Keikis growing from flower stem - what do I do?

[WaterWitchin]

A tint of purple or red on leaves can actually be desirable. Especially with higher light plants such as Catts, Tolumnia, etc. It's a fine balance, but not an issue. If the leaves slowly get more and more purple/red cast to them, one can back down the light source a bit. Of course not as relevant with a lower light plant such as a Phal. But better blooming on many genus.

[JenelleJeanoel]

Ah, I get it now. Thank you both so much for explaining that further! I didn't realize that the whole thing was the keiki; I thought the roots were individual keikis. I didn't find a proper research source then.

And that makes sense about artificial light! I didn't know that -- good to know. Would you suggest removing the keiki and repotting it then, or should I wait longer? If so, how would I go about removing it properly?

[IngieBee]

Again, where is that spike coming from to the left of the keiki? If it is attached to the keiki, don't take it off until you enjoy those flowers??!! They will need the mother plant's back up to grow. It's a weird situation, but not a problem. Unless I'm wrong, and it's an old spike??? It looks young though and looks like it's growing from the keiki??

[JenelleJeanoel]

Originally Posted by IngieBee

Again, where is that spike coming from to the left of the keiki? If it is attached to the keiki, don't take it off until you enjoy those flowers??!! They will need the mother plant's back up to grow. It's a weird situation, but not a problem. Unless I'm wrong, and it's an old spike??? It looks young though and looks like it's growing from the keiki??

Yep, it's coming from the keiki! So I should leave it on until the flowers grow?

[IngieBee]

Yes, I think they will dry up if you take it off and it doesn't hurt to leave it there a little longer. And you're about to have more FLOWERS !!!! 😀😃😀😆

[OrchidBro]

Just for clarification purposes, that flower spike is growing from the mother plant and the keiki is growing FROM the flower spike. The flower spike IS NOT coming from the keiki.

[JenelleJeanoel]

Originally Posted by OrchidBro

Just for clarification purposes, that flower spike is growing from the mother plant and the keiki is growing FROM the flower spike. The flower spike IS NOT coming from the keiki.

Ahhhhh okay. All so confusing, haha. Thank you so much for your help! What would you recommend doing then?

[Swimmingorchids]

right so only dilemma is removing the keiki or not now.

So to clarify, from what I can see, there is a flower spike coming from the mother plant. Both a keiki and a second flower spike are growing from the first flower spike.

If you can remove the keiki and leave the "second" flower spike then I would do so. The motherplant will reflower and you can pot up the keiki.

Personally I would remove the keiki even if it does destroy the flower spike.. but like others have said if you leave it you will get some flowers.

The only thing I wouldn't do is cut off the keiki with the flower spike attached to the keiki. If that happens you will have to cut off the flower spike.

Hope that all makes sense.

[JenelleJeanoel]

Great, thank you so much! Yep, that all makes sense!