Roots growing from top of plant??

[Hbaker2007]

Can anyone please look at this picture and tell me if this is a new plant I'm supposed to break off and plant, or if this is normal? The roots are growing from the TOP of the plant in all directions... Not sure whats going on?? I've attached the picture....

[WhiteRabbit]

you have a keiki! (a 'pup' or baby plant)


You can remove it and pot it up, looks like there's plenty of root growth - the general rule is to have at least 3" total roots - three 1" roots, or one 3" root, or how ever many roots to total 3" - before removing the keiki. You can also leave it on the "mother" plant as well, if you can keep it happy that way - and right now it looks happy

(to remove keiki, you can gently twist it off the spike)

[RosieC]

Agree with WhiteRabbit, and that Keiki looks plenty big enough and with enough roots for you to be able to remove it.

[camille1585]

Congrats on the keiki! Looks like you got good advice. One thing I would add is that if you do pot it up, go easy on the watering for a while since the roots are not used to living in a moist environment.

[Daethen]

Already well answered. Welcome aboard. Congrats on the keiki. Wish some of mine would do that.

[Hbaker2007]

Thank you everyone for the help! After I take off the baby do I cut the mother stem down to the base??

[Orchid126]

When you do pot up the keiki, put it in the smallest pot that the roots will fit in. You can cut the mother stem (spike) down after removing the baby. This will allow the plant to recuperate.

[PinkCloud]

Yes, you can cut the stem shorter.
Keiki's are quite common and a great way to get a new plant! It is basically a clone of the mother plant and so the blooms will be the same as the mother plants.
Sometimes you'll get a keiki if the mother plant is not doing too well.. For example if the mother plant hasn't been repotted in a real long time or if the roots are rotting of too much water. I don't think this is the case with your phal though... since the mother plant looks quite happy and healthy in the picture! So enjoy your new plant.

[Call_Me_Bob]

some people, myself included, like to leave the keiki on if you dont want to give it to someone else, because it creates an AMAZING show when it blooms-blooms all over

[Sonhier]

I had no idea why roots were growing out of the top of my orchid until I googled it and found your post. I'm so excited to have babies! Did you leave attached or start new?
If I can figure out how to upload my pic, I will, but so far no luck.