Whats this on my Orchid?

[yaffle]

Hi Everyone,

I recently bought a new Dendrobium and found this on it:





What is it? I thought possibly a keiki but I'm no expert!

Thanks in Advance,

yaffle

[Becca]

You are correct! It is a keiki with two long roots!

[quiltingwacko]

AIt's a pregnant dendro! Woo hoo! Now you will have something to swap with orchid buddies.

[Ray]

Don't get too excited. It looks to me like an old keiki that has lost it's leaves. It's probably past its prime....

[CoolPhrog]

poor keiki....

[yaffle]

Thanks Everyone,

What shall I do then? Just leave it and hope it grows new leaves?

yaffle

[Ray]

As all of the individual plants are connected - either via a rhizome or directly, in the case of a keiki - they serve as a "colony", sharing resources, and acting as water and nutrient storage. As long as it is plump and firm, that keiki (and the other old canes) are "contributing members of society" and should be left alone.

My guess is that it will not grow leaves (it probably already did, and has since lost them), but has relegated itself to the "support the rest" mode.

[cb977]

I have at least two freaky Dens that have only bloomed on keikis that look like that. Spikes full of blooms and when you look closely, they're blooming off this kind of keiki...you never know