Phal has keikies, 1 is blooming, will removing other 1 hurt blooming?

[Henry]

Ok, understood, but for clarity I was one of the two newbies being welcomed, so I thanked the person.

[WaterWitchin]

Cut off the one that's not blooming, soak it well, and pot it up. Next time, you get three roots about 3" long on a keiki, cut it off and pot it up and don't wait, if you want individual plants. Every eight to ten days isn't much water if it's in a medium bark. When you see silver roots, time to water. Waiting until aerial roots are 6-8" long is too long, so get it done. Roots grow to adapt to their environment. Those are the two reasons your aerial root you put into bark likely failed. If you have new roots that keep stalling, again, likely lack of water. Overwatering doesn't kill orchids. Lack of drainage and air flow at the roots does.

The one you already removed a ways back, water more often and provide more humidity. Put into a large tall vase or drop an open baggie over the top or set a humidifier next to it.

Yes, hybrid phals usually stay in bloom for at least three months or more if they're healthy.

Pictures are worth many more words that words alone.

[PhalNewMom]

I know my original post was too long, so I'll be more succinct in this one. Can anybody advise me if cutting off an overgrown keiki from a Mother plant would indirectly negatively effect a blooming keiki on the same Mother plant? I am so thrilled the keiki is blooming, I don't want to do anything that might make it's blooms drop, or even shorten the blooming period it's in now. Any help would be appreciated.

[WaterWitchin]

No one can give you a "for sure" or guaranteed answer, because there are too many variables, i.e., the particular plant, its environment. My best guess is probably wouldn't effect it at all. I've repotted a phal in bloom before and it was fine.

But as you've said "...I don't want to do anything that might make it's blooms drop, or even shorten the blooming period it's in now." To me, that means you need to wait.

[PhalNewMom]

If I do wait to cut off the large, non- blooming keiki, any ideas on how to construct something that will be more secure to keep it propped upright & prevent if from falling over due to the overall plant's increasing top heaviness?
Also, now that I understand about keikies adapting to live to the surroundings they were grown in, when I cut off the large keiki to pot it, if I water the newly potted keiki more often, can some of it's very long roots be trimmed to fit into the substrate more easily & will the new growth on root be better adapted to being in the substrate?

[Roberta]

Photos would really help, so we can see what you see.