Kikei query

[carol57]

Hi all, my lovely purple phalenopsis noid orchid threw a kikei which I am chuffed about, now the kikei has thrown a flower spike but still has no roots itself. Will it send roots out eventually? Or do I have to do something to encourage it to send out roots?

[Merlyn]

Patience, patience, it will do what it wants and at its own pace ! The only thing I would do is when watering, take it to the kitchen sink and spray the keiki thoroughly with a sink sprayer or a bottle. When you feed I would also make sure to spray fertilizer on the keiki, especially under the leaves. Then apply lots of loving patience !!!

[camille1585]

Some keikis are very slow at growing roots!! It might not do anything until that spike has bloomed.

I know that coconut water (the milk can work in a pinch) is a good root stimulant because it naturally contains the plant hormones for it.

[WhiteRabbit]

Roots will come - I've had Den (kingianum) keikis bloom before growing roots. Only thing I do is once roots start, is to spritz them with water a bit (can be quite dry here in summer)

[carol57]

Wonderful, thankyou all for the good advice, I shall sit back, enjoy the flowers and wait

[Bud]

or you can wrap the keiki with damp moss and keep it damp until you see the roots coming out as Sonya does ...

Love the coconut info Camille...I will try that too...

[camille1585]

I'd have to look up the old threads, I have a doubt if it's mainly the water or milk. And I think it can both be applied in the liquid form, or also mixed into a lanolin paste that's applied to the stem (especially for getting keikis to grow)

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by camille1585

I'd have to look up the old threads, I have a doubt if it's mainly the water or milk. And I think it can both be applied in the liquid form, or also mixed into a lanolin paste that's applied to the stem (especially for getting keikis to grow)

I'm pretty sure it's the water - but I wouldn't bet my life on it