Help kekei on dead ;( mother orchid

[BellaOrchids]

I'm new to this site just registered today. I've had at least 12 orchids in the last 4 years and have now lost almost all but 2 ;( I know I have a kekei but only has one root growing about an inch long but my mother plant has died no leaves plant was from February 2011 birthday present for myself got a large arrangement of 7 orchids from wegmans beautiful different orchids in a huge planter. Big mistake was couldn't tell if water was draining since it had no holes to drain water and orchid fertilizer when out of bloom. I need help I don't want to lose the kekei but there is only one root growing from it and mother plant is dried up dead n no leaf. Should I repot it???? Or wait till the root gets longer. I do not know how to post a picture since this is my first posting. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Would love to have the kekei thrive n grow my husband calls my collection of orchids sticks since I have not had any bloom again.

[MollieMcP]

I'm not an expert, so I can't help you there.

I'm new to the OB too. You have to post at least 5 times before they will let you add photos. I just went and said hello on a few threads to get my first 5 posts. My husband makes fun of my collection too, he keeps telling me I will kill them all eventually. Oh well, I'll show him!!

[BellaOrchids]

Sorry keiki

---------- Post added at 04:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:38 PM ----------

Nice to meet u MollieMcP lol I guess our hubby's are the same. I was sad today when I discarded 7 of my orchids that have dried up and died no leaves nothing I had gotten the cutie little orchids that wegmans carried last year should've have known not as hearty as the adult orchids. I had gotten neglectful ;( when my daughter was born.

---------- Post added at 04:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:41 PM ----------

Oh forgot molllie is it easy to post pics

[MollieMcP]

Yes, go to your post a hit the edit button at the bottom right of your original post and then scroll down and hit the manage attachments button. You should be able to add photos there.

[BellaOrchids]

Thanks mollie for ur help I posted a pic but it's turned sideways but I think u can c what I'm talking about. I removed some of the dead "sticks" as my husband would say

[Orchids4ever]

Okay-this is what i would do-mist that keikie root every day and try to get it to grow some more-then when it hits about 3-4 inches-carefully take it of the Mom and plant in the smalles Pot you can find-just big enough for the root to fit into and keep it evenly moist.NOT WET-just moist-like when your Cloths come out of the spin Cycle.

[BellaOrchids]

Monika (orchids4ever) thank u for ur advice. So if I use a spray bottle would that be good enough? Also would you cut it closest below and above the keiki? Also would u plant the root down in the medium? And teracotta pot or plastic in teracotta? Sorry so many questions just want to do it right.

[Abbie9]

I would use a medium that will hold moisture, like sphagnum or another type of moss. A plastic pot will not breathe as much as an unglazed clay pot, so in a situation where your plants seem to be drying out too quickly, I would try to use containers and medium that will retain moisture.

I've never had a keiki myself so I can't give specific advice on how to deal with cutting it, etc. Sorry. If you want this keiki to survive though, it sounds like you will need to adjust your normal methods for caring for your orchids, since they don't seem to be thriving. What has been your normal routine?

[Orchids4ever]

Originally Posted by BellaOrchids

Monika (orchids4ever) thank u for ur advice. So if I use a spray bottle would that be good enough? Also would you cut it closest below and above the keiki? Also would u plant the root down in the medium? And teracotta pot or plastic in teracotta? Sorry so many questions just want to do it right.

Spray Bottle is fine-just make sure the Water is room Temp.I would use a small plastic pot with holes on Bottom and sides for planting,to get airflow to the roots.
I found you can just twist the Baby of the Mom-Carefully!!! But maybe some one else got a better Idea how to do it a easier way. But i always just twist them off-so far i never had a problem doing it that way.. Also make sure you just spray the root-not the Plant-otherwise you will get rot.

[jai_star]

wow thats one dead mummy plant! someone over did the spaghnum moss and compacted her to death!