Is this a new plant?

[Staffiez]

Can anyone tell me if the top of this plant is a 'baby' plant that can be cut off and planted on?
I lost the name ticket of it but i think it's a Cymbidium Orchid although it flowers 90% of the year and seems to do well when stood in water.

I bought 3 of the plants over time as gifts for my mum, she has them stood on the kitchen window sill.
Sorry pics aren't great.

[cbuchman]

What you have is a Phalaenopsis. The keiki (baby plant) is quite mature and can indeed be established as a separate plant. There is alot sof advice on this Board in potting up Phals and you can find videos on how to do this on YouTube - just do a search.

[sweetjblue]

Staffiez, Yes what you have there is what is called a keiki or a baby plant. The roots look long enough that it can be potted separately.

What you have is a phalaenopsis, not a cymbidium. Cymbidiums have tall somewhat grass-like leaves.

I can't really tell by the small pic but it looks like the mother plant could do with a repot into fresh bark too.

BTW, Welcome to the OB!

Judi

[Staffiez]

Thank you very much for your reply & for naming the plant.

I'm must admit i don't know much about plants, I bought three plants over time for my mum because they were dying in the shop and i felt sorry for them lol (honestly) not really thinking they would live. But i guess they did.

Can we repot/replant the keiki/baby even though it's just about to flower?

I've looked up on some sites about Orchids but they all say they shouldn't stand in water and seeing as ours have been stood in water for over two years now I'm a bit stuck on what to do as i would hate to kill them after all this time.


Last question (sorry) do they have to be in see through pots? Someone told me they do as they grow on top of tree's and must have daylight on the roots.

Anyway thank you once again, I'm very pleased i found this site (although not as pleased as the plants will be) and am going to enjoy looking through all the advice.

Have a great 2013

xx

[greengarden]

Actually looking at that third photo there might be two keikis there...

[escualida]

I think you're right, there are 2 keikis on the spike.

I think its up to you if you want to wait until after it flowers to pot it up or not.

[Connie Star]

I'd spray the roots on the keiki(s) daily. I think it looks pretty cool the way it is flowering while still attached, although I don't think you'd have any problem repotting now.

[violetta]

I'd let it flower attached to the mother plant and then when the blooms fade, pot it up by itself. I'm worried about bud blast if you separate them now.

[Staffiez]

Hello

Thank you again for the advice & sorry i have only just replied, but i had some laptop problems & just got back online.

I must admit i'm kinda worried about removing the little one (s?) so i think i'll hang on till it's flowered.

If we were to leave it as it is would it finally kill the mother plant? or die itself?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by Staffiez

Hello

Thank you again for the advice & sorry i have only just replied, but i had some laptop problems & just got back online.

I must admit i'm kinda worried about removing the little one (s?) so i think i'll hang on till it's flowered.

If we were to leave it as it is would it finally kill the mother plant? or die itself?

If you want to leave the keiki on the mother plant, that's fine. The mother plant will eventually cut off supplies to the baby plant with time. At that point, you can easily peel the baby plant off the mother plant.

Whether the keiki will drain the mother plant depends on how strong the mother plant is. If it is weak, then yes, eventually, it will drain the mother plant of energy and the mother plant will slowly die.

If the mother plant is strong enough to support both the baby plant and itself, then I wouldn't worry about it.

It is very difficult to predict which outcome the plant will face, but once it happens, you'll have enough time to take the proper actions.

Hope this answers your questions.