New leaves with the new bloom?!

[newby-orchid'er]

OK - so I'm new and all, but I've asked my sister and BIL about this and they, being orchid enthusiasts, are clueless....


I got a Phalaenopsis last year for Mother's Day... it bloomed for a couple months after I got it and then the blooms started to die. I cut the stem back a bit and waited...... it grew 3 more leaves and appears blissfully content in my office window, lovely shiny dark green leaves, no yellowing, etc.

A couple months ago, it got a little bud on the stem. I was thrilled! Instead of growing more blooms, though, it grew another LEAF... on top of the stem
Just in the last couple of weeks, it's getting a flower right under the new leaf. I wish I could find my camera, this thing looks crazy. What's going on?

[camille1585]

Hi,
The leaf on the stem is actually a baby plant, called a keiki. When you cut the spike back, it's not certain yo get a spike. Sometimes nothing happens, sometimes you get a spike, and on other occassions you get a keiki. You can either let the keiki grow and and cut it off when it is big enough, or cut the rest of the spike to let the plant keep it's energy for more spikes.

As for the flower on the keiki, I think I see what you are talking about.My most recent keiki did that too, but with 2 flowers. No explanation, and it seems to be uncommon, but I thought it was nice! Does it look like this?

[kiki-do]

Hi Newbie! Welcome!!!!!!! Yes it is a keiki as Camille said.
Camille, Does this behavior indicate a stressed phal?
I've heard strange things will happen when the plant's life feels threatened. Is that a possibility? You hear about Dens producing keikis, but not as much with the phal. Just wondering.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by kiki-do

Hi Newbie! Welcome!!!!!!! Yes it is a keiki as Camille said.
Camille, Does this behavior indicate a stressed phal?
I've heard strange things will happen when the plant's life feels threatened. Is that a possibility? You hear about Dens producing keikis, but not as much with the phal. Just wondering.

I don't think the plant was stressed at all. And it is common for phals to keiki, athough some hybrids/species seem to do it more than others. It was in super health the entire time the keiki was there, putting out new roots and leaves as well. Maybe the plant had excess energy and decided to make keiki bloom?
One thing that I'm thinking about is that when the keiki formed the plant didn't have much light. Maybe 2 weeks before the buds appeared I got a compact fluorescent for the plants, so I'm wondering if that didn't have something to do with the buds.
Or maybe something odd happened in the early stages of the cell differenciation process??

[Don Perusse]

I've had several Phals. develope Keiki's. In fact I have one now that developed two Keiki's on the one spike and as of today one of the keiki's has 1 bloom spike and the other keiki has two bloom spikes. I guess I should take a pic. as I've had a keiki bloom but not two on the same spike. Happy growing with yours.

[newby-orchid'er]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Hi,
The leaf on the stem is actually a baby plant, called a keiki. When you cut the spike back, it's not certain yo get a spike. Sometimes nothing happens, sometimes you get a spike, and on other occassions you get a keiki. You can either let the keiki grow and and cut it off when it is big enough, or cut the rest of the spike to let the plant keep it's energy for more spikes.

As for the flower on the keiki, I think I see what you are talking about. My most recent keiki did that too, but with 2 flowers. No explanation, and it seems to be uncommon, but I thought it was nice! Does it look like this?

YES! Well... not quite that evolved yet, but it looks like that's where it's heading.
Should I wait until it grows "roots" before cutting it off and replanting?
(Sorry if I don't have the terminology right)... but right now, it's just a leaf and flower bud, it doesn't look like it has enough going on to sustain itself away from the mother-plant. Would it grow it's own roots if I replanted it, or should I wait until it's bigger?

[quiltergal]

Yes, do wait to remove it until it has at least 3 roots an inch or more long. Mom will take care of it for now. Some Phals just like making Keikis. They probably have Phal. equestris in their parentage somewhere. It Keikis freely and often on perfectly healthy plants. I have one that was blooming, growing a new leaf, and growing a Keiki!

[kiki-do]

That's amazing! I have yet to see a keiki on a phal. I have something to look forward to. Thanks for all the information.