new leaves on flower stem

[talitango]

I am new to orchid growing so I don't know anything!!
I bought 4 phalaenopsis last spring. They were all flowering beautifully. The blooms lasted for weeks and weeks. Now one of them has put on 2 new leaves near the top of the old flower spike. One leaf is about 2 inches long, the other one is about 1 inch long. My queston is...what do I do with it? Do I leave it alone, do I cut it off and discard it, or can I cut it off and pot it? Truthfully discarding it is not what I want to do.
Can someone tell me what to do?

[ezil]

It sounds like you have a keiki (baby plant) growing, so congratulations are in order. Leave the spike as is, and once you have roots about 5-10cm long, you can separate mom and baby.

[Zoi2]

Hello and welcome!
Yes, it certainly sounds like you have a keiki, how cool.
Joann

[talitango]

Thank you so much folks. I have no idea what a keiki is, but I am so thrill to have one!! I have done nothing but feed and water them, so I feel really blessed to have done this without even trying. Thank you again.

[Daethen]

A keiki is a baby plant that is genetically identical to the parent plant. Leave it on the stem (spike) until it has at least 3 inches of root. (1 3" root, 3 1" roots, etc.) After that you can cut the spike a half inch or so on each side of the baby and pot it up on its own. Congrats!!! After 18 months I finally have my first keiki growing.

[talitango]

Thank you, Jonada. I bought them because they were so beautiful, not having a clue how to care for them...thank goodness for the internet. My experience with houseplants is, in spite of my best efforts, after a few weeks or, if I am lucky, a few months, they die. I enjoy them as long as they live then I have to toss they out and buy something else.
The orchids have so exceeded my expectations. I can't wait until I can pot the baby and see if it will live. Maybe orchids should have been my plant of choice all along.
Thank you again,
Jan