Confused about keikis

[BillieG]

I thought getting a keiki was the ultimate high of having orchids for me and asked a vendor at the orchid show how to go about getting one. She said that keikis are only put out when the plant is stressed, so it is a bad thing. So, I am confused, because everyone seems happy to get them.

[WhiteRabbit]

Orchids MAY produce keikis due to stress. If a plant is in very poor shape, it may produce keikis as a 'last ditch' effort to reproduce. But, many orchids are just prone to keikis (some Phals, many Dens and Epis) . Dens that require a winter rest in order to bloom will produce keikis instead of blooms if they don't get the winter rest (another way to reproduce). If plant is in good health, keikis are not a symptom of stress.

But I don't feel they are an ultimate prize either ... like I said, many orchids can be keiki machines, and you don't even want the keikis anymore pretty quickly.

[Bud]

Some orchids reproduce by pollination and they gladly produce plenty of seeds in a pod....but if they feel they are attacked by fungus or mites or if they feel they are in danger they produce a basal keiki or a keiki on the spike. It is not alarming to me at all, it is in their nature to do this.
I have a Phalaenopsis that brought forth a basal keiki and a spike. It was never stressed, never repotted nor moved from its window. Maybe its just in its nature to keiki and spike(and two spikes at that!)
A new baby is always a cause for celebration both in the animal and plant kingdom

[Oscarman]

Sometimes you can get keikis forming when you don't get the temp/rest period right, such as when trying to inducing flowering in nobile type dendrobiums.

Some of my Phalaenopsis have formed them at various times and they are receiving good culture.

I agree with Bud completely - celebrate the addition!