An update: first time keiki and with a spike growing!

[freshmess]

Here's an update from my last thread "What is this new growth on my phal?"

Three months after, the mysterious thing growing on my phal turns out to be a keiki, and when I turned the phal I saw a little spike starting to grow from the keiki plant!

This is so exciting since I have never experienced this before in any of my phals. Woohoo! Just wanted to share with you guys.

[glengary54]

Freshmess - From what I can see, that is a root growing from either the mother plant or the keiki. Would love to see a photo with a closer view.

[freshmess]

Here it is. I hope it's a new spike.

[RosieC]

Looks like a spike to me

[glengary54]

Looks like a spike to me as well.

[cythaenopsis]

Beautiful! Congratulations on your keiki. Once old enough to depart from the mother, are they more difficult to detach from the crown than from a main spike?

[FairyInTheFlowers]

Basal kiekies are generally left on the mother plant, regardless of how many roots there is. I have heard many times where someone removed a basal kiekie, and both the baby and mother died. Kiekies on spikes, though, is a whole different story, and can be removed once they have a combined total of 3" of roots.

[cythaenopsis]

^ Ah, I am enlightened. Thanks!!