Dendrobium keikis on dying stalk

[greenbadger]

My dendrobium has put out three keikis and begun to die. Is there a way to save the babies? Help!

[Silje]

I wouldn't stress too much about these just yet. That 'mother' cane still has a lot of energy and time left ad the keikis are developing roots, so I'd say just leave them as they are for the time being.

My experience is that den keikis grow pretty fast and that they are easy when it comes to root development. You can maybe feed them a bit with a weak fertilizer to make them grow even faster and I think the roots will like water and food. I normally use a spray bottle for watering/misting/fertilizing keikis. You can also add a bit of seaweed extract, but not too much and not too often.

They will be fine! Just leave them where they are right now, you still have lots of time to remove them from the mother plant.

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[greenbadger]

Silje, thank you! I'll be patient and let these babies do their thing. Do you recommend a particular seaweed formula? I have not used it before now.

[Silje]

Originally Posted by greenbadger

Silje, thank you! I'll be patient and let these babies do their thing. Do you recommend a particular seaweed formula? I have not used it before now.

I live in Namibia and my agro chemicals normally come from South Africa so I'm often using different names and brands than you guys do in the US, but I use Kelpak. I don't know if that is available over there. I think what is important is that the seaweed extract should be high in auxins rather than cytokinins to encourage root growth specifically. And do follow the instructions because overdoses of seaweed extract can put your plants into weird overdrives with the strangest effects. It wont kill them though, or burn their leaves like fertilizers can do so it's harmless that way, it's more the long-term effects that can be somewhat unplanned and unexpected.

[greenbadger]

This is GREAT information! Thanks so much!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

The mother plant can still survive along with the keikis.

Down pot the mother plant and you'll have both.

Yes, the pot the mother plant is in is way too large, and it needs to be repotted anyways, the potting media doesn't look quite so fresh anymore.

Hope this helps.

---------- Post added at 08:30 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:30 AM ----------

I recommend a 2" x 2" tall pot. Clear plastic one if you have access to one. If not, make your own pot with clear plastic water bottles.

[greenbadger]

Philip, thanks for your response. When you say, "down pot," do you mean for me to move mama in a smaller pot? The potting medium was new six months ago--I had no idea it would deteriorate so quickly!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Oh, and leave the keikis on the mother plant. They are not ready to be removed yet.

[greenbadger]

Thank you!

I posted my "down pot" question before I saw your recommendation. I appreciate the help!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by greenbadger

Philip, thanks for your response. When you say, "down pot," do you mean for me to move mama in a smaller pot?

Yes, I recommend a far smaller pot.

2 inches wide x 2 inches long, the height of the pot will depend on the length of the mother plant's roots.

Originally Posted by greenbadger

The potting medium was new six months ago--I had no idea it would deteriorate so quickly!

Oh...

Might be because of the lighting.

---------- Post added at 08:37 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:36 AM ----------

If you make your own pot, make sure you give the pot lots of holes to drain from. Put the holes on the side of the pot as well as the bottom.