant before they flower while still attached to it.. i usually cut my phal spikes about 3 inches back from the plant... good luck!

[padams2359]

The HR manager in my office has a DENDROBIUM (A-228) JI/13/D NEW QUEEN SOUTH E. (A-SIZE) REG#4722886. The person who took care of it is a good friend of mine. She told me on several occasions that she knows nothing about caring for Orchids. I told her to keep doing what she is doing. She was pretty much ignoring it. I told her that was great. Keeps from over watering. She retired and the plant stayed. I brought the HR manager a gallon of fertilizer, and remind her every Monday to water it. It has done really well. I guess it likes all the fluorescent lighting. There is a 1 ½” kieki on it. I keep and eye on it. Gonna take that little sucker when is sprouts roots. I have a couple of Dens, but no white ones. Keeping my eye on that one.

[Kerry]

Well done you on your Keiki! There must be loads of people on this site asking themselves "how can I get one??" I think it's fantastic that you have got one, and it's an example of those myriad reasons that we love keeping orchids and how much they can surprise us!