Kei Kei help

[mokey41]

I just noticed this morning that one of my phal's has a kei kei growing at the base of the plant. I know that they will grow on a flower spike but i didn't know they would grow at the base. It's only 2 leaves and I haven't dug around to see what it has for roots.

Should I just leave it there?

[Becca]

I don't think the basal keiki is a bad thing. I used to think that a phal would only send out a basal keiki if it was near death or stressed and felt the need to find a way to reproduce or live on, but I have found out that is not so recently. One of my phals which has a very healthy root system and is growing new leaves and has bloomed twice for me, and is starting a new spike off of an old spike, has three basal keiki's growing on it currently....they aren't very big and as long as the mother plant seems happy and healthy then I will just leave it! I don't know why it has decided to grow the basal keiki's, but I think it is a fun process to watch and I'm hoping to learn something.

So what is the condition of your phal? Does it have a good root system? Is it healthy? If your phal is healthy I wouldn't see any reason to remove it, but maybe more experienced growers will have a more educated opinion then me.

Here is a link to a thread I just found that I feel has a great answer to your question: http://www.orchidboard.com/community...t-do-i-do.html

[mokey41]

Thanks, I'll just leave it alone and see what happens.

[tim abbott]

Congratulations mokey41,

Just be patient & let it grow. They are neet to watch I think. Let it develop a good amount of roots before you remove it. I believe you should have at least 3 roots & they should be at least 2 inches long. I have always used a razor knife to remove mine, but I think the best thing is to make sure the cutting object is clean & you put cinnamon powder on the wound. You can just leave the new growth and have a larger plant and more opportunity for flowers.

Tim Abbott