Phal Wedding GONE WILD!

[orchidhijinx]

So here is the deal. I have had this Wedding Promenade for like 2 years. I never thought I was any good at growing anything, but let me tell ya, Orchids are the only things that HAVENT died on me yet!! But i need some help and that is why I have joined this site. I have a Phal that has gone wild. It has the main stem (forgive me i dont know too much of the jargon) with several branches. I am sure there is a way to trim off and make new plants from it or at least stop it from growing nuts! The two pictures are one of the full plant. (I am buying a REAL pot for it today...finally) The other pic is of the stem with the root, (at least that is what i think it is.) There is the potential of other stems that may grow the same way. Help! Is there a way i can cut them so they look normal???

-E

[learning2letgo]

Hijinx, you luck little rascal, you! What you have growing on your orchid is a host of keikis (Hawaiian term for baby)! Every one of those can be cut from the inflorescence (spike of the plant) to form a whole new plant.

You can take a fresh single edge razor blade and cut the stem at an angle a few centimeters above and below the keiki. Better yet, rather than going into some detailed wordiness, check out this link on the
American Orchid Society webpage.

Removing a Keiki

And secondly, watch this video, too.

Potting a Keiki

Considering this is a phalaenopsis and judging from the bloom it no doubt seems your cultivar is a hybrid variety paired with another orchid species. I hope this information helps you out here

[orchidhijinx]

Those links should be very helpful! I have babies!!! Ill say they will be my first baby of any kind! hahaha I am glad I joined this site!!

[cb977]

Yup, that just about covers it

If the roots on the keiki weren't as long as they are, we'd probably tell you to wait until the roots are around 2" long. Yours seem to be ready to go

[cb977]

Oh! ...and to Orchidboard

[orchidhijinx]

Thanks so much! I am so excited! I am glad to have a place where I wont feel like and idiot and people are so helpful....the site is so easy to navigate aswell! I am feel so cool now! THanks guys!!!

[cb977]

This is a great place

We love greeting our new friends so if you get the chance, maybe you could write a little something about yourself in our Introductions - Break the Ice ! - Orchid Board - Most Complete Orchid Forum on the web ! forum

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Out of curiosity, did you just get this Phalaenopsis orchid (Moth Orchid)? It seems kind of fishy that it would produce so many kheikis at once. While I do consider you very lucky to have a bunch of kheikis, I suspect it may be doing so because the mother plant's not doing well. It can take a lot of energy out of the mother plant to produce that many kheikis.

Is there a way you can check to find out what's going on with the roots on the mother plant? If the mother plant's unsaveable, at least you've learned something in order to grow the kheikis better.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I say this because I improperly grew my Physothallis cylindrica and it started to produce a bunch of kheikis. It took a long time, but the mother plant died. I was left with kheikis. The roots on the mother Physothallis cylindrica were so badly damaged it couldn't recover. I'm still hopeful of the remaining kheikis, two of which grew their first mature leaf not too long ago.

[orchidhijinx]

As I said, I am a novice at this. My husband bought this for me about a year and some change ago. I have bough Orchid potting soil from Miracle grow and i used that on another of my Phals. On this one, I have yet to transport it to a good pot. The leafs dont look as bright and shiny as when i first got it and some of the roots are growing about the planter. I have hesitated on replanting it due to not knowing if i should try a larger planter. the roots look pretty tight in that clear plastic planter and some top roots have been looking dry or near dead. But hte ones on the bottom look bright green and fresh. So, if you can offer anything to that i show by photos.MAybe i should replant it and try some fresh moss and or some new fresh bark or the potting soil i bought. Should i wait very long to trim the larger of the kheikis. let me know.