Question about Keikis

[naturalgirl]

I'm so glad to hear these responses! At this other forum I would occasionally see someone excitedly post about their plant producing a keiki and asking for advice on what to do, and SO often the responses implied that this was something that only unhealthy plants do-- much to the dismay of the poor poster. I can only imagine how I would feel if I were totally psyched because of a keiki, and then all my hopes were shot down in an instant and suddenly I was worrying about losing the plant!
I've had no experience with Keiki's yet but I've only been growing orchids for a couple of months! Waiting excitedly to see what the future brings!

[snow]

being a senior,on a fixed income.limits me to maybe 1 or 2 orchids a year. so i do encourage keikis.
when my phals quit blooming, i put rooting hormone mixed with a little vaseline,(too stop it from falling off when watering) on the nodes.
most of the time i will be rewarded with keikis

[orchidexpress]

I went into Google and typed in keiki paste.
This is one of the postings that I found.
Never have tried it so I can not confirm this.


Posted by jane__ny z5-6 (My Page) on Fri, May 18, 07 at 14:20

Mehitabel, I don't know if you read the 3-part article in Orchids Magazine. If you subject Phals to a 6 week cool-down and initiate spiking, when the spike is less than 2 inches, increase the temps to 'very warm,' it can cause the plant to produce keikis instead of buds. Apparently, the high temps cause vegetative growth, rather than flowers.
Might be worth a try.

Jane

[camille1585]

I also heard about the temperature change to induce keiki production you mention. I think I read somewhere that light may also be a factor. If you have a phal which is developing buds on the spike after blooming, lower light levels may cause the indifferentiated cells of the bud to produce a keiki. High light would give a higher chance of having a new flower spike.
I'm not sure if it is fact or fiction, but it may explain my phal's keikis since it was in very low light for the first few weeks after it finished blooming.

[snow]

that makes perfect sense camille.
that.s probably why i get so many keikis.
my leanto greenhouse is VERRY small,and i leave all the windows opentill late fall. when i do close everything up for the wintermonths, the temp does ssem to increase somewhat.
espescialiy if we have some nice sunny days.
so now i know why i get so many keikis, although i get spikes as well.
i never have keikis forming when i have the plants in the house

[camille1585]

Hi Snow. Don't give me credit for the temperature difference idea! Orchidexpress brought it up, and I forgot to quote her in my post. That's what happens when I hurry!

[orchidexpress]

Thanks Camille, how is the weather across the pond?
It's 88 degrees here...warm and the sun is shinning.

Happy Growing!

Lee

[camille1585]

The weather here is not nearly as nice as in Texas. Windy and rainy and cold. Today was sunny-ish, but only 40F! Not to mention windchill....
2 streets away from mine there is an orchid crazy person (judging my the amount on her windowsill!) I noticed today she still has about 10 orchids outside. Poor things, they are going to freeze!! How cruel.

[Ross]

As long as a keiki has adequate roots and appears healthy (nice and light green with white roots that have green tips) they can be potted up and new plants will result. Here is a keiki that took all summer to advance to the point I was comfortable removing it. It is Epidendrum ellipticum and developed this keiki near top of an exhausted flower spike.



It is planted in a "thumb" pot (1" pot) in fine Paph bark mix. It has been in this pot since beginning of November and already has new shoot. I have also tried with keikis not so advanced and had them shrivel and die. I think the secret is to develope a feel for when it is right time to cut off the keiki and pot it up. Think small pot.

[orchidexpress]

it's getting cooler here in Texas. Today the sun is shinning strong and it's about 55 degrees.
Great weather ..... it really makes my cattleyas pop out with alot of buds!