KEIKI @ THE BASE OF PHAL?

[stimpson]

I am confused ! What I thought was a new spike emerging from the base of my phal (had the mitten shape), is hollow on the inside - looking like a baby leaf beginning to grow! Can phals produce keikis at the base of the plant? I don't know whether to be happy or sad?

Anyone ever see this before ? If in fact IT IS a keiki, how would I even remove it? I guess time will tell !!!

[barkingsquirrell]

I'm new at this too and can't really see your picture very clealy. But, yes it is posible to have a keiki at the base of your plant. It is called a basal keiki and I don't believe you can removed it from the plant as Phals are monopodal. Could have that last part wrong. I'm sure someone with more experience will chime in soon.

[OrchidSue]

Yes, Phals sometimes produce basal keikis and it is something to be happy about. In the future, basal keikis will produce their own spikes and make for an even better blooming show for the plant. I generally leave basal keikis unless there is a reason to remove them. I did have a Phal mannii that had a basal keiki that was getting squashed and deformed under the mother plant, so because it did have its own root system I did remove it and it established itself well as a separate plant.

Susan

[barkingsquirrell]

Orchid Sue - didn't know you could remove them....assuming you have good reason to do so.

Also, what part of Seattle are you in?? I'm in Redmond.

[OrchidSue]

Originally Posted by barkingsquirrell

Orchid Sue - didn't know you could remove them....assuming you have good reason to do so.

Also, what part of Seattle are you in?? I'm in Redmond.

As long as they have roots, then they can be removed. You do have to be more careful not to damage the mother plant. If no roots, chance of success would be lower.

I live in Uptown Queen Anne near the Seattle Center.

Susan

[peeweelovesbooks]

I have a basal keiki on my large phal. It doesn't have an independent root system, so it's stuck there. It's growing quite rapidly though.

do basal keikis take away energy from the mother plant?

[RosieC]

While I think the plant will need a good enough root system to support a rootless keiki, it will also ADD energy to the phal as it photosynthesises and nutrients will be stored in the leaves to some extent.

Personally if the plant and keiki seem healthy I would assume that the root system is up to supporting both.

[stimpson]

Here is my updated photo of my basal keiki. I think it's doing pretty well! No individual roots though...

[Tropicgirl]

It can take a long time for it to produce roots, if it ever does.

[stimpson]

Yes, so I hear... Well, if it doesn't produce its own roots, I'll just enjoy watching it grow and maybe produce a spike one day! I wouldn't remove it either.