Repot and Splitting up a phal mess.

[phirephly]

So, I've done the horrible deed of removing the keikis. I cut them off the old stalks on a lower node and then was able to wiggle/pop them off the stalk all together. I've done the initial cleaning of the mother plant and you can see the moss and peanuts. The roots are healthier than I expected, but certainly not the healthiest.

The bark is soaking in a bowl and I'm trying to figure out which pots I'm going to use for what. I think the bigger keiko has a good pot, but the smaller keiko may take the mother's plastic pot? But, I still think that's too big. I have a cactus in the window (tube jade) that can be repotted for it's little plastic pot. The mother plant has a good pot, too. But, that smaller keiki, I'm not sure.... hmm.

Oh! Can that little broken healthy root be replanted all on it's own?

[phirephly]

Attached is the final result. The mama plant is on the left with two half sized flower stalks sticking out. The big baby is at the top and the little baby at the bottom. The little baby and mama got smallest pots and the big baby got one size up. I'm a little concerned about the very long rooty things on the big baby. A few of them broke when I was trying to fit them into a pot, so I'll keep an eye out for death of those... or will they heal? They didn't break clean through...

[nutgirl]

Good Job!

You have three nice healthy plants. Don't worry about a few broken roots. Sometimes they'll keep going even if they get cracked and bent a bit.

Maureen

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I forgot to mention, when you're repotting or dealing with the roots. Wet them before handling.

They're more pliable when wet.

For the future...

[phirephly]

Ok, great! Anything I can do with the little 3 inch segment of white healthy root from the mom plant that broke off? Is it plantable or anything?

[phirephly]

Ah, now you tell me! :P Well, hopefully it'll be OK. These were the airbound roots that broke a little. If you look at the beginning picture, some of them were very, very long. The mother plants roots were wet and easy to work with.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

The little segment of root is useless unless you know how to perform tissue culture techniques.

But seeing how you just ended up with a bunch of the plant anyways, I don't think you need to go through the trouble.

Your plants will be fine.