Keiki's, removal and mother plants

[denvervet]

I have a Phal. that was half dead when I got it from Lowes, it pouted a long time then put out a keiki from the mother plant, sort of attached to it. I also have a DTPS which was really sick when I got it, it pouted a long time too and then threw up some keiki's which don't seem to be attached to the mother plant. The kieki's have big roots and can be removed, is this the time of year to be doing that? Also, the mother plants dont have ANY new leaves, will they get new leaves when I remove the Keiki's? As always, thanks Orchid Board for helping me with this question and all the others I have thrown out there, I appreciate it so much![COLOR="Silver"]

[Merlyn]

If the roots are long enough anytime of the year is okay. I would try and break them off, cut them with a sterile knife, blade, or tool if that doesn't work and sprinkle cinnamon on both cuts (mama & keiki). Hard to say if mama will put out any more leaves, they sometimes put out keikis as a last gasp effort to save the species. I always pot up keikis (and most of my collection) in sphagnum moss. Good luck !

[denvervet]

OK, thanks, I will try that when I get some new sphagnum moss at Lowes and some pots.