Help with basal keiki.

[Joyorchid]

So last year i bought this beautiful Phal I Hsin Mirage in double spike and with a large basal keiki. I had hopes of it becoming a specimen plant.

It did well until a couple of months ago when I moved it from the heating mat (it spent 3 months there after being repotted in s/h) and then the mother died. Baby has a spike currently and has shot out several long aerial roots.

But I dont know what to do next. I dont think any of the mothers root system survived, but if I remove the baby will it affect spike development? And when/ if i remove the baby what medium should I put it in?

[Brooke]

You have more than enough roots for the keiki to be on its own. Put it in any media you are comfortable with because you know how to water it. The spike will be fine.

Brooke

[james mickelso]

Just a thought. You could take this and mount it. Get a nice long piece of cork or other hard wood, preferably a piece with some groovy character, and mount this upright with the roots hanging down the length of the wood. Wire (very thin phone wire works for me) some sphagnum moss (about 1/2 inch thick) onto the piece of wood and then mount the phal onto the moss. I just use the thin phone wire. Water when the roots are dry. Hang on the wall. I think that is a great idea. The spike shouldn't be affected this way and it will bloom on your wall and wow your friends who will be very jealous of your talents.

[Atzau]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

Just a thought. You could take this and mount it. Get a nice long piece of cork or other hard wood, preferably a piece with some groovy character, and mount this upright with the roots hanging down the length of the wood. Wire (very thin phone wire works for me) some sphagnum moss (about 1/2 inch thick) onto the piece of wood and then mount the phal onto the moss. I just use the thin phone wire. Water when the roots are dry. Hang on the wall. I think that is a great idea. The spike shouldn't be affected this way and it will bloom on your wall and wow your friends who will be very jealous of your talents.

That would definitely wow me also!

[Joyorchid]

Thank you for the suggestion, James. I certainly had not considered it. My problem is my terribly low humidity. As it is I had been misting the roots of this little guys several times a day, and moss dries out in half a day here. But it is something to think about...

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[james mickelso]

I make what I call rescue boards. Long flat fir or pine 1x3's with holes drilled into them. The orchids (rescues) grow their roots into the holes and seem to relish them. When I water the holes get filled with water and it stays wet there for quite awhile. You might try drilling lots and lots of holes on the back side of the mount and water that way. Put a little more sphagnum moss on the mount when you attach the phal. Phals don't have to be kept wet all the time. The leaves don't care. Just the roots and they can dry out daily with no harm. I know your RH is very low but many others grow orchids in dry areas. Maybe give it a try. Here's a rescue board.

[Joyorchid]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

I make what I call rescue boards. Long flat fir or pine 1x3's with holes drilled into them. The orchids (rescues) grow their roots into the holes and seem to relish them. When I water the holes get filled with water and it stays wet there for quite awhile. You might try drilling lots and lots of holes on the back side of the mount and water that way. Put a little more sphagnum moss on the mount when you attach the phal. Phals don't have to be kept wet all the time. The leaves don't care. Just the roots and they can dry out daily with no harm. I know your RH is very low but many others grow orchids in dry areas. Maybe give it a try. Here's a rescue board.

Is there no end to your talents?

[james mickelso]

Yeah there is. It ends just about where I make money.