Question regarding keiki bloom spike - Orchid Board

Paul Mc · #1 11-23-2010, 08:50 AM

During the spring, one of my phal's started to die. I revived it and a keiki formed on the tip of the bloom spike. The mother still looks sad and has not been producing anymore leaves, I'm assuming this is because she is still somewhat struggling to revive herself and feed the keiki.

The keiki has 3 leaves developed now, and what I thought was a root forming has turned out to be a bloom spike. So there are still no roots on the keiki.

Should I be concerned about this? What can a newbie to keiki's do to promote root growth so it won't drain the mother so much?

tuvoc · #2 11-23-2010, 11:14 AM

I'd just let it do what it wants too. To me, a lot of fussing around just wastes your energy, and annoys your plant.

Kim

Pilot · #3 11-23-2010, 11:30 AM

I agree-- let it be nothing you can do. I had a keiki that was just a pile of leaves for a long time and it suddenly grew roots. How warm is it? Roots like warm conditions when growing.

Paul Mc · #4 11-24-2010, 08:59 AM

At the moment it's not that warm. It is sitting on a window sill which doesn't have the storm pane closed yet. I am closing them today as the night temperature is supposed to get to 20 degrees F tonight. I don't want to lose my babies, lol... I usually leave the storm pane up until the temperatures drop like this so they can feel the cool night air somewhat through the window, but we've only been in the 40s at night until now.

CTB · #5 11-24-2010, 09:11 AM

What will be, will be!

Paul Mc · #6 11-24-2010, 09:15 AM

Yup, I'm resigning myself to that then. In the meantime, I guess I'll enjoy the blooms, lol...

Pilot · #7 11-24-2010, 12:18 PM

Paul to give you an example of my phal schilleriana keiki let me tell you its story.

I had for the first time a spike on schill and right around that time we bought our home and in the move, the only bloom buds it had got knocked off! This act sparked a keiki and it was just leaves for the next 4-5 months until in the summer when we got really warm weather and the solarium heated up too and suddenly, roots sprang forth. I figured they would always just be these funny leaves but the phal had other plans. So take heart in knowing it'll take its good old time but something will happen.