Keiki starter medium

[pbphut]

I have a Phalaenopsis that has three Keikis growing on an old flower stalk. They all have started roots but aren't ready to transplant yet. My question is when should I make the break, so to speak, and what should I use to transplant them to. I plan to put them in a small clay orchid pot, but I'm not sure whether to use bark or moss. Any help would be appreciated.

[camille1585]

While those keikis look well developed leaf wise, they need more roots before you cut them off. There are different opinions as too how many roots and how long they should be, but I would say that in general you want a keiki to have a few roots that are a at least 2 inches long. Some people say you need 4 inches total root length (ex 2 roots each 2in, or two 1in roots+ a 2in root. You get the idea)

As for potting media, I would say to grow them in what ever you feel most comfortable with. I grow phals in medium bark, so I chose a slightly finer bark for the keikis, and put them in pots as small as possible. I've raised 3 keikis that way, no problems. But one thing I did notice is that it's better to keep the freshly potted keikis on the dry side until they've grown some brand new roots. I was watering normally, and started seeing root rot. I think it happened because the keiki roots grew as aerial roots, so were not used to so much moisture. Letting them go dry longer between waterings really helped.

[pbphut]

Thanks Camille. I figured they were too young to pot yet, but it helps getting advice from one who's been there. I have been growing in bark so I will most likely continue. I'll also watch the water on the young 'ens.

[brush]

In my experiences with kiekis I have always waited until the keiki has 3 leaves , 3 roots , 3 inches long . I also plant mine in bark.

[pbphut]

Well Brush, I guess that would be the "rule of threes"? :-)

[brush]

Well that is one way of putting it . I have a keiki developing at the moment , has been awhile actually . It took forever for any sign of root growth and because the node where it was growing from was right at or very close to where I had cut the spike , when the flowers were done. It had two leaves but no roots .

This phal was growing a keiki and also spiking at the same time . Exciting if you are a phal lover . I was wondering if there were some way to encourage the roots to grow. I asked here on orchid board , it was mentioned that if you take a wet Q tip and dab the end of where the roots would normally develop . Well I did just that and lo and behold the signs of root nubs appeared .

It now has 3 leaves , two roots and almost 3" long . They need a good set of roots before you separate them .

[Suresh Kalyanpur]

Pardon my ignorance what is a wet Q tip?

[brush]

A Q tip is an instrument people use to clean their ears . It basically is a stick with a ball of cotton on either end .