How do I get keikies to develope on my Epidendrum?

[Smidthmador]

I've done it before and got about 10 or so which I gave away or traded for other plants. ...I hope at least ONE is still kickin'...

I think that what I did was pollinate it so that it bore fruits which led them to form.

Is that correct? Or was I abusing my plant?

It also got considerably more light than it does now.

If I cut off the flower head will keikies form on the inflorescence?

I water properly, about a quarter oz. sprayed on the roots a couple times a day. Never enough to let it stand. Would it prefer a more thorough drying? My Phali. LOVES it! Dunn gots 14 fresh open blooms, I don't count the ones that begin to wilt.

Any Help is SO much appreciated!

Thank you
Smidthmador

[Smidthmador]

I got impatient so I separated a runner that had re-rooted and potted it, I feel more satisfied after that

On the negative side of my baby-lust I brutally pollinated a couple flowers, we'll see what happens. Nothing lost if it doesn't work, if it does I get to see the beauty of the "apples birth".

...If I cut off one of the flower stalks leaving the stem and the nodes...

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by Smidthmador

I think that what I did was pollinate it so that it bore fruits which led them to form.

Is that correct?

Hi, welcome to the OB.

Um... That's not how keiki formation works...

Pollination is a plant's means of sexual reproduction and only gets you fruits, which produce seeds. It has nothing to do with keikis.

When the orchid throws out keikis, that's a form of asexual reproduction. Asexual reproduction undergoes a different process that isn't quite as complicated as sexual reproduction.

Certain plants naturally keiki pretty freely.

With other plants, less than ideal situations that don't kill the plants outright, can trigger keiki formation.

Keiki formation can also be artificially induced via hormone products available for sale specifically made for such things. Results are not guaranteed, but the likelihood of the product inducing keiki production can be fairly good. These results also depends on the orchids in question. Many types of orchids will not respond to this form of artificially inducing keikis, be aware of this.

[Smidthmador]

When I said that I pollinated it for keikies or whatever, I didn't mean that it like made little seeds that were small plants. What I meant was that it caused the plant to stop blooming and with all that extra energy not making flowers and just one or two fruits, it made babies. Or something like that. A hormone change is what I would guess does it.

I know how "babies" work... lol
(I was just wonderin bout these ones)

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by Smidthmador

When I said that I pollinated it for keikies or whatever, I didn't mean that it like made little seeds that were small plants. What I meant was that it caused the plant to stop blooming and with all that extra energy not making flowers and just one or two fruits, it made babies. Or something like that. A hormone change is what I would guess does it.

I'm sorry, I have no idea what you mean.



The word "pollination" deals with sexual reproduction.

The word "fruits" also deals with sexual reproduction.



The word "keiki", in the case of certain orchids, deals with asexual reproduction.



Is there a way you can take a class in botany at your local college? Maybe that'll straighten certain concepts out better than if it was explained on the internet. I don't have the necessary photos to show you how things work.

[PaphMadMan]

First, I'll assume you have a reed-stem epidendrum if you are talking about keikis. They are less common in pseudobulb forming epis, though not impossible.

In any plant, if you pollinate flowers it may inhibit reproductive growth (more flowers) and indirectly promote vegetative growth, including keikis. So your reasoning has some merit, but if your goal is lots of new plants from keikis you can do it much more directly.

Assuming your plant is healthy and growing well, somewhat increase the amount of nitrogen fertlizer you give it. Don't let it flower. As each cane is approaching full growth but before it starts to form flower buds cut it back several inches. Each of these cuttings can be rooted to form a new plant, and each cane you cut short may form one or more keikis as well. New growths will continue to form from the base as usual, and you can continue the process till you have all the plants you want.

Alternatively, you can let it flower as usual, but don't pollinate the flowers. Starting seed pods forming just takes energy away from the plant. When each cane is almost done flowering cut it back several inches. Remove any remaining flowers from these cuttings. It may be harder to get these cuttings to root than the unflowered ones, but the canes cut short may still form keikis. Fewer new plants, but you still get to enjoy the flowers for a while.

[pedidiva]

check out this article. It may be helpful. Some plants throw out more keikis than others--pollinating will not do this.


Reed-stem Epidendrum